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Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip - The Complete Series
RRP: £50.99
Our Price: £27.99 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk
Aaron Sorkin, bless him, believes that "the people who watch television shows aren't dumber than the people who make television shows." He also believes that "quality is not anathema to profit." He puts these idealistic words into the mouth of Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet), the new, impolitic NBS TV president whose first order of business is to revitalise the network's cash cow, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a long-running live late-night sketch-comedy series reeling from the Howard Beale-esque on-air meltdown of its creator (Judd Hirsch, alas, limited to the pilot episode). With this Upstairs/Backstage look at Studio 60's tumultuous network politics and stormy personal relationships, Sorkin, the creator of Sports Night and The West Wing, once again tried to raise the bar of prime time fare. That he didn't quite clear it makes this one-season wonder a fascinating object lesson of great hopes and dashed expectations. Studio 60 was perhaps the most hotly debated series of the 2006 season and, love it or hate it, all its strengths and flaws can be savoured and savaged anew with this complete-series set. Pretty much above reproach is the ensemble. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford head the cast as comedy writer Matt and executive producer Danny, former Studio 60 hands whom Jordan brings back to "save" the show. Steven Weber co-stars as network chairman Jack Rudolph, who clashes with Jordan over reality programming (he wants it, she doesn't), is embroiled in network negotiations with China, and must fend off angry affiliates offended by such sketches as "Crazy Christians." Jordan contends with becoming tabloid fodder after her ex-husband leaks scandalous details of their past. Meanwhile, Matt, a sardonic atheist, is in a whole Ross and Rachel thing with Harriet (Emmy nominee Sarah Paulson), who is devoutly religious and the show's galvanising star performer (she does do a mean Holly Hunter). Studio 60 has much to say about comedy in wartime, the divided states of America, the creative process, and patriotism. Some of it is deftly handled, some of it is ham-handed and some of it patronising. Most of it is delivered in Sorkin's signature chock-a-block style and with walk-and-talk urgency. But even at its most maddening, there are enough riveting moments (a performance by displaced New Orleans musicians in "The Christmas Show"), jaw-dropping developments ("I'm coming for you, Jordan," warns Danny, suddenly-turned romantic stalker), and indelible performances (John Goodman's Emmy-winning turn as a plain-speaking Pahrump, NV judge not impressed with the Hollywood types before him in the two-part "Nevada Day") to make Studio 60 a series worth revisiting, if only as a guilty pleasure. The pilot episode commentary by Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette, were produced before the show was canceled, robbing this series' fervent fans of the opportunity for some closure. --Donald Liebenson
Engrossing from the start
Review date: 2008-04-21 Rating: 8 out of 10
This series was due to commence in Australia this season however, with the axing in the U.S. it never saw the light of day here. I have just bought and watched the series on DVD. I cannot understand why this series was axed. Admittedly it's a bit like The West Wing revisited with quite a few of the actors crossing over into Stuido 60 - but to me that was also part of the attraction. Each episode was gripping and the storylines were quite different and fresh. The actors were just fantastic. I do agree with some of the reviewers that the show within the show they were putting on was pretty lame but as we only saw snippets, I didn't find that an issue. I would love to see a second series but at least they did manage to wrap up the main storylines, so we weren't left hanging. One of the best things I've seen for ages and would recommend this DVD series.
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Reviews
Almost as Good as the West Wing
Review date: 2008-04-10 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is the new drama/comedy series from the great writer Aaron Sorkin and the brilliant producer Thomas Schlamme. These were two of the crucial men involved in the creation of the west wing and if you are fans you probably already watched this on TV and have your own opinions.
The basic plot is that studio 60 on the sunset strip is the friday night flag ship show of the network 'NBS'. It is a late night sketch show and for years has been going downhill. Its creator,chief writer and executive producer after a rant which you see in the first episode has been fired. This requires the network to hire previously fired writer Matt Albie (Matthew Perry/Chandler from Friends) and Producer Danny Trypp (Bradley Whitford/Josh Lyman from the West Wing).
