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NBC's `Studio' fails to reveal dramatic ratings
Chicago Tribune ^ | October 18, 2006 | Phil Rosenthal

Posted on 10/18/2006 10:04:13 AM PDT by RayChuang88

NBC ripped up its fall schedule shortly after unveiling it to advertisers last spring to protect the network's hefty investment in Aaron Sorkin's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."

It looks as though the fourth-place network has been ripped off to the tune of $3 million an episode.

The most-hyped show of the new TV season has become the biggest disappointment. "Studio 60" is a bust.

The drama about backstage intrigue at a "Saturday Night Live"-esque show from "The West Wing" auteur Sorkin that NBC outbid its rivals to land, is dying like one of those mirthless "SNL" sketches shoe-horned in just before the closing credits.

It's not entirely clear why, though viewers historically have not swarmed to inside showbiz dramas. It's also possible they've found Sorkin's tale of how a big-shot heroic writer deigned to return to network TV a tad smug. The allegedly brilliant work his fictional alter ego churns out seems very ordinary indeed.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: nbc; sorkin; studio60; television
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To: norton

I am so utterly tired of Law and order, all it's spin offs, and the constant reruns my lady insists on watching that I'm burning through reading glasses.
Maybe not a bad trade off.


***

The original L&O is getting tired...I expect it will be gone fairly soon. After Jerry Orbach left and subsequently passed away, the show really hasn't been the same. The spinoffs are ok...just not as good as the original.


61 posted on 10/18/2006 10:38:23 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: AlaskaErik
I had no intention of watching Desperate Housewives when it started.

But, some of the actors were in other series previously and I liked them in those other shows.

One Sunday night, I watched something on ABC and forgot to turn the channel. DH was about in its 6th episode. I was in the computer room listening to Drudge streaming. Out of the corner of my eye, I would catch bits and pieces of DH. And it would catch my attention. Who got shot? Why did he shoot him? Whose wife did he kill? In 30 minutes I was hooked. I will not miss an episode.

The characters are hilarious. The Hispanic woman (Eva) is a riot. The time she and the Nun were going at it, pulling hair and fighting in the church, I was ROFLOL.

It is really a great series, well written, tight plotlines, with just enough romance and drama to keep it interesting.
62 posted on 10/18/2006 10:40:22 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: RayChuang88
I can't stand the Sorkin format. Always having continuous dialog while people are moving about, constant interaction between the groups of people with their hip dialog, ach!!!

Every show has the same format. West Wing, that sports show, different setting, same format.
63 posted on 10/18/2006 10:40:47 AM PDT by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: norton

Shark is a great show. I have been a big James Woods fan for years ever since I saw him in Best Seller.


64 posted on 10/18/2006 10:43:11 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: Lucky9teen

I just started watching again at the end of last season and the only reason I came back was because of John Stamos. Swooon.

But, I have been enjoying it.

I was annoyed with it last week with the scene where Abby went to the mommy and me class. I'm a big believer in slings and babywearing in general and I felt they made it look like only mothers who worry about trends and using their babies as fashion accessories wore slings. They came across as freaks. I would have thought that a medical show would have studied up on the benefits of slings versus bjorns and would have portrayed that better.


65 posted on 10/18/2006 10:44:15 AM PDT by elc (Feeling the babywearing love)
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To: All

I thought "Medium" was a successful show. What replaced it is crap and won't last.


66 posted on 10/18/2006 10:44:51 AM PDT by Poincare
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To: sean327

I will be checking out "Friday Night Lights" because comments on FR.....I am looking forward the return of "24"


67 posted on 10/18/2006 10:45:27 AM PDT by Kimmers
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To: TheBigB

The thing that irritates me about Heroes is when they have the Japanese guys on --- with subtitles.

That is okay, except that the subtitles show up in different areas of the screen. And many times they are white letters on white background. And they are only visible for a flash.

By the time my eyes locate the subtitle, assuming I can see it when it is white lettering on a darker color, it has flashed off. So I miss most of the wording between the two Japanese characters.

That is just poor presentation on the producer's/editor's part.


68 posted on 10/18/2006 10:46:01 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: dfwgator; Warren_Piece

Betty la Fea (Betty, the Ugly One), was actually Columbian, not Mexican. Ugly Betty is a cute show and probably the only network comedy that I watch. Aside from the Law and Order and CSI franchises, it's pretty much cable for me.

