MovieChat Forums > Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006) Discussion > Absolutely tragic that this show did not...

Absolutely tragic that this show did not survive!

posted 16 years ago by kpy85
25 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching the entire season of this show on DVD and I am just in shock that this show did so bad in the ratings! After watching the pilot episode alone I knew this was going to be one of the best series I've ever seen and it certainly was! It had the perfect blend of intelligent humor, captivating romantic tension, and creative dramatic twists that should be the backbone for HOW TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL TELEVISION SERIES!

I've heard all the excuses for why this show failed, but in my opinion, there is no excuse. I really can't see why they couldn't just move this show to HBO?? HBO embraces shows that have intelligent writing!

[–] juliegill 16 years ago

Totally agree with you. I caught this series just in the last few weeks with my cable provider's on demand! I have always been a fan of Matthew Perry. I liked Sarah Paulson in American Gothic & already liked Amanda Peet! I became a fan of "danny", know his name but what a cool character, so romantic!

I need to catch the last few episodes somewhere else tho as my on demand only has up until episode 17, dont know why that is!

I think i will buy the dvd box set!

[–] lleitner-1 16 years ago

The DVD set is worth it. The commentaries are good and they have a documentary with Tim Busfield taking viewers on a tour of the set. It's pretty funny. Introduces Matt Perry and says "You may remember him from All 10 yards" then Brad Whitfield "Who you may remember from Revenge of the Nerds II".

Larry

[–] quangtran65 16 years ago

I've heard all the excuses for why this show failed, but in my opinion, there is no excuse. I really can't see why they couldn't just move this show to HBO?? HBO embraces shows that have intelligent writing!

This was an expensive, low rating show that was getting blasted by most of the critics, so there little about this show that would appeal to HBO or Showtime.

[–] tmm06 16 years ago

Actually it was really well received by critics but for some reason (i dont know why because it was an amazing show) less and less people watched it as it went on.
here read the critic section:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_60

[–] cvcjdev 16 years ago

>>I've heard all the excuses for why this show failed, but in my opinion, there is no excuse. I really can't see why they couldn't just move this show to HBO?? HBO embraces shows that have intelligent writing! <<

On Aaron's facebook page he said he'd never tried to sell it to them.

[–] ethereal_tb 16 years ago

Seriously!

"A bit of musicality, PLEASE!" Strictly Ballroom

[–] kirby_kappa 16 years ago

They're actually playing reruns of this show now in Australia.

Of course, I watched the episodes previously though. I really do wish it survived, it's incredible.

Ross:"I am so gonna score.."
Girl:"What?"
Ross:"I like your BOW!"

[–] Daphoes 16 years ago

Typical american televion, i really hate watching half series, they just cut off or end quickly, just caus they didnt get a billion surplus on every episode...

and still they let "days of our lives" run... omfg, american ppl are soo lame watching this *beep* instead of an intelligent show they can actually learn something from.

and screw the critics, what do they know..., this show was the best and i can not belive they killed it.

If they kill off "The big bang theory", im just gonna scream.

[–] kpy85 16 years ago

Completely agree Daphoes, and I would be screaming with you if they killed Big Bang Theory.

[–] Val-El 16 years ago

the critics are so smart they tried to kill the original JAMES BOND and more recently MAMMA MIA!!! Seems to me that both of those arcs seemed to do incredibly well...
most people are well aware that critics just espouse their own opinion!

[–] JohnnieGreco 16 years ago

Damn you're right...

It's like they perpetuate stupidity... If I was an american I would feel insulted.

It was a show that few people could follow.. It was based on glamour, wittyness, and rather clever comedy than stupid obviousness...

I guess Matthew Perry will never be awarded the recognition he deserves because he will never sucumb to this stupidity...

[–] cy13 16 years ago

I'm an American. I don't feel insulted because a television show did not survive. That would be ridiculous.

The failure of this show isn't a commentary on Americans.

[–] smuttycat 16 years ago

I loved the show and considering the current rating, I'm also surprised that it was cancelled. I bought it on DVD and was hooked from the first show.

[–] abarker20 16 years ago

Well the show was a self fulfilling prophecy. A show about how intelligent shows are taking a backseat to reality garbage gets the ax for being an intelligent show lost in a sea of reality garbage.

