The Sophian

Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Arts

Media Credit: NBC.com Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford shine in Aaron Sorkin's new NBC drama, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Fans of The West Wing and the less-remembered but well-regarded Sports Night greatly anticipated the arrival of Aaron Sorkin's new drama, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Like The West Wing, Studio 60 is an hour-long drama with well-timed comedic moments; like Sports Night, it is a television show about the behind-the-scenes happenings of a television show.

The fictional late-night show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip needs to be saved. The jokes are not funny and the actors and guest stars know the jokes are not funny. When Executive Producer Wes Mendell (Judd Hirsch) interrupts an opening sketch that was making fun of George W. Bush's legacy - "Legacy is a 480 SAT word, which, as it turns out, does not mean a woman with nice legs" - and technical director Cal Shanley (Timothy Busfield) leaves him on air for 53 seconds, Mendell is fired and brand-new National Broadcasting System President Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet) hires writer and director team Matt Albie (Matthew Perry) and Danny Tripp (Bradley Whitford) to save the show.

We are both fans of Aaron Sorkin's prior work, having watched varying amounts of his other television shows. What is good about the Studio 60 pilot is that the show, though it waits until after the first commercial break to introduce Matt and Danny, gives them a well-defined back-story of friendship and camaraderie. Matt Albie does not remind us of Perry's most famous role as Chandler Bing. Whitford, straight from his seven-year engagement as The West Wing's Josh Lyman, does not seem as separated from his previous role, despite a completely different characterization. Jordan McDeere has a great balance of humor and seriousness regarding her job as NBS president. Even the supporting characters are extremely compelling - Cal's attempt to allow Mendell to demonstrate live, on air, the direness of the show's need for fresh and inspired material causes the problems that drive the pilot. He did what was right for Studio 60 and accepts that he is likely to be fired for his actions. The production assistant Suzanne, though not a regular cast member, is another character we both liked. Suzanne's job connects her with every other person on the show and she wants the show to be good; she nearly hero-worships Matt Albie when she asks him if he has come to save them. We also were fond of the friendships depicted between actors and technical staff, because as television viewers we don't usually think about the relationships that the "stars" might have with the "nobodies" who work behind the camera.

Our biggest problem with the show is probably Peet's single facial expression. While we agree that Peet is cute and we both like her character, she always seems to be showing her teeth.

The music, composed by W.G. Snuffy Walden, fits the atmosphere of the scenes well, and Thomas Schlamme's direction does not try to overshadow Sorkin's story but instead enhances it. The familiarity that Schlamme and Sorkin have with each other is seamless and leaves the audience wondering if this is the work of a single writer/director rather than two individuals.

Our verdict: this is one show you should not miss. It can only get better from here.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip airs Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC.

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