Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Judd Hirsch, current star of CBS' Numb3rs and most famous for his role on 70's sitcom Taxi, is supposedly playing the key role of Wes Mendell in the pilot episode. There is no official confirmation in the press, but as he was witnessed playing the role by someone on the set, it is currently being taken as true, at least by this blog.

Wes' was the last major role to be cast, and now all we really need to find out, casting-wise, is who is to be playing Wilson White.

Thoughts? Comments? Share them here.

Actress Kris Murphy, best known (at least for us) as Katie Witt, everyone's favorite West Wing reporter who wasn't Danny Concannon (or maybe you were a bigger fan of Mark, Steve or Chris, idk) has joined the cast as Karen, previously known as Martha Moyer, Danny's date in the pilot, and the character based on Sorkin's ex-girlfriend Maureen McDowd. So, all you shippers out there... yes, it's finally happened. Josh and Katie are getting together. Let the gods rejoice. We've been waiting for this since Katie told Josh how POTUS had bummed a cigarette off her two days ago in Celestial Navigation.

Personally, I like this a lot, even though she's a Winger, because she was such a ridiculously minor Winger, and yet I always liked her. Your thoughts?

Joshua Malina is probably the luckiest actor in Hollywood. Not because he doesn't deserve the roles he gets, he does. But he has the unique distinction of being in every play, movie or television show Aaron Sorkin has ever written. Ever. He's probably most famous for his role of Will Bailey, current Communications Director on the West Wing, a role he's played since 2002 but he's also noteworthy for his role of Jeremy Goodwin on Sorkin's first TV show, Sports Night.

Specializing in playing lovable dorks Malina may well bring his talents to Studio 60, as it is heavilly rumored that he's going to be joining the show not long after the first episode. Thoughts on Malina? Feel like this is either A) neopotism or B) Too many Wingers? Please share.

Due to the extensive time since the last bit of S60 news, here's another poll:

What role do you think Wes will end up playing in the series? We'll never see him again after the pilot Minimal, maybe one or two other appearances. Recurring, there's still a lot of story there. He's going to be a cast member Other

Tonight: The Cold (7.13)

On Wednesday, September 22, 1999 the world first said "Hello" to them. Many of us were watching when that happened, many of us missed it but have since watched.

For the past seven years we've watched as they've become closer, relied on each other, gotten into relationships with the wrong people, been jealous from afar and prayed as the one they loved fought for their life. We've laughed with them, we've cried with them. All the while knowing and hoping that this day would come.

Well come it has: Sunday, March 12, 2006. Joshua Lyman and Donnatella Moss will share the first kiss and finally begin their final journey, which will put them together.

Thank you Bradley Whitford and Janel Moloney for creating these characters we care so much. Thank you Aaron Sorkin and yes, you too John Wells, for creating the situations to put them in. Thank you Marlee Matlin, Mark Feurstein, Mary-Louise Parker, Christian Slater and Jason Isaacs for giving us reason to fret that maybe it won't happen after all.

We've got less than three hours people.* Saddle up.

*Three hours in which I suggest you all rewatch your three Josh and Donna episodes of choice (Might I suggest 17 People, Holy Night and Gaza?).

Earlier I wrote about the fact that it appeared that the character of Los Angeles Times reporter Martha Moyer (based on Sorkin ex-girlfriend Maureen Dowd) was rumored to be no longer a character appearing in the pilot. While this remains true, it appears that the character of Martha Moyer is essentially remaining, but she is now named Karen (Last Named Unknown.) Whether she's a reporter is unknown, since the sides in which her name appears don't include references to her job. But judging by the sides, Karen is, essentially, Martha. They have the same lines and are in the same situation as Martha was (At the Writer's Guild Awards with Matt and Danny as Danny's date and questioning Matt as to what happened with him and Harriet)

So, it looks like instead of the character missing, we merely have the fourth significant name change on the show. Following UBS to NBS, Jamie McDeere to Jordan McDeere and Danny Moore to Danny Tripp. How do you feel about this one?

There haven't been any updates in the past week or so because there hasn't been any news since Brad's exciting casting. So I've provided a poll!

Based on the pilot, who is your favorite Studio 60 character? Danny (Moore) Tripp Matt Albie Jordan (Jamie) McDeere Harriet Hayes Simon Stiles Tom Jeter Jack Rudolph Cal Wes Mendell Martha Moyer Other None

This isn't technically about Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, but it certainly relates to Aaron Sorkin and a few future stars of Studio 60. After a more than three-year absence, Rob Lowe will return as Sam Seaborn in the final episodes of The West Wing. His return marks the culmination of years of rumors of a Sam-return and he's not coming alone. Joining him in their return to see the twilight of the show that made many of them household names are Emily Procter (Ainsley Hayes, not seen in four years), Mary-Louise Parker (Amy Gardner, not seen since since last year), Tim Matheson (John Hoynes, not seen since last year), Gary Cole (Bob Russell, not seen since last year) and Anna Deveare Smith (Nancy McNally, not seen since last year.)

Also coming back are Marlee Matlin as Joey Lucas, Annabeth Gish as Liz Bartlet Westin (likely to resolve the storyline started in Internal Displacement) and Timothy Busfield, soon to be Cal on Studio 60, but beloved by all as Danny Concannon. All three of these characters have been seen this season but without any real reason to suspect their return which is final now. Thoughts? Speculation? Do share.