By Rob N. LeDonne
Combine hit NBC shows “Friends,” “The West Wing” and “Saturday Night Live” and you get “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”- an electric one hour drama airing Monday nights at 10.
Created and written by Aaron Sorkin, “Studio 60” is a fictionalized take on the behind the scenes antics of a late night sketch comedy show – not unlike that of “SNL.” The pilot episode centers around disgruntled long time producer (guest star Judd Hirsch) who sets off on an on-air tirade about network TV. After he is booted, it is up to Matt Albee (Matthew Perry) and Danny Tripp (Bradley Whitford), two hotshot writers, to save the day and take over the show.
The show is peppered with many stars – some has-beens and some current – including Perry in his first shot at a TV show since the end of “Friends.” He follows unsuccessful efforts by his former costars; Lisa Kudrow’s “The Comeback” and Matt LeBlanc’s spin-off “Joey” were both canceled quickly.
“Studio 60” also features Amanda Peet, usually accustomed to film roles, who recently starred in “The Whole Nine Yards” and it’s sequel with Perry.
Other principal characters include former “West Wing” cast member Whitford and comedian D.L. Hughley. Steven Weber of the ’90s sitcom “Wings” and veteran actor Timothy Busfield round out the cast.
Sorkin meanwhile is no stranger to television, known as one of the best writers working today. Before “The West Wing,” he wrote such films as the critically acclaimed “A Few Good Men” and “The American President” and helmed the canceled “Sports Night,” a half hour dramedy, similar to “Studio 60″in its portrayal of the behind the scenes workings of a sports talk show.
“Studio 60” has all of the hallmarks of a Sorkin drama, with sharp dialogue, dramatic storylines and longer than usual takes that follow the characters through the studio.NBC is counting on “Studio 60” to resurrect the network from an extended slump that began when “Friends” went off the air and viewership declined sharply. It is now up to Sorkin’s drama to lead a lineup and other new shows such as “Friday Night Lights,” “Kidnapped” and the similarly structured “30 Rock” to bring NBC back to the grandeur it once had.
“Studio 60” definitely has potential to draw the huge ratings NBC is praying for. With such a varied cast and Sorkin leading the way, it very well could capture the hearts and minds of America and be one of the fall’s break out hits.
GRADE: A-
