Dear Mr. Sorkin:
I'm a scriptwriter trying to make it in the biz. Just me and 49,000 others...
As one of those 49,000, I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for all those years of West Wing and now, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It's a real shame that NBC execs are even more short-sighted than what's normal for their phylum. It's a stunning admission to declare that at one time there were studio execs that actually did have some foresight.
I know I probably could lose my WGA card for that but then I don't have one yet so I've got nothing to lose. There were men who saw the value of a little known show called M*A*S*H back in the early 1970s. It finished virtually dead last that first year. But the execs, endowed, apparently, with their own thoughts and insights saw something there worth nurturing. Let's see if we can help this thing grow, they said. Silly of course. It only ran for another ten years and still holds the record for the most watched broadcast of all time, with "Goodbye, Farewell, Amen."
I want to thank you for a wonderfully well written, well produced show. Studio 60 was an honest-to-God breath of fresh air in a medium that is today as conducive to nurturing creativity as the surface of Mars.
There are quite a few people out here — people with IQs well beyond the Chia Pet level of those watching Deal or No Deal — who appreciate a show with smart, whiplash dialog. Who like watching adult interaction. Who want to see a show at least discuss real issues critical to our times. Studio 60 gave us this. What the execs don't seem to realize is that smart people are dangerous people when they're bored. Better to have them sated in front of the tube after a long day of realizing that the rich are getting richer, that the Bush administration is just pretending to play nice (Lord, there's someone who could've used remedial acting lessons) and that things really should be changed on a fundamental level. Better to entertain us. Try to postpone the inevitable.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - bgfay
Amen. I started watching _Sports Night_ on its third episode. I might have watched it from the beginning if not for the bone-headed promos that ABC ran. I watched it through the first season, bit my nails until it was miraculously picked up for the second season, and watched sadly as it went of the air.
I watched the _West Wing_ from day one right through to the first episode of season five when I saw for sure that it was too much to expect a Sorkin/Schlamme show to go on without them.
I have watched every episode of _Studio 60_ and it feels like he has just gotten the thing right. It started off so BIG, then everyone slagged it for not being that big every week, and now he's got the feel for all the characters. It reminds me a lot of _Sports Night_ and that's a great thing.
If NBC does cancel it (I'm still holding out naive hope), it will go down as yet another reason to turn the damn television off. And it will end my watching _Heroes_ since that was mostly to get me through to _Studio 60_.
Come on, NBC. Show some guts and renew the show. Better yet, move it to 9pm on Wednesday and run a promo that begins, "For everyone who hated to say goodbye to _The West Wing_..."
2 - katiac
thank you for writing this. i have not the skill to write and sometimes to express myself on a piece of paper either. I agree with you. It is a pity that a show like this one is almost gone. certainly it is the only show that i watch in NBC. I hope they change their minds and keep the show
3 - J.M. Harrison
Curently there are several petition drives. The one I've been promoting is:Save NBC Studio 60
Right now there are over 6200 signatures. That doesn't sound like a lot but as any pollster will tell you, every person who took the time to sign a petition can represent anywhere from 10 to as many as 50 others who didn't. So these 6200 represent anywhere from 62,000 to 300,000 people. And that's just THIS petition. There are others.
I suggest everyone go to www.nbc.com and go to the CONTACT US link, find the show - Studio 60 and express your thoughts!
The Sorkin Lives!
J.M. Harrison
4 - J.M. Harrison
Curently there are several petition drives. The one I've been promoting is:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Save-NBC-Studio-60
Right now there are over 6200 signatures. That doesn't sound like a lot but as any pollster will tell you, every person who took the time to sign a petition can represent anywhere from 10 to as many as 50 others who didn't. So these 6200 represent anywhere from 62,000 to 300,000 people. And that's just THIS petition. There are others.
I suggest everyone go to www.nbc.com and go to the CONTACT US link, find the show - Studio 60 and express your thoughts!
The Sorkin Lives!
