Life > November 18, 2006

By Christopher Browder

Senior columnist

The fall TV season always means a few new shows try to win the hearts of viewers and advertisers in order to get picked up for a whole season.  It always is interesting to see what shows make it and how fast other ones get canned. 

Truthfully, the system seems to be the entertainment equivalent of a horse race, as critics and audiences alike try to predict the winner and root for their favorites to go the distance.  One of this season’s most hyped new shows is Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.  Sorkin is the mastermind behind such past shows as The West Wing and Sports Night, and his new show mirrors many aspects of his own personal life, as it follows the process of writing and producing a fictional sketch-comedy television show.  While upon first glance it might seem like Sorkin has moved away from the politics of The West Wing, anyone who has actually seen Studio 60 can attest that it is far from apolitical.

The SNL-like show around which the actual show revolves is primarily about bashing the religious right.  Basically every sketch (at least the ones we get to see) are mocking conservatives for being ignorant fundamentalist rednecks.  So, most of each episode has to do with middle-America’s angry reactions to this and how the fictional show’s creative team is fighting the man by smugly making fun of Christians. 

It is an interesting premise mainly because it brings up interesting and important questions about the so-called “culture war” taking place in America.  It has potential.  The thing is, for the most part, it blows it.  The fictional show’s comedy is far from cutting-edge or innovative, and seriously, when was the last time the religious right got mad about Saturday Night Live.  Naked boobies at the Super Bowl, sure, but everyone knows what to expect from late-night sketch comedy, and I don’t think anyone is legitimately complaining these days.  And that’s one of the problems with the show. 

It smugly thinks that middle-America is so furious at people like Aaron Sorkin and that it is up to Hollywood liberals to self-righteously educate them.  Sure, the primary female character is a Christian and portrayed sympathetically, but she is a caricature at best, quoting scripture to reporters and talking about God pretty much all the time.  But the major problem with the show is that it just isn’t that interesting.  Like I said, the premise does raise some interesting questions, but it asks the same questions every week, the same way. 

It’s frustrating to watch because Sorkin just doesn’t seem to get past the surface conflicts into the heart of the issue and fails to really increase any sort of understanding between both sides.  It’s a shame because his dialogue is genuinely witty and entertaining, and the cast is outstanding, especially with Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford in the lead roles. 

Apparently America has taken notice of the show’s pitfalls, as its ratings have taken a dramatic plummet of 43% of its viewers since the pilot.  Despite the uninspiring numbers and contrary to cancellation rumors, NBC recently announced that it has decided to pick up the show for a whole season. 

Lets hope that as it gets farther along, the show stretches its content a bit more and actually examines the issues it haphazardly attempts to address.  I have my fingers crossed, for there is nothing sadder than unrealized potential.