Is it the Media’s Fault Studio 60 Suffered?
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, NBC, Cancellations, Ratings,
The much-hyped Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip suffered a short season on NBC (the network that’s currently falling behind all competitors – ABC, CBS, even FOX when it comes to ratings), possibly because of tension between show creator Aaron Sorkin and the general media. Sorkin, the writer of A Few Good Men, watched (no doubt in despair) as his Studio was bashed by critics and ignored by viewers. Sure, the show’s subject matter – comedy writers – couldn’t have had anything to do with the public’s failure to connect with Studio 60. Right. Sorkin is moving on to other projects, many of them to debut on Broadway, and thank goodness. Chalk up yet another failure for NBC, the network that’s still trying to salvage its success from the 90s.
Read More 
| LA Times
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Studio 60 Returns in May
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Prime Time, NBC, Cancellations, Ratings, Renewals,
There’s a few of us Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip fans left who have been wondering whether the show would be back or not. Let’s all give a collective sigh, because it’s set to return in May. Don’t get too comfortable, however. It’s a pretty safe bet that after the show wraps up this season, this will be the last of it. Hey, at least NBC is being decent enough to finish out the remaining taped episodes, but there’s no telling if these last six shows are going to wrap up anything. Add to that the weirdness that Studio 60 will return at 10 p.m. on Thursdays. It’s a shame this show never caught on with viewers—I think it was interesting and had spectacular writing and acting. Heck, I’m not even a Matthew Perry fan (sorry Chandler lovers), and I couldn’t wait to watch the chemistry between him and Bradley Whitford every week. The show will return on May 24th.
Read More | Zap2it
Real Wedding Crashers Fails to Deliver
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, NBC,
I don’t know if any of you are planning to tune into The Real Wedding Crashers on Monday. I’m on the fence about this hidden camera show from Ashton Kutcher, but the latest review has me thinking I may just skip it. The good news is that this midseason series is only six episodes long. The better news is that it’s probably the last we’ll see of it. The 10 p.m. time slot for NBC seems to be where shows go to die. Remember Studio 60 and The Black Donnellys? Yeah, what happened to them? And are they ever coming back? I know I may be in the minority here, but I would really like some closure to Studio 60. OK, back to this wedding crasher show—five crashers work with the bride and groom to prank the guests. Hidden cameras capture all the hijinx. I guess the couple in on the joke would have to love a good prank—why else would you ruin your wedding day?
Read More | Reuters
The Real Wedding Crashers Begins April 23
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, NBC, Ratings,
NBC is hoping that the new hidden camera show, The Real Wedding Crashers, will translate into a hit for the Monday at 10 p.m. time slot. Previous ratings losers in this time include Studio 60 and The Black Donnellys. Studio 60 was on hiatus to introduce Donnellys, but now Donnellys will be taking a hiatus for Wedding Crashers. What does that mean for the fate of Donnellys and Studio 60? I’ve got a sinking feeling that it’s not good news. Still, The Real Wedding Crashers may be just the light and silly offering people are looking for, courtesy of Ashton Kutcher and company. And it doesn’t hurt that the series premiere is April 23rd, following Heroes. In the show, wedding couples will team with five improv performers (the crashers), resulting in what’s sure to be some funny moments. At least the bride and groom are in on the joke!
Read More | Comingsoon.net
Cast Your Vote to Save One Show
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, Scrubs, The CW, Cancellations, Internet, Renewals,
Over at E! Online, TV guru Kristin Veitch is having her annual vote to ‘Save One Show’... so now’s your chance to help one of your favorites live to see another season on TV. Kristin runs down the list of which shows are likely to make a second return, which ones are on the fence, and those that soon may no longer have a pulse. You have until Friday, April 6 to place your vote for the following:
- 30 Rock
- The Class
- Close to Home
- Crossing Jordan
- Friday Night Lights
- Gilmore Girls
- How I Met Your Mother
- Jericho
- Medium
- The Nine
- One Tree Hill
- Scrubs
- Six Degrees
- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
- Supernatural
- Veronica Mars
- What About Brian
As of her Thursday update, she reported that more than 600,000 votes had been received and the shows that had generated the most votes were: Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Supernatural and Veronica Mars. This poll really has had some impact in the past, so cast your votes—five out of six shows from previous years have been saved. You can make a difference! The show that receives the most votes will be announced on April 13th.