J.M. Harrison
5 - Pedro Guimaraes
Great post... I was just discussing with a friend how "Studio 60" was an HBO show... it was too smart and required actually thinking about what happened. I will deeply miss the atmosphere of the great intimate set that the show had :(
6 - Sally
Wonderful piece! You hit the nail on the head. Studio 60 is (I refuse to say was until I hear it from NBC) by far the greatest show on TV - challenging, funny, engaging, and, best of all, grown up.
The critics' response to Studio 60 is based entirely on its ratings, rather than any critical examination of the show. They all claimed to love the pilot, but when the ratings sank they became the proverbial crooks running out in front of the mob, pretending to lead the parade.
Studio 60 is a cut above everything else on TV. Thanks for having the chutzpah to say it.
7 - Caz
Thanks for this. Practically every "news" story I see about Studio 60 these days is from someone slagging it off. For some reason, it's become the show it's fashionable to hate, and there seems to be a contingent of "critics" (frustrated dramatists, maybe?) who are just waiting for Sorkin to fail. It's good to see someone being honest - the show isn't without its faults, but it's still far and away the best thing on television. The last few episodes in particular have been stellar. It's fast, funny and smart - those of us with more than half a braincell deserve to be able to watch ONE hour of decent TV per week, don't we?
8 - joyce
Not Amazon - patronize your local independent bookstore.
9 - thawtful
Thank YOU for writing this piece that really speaks for so many of us. You're absolutely right. The media monkeys have been grotesque in their protests about Studio 60. It's become the 'hawt' thing to do, to bash a show that's just getting its legs. I'm so worked up about the baloney critics from Auseillo over at TV Guide that I canceled my subscription!
NBC needs to grow pair and put Studio 60 back on the air as soon as possible.
They also need to do a FAR better job promoting. They never included it in their weekly newsletter, their 30 sec promos don't do anything to excite viewers about the next episode and half the time, they don't even have the episode titles right on the website!
See you on NBC Rewind - the place to watch Studio 60 until Zucker and Reilly get their heads out of their a*sses!
Studio
10 - Steve
So long, Studio 60. I had high hopes, but they crashed and burned soon after the show became a sappy love story. Maybe NBC can bring back the "Ross and Rachel" love drama for the few fans that are actually disappointed NBC finally pulled the plug.
11 - J.M. Harrison
A show of this caliber needs time to find its footing. As I said in the original post - there are a number of great shows that would never have made it if it weren't for at least ONE intelligent network exec. M*A*S*H being probably the best known example of this.
As a writer I've worked on a number of projects (some of which we're trying to get on the air right now) where the original concept begins to morph and you're not quite sure where its going - what it is evolving into. This might explain some elements of S60 right now...
But a show of this quality deserves TIME...
12 - MrDistortion
This is the best show on network TV. But ... If it had started at the bottom and gained viewership, it would have a chance. Instead, it started high and continues to lose viewers. There's also no way it could keep paying all those people. This has got to be a record for the number of emmy & golden globe winners/nominees on one show.
I'll miss you Studio 60
13 - Cesar
I sent a comment to NBC.com and received this auto-response....
* - * - * - * - * - * - * - *
Thanks for your email. NBC values your comments, but unfortunately, due to the volume of emails we receive, we cannot respond to each one. Please check our NBC FAQ section to see if your question is answered there:
Since we cannot accept unsolicited scripts, show ideas, or other creative material, any such submission by email will be deleted without being read.
We would also like to hear more of your opinions about television and the programs you watch. If you would like to share your feedback with us by becoming part of our viewer panel, please visit the following link: NBC Viewer Panel
Writing to the website may not be the best idea but maybe the link is.
14 - bailorg
I'm really puzzled by the claims that "Studio 60" is so well written. I loved "The West Wing" and was hoping to love this show considering the dreck that passes for TV drama today, but the show always seemed to be on the wrong foot, focusing on the characters I cared least about, "dealing" with issues in ways that seemed to confirm the inane ramblings of right-wing nut-jobs who speak of an "elite liberal media", week after week of dreadfully unfunny sketches, and oh so often resorting to tired, sophomoric cliches to resolve storylines.
