Studio60: Love it or Hate it
By fred | February 20, 2007
After last week episode I was confident with the future of Studio60. Well, let’s not be as positive as that, since certainly things weren’t done yet, but it did showed some great potential as they proved they knew how to do things right.
There was still a real challenge up : they now had to bring all that’s great into the actual stories of the show, not stucked on flashbacks. They had to know what to keep up and what to get ride of (Harriett), but there was hope. Because back when it started Studio60 had a pretty great quality level, because writers, directors & actors on the show can be great work, and because when people were raging at the show NBC still let it on the air, willing to give it a real chance.
I was quite anxious when watching the last episode (S01E16), and while watching it I got really torn between two different reactions.
Basically, it seems Studio60 is a show that always had a (strong) reaction on people. Some love it (count me in), some hate it (you can count me in at times, too – but overall I love it), but it didn’t leave viewers indifferent.
And further than this, I believe quite a few people really had a love/hate relationship with the show. Depending on the episode, and even within one same episode, at times you would love it, and at times you would hate it.
Watching the last episode, some parts made me happy, cause it seemed things were on the right path. For example, pills were completely off the picture now for Matt. It could look quite weird, for sure, but it was a crappy plot anyways so just forgetting about it IMHO was a pretty good move. Sticking with it, even to get ride of it, would just sunk the show even more.
Also, as Matt was waiting for a 4am miracle he go to meet a new character, portrayed by Kari Matchett, and they really played well together, they had the kind of chemistry he never had with Harriett (even during the flashbacks). This was really good, and while the writers room was still as deadly empty as ever, at least things there & around got less boring. I actually hoped she would be the famous 4am miracle Matt had been waiting for so long, and the show had been waiting for : a new start for Matt, a new character & a new relationship that might be quit interesting.
But then, I got to hate the show. Because in the end, Harriett eventually came back to the set, and gave Matt a little kiss, and apparently that was his miracle… Please!
I really don’t understand why they are always so insistent on having Harriett back and being such an important part of the show, especially while it’s obvious to everyone that she is the one dragging the whole thing down.
No offence to Sarah Paulson, but her character was never “effortless sexy�, nor was she a comic genius (I am still waiting for her to make me laugh, or smile, at least once). But she was annoying as hell, bringing her nose on anything and obsessing with her religion.
I understand the character is partially based on a girl Sorkin dated or something like that, but get over it buddy : she is sinking the whole show down, you need to get ride of her!
Besides, we’re supposed to see everything that goes on behind the scenes on a SNL-like comedy live show, no one gives a crap about Harriett working on some crappy movie directed by some ex-boyfriend of hers of whatever. Especially to see her complaining again and again, telling everyone how things should be done, written, directed, FFS shut the hell up and try to act for a change!