Read More | E! Online
Black Donnellys Brings in Disappointing Numbers
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Prime Time, NBC, Ratings,
NBC certainly hoped that The Black Donnellys would bring in better numbers than the show it replaced, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Turns out it didn’t perform well either, despite the hype. Donnellys only average 8.4 million viewers for its debut, only slightly assisted by the lead-in audience from Heroes. Heroes ran over into Black Donnellys’ timeslot, so the 14.3 million who were watching may have held on for the debut of Donnellys. However, they didn’t stick around—the numbers dropped to 6.8 million at 10:30 p.m. Studio 60, by comparison, averaged 6.1 million viewers during its last episode. I saw a clip on E! with Kritin Veitch where she said that Studio 60 is as expensive to cancel as it is to create, so NBC is certainly between the proverbial rock and hard place.
Read More | AOL
Studio 60 Devolves into West Wing Reruns
Posted by Rob Stevens Categories: Comedy, NBC, West Wing, The, Editorial,
I’m a Sorkin fan. I thought The West Wing was one of the best shows on TV while Sorkin was still running it, and a great deal of my knowledge of how our government works (or should ideally work) came from that show. One of the things I’ve liked about Studio 60 was just how much like The West Wing it was in pacing and writing style. Even some of the actors were the same, people who’ve proven to be able to handle the way Sorkin writes. Hell, the title of the episode is in the same font.
Studio 60 stopped being similar to The West Wing last night, and practically turned into a rerun.
Click to continue reading Studio 60 Devolves into West Wing Reruns
NBC May Webcast SNL Rehearsals
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live, Internet, Rumors,
The possibility that NBC could broadcast Friday night rehearsals of Saturday Night Live may become a reality. NBC Universal chief digital officer George Kliavkoff spoke at a panel discussion on digital media at the Digital Entertainment Media & Marketing Excellence conference in Los Angeles. “Sometimes it’s a lot more interesting than the show. It’s something we watch on the cameras at 30 Rock,” said Kliavkoff. Currently, the Friday rehearsals are broadcast closed-circuit at NBC headquarters. NBC already has two shows that go behind-the-scenes of sketch comedies—30 Rock and Studio 60 both offer a glimpse at what goes into making a live late-night comedy show. So why not make it a reality with SNL? I think it would be a great inside look at what really goes on, including what gets cut and how things play out in rehearsal.
Read More | Reuters
What About Brian Receives Additional Script Order
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Prime Time, ABC, Ratings,
ABC already seemed to take a chance by bringing back What About Brian for a second season, following less-than-stellar viewership for the mid-season entry last year. The network seems smitten with Brian, ordering four additional scripts—although there has been no commitment by ABC to film any more episodes. ABC has also ordered additional scripts for The Nine, Help Me Help You and Men in Trees; the other networks have also made similar arrangements with Friday Night Lights, Justice, The Class and Studio 60.
What About Brian has made a promising start to its second season, following Brian (Barry Watson), as the only single guy in his group of friends. Ratings are up from 6.3 million last season to 6.9 million this fall. Brian also retains about 85 percent of the show before it, The Bachelor. I’m hoping What About Brian goes the distance this season, since I’ve followed it since last year and am looking forward to seeing where they take the storylines.
Read More | Zap2it
30 Rock Premiere Available Online
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, NBC, Saturday Night Live, Internet,
I guess not everyone will share my sentiment about 30 Rock, starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin—there are a lot of negative comments out there about the show—but I’m really looking forward to Wednesday’s premiere. Perhaps I was in the minority, but I just loved Fey on Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live and think her writing for the film Mean Girls was fantastic. Alec Baldwin is always a showstopper for me too. Any time he’s hosted SNL, he’s been incredibly funny, with excellent timing. I know, I know, there is already the behind-the-scenes-look-at-a-late-night-sketch-comedy-show on Studio 60, but try and give this one a chance.
That said, you can view the entire premiere episode at NBC.com—in advance of the premiere on Wednesday night. I’m dying to see it, but alas, will have to wait until tomorrow to check it out because I’ve just been too busy. Whether you watch it online or catch it on NBC Wednesday at 8:00 PM, I’d love to hear what you think of it. Good—Bad—or just, eh? Also noteworthy: Tina Fey will have a live blog following the show at NBC.com. Check it out.
Read More | NBC.com
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