Busy flailing brb

[next_to_normal]

I will most likely have to do some sort of flail-filled reaction post to the season finales of my favorite shows, but for now, I leave you with a linkspam:

* Chuck has been renewed for a 13-episode season 5! Wooo! (Especially since the season finale is called "Chuck vs. the Cliffhanger.") It's also the final season, sadly, but it's three seasons longer than I ever expected it to get, so I'm just gonna be thankful for this.

* From the "I'll watch it so pocochina doesn't have to" file: an analysis of how similar Aaron Sorkin's new pilot is to his other shows. The verdict? Jury's still out. Comparing the mentor/BFF relationship between two female characters to Dana and Natalie on Sports Night is promising. On the other hand, "he just has too much integrity" reaaaaaally worries me.

* Here's a list of female-driven TV pilots in consideration for next season. Not many I really have a desire to watch, although the zombie one sounds kinda fun. Also kinda WTFy that the article describes women as "bitchy" and "slutty" in the taglines, like, what is the message of this article? "Hey, female characters are awesome, but we don't actually respect them!"

* 40 things that will make you feel old. The Clarissa one really hurts.

Comments

[eilowyn1]

I loved Studio 60 because of Harriet Hayes. A Christian in Hollywood who wasn't a nutcase or a bigot, based off of Kristen Chenoweth, who I adore. Oh, and I'm putting TWW up on my netflix queue so I'll be watching it over the summer (I've only seen season 1 but Lauren already has me shipping Ainsley/Sam.

And that list! Jeez, do I feel old now! The Kimmie Gibbler one was the one that got me!

I'm curious: what did you think of Studio 60? And should I put Sports Night on my Netflix queue?

[pocochina]

HARRIET HAYES! Though as much as I liked her - and I really did! - the way Matt/Sorkin used her as his 'splainin punching bag in every damn episode was part of what turned me off about the show. I wanted to hug her. GIRL, YOU CAN DO BETTER. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CANNOT DO BETTER. THERE IS NO DIRECTION BUT UP. And the fact that she was based on Chenowith makes me adore Chenowith and Hayes as much as it makes the gross paternalism even worse.

Sports Night is fun but I'd do West Wing first, as it's really something special. It's on Netflix Instant and it's convenient, but I'm not, you know, PINING FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT as I watch.

[next_to_normal]

I was not a huge Harriet fan, mostly because she was supposed to be this brilliant comedian and she... wasn't at all funny. Which is more a problem with Sorkin not having the slightest idea how to write sketch comedy than the character herself, but it didn't help. Also, her relationship with Matthew Perry's character was like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Overall, I thought Studio 60 is Sorkin's weakest project that I've seen. It's way too much of Sorkin working out his own issues via TV (dude, that's what therapy is for) and doesn't have the saving grace of being brilliant and witty like SN or TWW. I found it very self-congratulatory, kinda skeevy at times, and the only characters I liked were the minor ones (Nate Corddry! That girl from the British Office!). I didn't think anyone could make me HATE Bradley Whitford, but congratulations, you managed it, Show!

Though it is kind of hilarious to see the last few episodes, where it's so clear that they've completely given up all pretense of being a show about a TV show and just decided to pivot into West Wing-lite.

I would recommend Sports Night, but like Poco says, TWW is definitely top priority.