Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Well, this'll be the last post of 2006!

NBC's doing this Best of 2006 voting thing, where you vote for the best in various categories on NBC in 2006. Studio 60 is up for some things including Matt and Danny for Best Banter (although I voted for the cast of The West Wing on that one), Danny and Jordan for Couple That Should Be Together, both Danny and Jordan AND Matt and Harriet on Couple That Shouldn't Be Together. I think there might be some other ones too. Since there's probably a lot of The West Wing fans here, you should know they have a lot of nominations too, more than Studio 60.

Anyways, vote here:

http://www.nbc.com/Movies_Specials_More/Best_of_06/


And have a Happy New Year!

Okay, I give up. I have tried, valiantly, to put up the third poll. I've tried dozens of poll making websites, and everytime, some how, it doesn't work. I'm throwing in the towel. Unless someone tells me a site that is actually reliable (the one I had previously been using for the other two polls somehow stopped working when I tried to make this one, and no matter what I tried, only allowed "Other" and "None" to be the two options) this is how we're doing it.

The question is: Which Studio 60 romantic pairing, potential romantic pairing or fan-created pairing is your favorite?

Here are your options!

• Danny/Jordan
• Matt/Harriet
• Tom/Lucy
• Matt/Jeannie
• Jack/Jordan
• Simon/Lucy
• Harriet/Luke
• Danny/Martha
• Matt/Jordan
• Other
• None

So, just comment with your vote and I'll make some kind of running tally.

What is your favorite episode of Studio 60?
	(1-1) Pilot
	(1-2) The Cold Open
	(1-3) The Focus Group
	(1-4) The West Coast Delay
	(1-5) The Long Lead Story
	(1-6) The Wrap Party
	(1-7) Nevada Day (Part I)
	(1-8) Nevada Day (Part II)
	(1-9) The Option Period
	(1-10) B-12
	(1-11) The Christmas Show
pollcode.com free polls

Be sure to watch, especially if you happen to be a Nielsen family. This was a great episode and with a night of repeats, I hope it helps the ratings somewhat and gets people who might have tuned out back into it.

This isn't about Studio 60 per say, but it's been one year since John Spencer, beloved to Sorkinites as Leo McGarry on The West Wing, passed away from a heart attack. So I thought he deserved this little tribute.

So I don't care how (if you have the DVDs, get'm out, if you don't, steal them.) but everyone needs to sit themselves in front of a couch today and watch the episode "Bartlet for America." Go, right now, do it. I've already done it today, so I'm one step ahead of you.

That's all I have to say, but I'm going to leave you with this quote:

"This guy's walking down a street, when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep, he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up 'Hey you! Can you help me out?' The doctor writes him a prescription, throws it down the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up 'Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. 'Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole! Our guy says 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here!" and the friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out.' Long as I got a job, you got a job. Understand?" (-TWW, 2.10)

So the Golden Globe nominations came out today and... we didn't do so well. In fact, the only nomination was Sarah Paulson for Best Supporting Actress, which honestly came as a surprise if the big guns like Perry, Whitford, Peet and Weber weren't going to get nominations. That's still great for her though, and I hope she wins. But, we effectively got robbed I think (especially when you consider some of the other people/shows that got nominated) but that's how it goes.

Also, Studio 60 got two WGA Award nominations. Best Dramatic Episode ("Pilot") and Best New Series. Studio 60 is actually up against The West Wing for Best Dramatic Episode (The episode "Election Day, Part II" got nominated if you were curious) I'm going ot be honest, of the two, I'd rather The West Wing win it, just 'cause that episode was phenomenal and, blogger of this show or not, I'm a bigger West Wing fan than I am Studio 60 fan (and I'm a huge Studio 60 fan.)

Add that to the Satellite Award nominations for Whitford, Perry, Peet and Paulson we got at least seven nominations to keep an eye on.

Who is your favorite character on Studio 60?
	Danny Tripp
	Matt Albie
	Jordan McDeere
	Harriet Hayes
	Simon Stiles
	Tom Jeter
	Jack Rudolph
	Cal Shanley
	Jeannie Whatley
	Wilson White
	Lucy Kenworthy
	Darius Hawthorne
	Andy Mackinaw
	Martha O'Dell
	Dylan Killington
	Alex Dwyer
	Samantha Li
	Wes Mendell
	Other
pollcode.com free polls

Well, the season is halfway over and the year 2006 is winding up to a close so here's a chance to do some polls and see where we as a viewing public stand so far. I'll be making one of these a week. So enjoy!

Some info on upcoming episodes from "Ask Ausiello":

Question: Please give me some Studio 60 scoop. I’ll give you a Scoopy Snack.— Lori

Ausiello: Big two-part episode coming up on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 titled "The Harriet Dinner." Per my Studio mole, Harriet and Matt's relationship takes a turn for the worse, and thus begins Matt's downward spiral into darkness. Danny, meanwhile, manages to win Jordan over when the two are locked on a roof together. On the business side, Jordan is threatened by a new executive brought in to head up alternative programming, and Jack uses an unusual strategy to take on his board of directors.

If you ask me this seems like good stuff. I already knew about the new executive thing to some extent, as a while back they went casting for a Hattie Gallagher (I think that was her name) as a thirtysomething young executive to rival Jordan, but this is the first I've heard of where she'll be placed on the map. But I'm extremely interested in the prospect of "Matt's downward spiral into darkness." The characters of Dan and Josh on Sports Night and The West Wing, both had to deal with significant psychological problems over the course of the series, and that was honestly some of my favorite stuff in both series. And obviously anything Jordanny I like, although I do wonder if maybe this is all going a little fast (but then, who knows how long this show'll be on, anyway?)