[–] boreduser12 16 years ago

Haha!

Well one reason why it probably wasn't get views is that it wasn't advertised enough.
I remember hearing about Matthew Perry doing a show but couldn't find out when and where it was played, and then I just forgot about it till I saw it randomly on imdb.

[–] Green_Lantern13 16 years ago

just finished watching the series on dvd.. sad that theres no more seasons to follow on with!! just wondering if anyone can suggest some similar shows to watch to fill this void??

most appreciated!!
thank u!!

[–] segsig 16 years ago

Definately get hold of Slings & Arrows if you haven't seen it! It is three seasons, but each is only six episodes. It's set at a Canadian theater and has pre-S60's Mark McKinney writing/acting.
If you haven't seen other Sorkin creations try Sports Night.

[–] pmmtech 16 years ago

If you liked Sorkin's writing, you should definitely check out Sports Night and the first four seasons of The West Wing

[–] Golfinguy75 16 years ago

Agreed! Every point!! I actually caught on to this as it aired org. and was hook from the get go. I also remember another lil show starting around the same time by the name of 30 Rock.. Which needless to say just blew up and became a monster hit.
Bummer of it all is I STILL think Studio 60 was better....

[–] kjumper187 16 years ago

From what I have read, (in the past) 60 had the highest ratings to follow Heroes on NBC over the course of the season, yet they kept trying to replace it. Something like 3-4 shows thay added (to follow Heroes) all crashed and burned except Studio 60. WTF NBC, get a clue!!! John Goodman won and award for Studio 60, and it was the highest rated show to follow Heroes...What does that tell you. WAKE UP!!! This "Knights" show that's following it now will NEVER even come close to the ratings you had for Studio 60.....................

[–] quangtran65 16 years ago

Something like 3-4 shows thay added (to follow Heroes) all crashed and burned except Studio 60. WTF NBC, get a clue!!! John Goodman won and award for Studio 60, and it was the highest rated show to follow Heroes.

But that's not what mattered. Even if the ratings were better than all the other shows that followed Studio 60, their numbers were still too low to sustain the show, thus it was also crashing and burning.

And it wasn't just the critics. Viewers in general were turning against the show, and the only supporters who thought it was the next best thing since sliced bread were a vocal minority.

[–] kamic7 16 years ago

i must say that i was very angry when i found out that this show had been cancelled. it is very hard to find a good intellegent, pure funny and really gripping show.

the wire is something special, but it is over too.

ps: it isn't fully right to blaim the americans, considering they made the show in the first place, but i do see the point

cheers

[–] oodus347 16 years ago

The show was terrible. The pilot was great, but the rest of the series was crap. Even Sorkin said it had flaws.

Those of you who blame the lack of advertising are wrong. The show was the flagship show of NBC's 2006-07 lineup. It was the highlight of its upfront showcase. It was advertised non-stop.

Critics loved THE PILOT. They hated the rest. It was named one of the biggest busts of the season, with it being called "less than huge" after all the hype (again, there was hype, which means it was advertised).

You keep blaming Americans, but it wasn't us: blame Sorkin for making a bad show. A bad EXPENSIVE show during a time when NBC was (and still is) in the toilet. So why would NBC keep funding a show the vast majority of people don't like - not because it's bad, but because it's pretentious with horrible storylines - when it's already financially dying? NBC banked HEAVY on Studio 60. They even gave it a full season order after its initial 13 episodes did crappy! So also don't say NBC wasn't committed. They did all they could.

Everything points to the fact that the show was just bad. Bad storylines/writing (Tom's bro in Iraq, the terrible sketches on the show), miscast actors (Harriet was awful, yet we're supposed to believe she's a hilarious comedic actress), bad chemistry (Matt and Harriet) and a general lack of understanding of what actually goes on behind the scenes of a late-night sketch show (one man writing an entire show?!). Now people have a lot of explanations for these things ("in the world of Studio 60, Matt's sketches are funny and Harriet is viewed as amazing" etc. etc.). When you need explanations like that, that should make you realize the show sucked.

But yeah...keep blaming the dumb Americans. There are plenty of people in other countries that thought Studio 60 was a steaming pile as well.