| Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip - The Complete Series | 
 enlarge | Actors: Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford, Amanda Peet, Sarah Paulson, D.l. Hughley
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £50.99
Buy New: £13.47
You Save: £37.52 (74%)
Buy New/Used from £13.47
Avg. Customer Rating:   (23 reviews)
Sales Rank: 625
Format: Pal
Languages: English (Subtitled), Hungarian (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Media: DVD
Running Time: 894 minutes
Number Of Items: 6
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 1
EAN: 7321902177366
ASIN: B000MRAABK
Release Date: January 21, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
Aaron Sorkin, bless him, believes that "the people who watch television shows aren't dumber than the people who make television shows." He also believes that "quality is not anathema to profit." He puts these idealistic words into the mouth of Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet), the new, impolitic NBS TV president whose first order of business is to revitalise the network's cash cow, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a long-running live late-night sketch-comedy series reeling from the Howard Beale-esque on-air meltdown of its creator (Judd Hirsch, alas, limited to the pilot episode). With this Upstairs/Backstage look at Studio 60's tumultuous network politics and stormy personal relationships, Sorkin, the creator of Sports Night and The West Wing, once again tried to raise the bar of prime time fare. That he didn't quite clear it makes this one-season wonder a fascinating object lesson of great hopes and dashed expectations. Studio 60 was perhaps the most hotly debated series of the 2006 season and, love it or hate it, all its strengths and flaws can be savoured and savaged anew with this complete-series set. Pretty much above reproach is the ensemble. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford head the cast as comedy writer Matt and executive producer Danny, former Studio 60 hands whom Jordan brings back to "save" the show. Steven Weber co-stars as network chairman Jack Rudolph, who clashes with Jordan over reality programming (he wants it, she doesn't), is embroiled in network negotiations with China, and must fend off angry affiliates offended by such sketches as "Crazy Christians." Jordan contends with becoming tabloid fodder after her ex-husband leaks scandalous details of their past. Meanwhile, Matt, a sardonic atheist, is in a whole Ross and Rachel thing with Harriet (Emmy nominee Sarah Paulson), who is devoutly religious and the show's galvanising star performer (she does do a mean Holly Hunter). Studio 60 has much to say about comedy in wartime, the divided states of America, the creative process, and patriotism. Some of it is deftly handled, some of it is ham-handed and some of it patronising. Most of it is delivered in Sorkin's signature chock-a-block style and with walk-and-talk urgency. But even at its most maddening, there are enough riveting moments (a performance by displaced New Orleans musicians in "The Christmas Show"), jaw-dropping developments ("I'm coming for you, Jordan," warns Danny, suddenly-turned romantic stalker), and indelible performances (John Goodman's Emmy-winning turn as a plain-speaking Pahrump, NV judge not impressed with the Hollywood types before him in the two-part "Nevada Day") to make Studio 60 a series worth revisiting, if only as a guilty pleasure. The pilot episode commentary by Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette, were produced before the show was canceled, robbing this series' fervent fans of the opportunity for some closure. --Donald Liebenson
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 The best TV show you'll never care about. September 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
To begin with: I love this show. I think the writing, production and acting were all top notch and I would recommend it to anyone.
So why four stars?
It goes without saying that Aaron Sorkin is a genius. His resume contains some of the best written film and television of the last decade.
Thomas Schlamme (Exec Producer) has been involved in some of the most successful TV dramas of our time.
The cast is of the highest calibre.
So why was it cancelled after one season?
I think the reason is that this show requires effort on behalf of the viewer, and people seem to be unwilling to give that effort unless they are emotionally engaged in the show.
In Sorkin's previous hit (and in my opinion the best TV show ever) The West Wing you were prepared to think, to strain to keep up with the pace and to follow the complex plots because the characters were believable and they were trying to run the free world, the problems they faced affected the world and they wanted to do good.
In this show the characters are equally well drawn but the problem they face is putting out a comedy sketch show every week. Thats a thin premise to make people go out of their way for.
If you give the effort you will be rewarded but you have to want to give it because the show wont grab you and take it.
That said, buy it - its great.
 A grower August 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Let's face it, there can never be another West Wing but this will go some way towards satisfying your cravings. The fast witty dialogue is there, along with many familiar faces and some notable new ones (Sarah Paulson especially). My only criticism (if you can call it that) is that it takes a few episodes to figure out who's who and what is going on - but persevere and you'll be hooked. Hurry up Mr Sorkin and write something else!
