TV: “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”
What’s this, you say? A review of a television show about the backstage goings-on at a television show? In a blog reviewing speculative fiction?
OK, you’re right. But I must ask the question: what could be more speculative than a television show where people are smart, funny, quick-witted, talk very fast and believe passionately that what they are doing is Terribly Important and they need to devote themselves fully to it?
I enjoy watching this show, as I’ve enjoyed watching virtually everything that Aaron Sorkin has created or had a major hand in. I read a review on salon.com by Heather Havrilesky (http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/iltw/2006/09/24/studio_60/) with which I agree tremendously. She talks about how all the Aaron Sorkin ventures have a strong sense of self-importance, and while it works in a show about politics and the president, it probably doesn’t work as well in a show about a late-night comedy show (or about a third-ranked sports network, see “Sports Night”).
But you know what, I still like it and I’ll definitely watch it until it ends up diminishing in the ratings and it gets taken off the air and ends up consigned to DVD box sets. While watching it, I’ll dream of a world where people are smart, funny, quick-witted, talk very fast and believe that what they are doing is Terribly Important and they should devote all their passion and energy to it. It will also be a world where late-night comedy skit shows are topical, pointed and marvelously funny. What could be more speculative than that?
As a last note, there are environments (beyond politics) where I think the self-important, fast talking, quick-witted style of drama can work. I'm betting there multiple science fiction premises where it would make sense, and I think it woud also make sense in the world of high-tech startups. Many years ago, when I lived in Silicon Valley, I had ideas for a television show set in the world of a startup. Now I realize it would be in the style of an Aaron Sorkin show. I've still got the concept, plotline and episode ideas sitting around - Aaron, why don't your people call my people (read: me) and we can do lunch?
OK, you’re right. But I must ask the question: what could be more speculative than a television show where people are smart, funny, quick-witted, talk very fast and believe passionately that what they are doing is Terribly Important and they need to devote themselves fully to it?
I enjoy watching this show, as I’ve enjoyed watching virtually everything that Aaron Sorkin has created or had a major hand in. I read a review on salon.com by Heather Havrilesky (http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/iltw/2006/09/24/studio_60/) with which I agree tremendously. She talks about how all the Aaron Sorkin ventures have a strong sense of self-importance, and while it works in a show about politics and the president, it probably doesn’t work as well in a show about a late-night comedy show (or about a third-ranked sports network, see “Sports Night”).
But you know what, I still like it and I’ll definitely watch it until it ends up diminishing in the ratings and it gets taken off the air and ends up consigned to DVD box sets. While watching it, I’ll dream of a world where people are smart, funny, quick-witted, talk very fast and believe that what they are doing is Terribly Important and they should devote all their passion and energy to it. It will also be a world where late-night comedy skit shows are topical, pointed and marvelously funny. What could be more speculative than that?
As a last note, there are environments (beyond politics) where I think the self-important, fast talking, quick-witted style of drama can work. I'm betting there multiple science fiction premises where it would make sense, and I think it woud also make sense in the world of high-tech startups. Many years ago, when I lived in Silicon Valley, I had ideas for a television show set in the world of a startup. Now I realize it would be in the style of an Aaron Sorkin show. I've still got the concept, plotline and episode ideas sitting around - Aaron, why don't your people call my people (read: me) and we can do lunch?
posted by yeff at 8:54 PM
1 Comments:
Seriously, you should contact Sorkin with your idea ... nothing to lose, everything to gain... (always ahppy to dispense advice to another science fiction writer...)
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