Studio 60 1.04 - The West Coast Delay

[caz963]

Well, I think the ‘funny quotient’ was definitely higher this week. Possibly helped by the fact that we didn’t see too many lame sketches on the “show” itself. And by the fact that, as a teacher, I found the “ADD, ADHD” stuff highly amusing, because, well, yeah… I can’t honestly say I haven’t found myself thinking the same thing sometimes!

This, for me was the episode where the show really found it’s stride. It seemed sharper, there was plenty of funny and it really zipped along. Not that I haven’t enjoyed what we’ve seen so far, it was just that for some reason, this was the first time I’ve really sat up and thought “yes!”




Loved the scene where Harriet gives Matt the baseball bat - an “unromantic present”. She wants closure (yeah, right) and to move on – and he’s her boss which she says he sees as an “insurmountable obstacle” to dating her (hm… sound familiar?) The thing with the phone number was funny – “you gave me a used cocktail napkin, basically.” (bwah!)
Tom wants to be Matt’s wingman on the path of romance – and Matt can’t talk to Danny about Harriet because he (Danny) already thinks whatever’s going on (or not) between them is a problem. Tom has the stellar idea (!) that Matt should go get a stiletto boot signed by one of “The Bombshell Babes” to make Harriet jealous.
Matt’s so neurotic (in the midst of this, he’s thinking about punctuation!) – about Harriet and about the fact that he still has 12 minutes of material to write - that he thinks it’s a good idea! Luckily for him, he realizes it’s not.

ETA Thinking about this later, I do wonder where on earth Sorkin's going with this relationship. It's obvious they both care about each other, although at the moment it's more obvious on Matt's side. At some point, surely, Matt's either got to let it go, or let it rip him apart (his claims to showing leadership skills aside). Usually with two exes on a show, they're either still secretly pining for each other, or one is and one isn't or something like that, but this is absoutely not secret on Matt's part - she knows, everybody knows - I just wonder where it can go from here.

We saw what Ricky and Ron actually do this week, running the writers room, putting their hands up to the cock up with the news segment but refusing to give up the geek responsible – they’ve made their peace with Matt and Danny at last. Well sort of.

Tim Busfield directed – that made me happy. And I thought Cal absolutely rocked this episode. He has a great nonchalance about him – nothing seems to faze him:
Loved this exchange with Jordan after they discover the plagiarism and decide to cut into the feed:

Is this gonna work?

Sure.

You’ve done it before?

A hundred times. Well really no, never… but I can’t think what the problem’d be.

What could possibly go wrong…

There ya go!

It’s all in the delivery which was perfect.

No Danny until about half way through this week (don’t do that again, please!) although I guess I can live with it seeing as Brad more than made up for it when he finally showed up! Can someone please explain to me how he can make playing around with a stapler sexy? (Okay, okay – rhetorical question; answer – the same way he makes everything else he does look sexy…)
And I can’t think of a better way to describe the look on Danny’s face when he meets Martha than the way bexatious said it, so I hope she won’t mind my quoting it – it was Brad’s I’ve just had sex with you in my head and now I need to go change my pants look. Although he clearly knows he’s been set up when he tells her “Nice rack, by the way – tell Jordan I’m not fifteen,” (I can’t help it, but the phrase “nice rack” coming out of ‘Josh’s’ mouth is just so wrong, despite his inner frat-boy!) – but Matt’s reaction next was perfect – introduced to her he just stares at the rack for a second before looking at her face!

It sounds as though Martha might be a recurring character – and it occurred to me – in the original script for the pilot, Danny’s date to the awards show was a journalist named Martha (I think). I wonder if, when that was cut, AS decided to keep the character to re-introduce later (or vice-versa) – in any case, there was a considerable amount of flirting going on, so I won’t be surprised if we see her again.

ETA (again) I've been told she is going to be a recurring character - good, because I liked her... but then - isn't this a big enough cast already?


In the light of all the recent talk about ratings and demographics… the stuff about the Vanity Fair “alpha” consumers seems very appropriate! “One of her readers is worth five of our viewers.” Heh.
Banter about the bat… Matt smashing the window… funny and another reason I thought the show was really on the mark this ep.

Brad and the baseball bat… Josh flashback – “Dude!”

And another one – making the Dean’s list… although Matt apparently made it eight times in a row…

Matt walks in on Harriet and the baseball player snogging. Poor baby – he looks utterly crushed. So pwned.

I really enjoyed the final section where they find out about the plagiarized sketch and have to re-do it – it was pacy – and Danny in complete control was, you know, hot! Danny slamming Ron against the wall… also hot. “I want someone’s ass on my desk!” (*jumps up* - me! pick me! – what do you mean he didn’t mean it like that?! damn!)

Danny tells Harriet to stop Simon eating the desk… and to stop making out with baseball players in front of Matt. And he’ll brook no argument. (= hot. Again.)

Tom – “Someone’ll tell us when the show’s over, right?” Fab.

But everything works out okay when they find out that the material wasn’t plagiarized at all and that Studio 60 owned the material in the first place. “Get Jordan a drink - send Jack Rudolph a nice thing of balloons.” Hee!
And a great last line. “This is not the comedy we intended to do when the week began.” Heh.