More drama than comedy August 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a surprising show. Before watching any of it you may be inclined to think that this is a comedy, well in reality it's far more serious than that. It covers a wide range of topics (often repeatedly) that, as a Brit, I often don't hear about.
As the official review says, it's often about the politics behind the show, usually trying to reconcile comedy and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nowadays George Bush jokes are a dime a dozen and the show has a few of its own but as Simon Styles (one of the comedy performers) points out: the bandwagon has grown light and the real comedy should be about the people breaking their legs as they jump off it. The main premise of the show seems to be about the wrangling between corporate America attempting to sanitise the show to appeal for a wider audience and the exec producers trying to keep the show witty and poignant by avoiding censorship. I think they do this well: portraying the amount of stress the cast and writers go through well is the key to the success of this show. Patriotism features heavily in this 'stress' and its importance to NBS (the fictional network that airs Studio 60 in the show) is something rarely talked about this side of the pond. Brits are largely dismissive of patriotism (in fact, some might consider it a dirty word here) and it's at least fascinating to see the amount of controversy that it can cause in America.
It is also, of course, about the characters themselves too. All of the lead characters experience tremendous amounts of stress in their lives on and off set and in the second half of the series we are strongly urged to empathise with them. The casting is superb and Matt Perry's apt performance will cause anyone who was put-off by friends to re-evaluate their opinion of him. Frankly, it's his best role yet and I'm yet to see any other character that fitted him so well. There are also some very touching moments, especially involving Tom Jeter's (another comedy performer) brother who serves as a soldier in Afghanistan - the second episode with John Goodman in is a triumph by any show's standards.
Critics have given it mixed reviews, which is not a bad thing. Instead you are invited to make up your own mind. I'm inclined to say that it takes a balanced look at a number of important issues, particularly the wars. I'm not entirely sure why the ratings dipped towards the end of the series but the last five episodes are particularly gripping and, seeing as they are stretched to cover just 24 hours between them, it is particularly in-depth and we learn a lot about the many sides of the characters.
There is not much to say against this show. The ending is a little 'Hollywood' - that is to say that I expected it to be different. Sometimes the show can be a little patronising and sometimes some scenes can be irrelevant. I'm not a big fan of flashbacks either, which feature prominently throughout the final half of the series. I would much rather have the characters describe their own experiences rather than letting us 'watch' the past through a neutral perspective.
All in all I really like the show and I am disappointed that they only stopped at one season. If there's anything I learnt from Studio 60 it is that perhaps sometimes, just sometimes, it's best just to ignore the ratings and what the sponsors think and just go with it. This won't appeal to someone who's looking for "Just Another Sitcom" but for someone who likes to laugh and feel gripped this is the right show. Plenty of drama with a good helping of comedy.
Engrossing from the start April 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This series was due to commence in Australia this season however, with the axing in the U.S. it never saw the light of day here. I have just bought and watched the series on DVD. I cannot understand why this series was axed. Admittedly it's a bit like The West Wing revisited with quite a few of the actors crossing over into Stuido 60 - but to me that was also part of the attraction. Each episode was gripping and the storylines were quite different and fresh. The actors were just fantastic. I do agree with some of the reviewers that the show within the show they were putting on was pretty lame but as we only saw snippets, I didn't find that an issue. I would love to see a second series but at least they did manage to wrap up the main storylines, so we weren't left hanging. One of the best things I've seen for ages and would recommend this DVD series.
Almost as Good as the West Wing April 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the new drama/comedy series from the great writer Aaron Sorkin and the brilliant producer Thomas Schlamme. These were two of the crucial men involved in the creation of the west wing and if you are fans you probably already watched this on TV and have your own opinions.
The basic plot is that studio 60 on the sunset strip is the friday night flag ship show of the network 'NBS'. It is a late night sketch show and for years has been going downhill. Its creator,chief writer and executive producer after a rant which you see in the first episode has been fired. This requires the network to hire previously fired writer Matt Albie (Matthew Perry/Chandler from Friends) and Producer Danny Trypp (Bradley Whitford/Josh Lyman from the West Wing).
The series with some trials and tribulations is based upon the show and its creation every week and unlike a previous review i love some of the sketches in the 'show' itself.
If You are a fan of the west wing you will recognise much of the cast, from Danny, the Reporter, The deputy chief of staff for the Santos Campaign, Matthem Perry who played joe Quincy the associate White house council.
This is a great start and i promise it is brilliant. However it has been cancelled but it may br returning i can only hope.
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