I'd almost swear that a couple of this week's sketches were re-writes of broadcast SNL bits. They sure felt that way (... and I didn't laugh then either).

In addition to the problems mentioned with the level of comedy, it's hard to imagine that "the room" was really all that much worse. Nothing they have shown on S60 is really that far away from what we have seen in recent times on SNL. They're running sketches into the ground (the Cage bit) and are even covering the same material SNL covers at times (Nancy Grace).

This doesn't really bug me that much because there is so much about the show that is good, and I hope that Sorkin is doing this intentionally and has a plan that requires the show not look all that funny right at the moment. We'll see.

If the sketches were funny, Lorne Michaels would snatch up Sorkin in a minute to write for his lame ass show ...

Never understood why Michaels' always gets a pass, and gets award dinners to boot. He hasnt put a funny product out in 25 years ...

I think Mark McKinney was brought on specifically to write those sketch within a show scenes given his experience with KITH (which was never topical humor) and SNL.

5.3/9 raiting last night... 'What About Brian' brought in larger numbers...

Now even I'm concerned, and I have been suggesting that second place is okay. NBC isn't going to stand for poor ratings and being beat by both other networks. I'll enjoy the other 8 episodes while I can, though.

They'll either move this show or kill it. There's no way NBC will keep the status quo with a 3rd place finish and losing audience members every week.

Or the whole damned forum, for that matter!

Studio 60's "sketch comedy" is window dressing -- it has nothing to do with the plot of the show itself. Why everyone is harping on this aspect of the show, I can't imagine.

Losing to What About Brian is definitely not a good thing. That show was just about DOA last year, and its renewal was a huge surprise.

Window dressing is supposed to enhance the show, right? I think people note the issues with it because it detracts from the show.

I still don't like the show, but I'm feeling more and more comfortable with it being a part of my Monday night viewing routine. This is the first time I've felt like I'll miss it if it gets cancelled.


Yikes. I can't imagine what kind of blow it would be to Sorkin's ego for his "literate, important show" to be squashed by the "Bread and Circuses" alternative over on ABC.

After being forced to watch that sketch, I turned it off.

I liked the "Search and Destroy" reality show idea. I was addicted to Temptation Island, so I'd be all over that.

I felt better about this episode. I'll hold on for now. Frankly, I'd like to see more of Peet, Weber, and Asner re: the running of the network over the workings of Studio 60.

Wow - the Nick Cage skit was truly painful.

Stick a fork in this show. If 'Brian' beats these guys, there's no hope.

Definately my favorite new show, though this episode felt a little more like "filler" then the previous ones. I will be happy if it just survives one full season so we can look forward to a DVd treatment. As much as I like it, though, I do not see it having anywhere near the longevity as West Wing, which is very unfortunate.

co-sign.
I'm still likin' it and I'm likin' Sarah Paulson. And I like the Matt/Harriett storyline.

And I too, would've wanted a lute version of Fields of Gold that I could buy. Probably my favorite Sting song. So Kudos to whoever selected that for the end.

What annoys me most about the sketches is that they are wasting time that could be spent developing characters. Hell, there was barely any Matt/Danny interaction, and nothing from the supporting cast again last night. That Harriet character has taken up way too much time for very little payoff - it seems like the Harriet/Matt thing would've been far better if it had been allowed to develop over the course of a season or two.

I will agree that some of the sketches are painful to sit through. I feel they are missing an opportunity to show bad sketches during the writing of the show to get reactions from Matt about how bad they are.

I don't care what anyone says, the Nicholas Cage bit is funny.

I really like what they did with Matt/Harriet this week, but so far the biggest let down is the lack of Matt/Danny interaction. Whitford and Perry are just comedic gold on a Sorkin set in my opinion and they don't seem to be taking advantage of it.

This is still my favorite new show and I look forward to each week, but I am starting to get concerned when What About Brian is bringing in bigger numbers. I am an Abrams fan and I will watch anything with Sarah Lancaster, but that show is just painful to watch.

Maybe because it was about 20% of the show this week?

This is supposed to be a hip, relevant, cutting-edge show and they have Sting on as their music guest playing classical music? Fucking Sting? He hasn't been relevant in over 20 years. Not to mention that dirge he closed the show with should've put everyone to sleep. Seems like Sorkin's getting old, as are his ideas of what is relevant.

::

cool, my sister lives in Tustin. I be movin there in May. got any hookups at an accounting firm?

The in show sketches were horrible.

Nancy Grace - Suck
Nick Cage Show - Suck
Lydia Doesn't have a Baby - Suck.

Of course I don't watch for the sketch comedy, but it's getting harder to enjoy it with such bad comedy in it. I hope they drop "the Show" for more of the action surrounding the show.

Another problem plaguing NBC over Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is the fact in every home that has cable or satellite TV access, a large fraction of that audience is watching ESPN Monday Night Football, which is doing a number on the ratings of over-air networks in the Eastern and Central time zones. Unless NBC is willing to "eat" the circa US$3.5 million per episode cost and wait it out till after the NFL season ends for better ratings, I wouldn't be surprised that this show won't get a full season order from NBC.

From TVTracker.com:

In contrast, NBC's competing Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip cannot stop the bleeding at a series-low 6.6/10 in the overnights (#2), 7.76 million viewers (#3) and a 3.1/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#3). Comparatively, retention for Studio 60 out of Heroes was just 73 percent in the overnights, 59 percent in total viewers and 54 percent among adults 18-49.

I'm done with this show.

I get that Perry's ex is a christian. Thank you for reminding me every single time she appears on the screen. Why not just give her a spinoff with the cheerleader from Heroes?