Ok ok, so I haven’t given up on Joss. But I just watched the pilot episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and WOW. Here’s a writer who inspired me with scenes from a White House that could only exist in the feverish mind of an erudite idealist. He created our expectations of razor sharp dialog delivered at breathtaking speeds you almost have to re-watch to follow. And now he’s turned his attentions to a SNL-type skit show, long past its prime and in need of an overhaul.
I didn’t think I could be inspired by a show about tv. Yet there were several moving speeches of such heart and eloquence that I got a tear in my eye (but then I’m a total softy and just about everything gets a tear in my eye). It’s just tv, yet it’s not. There were many familiar faces from the West Wing scattered about the set as a welcome site. But it was the tone, the purpose, and the breakneck pace that I really was glad to see return.
Aaron Sorkin created and wrote every single episode of the West Wing. At least for the first few years. Then there were some troubles and he eventually left. But the show was never the same. No team of crack writers could quite equal up to one Sorkin.
I’m excited for tv again. It’s a glad return for me to see something that’s finally worth investing my emotions.
One Response to “Aaron Sorkin is my master now”
[...] With luck, I won’t have the same problem with Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, because the first two episodes have me absolutely hooked. It’s certainly the most meta TV show I’ve seen in a while - the best comparison I have is that it’s like a live action Muppet Show, especially for the cameos within cameos. Several people whose blogs I read have raved about it. After the pilot aired, Tara Teich bowed down to Aaron Sorkin and Steven Johnson seemed to like it so much it seems certain he’ll add it to the Everything Bad canon of super-smart TV. I’m glad they pointed it out, because I can’t wait for episode three. [...]