Yes. It was too smart for the average person and talked about issues that required thought. That was problem 1. Problem 2 was that they kept moving the show around in the schedule making it hard to find and follow and pre-empted it at every opportunity, making it difficult to get and build an audience. This was partly due to problem 3, that NBC Universal president, Jeff Zucker disliked Sorkin and played around with the show's schedule to f with him.
Im so sad they never made more, it was such a great show!!! Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford's chemistry was phenomenal. Even sadder now that there were not more seasons with Matt Perrys passing.
Great cast, great writing, great production values, you really CARED about the characters. But, as Matthew Perry said on the Kevin Pollak Chat Show, the premise (that getting the show out in time) just didn't resonate with a lot of people. After 10 shows, they took it off the air, and he and the cast were just working for pride. But I have watched, ,and rewatched that show numerous times, it's a perpetual delight.
@@reedsawyer5704I can completely understand why you watched it multiple times, there is so much packed into it. I think people just weren’t in that head space at the time. I think it would go over better now, especially after listening to the Fly on The Wall podcast by SNL cast members talking about their behind the scenes stories.
I think that he was funny in Friends, but he completely went to a different level in Studio 60. Brilliant. I was hoping, against hope, that they would do a revival of Studio 60. I think that it would have been very successful now, and then...I hear about Matthew Perry's death. Just a gut punch. Matthew Perry said that he didn't want to be remembered for "Friends", he said that he would rather be remembered for starting a foundation to help people with addictions get back control of their life. Every person that has ever worked with him loved him, said how generous he was with his time and talent, and how he was always supportive. Gone too soon.
Studio 60 is my favorite all time show. Unfortunately, it just didn't connect with the audience. Matthew Perry was brilliant in S60. I think he was better than in Friends.
Yes, me too, although I wish the network had been a little more patient, let them air on a regular basis during that year and allowed it to consolidate, surely we could have enjoyed at least a couple more seasons.
It also premiered the same season and network of 30 Rock, also about the behind-the-scenes of an SNL-type show. It was pretty obvious they couldn’t both survive - and 30 Rock found its audience quicker. Simon Helberg talked about it in an interview with Paul F Tompkins, IIRC.
Like so many of Sorkin's shows; its downfall is that it was written for people with developed minds; and not casual viewers!! Sports Night (also Sorkin) was plagued by the same fate!
Matthew Perry being very classy and tactful here. But the core problem was its culture warrior self importance that 30 Rock completely sidesteps by understanding the show they're working on actually sucks.
I love that whole show! I think people just weren’t ready for the show. They wanted stupid goofy 30 rock. I think it would play better now, especially after hearing the Fly On the Wall podcast where SNL cast talks about behind the scenes. We were robbed of a great series and now Matthew Perry is dead. ❤😢❤
Genuinely loved that show. My favorite Matthew Perry show by far. I really liked that it was a drama with some funny moments. It felt like a natural role for Perry. I think it was written for him so there's that. But I love his dramatic acting for the show but it's so clearly still Perry. A comedy writer going through some stuff, his real life really. And to have Perry and Bradely Whitford work off of each other was great. I watched either the commentary or the behind the scenes and they kind of knew it was going to be a one season show. The way it ended was nicely wrapped up. It's hard to imagine where it would go after that since everything seemed to be tied off. Second favorite show of his is Go On. Half hour mostly comedy mixed in with some serious notes. Good show for anyone that hasn't seen it. It was on Peacock not sure if it still is. That show I really wish there was more. It was only one season but was written like there would be a season two. Certainly seems like that's what Perry liked with how many half hour shows he did. It also makes Studio 60 stand out since I think it was the only longer episode show he did.
Great show, great production values, great acting, great writing. I think that the politics turned a lot of people off. Also, it didn't connect with the audience. I love it, and still watch it.
I had no idea that half the show was made while not being aired. I’m so grateful that everyone was so committed to working hard despite it and not throwing in the towel so we at least have the one fantastic season we got.
The stakes issue was real, the whole story with Tom's brother fell flat because it was raising the stakes in a silly way. But it also suffered because it cam out at the same time as 30 rock which was a comedy about making a comedy show and Studio 60 was a drama about making a comedy show. It wasn't funny, It had funny moments, but it was a drama not a comedy and it wasn't trying to be one. That is a weird concept, especially compared to the more simple idea of 30 rock.
This is one of the huge problems with network TV in the US. In other countries and on streaming platforms the entire season would have been finished before the first episode even aired. That would have allowed its audience more time to find it. It suffered badly from writing that was clearly designed to fight for ratings instead of letting the characters and ideas grow. The same happened to The Newsroom, though on a lesser scale as it got three seasons.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is my favorite show. Why we Americans favored shows like Heroes is beyond me.
The problem with Studio 60 is that it was a drama about a comedy, and drama is simply way easier to write. The balance of the whole thing just feels off.
