it had a genius writer and a great cast. the formula for a successful show. ya, the 1st season wasn't overly amazing, but guess what? neither was s1 of a lil show called seinfeld. saw a lotta people complain it wasn't funny. yes at times, it did drag a little, but it was more layered than just a sketch comedy show. ah well, at least sorks is back with the newsroom.
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"I'M IDAHO!!" - Ralph Wiggum
Considering the last 4 or 5 episodes were nothing but liberal soap-boxing in which every character became a mouthpiece for Sorkin's gospel AND that 30 Rock was doing everything Studio 60 did -- but better -- it was a no-brainer this series was cancelled. By the end Jack was the only character with even a hint of dimension -- not good if you want to keep a series alive.
Studio 60 had great potential but really flattened when Tom Jeter's brother was kidnapped. At that moment the show stopped being about the drama of making comedy and became mired in a ridiculous plot conceived solely to comment on "The Horror of War." Jordan's shoehorned pregnancy didn't help matters at all, and the Lawyer-Heist subplot to free Tom's brother was just stupid.
Sorry but Studio 60 deserved all the cancellation it got. I've never seen a show fall apart more than this one.
It was cancelled only because it was expensive. Remember it did a lot better ratings than many shows that were kept around on nbc at the time.
The last episodes were crammed with storylines getting closure, and if it hadn't happened the outcry of disappointment would have been just as much.
I agree that the show suffered because of Peet's pregnancy. But, Tom's storyline about his brother was seeded in the earliest of episodes! The entire premise of the show was based around 9/11 and the wars. When I first saw the pilot episode I thought the flashback to 9/11 would happen in the season two premiere.