NBC loses 60, goes Bionic and finds Shahi

NBC held its upfronts yesterday and it’s official: Studio 60 is dead. The much-hyped, then much-maligned and finally much-ignored dramedy from the overly-articulate mind of Aaron Sorkin officially got the axe. I love, love, loved this show at first. The story was smart. The writing was witty. Sarah Paulson was pretty (and witty and gay). But the writing and story suffered as things shifted away from topical, political storylines and into the emotional arena. Watching ex-couples argue and pseudo-couples stalk each other? Not that fun. Too bad, because had it been able to stretch its genius without the constant specter of cancellation, I think it could have grown into something special. Sigh. In more uplifting news, NBC unveiled its full fall season. Of interest (because she is endlessly interesting) is the return of Tina Fey as Liz Lemon. The previously-announced pickup of “30 Rock” comes with a move up one time slot on Thursdays. Looks like I’ll be glued to my couch Thursday nights -- again. A couple new shows also caught my eye. One was the reimagined “Bionic Woman” airing Wednesdays. I watched the original and remember running around our house making the bionic “Na-na-na-na-na-na-na” sound. The new Bionic babe will be played by British actress Michelle Ryan. See a one-minute clip here. No “Na-na-na-na-na-na-na,” but it still looks pretty hardcore. Strong women and super powers? Kick and Ass.And finally, just because she is hot like fire, here is Sarah Shahi all smiles at the upfronts promoting her new show “Life,” which will air Wednesdays behind the “Bionic Woman.” O Carmen, Carmen! Wherefore art thou Carmen? Sarah plays a cop (hot damn, I’m going to have to add her to my girls with guns list). Otherwise, I have no idea what the series is about (fine, I know a little -- detectives, second-chances, life…) but, really, I don’t care. What I do care about is the zipper that runs down the front of her dress. The only thing between us and heaven is one good tug.

Studio 60 riding off into the sunset strip

Well, to all three of you “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” fans out there wondering if the much-hyped Aaron Sorkin show-within-a-show would ever return, your wait is over. NBC slyly announced (if you call a website banner an announcement) that the dramedy would be back May 24, the day after May sweeps ends. Yeah, that’s not a good sign. This probably means that the Peacock is giving Sorkin and Co. a courtesy run off of the remaining six episodes before it goes off to that great back lot in the sky.

My response to this news is a resounding, “Meh.” As much as I was wowed by the show’s initial smarts and as much as I adore Sarah Paulson, the last few episodes have been decidedly unimpressive. In fact, since the Christmas episodes, it has been a downhill slalom of Olympic proportions. It’s almost as if the writers knew that the show was doomed and started updating their resumes instead. Now, I’m not even sure if I’ll bother to tune in to see how it all ends. Which is sad, because the show had such potential. Goodbye Harriet, we hardly knew ya. Sigh.

Studio 60 sends me to Cloud 9

Well, that was lovely. I’ve been a fan of “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” since its pilot blew me away with its smarts, wit and backbone. Today, I’m as much a fan as ever (OK, the skits could be considerably funnier). But overall, big kuddos. Monday's episode (the last before the new year) was an early Christmas gift. Funny. Principled. Romantic. The show has two of my four favorite female characters from the new season: Jordan McDeere (the brilliant Amanda Peet) and Harriet Hayes (the brilliant and out Sarah Paulson). All season long we've been treated to layered portrayals of interesting, intelligent and independent women.

Last night both actresses got to add “love interest” to that list. Now, I realize praising an episode where both women’s roles primarily boils down to “romantic foil for lead male character” might seem like a blight on my feminist street cred. Hey, let’s face it, everyone loves romance. That’s why romantic comedies are so popular. Note how when movies are about married couples, they’re usually called “dramas.” But, getting back to my point, Studio 60 makes me happy I own a television. Really happy. Get a little happy for yourself and watch the full episode online.

p.s. In case you were wondering, my other two favorites from the new season are Ugly Betty’s Betty Suarez and 30 Rock’s Liz Lemon.

Sarah Smile

So, I’m starting to really love Sarah Paulson on Studio 60 and the Sunset Strip. How much? Well, I’m willing to overlook the fact that she plays a Christian conservative who willingly appeared on the 700 Club. Why? She is damn good. Intelligent. Nuanced. Quick-witted. Immensely likeable. You can see what Cherry Jones sees in her. I hope the show (which continues to impress after its knockout premiere) can find an audience. It, like Sarah, is intelligent, nuanced, quick-witted and immensely likeable. Plus it's nice to finally have an out actress in primetime, instead of forever stuck in the daytime chat cycle. But, perhaps most deliciously, it has got to chap the Religious Right's ass that a gay woman is playing a sympathetic evangelical Christian on TV. That must just blow their crazy little minds.

The idiot box gets smart

Holy shit. I just watched the premiere of “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” and wow. The series had tons of hype coming into the fall season with critics hailing it as the “Next Big Thing.“ Let me tell you, it lived up to its billing. This show is smart. Whip smart. It’s a show-within-a-show that follows the backstage goings on at a suspiciously “SNL”-like sketch comedy show (hell, it's even on the NBS channel...) that has lost its funny. It opens with the longtime producer having an on-air “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” breakdown about the abysmal state of television. And it only gets better. Plus, while I don’t see any discernable gay content yet, the show stars out actress Sarah Paulson. Interestingly, she plays a devout Christian actress/singer. I know, now you’re thinking, “Damn! Why didn’t I watch.” Fear not, you still can. Through the magic of the interweb, you can catch the whole thing online, today. If you still need convincing, read the raves from my favorite TV columnist Tim Goodman.