I thought the show as a whole was kinda annoying, especially the Matt/Mary scenes – Sorkin continues to write women poorly – but holy crap, the minute Jack informed Matt and Danny about the breaking news? Everything suddenly focused into a suspenseful, agonizing set of scenes. And Nate Corrdry was incredibly moving in the production booth. When did he suddenly turn into such a dramatic actor? Dayum! Watching his denial turn into rage and then breaking down into sobs was torturous.
(Torturous in a good way, that is – as opposed to any scene with Harriet.)
Back when I was in radio my father called to tell me my mother had exploratory surgery, but she was fine. When he found out I was on the air, he wouldn’t even leave a message (he called back later) because he didn’t want to say anything that might affect my performance.
Let me repeat – he called to give me good news.
You can call it cold, heartless or simply a badly written script, but it’s a legitimate point to debate in a situation like that.
She was not. All I could think of when I saw her was that this episode brought together Pam and Dawn for the first time, but they had no scenes together…
I agree, entirely. It’s the contention that it’s such a foregone conclusion that you shouldn’t tell that there’s no point in debating it at all that I disagree with.
I watched it twice and teared up both times. Sorkin can certainly write gut-wrenching scenes, and it just shows a glimpse of how spectacular Studio 60 can be when he hits the target. He’s got the good actors, give them the good material and they can hit it out of the park.
Anyone catch the “running to the booth” scene? Very similar to a scene in West Wing, when Leo and the Secret Service are running along the patio of the White House to tell Jed that Zoey had been kidnapped.
Tom was worried about his brother. Harriet said that he usually e-mailed him before the show, and when he didn’t hear from him, I’m sure that was in the back of his mind…and that’s why he wasn’t as good as he thought he should have been.
Is Harriet that close to Tom’s parents that they would contact her and not him if they hadn’t heard from their other son?
I’m really mad and NBC…yes, we know you’re not renewing the show, but do you have to hamstring ANY possibility of an uptick in ratings by listing this show as a repeat? I almost didn’t tape it, then I realized I might as well enjoy it while I can, even if it was a repeat. Which it wasn’t.
Put me in the “Don’t tell him” camp. Simon was right, they didn’t know anything, and it would have worried Tom needlessly when they needed his head in the game. As you can see, once Jack knew what had happened, he had no problem breaking in with news. I’m sure they would have done the same thing during the show.
I have watched this show religiously. And it richly deserves to be cancelled. There is no logic in their universe.
As has already been pointed out numerous times, why in the hell are Tom’s parents calling Harriet? Do they not have Tom’s number?? Do they think that Tom hasn’t noticed that his brother hasn’t e-mailed him? And if Tom doesn’t KNOW this already, how the hell do Simon and Harriet KNOW this?? (and who the hell would take their cell phone on the set of a live TV show? even if it’s on vibrate, that might be enough to throw your timing off for a joke)
FTR, I would also be in the ‘Don’t tell him’ camp. It’s one thing to be worried about your brother. It’s not gonna help you out to also tank on live television.
So there is a deposition in New York tomorrow. And the lawyer has waited until 8pm the day before (in the wrong time zone, no,less) to begin asking pertinent questions?? At a time when all those she will have to talk to have a live performance to think about? Was it a surprise depostiton? Or just incredibly bad lawyering?
Oh, Matt is using drugs? (heaven forfend!) Oh, he’s stopped now. “How ya doing Matt? How are you holding up?” Well I think he would holding pretty damn good considering he just popped 3 pills less than an hour ago. HE’S STILL HIGH!!!