webmasta: "...yes they did know, the last 5 or 6 episodes were written
and shot after it was announced, if I recall correctly."
Hard to believe it's coming up on two years without Studio 60. Anyway, the last four episodes were structured to set up the end of the series, as the writing was on the wall long before. The official announcement came the day after Studio 60 returned to the air in May 207 after an absence of several months..
Some US viewers were baffled when the show returned for the last five episodes, as the episode "The Disaster Show" was filmed without any of the three lead characters. I'm pretty sure the episode was conceived to be freestanding, so it could be easily re-run, and still fit in to the general time line of the show (had the show been renewed for future seasons.)
Matt, Danny and Jordan were referred to, but never seen, as the decision had been made to eliminate each of the leads from one episode each for economic reasons. Sorkin opted to delete them from the same episode. Due to they way the last four shows were set up, with so many ongong themes, it would have been awkward to insert "The Disaster Show" between any of them.
If the board will permit shamless self-promotion, here's the commentary I did upon the show's exit. (Spoiler Warning)
Television's latest next sure thing bites the dust. Not that you'd notice
http://www.wabx.net/Article.asp?id=430891&spid=
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