The series with some trials and tribulations is based upon the show and its creation every week and unlike a previous review i love some of the sketches in the 'show' itself.
If You are a fan of the west wing you will recognise much of the cast, from Danny, the Reporter, The deputy chief of staff for the Santos Campaign, Matthem Perry who played joe Quincy the associate White house council.
This is a great start and i promise it is brilliant. However it has been cancelled but it may br returning i can only hope.
i have a school girl crush to confess...
Review date: 2008-03-31 Rating: 10 out of 10
this from a 40 year old woman who should know better i know...but ask me do i care?
i just love bradley whitfords character in this & he can inundate me with recommendations anytime anywhere. then again so could steven webber. okay i will behave now...promise.
the only reason i can think of that this very very cool show was not a hit ratings wise was that it had been billed wrongly. labled as a matthew perry vehicle. leading many maybe to expect chandler again. but while studio 60 has its comedic moments (often darker humour not ha ha ha funny)it is not a comedy. it is a drama about a comedy sketch show and its behind the scenes shenanigans. huge difference. it should never have been marketed as a comedy apparently even the trailers were edited to show the funny bits. missing the point and the actual real content badly. i can't fault a single actor in the show - timothy busfield, amanda peet and matthew perry of course all great. (ditto for the two crushes above...)but chandler (while a wonderful character we will forever hold dear) is not the whole of matthew perry and it is credit to him as an actor that not once while watching studio 60 was i thinking its chandler in a suit!
buy this dvd because if you don't its your loss really honestly. i can't rate it highly enough.
Phenomenal
Review date: 2008-03-28 Rating: 10 out of 10
Phenomenal, that is the only word I can use to describe this series.
Whether your interested in it because you used to watch Friends, or because it's made by the same people responsible for West Wing, or you just liked it for the cover! It's brilliant, it arrived yesterday, and thought I'd watch an episode before bed, 4 hours later it's one in the morning and I'm still watching! Matthew Perry is brilliant and witty as ever, it had me laughing out loud (much the annoyance of my family!)
Well worth the purchase, plot lines are excellent, acting is amazing, punch lines are even better!
Too much like Sports Night with religion
Review date: 2008-03-14 Rating: 4 out of 10
I confess to loving every episode of the West Wing (although the Sorkin episodes are best). I hate 'Sports night' (another Sorkin show). This is like Sports night but with added religious tension. I am not sure I can forgive him for this series being nowhere nearly as good as the West Wing. Part of the problem is that there is no longer the background of driven, earnest, bright people trying to do their best at the most important jobs in the world. It is set in the ad-funded, slightly soiled, only as good as your last show, world of US TV. A classic Tommy Schlamme walk and talk shot falls short when the only thing that gets picked up is miles and miles of behind the set chaos and mess. The corporate politics, and soapy make-up/break-up private lives of the characters fail to grip - maybe they are interesting to an insider? I dont know. (I get enough corporate politics at the office thanks). Then there is the constant back and forth of the 'liberal' american left versus the republican and religious right. This has been apparently central to Aaron Sorkin's personal life, and he seems to exorcise some of this in the by-play between Matt and Harriet. It is also central to what splits american politics and national identity. It is however given an importance in the series that it just wouldnt have in the UK where such extreme views and polarisation happens nearer to the edges of society. The idea of this many comedians with 'integrity' trying to change the world at the expense of genuine comedy is a bit of a stretch. And (almost) finally unlike the West Wing - despite the smart and witty dialogue I mostly dont 'like' the characters. I am not yearning for a happy ending for them all. Except for Tom. Finally - what is it with the sketches? Every one as funny as root canal dentistry. John Goodman is good though.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Bradley Whitford
Amanda Peet
Matthew Perry
Sarah Paulson
D.L. Hughley
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321902177366
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 6
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-01-21
Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 894 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Hungarian (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)