I guess I don't need a TV.
I wrote earlier that I had two reasons to watch television this year, and so far they aren't panning out. 30 Rock starts on October 11th, but it's gotten plenty of bad press, with reports that the trailers are far funnier than the actual series itself.
My big problem is with Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I don't mind that it's smug. I expect a patronizing elitist attitude from a work by Aaron Sorkin. In fact, it's part of his appeal, for the individual member to to be one of the knowing ones, to be one of those college-educated upscale urbanites who will laugh at his references to Pantalone. I don't mind that most of Studio 60 is polemical, autobiographical and repetitive of his earlier work. I can distinguish entertainment from commentary so if Sorkin's writing comes across as a crazy old coot on a soapbox, I can ignore that. Writers have long plumbed their own lives for material. After all, it's easiest to write what one knows. Sorkin sometimes use dialogues and devices that he's used before. I have no problem with that, because it's still good stuff the second time around. I don't mind that it's not about government and for some reason, people shouldn't be so serious about producing a television series. That didn't hurt Sports Night one bit, and it makes sense. The entertainment industry is notoriously narcissistic, thinking that all they do is the only thing that matters, that because they care about what is in Daily Variety and Defamer that everyone outside of Los Angeles cares about it too.
What I do mind is that it's not entertaining. So far, three episodes of Studio 60 have aired. Three episodes into Sports Night, I knew that I wanted to see every episode. Three episodes into The West Wing, I knew that I was going to watch each episode as soon as it aired. With Studio 60, it's good, but I have no urge to watch it and rewatch it and enjoy every moment. Something is missing and I don't know what. I laugh when the lines are funny and I cheer when the characters are successful. I like the characters, and I like their stories. However, it just isn't as compelling. I would rather pop in a DVD of Sports Night or The West Wing. Studio 60 definitely ain't saving NBC. The ratings have been disappointing to say the least, particularly when each episode's costs is in the millions of dollars. It probably won't last past the first season.
So... I guess it's a good thing I didn't pay for a television because there ain't nothing to watch.
My big problem is with Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I don't mind that it's smug. I expect a patronizing elitist attitude from a work by Aaron Sorkin. In fact, it's part of his appeal, for the individual member to to be one of the knowing ones, to be one of those college-educated upscale urbanites who will laugh at his references to Pantalone. I don't mind that most of Studio 60 is polemical, autobiographical and repetitive of his earlier work. I can distinguish entertainment from commentary so if Sorkin's writing comes across as a crazy old coot on a soapbox, I can ignore that. Writers have long plumbed their own lives for material. After all, it's easiest to write what one knows. Sorkin sometimes use dialogues and devices that he's used before. I have no problem with that, because it's still good stuff the second time around. I don't mind that it's not about government and for some reason, people shouldn't be so serious about producing a television series. That didn't hurt Sports Night one bit, and it makes sense. The entertainment industry is notoriously narcissistic, thinking that all they do is the only thing that matters, that because they care about what is in Daily Variety and Defamer that everyone outside of Los Angeles cares about it too.
What I do mind is that it's not entertaining. So far, three episodes of Studio 60 have aired. Three episodes into Sports Night, I knew that I wanted to see every episode. Three episodes into The West Wing, I knew that I was going to watch each episode as soon as it aired. With Studio 60, it's good, but I have no urge to watch it and rewatch it and enjoy every moment. Something is missing and I don't know what. I laugh when the lines are funny and I cheer when the characters are successful. I like the characters, and I like their stories. However, it just isn't as compelling. I would rather pop in a DVD of Sports Night or The West Wing. Studio 60 definitely ain't saving NBC. The ratings have been disappointing to say the least, particularly when each episode's costs is in the millions of dollars. It probably won't last past the first season.
So... I guess it's a good thing I didn't pay for a television because there ain't nothing to watch.
posted by Pettifogger | 9:55 PM
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