When Bad Things Happen to Good TV

This is about a show. You probably have never heard of it. It only lasted one season in the US when stupid NBC cancelled it just because it couldn't bludgeon the equally moronic CSI: Miami.
I love this show. I've been working in television for nine years and watching this show pretty much sums up the lives of people in the network. It was also amusing for me that one of their episodes --- The Focus Group --- is about ratings and viewership, which is what I'm really in GMA for.

The name of the show is Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Look for it in youtube. There is a small cult following of very disappointed fans like me who, sure, got closure, but didn't get enough.

What was wrong with it? Was it the cast? Hell no. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford ---- two of the most amazing actors in Hollywood, with the rare gift of both perfect comedic timing and heart-wretching drama --- lead an equally talented cast which includes the lovely Amanda Peet and the amazing Sarah Paulson (You should see her in Down With Love. She is so wonderful). Bradley Whitford could bash the head of David Caruso with his Emmy. He is that good.

Was it the writing? Oh God, no. CSI? That's bad writing. I love CSI, don't get me wrong. But try watching four CSI episodes in a row then pop in The X-files or The West Wing and you'd think Gil Grissom was a retard compared to Fox Mulder. CSI is about the science of it --- it's like an encyclopedia being read by pretty actors. (Sigh. Carmine Giovinazzo.) But writing-wise, bad bad bad.

Studio 60 can match the writing genius of The X-files, The West Wing, even Prison Break. Although, admittedly, it wasn't for the moronic.

So what was it?

Let me just lay down the facts first, so you could appreciate the irony. Studio 60 is about a variety/gag show, like, say, Bubble Gang. It's head honcho flips out on TV and gets fired by the network so they had to bring in these two guys, Matt and Danny --- think of them as Bitoy and Ogie Alcasid --- who once left the show because they made fun of the war in Iraq and their network wanted them to apologize for it. But they refused. (If you're a Democrat, you will see the comedy in it. If you're a Republican then... don't talk to me).

So it's basically about these two rebellious guys who are complete geniuses in the TV biz but, sadly, have to follow the rules of the network. They didn't care about the ratings. They didn't care about the sister companies of the network. They didn't care about the advertisers. They just did their thing and gave funnies.

Sadly, Studio 60 didn't bring in the ratings because it was up against CSI Miami. In my mind, it was like putting up a show like I Witness against Wowowee. Even if I Witness outlines completely how we as a nation can solve poverty and our political crisis, even if I Witness features a full-length documentary on how our taxes are siphoned into the pockets of politicians, people are still going to tune into Willie Frigging Revillame.

Similarly, Americans are stupid that way ----- "Yay for Horatio Caine and the weekly boobage and the exploding trucks and airplanes, boo for a show that makes me think and has no sex in it" --- so they tuned out of Studio 60.

So there. A show about two guys who didn't care for the ratings got cancelled because of the ratings. Irony for dinner.

High rating shows pretty much defines the intelligence of a nation. In the US, the no.1 show during this time of year is American Idol. Here in the Philippines, it's Marimar. The X-files hardly ever made it into the top 10. I Witness, Born to Be Wild, The Beat, Balikbayan, hardly ever make it to the top 50.

You are what you watch.