TV Shows

[Susquehanna Birder]

Heroes is pretty entertaining I think. The hour flies by. Lost is still all freakin' weird and they don't explain enough. Get to the farging point already!

I fear they never will. At the end of a season of Invasion, ABC just killed it. No conclusion, no closure.

[SD_Eagle5]

Any other Judge Judy fans out there?

[mussa]

Anyone ever see Ninja Warrior on G4? Those guys are nutz!

[Father Demon]

Studio 60' Cancellation Imminent

Here we go: despite receiving an order for three more episodes on Friday, the Aaron Sorkin NBC drama "Studio 60 on Sunset Strip" is about to be put out of its misery.

Cast members are already confiding in friends that the end is near. It's likely NBC will pull the plug shortly I am told by insiders.

Last week, Studio 60 had 7.7 million viewers. Compare that with competing "CSI: Miami," with 17.5 million. That gap cannot be closed.

But 'Studio 60' has trouble internally at NBC, forget its intramural rivals. According to ratings stats, the "Saturday Night Live" behind the scenes soap opera loses almost half the viewers delivered to it a few minutes earlier by another new show, "Heroes," which has become a surprise cult hit.

On Monday, 'Heroes' had 14.3 million viewers. The substantial drop off with 'Studio 60' is probably the last nail in its coffin. The order of the three extra episodes is considered by insiders to be a contractual move, and not one based on faith that they will ever be made or aired. The all important demo situation didn't help: 'Heroes' had 15 percent of viewers aged 18-49. Studio 60 had 8 percent. The notion that 'Studio 60' is a big draw for NBC among desirables is, sadly, blown on those stats.

Sorkin and friends will argue that NBC has done something wrong, or that the audience isn't smart enough. Alas, in this case, neither is true. 'Studio 60'—as I wrote on August 7th after viewing the pilot—is just a bad show. There's nothing wrong with the acting, directing, or dialogue writing. But the premise is faulty. No one cares whether a bunch of overcaffeinated, well off yuppies, some with expensive drug habits, put on a weekly comedy sketch show from Los Angeles.

Even worse: no one cares whether or not the people from the Bartlett White House puts on a comedy show. That's what 'Studio 60' is, essentially: the "West Wing" annual talent show. There's so much earnestness involved in this endeavour, you start to think that nuclear war will be declared if the 'Studio 60' staff doesn't air some joke—usually one we don't hear anyway. The whole thing just feels weighted down and frankly, not entertaining.

There is one winner to come out of 'Studio 60,' however: Matthew Perry. In this show he's proven himself to be a star on his own separate from "Friends." His comedic timing and ability to ad lib, toss off lines, and give restrained physical reactions is what keeps 'Studio 60' even remotely interesting. We can only be hopeful that someone comes up with a great new show for him quickly—but a comedy that's funny, not a drama that isn't.

NBC will probably fill the lost 'Studio 60' timeslot with 'Deal-No Deal: The Next Generation,' or some such thing. So the losers here will be the audience, which is about to be pummelled by more reality and game shows. It's too bad because around the dial there are good new dramas. Despite its heavy "thirtysomething" feel, "Brothers and Sisters" is worth keeping if only for Sally Field, Ron Rifkin and Rachel Griffiths. (But there a mistake was made, too: killing off patriarch Tom Skerritt in the first episode.)

Oh well: I hope Regis is warming up the holiday edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." We're ready!

Ehh..  Never watched it.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

"Studio 60" was, naturally, our favorite new show of the season.

You have to be smart to get most of the subtle humor, so it's no wonder that it's not going to make it.

[SunMo]

Heroes rules, glad it's doing well

[Susquehanna Birder]

Studio 60 has the same problem that West Wing had: "blah, blah, blah..." And very little compelling story to frame it. When a show starts to become a pulpit to harp on the producers' politics, interest quickly drops.

[MDS]

Interestingly enough, the audience was really never there in the first place. It had really positive reviews going in, but has lost around 5 million viewers that caught the pilot. Even starting with the pilot, viewership dropped off at the second half hour. Simply put, people caught it and didn't like it. I don't think it's because it was more or less a pulpit for Sorkin to whine about the current state of TV and the media, etc. But rather they didn't understand what was going on and simply didn't like it.

NBC had a lot invested with the show and the demographics are decent, so I think this cancellation rumor is kinda bogus. But they are trying out Friday Night Lights (which has grown on me, I'm really enjoying it) in it's timeslot tonight, if it holds more of the Heroes audience than Studio 60 did then 60 is in deep trouble.

However, I think Studio 60 could fit in wednesdays at 8. Not really a competitive timeslot once the Dancing with the Stars results show is gone (which by the way, is an embarassing show for America), the numbers that it got at 10 could follow it to 8. But, thinking is NBC will put Deal or No Deal there in their plan to rid themselves of scripted programming in the 8pm hour aside from the thursday comedy hour which is doing pretty good.

[NGM]

Just got caught up with Jericho On Demand.  I actually agree with Bunkley in that I was not particularly impressed by the show but I felt compelled to watch all the episodes.  The premise for the show is great but the acting and writing are both subpar. 

I have to say my favorite new show of the season is Dexter by far.  For those of you with Showtime, check it out.  Each episode has gotten better.

[Father Demon]

Just got caught up with Jericho On Demand.  I actually agree with Bunkley in that I was not particularly impressed by the show but I felt compelled to watch all the episodes.  The premise for the show is great but the acting and writing are both subpar. 

I have to say my favorite new show of the season is Dexter by far.  For those of you with Showtime, check it out.  Each episode has gotten better.

 

I'm a big Dexter fan.  Been pimping it since I saw the pilot.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Interestingly enough....

blah blah blah

You know way too much about this stuff.

[NGM]

Just got caught up with Jericho On Demand.  I actually agree with Bunkley in that I was not particularly impressed by the show but I felt compelled to watch all the episodes.  The premise for the show is great but the acting and writing are both subpar. 

I have to say my favorite new show of the season is Dexter by far.  For those of you with Showtime, check it out.  Each episode has gotten better.

 

I'm a big Dexter fan.  Been pimping it since I saw the pilot.

He tried to munch her box during Terms of Endearment.  That shtein was hilarious.

[Susquehanna Birder]

Just got caught up with Jericho On Demand.  I actually agree with Bunkley in that I was not particularly impressed by the show but I felt compelled to watch all the episodes.  The premise for the show is great but the acting and writing are both subpar. 

I'm watching it right now...but Comcast doesn't only has a few episodes. Better than nothing, though.

[NGM]

I think its only missing the season primere?  I caught that anyway but I'm pretty sure that's the only one not on there.

[Susquehanna Birder]

Yeah, I think I can get up to speed pretty well with what's there.