Loved it - and really think it's found its feet this week. Keep it up, Aaron!

Comments

[crossmymind.livejournal.com]

I also think it was better this week because we had less of the "show" itself. I was very happy about that.

[cantbesilent.livejournal.com]

I so agree with every word of this. I really think they hit something that was missing the past few weeks. For the first time when it ended I was like "wow, that was really really good" as opposed to just "liking" it like I did before. Especially loved the last 20 minutes or so when the shit hit the fan. And the end! Love!

Heh, I had Josh flashes with the baseball thing to. Just seeing him standing like that, it was the first thing I thought of. Made me want to watch Stackhouse Filibuster...heh.

[teresadivicenzo.livejournal.com]

Gosh, you're keeping it cleaner than I am in my mind! I'm a Vanity Fair reader. Does that mean Danny needs me? He does? Excellent!

Aaron. Warmest welcome back. Knew you could do it.

And yes caz, I have been up all night writing. 7,000 words in less than 6 hours. Not bad....zzzzzzzzzzzz

[kathyh]

Not that I haven’t enjoyed what we’ve seen so far, it was just that for some reason, this was the first time I’ve really sat up and thought “yes!”

Yeah, me too. My laugh quotient definitely went up this week along with my involvement in the characters and what was going on.

there was a considerable amount of flirting going on, so I won’t be surprised if we see her again.

I hope we do. I liked her with Danny and I liked her initial lunch with Jordan, who I'm finding less annoying by the week (though I still think AP could do to vary her facial expressions a bit).

We saw what Ricky and Ron actually do this week

I liked that scene quite a bit. Now all they need to do is use Lucy Davis more. Ricky and Ron seemed much more like characters this week and far less like ciphers of disgruntled writers.

And I thought Cal absolutely rocked this episode.

I think everybody rocked this episode but Cal, Tom and Simon were particularly rocking. MP and BW always rock so that's a given *g*.

My only fault with the episode was that there was no Jack, but apart from that I think the show's really starting to hit its stride. I hope the ratings reflect that.

[salr323.livejournal.com]

This, for me was the episode where the show really found its stride. It seemed sharper, there was plenty of funny and it really zipped along. Not that I haven't enjoyed what we've seen so far, it was just that for some reason, this was the first time I've really sat up and thought “yes!”

I had that reaction to last week's ep! I really liked this week's too, of course, but the ending seemed a bit anti-climactic. I don't know, it just seemed to end without a punch. But that's a minor criticism.

For me, Matt Perry stole the show with his reaction to seeing Harriet and the baseball player. That was fabulous. I really felt for him, and I'm not even all that sold on his relationship with Harriet, but he just looked so broken hearted. She was a bit of a bitch though, wasn't she? I was so pleased when Danny slapped her down! It's pretty obvious how Matt feels about her, so what is she playing at???

Danny was in alpha-Danny mode *thud* but I missed him in the first half!

I think Martha will be a good recurring character - and yeah, she was in the pilot script as Danny's date. His reaction to her was very funny - so obvious he fancies her and he's so cute about it too! (Although - *whispers* - she looked a bit too hold for him, I thought!) I see her as a sort of Joey Lucas character, I think. ;)

And I adored Ricky and Ron! I loved them last week, but this week they showed some real backbone. I loved them standing up to Danny (OMG! The way he shoves Ricky (or was it Ron?) up against the wall? Danny has this fabulous aggressive streak beneath the calm exterior, I love it. Josh would never have done that!) And I loved that Ron (or was it Ricky?) told Matt that his prima donna act was screwing up all the other writers. Go Ricky and Ron! And Matt was classy in accepting that too, and in making some kind of peace with them.

Ooooh, lots of good character stuff to build on. I can't believe we have to wait a whole week for the next bloody episode!

[shaz-ann.livejournal.com]

You know? You've hit the nail right on the head. I thought the pilot and the second episode were ok and the last week's was pretty good, but this week it just seemed to click somehow.

Loved the scene where Harriet gives Matt the baseball bat - an “unromantic present”. She wants closure (yeah, right) and to move on – and he’s her boss which she says he sees as an “insurmountable obstacle” to dating her (hm… sound familiar?) The thing with the phone number was funny – “you gave me a used cocktail napkin, basically.” (bwah!)

Exactly - loved the follow up scene on the staircase too
"Are we done?"
"I'm certain we're not!"
Also at the end when Matt leans over Harry on the desk - woah, is it me or did he almost kiss her himself?

I can forgive them for not giving us any Danny until half way through if they continue to dress him that way (hot!).

And I'm glad I'm not the only one who had a reaction to the "I want somebody's ass on my desk now!!" - thud. Lots of ladies queing up for that Brad baby ;)

[truelyfocussed.livejournal.com]

I love reading your recaps - the other websites have been so jaded it's like they claim to love AS etc but are half hoping he fails.

Thanks for keeping us posted :)

[rentypoo.livejournal.com]

caz, I don't have time right this minute to read your post, tho' I'm sure it's wonderful as always.

I just had to stop by to say that the new Danny-with-specs profile you used is To. Die. For.

*squee*