» Old Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip Thread Options

[HungryHippo2004]

Was unsure whether I should post this here. There's been a small amount of conversation on The West Wing board about it, but I felt it deserved a thread of its own.

Anyway, for those who don't know, Aaron Sorkin is returning to NBC with a brand new drama series. Here's the details, from variety.com:

Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme are headed back to NBC.

Peacock has won an intense bidding war for the next TV show from "The West Wing" duo, an hourlong drama dubbed "Studio 7 on the Sunset Strip" that's set behind-the-scenes at a longrunning Los Angeles-based sketch comedy show (Daily Variety, Oct. 5). It's believed the net has made a rich 13-episode commitment to the Warner Bros. TV project. 

Sorkin wrote the pilot script for the project before the pitching process began. That strategy helped build interest for the project among the webs and allowed WBTV to snag a premium commitment for it.

I absolutely cannot wait for this. Sorkin and Schlamme together again should be gold. Hopefully it can recapture the magic of Sports Night and The West Wing, while retaining its own identity.

Can't wait to see who gets cast in this. I think we may see a few West Wing stars, since rumours are rife that the show is now in its final season.

And hey, if its a failure then at least we should be guaranteed a 13 episode DVD set!

Thoughts?

[Mexicanguy]

My first thought......Wasn't there a reality show named Studio 7?

This post has been edited by Mexicanguy: Oct 17, 2005 @ 4:21 pm.

[Hoopernatorial]

When this show's possible existence came up a while back I remember thinking it sounded like a weird amalgam of Sports Night, West Wing, and SNL. While I'm still not sure how that's gonna work out, I'm fully excited about this and eagerly awaiting it, Sports Night and seasons 1-4 of West Wing are right up there among my favourite things ever on TV.

[HungryHippo2004]

Apparently so. Found an article which details the game:

On this show seven contestants compete in a game that tests the depth of their contemporary knowledge in the areas of news, politics, sports and popular culture, and their powers of memorization and recall. On the first seven episodes the winner will get $77,000 and a chance to compete in the eighth episode for an additional $777,000.

I'm sure they'll change the name of the show anyway.

[Phenobarbara]

I might tune in, just for the genius of Sorkin.

[Mexicanguy]

So Aaron Sorkin stole the title for his new tv show?

[HungryHippo2004]

Maybe, but I doubt he was familiar with the reality show in question. Plus, he added a couple words to it!:P

Who do we want cast in this thing?

If it is the last season of The West Wing, then I'd like to see the following:

Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Josh Charles and Rob Lowe. Think Lowe would be perfect as the lead of the show within the show ala Peter Krause/Casey in Sports Night. Of course, they could just rename the entire West Wing cast and I'd be happy!:P

Think Sorkin may go for a completely original main cast to avoid comparisons with TWW.

The real challenge is finding the 'father figure' - the role inhabited by Robert Guillaume in Sports Night and Martin Sheen in The West Wing.

[Mexicanguy]

Who do we want cast in this thing?

What about Janine Garofalo? She might be good as a Tina Fey-esque character.

[leonloring]

Whoever they try to cast, I hope they have a Mrs. Landinghamesque character and they to get Kathryn Joosten to play her.

[jenners]

I don't care what Aaron Sorkin writes, I'm watching it.

As for who to cast? There has to be a part for Joshua Malina, who I believe has participated in every (or almost every) Sorkin project.

[Hckyguy4]

This could be the best new show, Fall 2006. I am so excited to see what Sorkin does with a "Larry Sanders"esque format. His writing coupled with this format could be gold.... As for casting, it seems that the "father figure" role, as discussed uptopic, would lie in the hands of what the trades are referring to as the exec producer of the fictional show...the network is apparently UBC...One would think that the exec (i.e. Lorne Michaels) would have to be a big name. Also, there appears to be a character written after Sorkin's own heart...a writer with a cocaine problem.

No matter what, this will be my favorite new show for fall '06

[Eris Rising]

As a long-time SNL and Sorkin fan, I'm curious about this one. Thing is, isn't Tina Fey doing a sitcom with pretty much the exact same premise as this drama?

[Hckyguy4]

Again, the trades were talking about the Tina Fey vehicle, but it is a comedy, produced by Lorne Michaels, and in the half hour format. Also, Tina just had a baby, and apparently her show was slated for possible midseason '05 (Jan. 06) start. It looks like her pregnancy may have delayed that start. The Tina Fey thing has no public working title as of yet

[Eris Rising]

Oh, I understand that the format and debut date will be different. I'm just wondering how the existence of one show based on this source material will affect the other. Idle speculation.

[Phred62]

Sorkin and Schlaame? I'm in. I can barely watch WW any more and long for Sports Night. What is it about Sorkin that makes his writing so addicting?