I get a little tired of 20 yr olds whose lives full of problems I don't even have at 53, overly sexed and rude teens, and inadequate parents. There is precious little on broadcast tv that is of interest to me anymore or, if I had young children, that we could watch as a family. Where's Alf when you need him?


69 posted on 10/18/2006 10:46:37 AM PDT by radiohead (Hey Kerry, I'm still here; still hating your lying, stinking, guts you coward.)
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To: TomGuy
I noticed that, too. You do have to pay attention when Hiro is onscreen.

OTOH, I also pay extra attention when Claire or Niki is on. ;-) LOVED that opening from this week's show with Claire lying on the autopsy table after she woke up..."Oh, s$%t!"

70 posted on 10/18/2006 10:48:42 AM PDT by TheBigB (So I'm over at Elvis's place, bangin' on the bathroom door, goin' "C'mon, did you die in there?")
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To: Lucky9teen

I think ER is better this season than the past few.

They finally got rid of Carter, and I couldn't stand him as the main doctor. I really couldn't stand how they kept having him go to Africa.


71 posted on 10/18/2006 10:51:27 AM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Lucky9teen

The one thing that irritates me with Jericho is this:

The nation has been nuked, so half of the townsfolk are in the bar and too lazy to help the others do anything.



I had a similar problem with Lost. They crashed on the island and were too busy the first season fighting for alpha-male status to even explore the island. Heck, there could have been a thriving city or a 7-11 with a payphone on the other side of the island. But that bunch of nimnuts didn't even bother to search. It got too far-fetched in a hurry. I quit watching it when they found that under ground bunker and had to keep pushing the button every 102 minutes (or whatever it was).


72 posted on 10/18/2006 10:51:48 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: TomGuy

I think Jericho is stupid, but I like Heroes. Heroes has an interesting story that seems to be moving some place, and it is filmed interestingly.


73 posted on 10/18/2006 10:53:13 AM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: RayChuang88
The drama about backstage intrigue at a "Saturday Night Live"-esque show

Is it starring Dick Van Dyke? Sounds like it could be funny.

74 posted on 10/18/2006 10:53:24 AM PDT by AmishDude (Mwahahahahahahahaha -- official evil laugh of the North American Union)
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To: norton

Norton actually SVU is pretty good that Law and order sex crime unit but CI start to bored me even having Lt Pyle as one of main cop from Full Metal jacket


75 posted on 10/18/2006 10:53:56 AM PDT by SevenofNine ("Step aside Jefe"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
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To: Warren_Piece

Psych was a riot.

I wasn't going to watch it, but decided to check it out when nothing else was on. It rapidly became one of my 'must watch' programs. I can't wait for it to return, in January, I think.

When the Black guy was talking about the ghostly voice in his wall when he was a kid, and the other guy admitted planting the walkie-talkier, I was rolling on the floor. The Black guy's facial expressions were priceless.


76 posted on 10/18/2006 10:54:39 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: Lucky9teen
Too bad you didn't stick around, you may have been surprised. One of the major characters is an outspoken Christian, who takes every opportunity to tell her co-workers they're "gonna burn in hell" for that! She's very funny, very unapologetic, and very true to her faith - without bashing everyone over the head with it.

I've seen every show. They are fair in their treatment of most everything. Oh, wait, I don't think I've seen a gay storyline yet. I very much enjoy the show, it's a very "smart" show....ya gotta be able to keep up with the conversations.
77 posted on 10/18/2006 10:56:08 AM PDT by blu (People, for God's sake, think for yourselves)
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To: TomGuy
The thing that irritates me about Heroes is when they have the Japanese guys on --- with subtitles. That is okay, except that the subtitles show up in different areas of the screen. And many times they are white letters on white background. And they are only visible for a flash.

I've never had any trouble.

SD

78 posted on 10/18/2006 10:57:51 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: RayChuang88
Wait. What? People still watch TV? And network TV at that?

Why?

79 posted on 10/18/2006 10:58:51 AM PDT by Jonathon Spectre (Nazis believed they were doing good.)
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To: blu
She's also the second smartest character in the group and handily the sanest. I like the show, but I love the Sorkin rhythm, he could script a phonebook reading and I'd probably like it.
80 posted on 10/18/2006 10:59:50 AM PDT by discostu (we're two of a kind, silence and I)
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