I don't understand why Studio ...
Question: I don't understand why
Studio 60's ratings aren't better, considering how celebrity-obsessed our society is these days. Entire magazines are dedicated to describing in great detail what stars are wearing, dating, eating, etc. I really love TV, and I enjoy knowing about the behind-the-scenes workings of my favorite shows. It seems like there are a lot of people who feel the same way. So why can't a show about a show find an audience?
Answer: Gossip is popular, true, but
Studio 60 takes the world of entertainment all a bit more seriously. Maybe too much so, as it addresses aspects of the culture wars and the corporate entertainment world with a growing sense of self-importance and at times (especially this week) with a self-righteousness that muddies what could be a very enjoyable workplace-relationship show.
Aaron Sorkin never writes ordinary TV, which is great. And there's much about
Studio 60 that still dazzles me. But Tyler's comments below may help shed more light on Cherlene's question:
"I have a response to those who think that the people tuning out of
Studio 60 'just don't get it.' I get it. I loved
Sports Night more than I can say. The early seasons of
The West Wing induced tears and chills on a weekly basis. But
Studio 60 leaves a strong 'been there, done that' sensation. I loved the pilot. I like the actors and characters. (I don't even care that
Amanda Peet's Jordan is an imaginary creation.) But it's hard to swallow the show's self-importance. I love TV, but these characters are approaching the show-within-a-show in the same way the gang in the White House approached foreign policy. I just can't reconcile those two things, to say nothing of the fact that the show they are producing just isn't that funny."