Despite the above failings, I did continue to watch the show just for the occasional witty banter that only Sorkin seems to do so well, but a couple weeks ago when I forgot to record the show, I realized I'm happier just popping in DVD's of TV shows that I do like.
15 - Cecilia
Agree 100%, this show has some amazing potential, and it deserves a second season. When I think of what Sorkin did with TWW on its second year.... Anyway, you're right, if this truly is the end for S60, I'll still follow him wherever he shows his work next. (la jolla?)
16 - J.M. Harrison
Well, the petition count is up over 7200 now (Tue morning). Add to that the thousands of posts on the NBC boards, other sites, I have hopes that some exec over at the network will wake up to this and find some backbone. Sure, sure, I'm asking the impossible - execs are BORN invertebrates. Still, there are occasionally, mutations.
J.M. Harrison
17 - Clavos
I've watched them all, Sports Night through Studio 60. The Sorkin/Schlamme team are the best on TV these days.
I hope they find a berth somewhere.
18 - Nicki
Perfect! I never understood the complaints about Studio 60 and why whoever was complaining about one aspect had another person standing opposite screaming at the the top of their lungs. People hated the show because they developed expectations for it before it aired. Poor you, wait until you see a show and THEN decide if you like. Calm down, not every show is for every person, everyone doesn't have to go to the opera, you can have your MTV. So, dear NBC, there are plenty of people who love Studio 60, I am one, and we are recruiting our friends to watch, I have, so give it some time to find a home and then let us enjoy.
19 - Kayla
Thank you so much for writing this piece. Many of us love this show, and feel it is the best show on television. It has been unfairly skewered by critics/bloggers and it is very nice to see an article that does not pander to them.
20 - BobbyDan
just a coupple of quick thoughts. first off i'm totally in agreement with your sentiment. secondly i'm a college student, studying to be a screen writer myself, and today in my mass comm class we actually touched on the success of MASH and your facts are slightly off. While it's success isn't debateable, the show was canceled on it's first season, but ended up becoming a first run syndicated series, where it did succeed. sadly i don't think studio 60 can be made cheap enough for straight to syndication, but i recall that CBS was in competition with NBC on bidding for the show, and i'm currious if there is some way CBS could buy the show now, since CBS seems to have more integrity and sticks with shows even if they only have marginal ratiengs, any thoughts?
21 - J.M. Harrison
My God I am getting old! Thanks Bobby for pointing that out! That was indeed how it came around. I also remember a story that the wife of then CBS CEO loved the show and there was a little "pillow talk" advice...
The gods of Hollywood huh?
Thanks for the correction and the post!
J.M. Harrison
22 - Kat
This is the best new show this season. It's the only one I can't wait to watch... that means I actually stay up to watch it rather than tivo it for later. THAT MEANS I WAS WILLING TO WATCH COMMERCIALS! COME ON NBC!
23 - Anonymous Coward
I'm with Kat. For 24, Lost, and Studio 60, I tune in and watch the commercials. Everything else gets viewed later with the skip butting taking care of the ads. Funny, the episode called "the long lead story" made reference to the inequality of audiences. So the ratings are lower? I wonder if S60 had the "right" folks watching? I'm sure everyone reading this particular blog thinks so ;)
24 - jpm
Bailorg has it right - I loved the WW and thought it was incredible, but can't say the same about S60, because it's just not. It's hit and miss - some episodes are okay, most are just shy of that I fear. And most annoying is the "sketches" from the show that then show all the crew etc laughing lots, but I'm never laughing with them, because the sketches just aren't funny at all. I suppose why Sorkin's not putting on an actual SNL type show.
I think Whitford and Perry are great, and the exec guy is good too, but find Perry's girlfriend character stupendously annoying, and Amanda Peet is great eye candy but her character is dull and unimpressive. As for the two african amerian chaps fighting it out every week, that's just irritating.
Had really high hopes, and will continue to watch if it comes back on, and will watch whatever Sorkin does next - but TV gold this really ain't.
25 - kochleffl51
I too, grieve the loss of Studio 60. It seems that the common denominator of shows that "make it" is the ability to stimulate adrenaline secretion. I crave the witty dialog and social commentary.