Oh, and my apologies to everyone who tried to vote in the polls I kept posting and taking down. I tried about 10 different poll creating sites and every last one of them gave me a screwed up final product when I tried to post them. During Christmas break I'll try to figure it out more.

NBC is going with their first rerun of the show since it's premiere, rerunning last night's almost unanimously loved "The Christmas Show." This can only mean good things as I'm pretty sure everyone's expectation was that there'd be no Studio 60 period until January 8th when it returns, this will give many people who missed it a second chance to watch what I think almost everyone agrees is the best episode so far.

Episode Rating: A+(+++++)

I freaking LOVED this episode! Loved it loved it loved it! I downloaded it off of bit torrents late last night 'cause I wasn't sure I was gonna be home to see it tonight but I ended up getting back early and was pleasantly delighted to be able to watch it again!

Where to begin, I don't even know.... we'll go character by character. Danny was freaking fantastic, his first real shining episode. I mean, he's been great in all of them and my favorite in all of them, but this was the first episode where I think he was able to be the star. Bradley Whitford played Danny so realistically, every scene he was in I could see his smitteness bubbling just under the surface. I love Josh Lyman and I love Danny Tripp and I love that they're really not much alike. I hope this puts an end to everyone who complains about Danny just being Josh II, you think Josh would EVER be this assertive this early on in a relationship? Kudos Brad, definitely tonight's stand out.

Matt was hilarious, I love that despite his sarcastic cynical demeanor there's still some idealism left in him, in the form of the "Christmas Spirit." He was hilarious tonight, I cracked up both times at his "I'm not even talking to anybody right now." when he noticed no one was there. That's a gag that Sorkin's done on The West Wing and OFTEN on Sports Night (way too often, it was almost always Jeremy too), but this is the best I've ever seen it done. I liked him with Harriet too. He's sometimes a jerk to her, but in a way you know that he still loves her. Their relationship rings true to me, I've been in those kind of relationships (not... you know... with the whole culture wars aspect, which wasn't in this episode.) I also like Suzanne, his assistant. This is the first time I've found her noteworthy in the slightest, she's fun. They're like a Josh/Donna without... any sexual tension (which is good in this case.)

Jordan was excellent too, she's at her best when she's not trying to kick ass I think. When she's showing she's vulnerable which she does very cutely and often in this episode. Be it in the hospital scene, her eating (in a variety scenes), wherever. I like Jordan a lot, she started off my least favorite character but she's rapidly climbing up the ladder. Good work Amanda Peet!

Most of what I have to say about Harriet was covered in Matt's little thing, but she was adorable in this episode too. It was one of the first ones where I really noticed how beautiful Sarah Paulson is. Dunno why it's never struck me.

I enjoyed Simon and Tom's best friend competition repartee as well. I love that those two share *nothing* in common and yet seem so alike. I'm not sure how old Simon is exactly supposed to be (probably a lot younger than his actor is), but D.L. Hughley is 14 years older than Nate Corddry, and they completely seem like guys who grew up together and yet we know that they didn't. They just have that bond and chemistry. Danny/Matt is still my favorite best friendship on the show by Simon/Tom is definitely close. I also am enjoying the ensemble feel with the writers room with Andy, Darius and Lucy. They're like the tech people from Sports Night (you know Chris, Elliot, Will, Dave, Kim) only... better developed.

Cal was great too. Can we see more of Cal please? Seriously, he's hilarious. He's so awkward and randomly enthusiastic and sure of everything. And I love how he shouts. He's great. Timothy Busfield is masterful 'cause words can not describe how much I don't see Danny Concannon when I look at Cal Shanley. I mean, sure the lack of beard helps, but like... he's just *nothing* like Danny and that's great (even though Danny Concannon was my second favorite character on that show, after Josh) but it's just great that he can be different.

Jack just rocks. A lot. All the time. I love that he wasn't mad about Jordan's pregnancy (which, admit it, we all figured he would be) and he was actually sweet about it, and I loved how impassioned he got about this issue. Methinks he is our Toby.

Great episode all around, allll freaking around. So many times I laughed out loud I can't even count. I think maybe they showed the City of New Orleans a *liiiiittle* too long, I felt guilty for wanting them to move on and show some scenes of the cast. Maybe more of the music playing in the background? But that was seriously my only complaint.

Oh and the callback to the end of the pilot episodes "You were right, we do live here now." So reminscent of Josh and Charlie's "You were right, it doesn't go away." Was amazing. Gah! Good show!

http://tv.yahoo.com/studio-60-on-the-sunset-strip/show/37168;_ylt=AnlinqE5jyKc1phDR.oJfnOdo9EF

Good clip, I really love Whitford/Peet's chemistry. It's like a more mature Donna and a less emotionally-stunted Josh. Anyways, check it out if you want to know who the father is.

Well, on November 30th the nominees for the Satellite Awards came out. I'll be perfectly honest with you, I've never seen or heard of the Satellite Awards, but Studio 60 managed to get some nominations.

Best Actress in a Drama Series:
Sarah Paulson
Amanda Peet

Best Actor in a Drama Series:
Matthew Perry
Bradley Whitford

So congratulations to the four of them! And I hope they do well and the awards will be held on December 17th. Because it appears the Satellite Awards handle a broader spectrum of things, there's only so many TV nominations and basically only acting and series are what it could be nominated for. It's too bad it didn't nominated for series though...

In the meantime, on December 14th the nominations for the Golden Globes will be announced. Anybody have any predictions for who they think will get nominated? I'd say Perry and Whitford for Lead Actor, Peet for Lead Actress and Weber for Supporting Actor. What about all of you?