September 18, 2006

Genesis of Studio 60

That's a good question but my answer will be all over the place. I like backstage drama, whether it's a navy law office or a sports cable show or the White House. I like the romance of live television and I liked that a late night sketch comedy show would, from time to time, get us into areas of the culture wars. Mostly I thought it was another opportunity to write about people committed to what they're doing and to each other.

What is all the hype about, I thought the show was flat and the story old! I would hope that Sorkin would regress to his true talents as a writer and witty banter, "Sports Night" that was brilliant. Give us something new dig deep, Studio 60 looks and feels done. The actors give it all they can Love Amanda Peet and Mathew Perry give them something to work with. Felicity Huff was great!!! but not much more that I enjoyed from the premiere.

loved it great show....great acting and great writing never left my chair. ty

loved the show. big fan of matthew perry. How did he react to you having his character on pain killers and alchohol?I was once in the position he was at one point in the past and it seems like that hit a little too close to home.

BRAVO on an excellent premiere! I've been waiting for this since I first heard about it and I wish I had a TiVo so I could watch it again and again. This viewer thinks you hit a homer already. I can't wait for next week's episode.

I couldn't help but notice two scenes that are very reminiscent from "The West Wing." Is this something that was done intentionally or was it just some wonderful happenstance?

"people committed to what they're doing and to each other."

And that's why I will always be a fan. I'll take a second of this over hours of the "plot"-driven dreck on the rest of TV any day.

Thanks for telling good stories.

How is the public going to react to 2 shows about the same basic thing? One a comedy and the other a drama I know. But same basic premise. Why did NBC agree to both?

If Joshua Malina's beings in everything Aaron's ever written is a curse, I'd really like his bad luck. =P

I was wondering if you have any feature films in the pipeline. Can you tell us about that?

Hi! Aaron, I'm in college right now studying dramatic writing at NYU to be a TV writer and you're my all time favorite writer! Is there I way I can get in contact with you? My class was wondering if we could ask you a couple questions through mail or email-- Maybe s a fan-mail address or something?? I'd really appreciate it! Thank-you!
And keep writing awesome television!!!!
jns281@nyu.edu
(I'll probably post this a few times, since this is the only chance I'll get to ask you)

Your show pokes fun at the inner workings of the studio. It reminds me of Arrested Development harassing Fox in its final days of life. Do you like to push the envelope (with the references to The Apprentice and Fear Factor)? Or is it all in good fun?

How much did the movie network factor into writing the script? Was it a conscious thing ahead of time or did you get the Idea and then go, “oh what this seems familiar”?

I never leave comments on things like this, but I find it so difficult not to put in my two cents. For years upon years I've been in love with both your writing, Aaron, and Tommy's direction. I couldn't have asked for a better show to tout as my favorite than "TWW." And I am thrilled beyond words now to have a new show to try to force my friends into watching.
I'm not a budding screenwriter (though I would love to someday to add my twist to Hollywood); I'm not even a film student. I'm just a lowly journalism hopeful carrying on in the world with a little help from my writing hero and his brilliant partner. Thanks for everything you do.
(So when's Joshua Malina's spot on "Studio 60" going to begin? You can't break the curse now.)