Studio 60: "The Wrap Party"--wow!

Okay, *this* is the episode we've been waiting for. If you've
been on the verge of giving up on the show, or if you haven't
seen it at all yet, I urge you to watch tonight.

Obveeus...

I know. The point is that a TV show does not have to have either one of
them at the end of every single episode.

David Johnston...

This is true. It can simply meander around aimlessly. Of course when
you actually try it, the result doesn't tend to be popular.

Obveeus...

I disagree. I think many of the complaints seem to be specifically based
upon the show not having 'payoffs'.

Obveeus...

No it didn't. What we saw was that Simon felt he wasn't being represented
by the writing. Matt wasn't even aware of the problem. A new writer was
hired, but that won't 'resolve the problem'. More will need to be
done...and will be done as the writer's room is slowly turned over with the
changing of the guard. This new guy hasn't even been introduced to the
writer's room or to Danny. It wasn't a wrapped up plotline, it is an
ongoing plotline. 'Wrapping it up' in the terms of most TV shows these days
would mean firing half the writers on the staff that night, hiring a bunch
of new ones, and closing the episode with the revelation that at least one
of the new hires is actually a spy working for an 'enemy' network.

karl...

I think people are getting to hung up on the literal [im]probability. It
isn't that it is an absolute impossibility that two people of that
demographic would not have ever heard of A&C's WOF. It is that for Sorkin to
put it in to the script to merely show the parents were disconnected from
their son's world was not a good idea in that it did cause viewers to be
jarred out of the story when their reaction is 'Huh?!?'.

If he is hinting at some deeper meaning, well I doubt it, but if so then he
needed to establish it in the plot which he did not do.

cqrsnv...

I wish I had seen your post earlier. I only caught the last half and
really enjoyed it. When the first black comedian was up at the
improv, I was like "yeah RAT was right, the skits - I mean the
sketches do suck" and then it becomes obvious that it was supposed to
suck. Then the 2nd black comedian sucked but actually was good.
I feel so used!

Cynical me thinks "no way a studio big cheese would be so patient with

Anim8rFSK...

That's the question we've been asking on another group; if you car hits
another car, or something stationary, or a person, or whatever, in auto
park, who gets the ticket and/or the lawsuit? And how long before
somebody drives through a plate glass window and claims they were in
auto park at the time?

Barry Margolin...

Who gets the ticket if you use Cruise Control and don't slow down when
you enter a speed zone?

You're still supposed to pay attention while using the auto-park, you
just don't have to do all the detailed work.

And how long before somebody is driving down the highway and it tries to
autopark them into oncoming traffic?

Obveeus...

One would at least home that the 'autopark' button only works when the car
is in reverse.

Barry Margolin...

Where do you go to find "intelligent bimbos"?

Anim8rFSK...

Mensa?

Obveeus...

This season's Survivor has one: Candice.

Barry Margolin...

I think this can be explained as Simon being so desperate that he
deluded himself and set his expectations high. Thus priming himself for
disappointment.

Barry Margolin...

If they went back later, it wouldn't be nearly as serendipitous. You
don't get fun plot twists by planning ahead.

Obveeus...

I agree with that. On the other hand, it might have been a 'plot point'
worthy of extending out for several episodes until the right writer was
found.

a senior" but the idealistic parts hopes there actually are. I guess
it would be too OTT that he is invited back to write something? I
hope they sent him home in a limo or drove him themselves?

I can see how some say this was a bit sappy or sweet but I was in the
mood for dessert. (vs the SNL desert? :-)

"The Wrap Party" has a superb storyline with a character played
by Eli Wallach that also involves Cal. I've been wanting more

karl...

That part seemed a little too syrupy for me. I did like the bit with Matt &

Obveeus...

Lest anyone forget, the episode will sneak in some more Gilmore Girl as
well. Anyone with an obsession for Gilmore Girls should definitely tune in
to Studio 60 tonight.

Danny and the three airhead bimbettes. I didn't really think much of the

Obveeus...

That is what the sensors are for. if they get within 6 inches (or
whatever) of an object, the car stops 'parking itself'.

Ronnie...

But you don't even know if those sensors exist for sure. "It would
also need distance warning sensors...."

And even so, what, you're going to try using it, position yourself
wrong so that the sequence interrupts itself, and keep trying until
you get it right and the sequence follows through? I'll stick with
manual, thanks.

David Johnston...

There's a disclaimer saying "You still have to use your brakes".

Obveeus...

So, if you don't use the brake the car will keep going until it hits
something?

What is the purpose of this 'gimmick' exactly?

parents visiting either. Amanda Peet continues to underwhelm as a network
president.

Timothy Busfield scenes, so that was a bonus for me.

There's also a Matt/Simon storyline about the lack of black
writers on the show that has a great payoff. And the scenes
between Tom and his parents demonstrate once again how well
Aaron Sorkin avoids making people two-dimensional.

cqrsnv...

I particularly enjoyed the part right after the record was presented.
I thought the father's facial expression was perfect - his love for
his son conflicted with the disappointment in his career choice. The
"need any money" was the perfect cherry.

Barry Margolin...

True, but in the case of TWW this geekiness was to be expected.
Bartlett deliberately surrounded himself with some of the most brilliant
and knowledgeable people in the political spectrum. Being able to
rattle off all sorts of trivia was practically a prerequisite for
working in the White House on that show.

On the other hand, I doubt that an encyclopedic knowledge of NBS history
is necessary to become a performer on S60.

BTW, all of those storylines are separate from what you might
think are the main storylines--Jack's reaction to Jordan's

Dano...

Maybe it just wasn't good in a Chang approved way...

No offense, but you don't speak for me. I loved the whole episode, but I
don't speak for everyone, neither does Sorkin. In other words take it or
leave it.

archang...

Right, and you don't speak for me, as you've said (but hey,
repetition in a discussion of a Sorkin show seems appropriate). Did you
think that discussion and criticism of a TV show means only "fawning
praise"? There were huge parts of this episode that were aggravatingly
arrogant, and worse, undeservedly so.

Dano...

And why wouldn't there be? Look...after all is said and done it's just
TV...if you get 15 good minutes, it's practically "art" :-)

Dano...

She's heard of it...she just won't admit it...

purchase of a dramatic series about the United Nations (some
great sarcastic dialog from Jack about that), Jordan's desire
to make some new friends, Harriet's relationship with the
baseball player, and Danny's attempts to get Matt's thoughts
off of Harriet. Those stories all have some good scenes, too,
but the three storylines I mentioned earlier are, IMO, the
real highlight of this episode.

Major ChrisB...

I see a few disagreements amongst the replies to your post but this isn't
one of them. I absolutly loved the episode, I realised right away where the
old man payoff was going to go but it still did it well. I really liked
Jordan and Jack as well as the stuff with Matt and Simon. I wonder if
Jack's "UN" speach was similar to one Sorkin hear on pitching a prime time
drama about the inner working of the white house policy makers about 8 years
ago....

One thing you never mentioned which I like was the dynamic between the two
ladies of the Studio 60 cast. the scenes in the dressing room were excelent
and very funny...

Lots of good laughs from me and some good drama. What more can you ask for
in a show. It's just a shame no one is watching this show either.

record hunter...

Agreed. I liked it as much as you did. I've liked it all along, but
this was my favorite.