September 20th, 2006Previous Entry | Archive Index | Current Blog | Next Entry Aaron Sorkin's "Studio 60 Live from the Hollywood Strip" My first encounter with Aaron Sorkin was several years ago when I was still living with Laura. I had a terrific, terrible crush on her, which just goes to show you how difficult, if not impossible, it is to be friends with someone you really want to sleep with. And we never did, though she knew I wanted it and used it to amuse herself and torture poor old me. One thing she got me to do was watch television with her on occasion. I can't stand television. The commercials, especially, either aggravate me or simply annoy me. But most of the schlock they'd have us a swill is recycled, tired, insulting, sophomoric, and downright stupid. There are exceptions, such as "The West Wing." Laura thought she was into politics, and had even worked on some local democrat's campaign for some office or another. I think she was just in it for the sex, really. (You can see why I am bitter). And so it was natural for her to like "West Wing." She also liked "Sex and the City," one of the worst television shows ever visited on humankind. And she really liked "Queer as Folk," but we'll talk about that some other time when I've been held for a while and feel more safe. Laura liked "West Wing," and she'd call me out of my dungeon to come watch it once in a while. It's a damn fine show, but at the time, I hated TV too much to get into it. Fast forward a few years. I withdrew my infatuation with Laura and she stopped being nice to me. And moved out. The another roommate, then living alone, and then Netflix. Ah, good old Netflix. My first rental was "Dead Like Me," season 1, which I eventually purchased. And then "The Office" (British version) which I ended up buying for my parents. And then "Alias," which I also then went out and bought. Someday I'll talk about J.J Abrams, the creator of "Alias." Suffice it to say that if JJ and Aaron made a TV show together, I'd probably get cable again. Eventually I Netflixed "West Wing," and though I didn't rush out and buy it, I still might. You have to understand that I bought "Alias" and "Dead Like Me" and "24" and the others because I was living alone. I still live alone, but by the time I got to "West Wing," I was wrapped around a truly lovely woman who coddles my heart to this very day. TV can end up being your friend, your buddy, but then when you have real buddies, TV is less infatuating.
So I did something on Monday I had not done in several years. Not since my life before DVDs and Netflix. Not since "Buffy" was on the air, in the beginning. I sat down and waited to purposefully watch a regularly scheduled broadcast TV show. In my defense, I had only heard that same day the show was going to be on, and only made the decision a few hours in advance. But me and mine where at her house, her TV has a receiver, and it's premier week. Voila. I watched the premier of Sorkin's new show. And it was good. Very good. Intense in places, filled with that same fast-paced, smart dialogue. Funny at times, the way only a drama can be funny. Brad Whitford is back. Matthew Perry (let's have a debate about who the most talented "Friends" actor was). Amanda Peet, who I've never liked, but I sorta like her here (call it Sorkinism). A few other recognizable faces but I'll spare you the catalog. The show is set backstage at an SNL- like TV show. In this way, it's Sorkin returning to his roots, going back to something like his first show, "Sports Night", which I never watched, but don't worry, I have it cued on the Netflix. Because, no, I will not be sitting down every Monday night just to watch the show. I have no patience for the commercials. I have no patience for re-runs. I have no patience for waiting 167 hours between episodes. I can’t stand it when they switch nights and I have to reschedule kickball or class or bowling for TV. I do have patience to wait for a year or so until it's available on DVD, and in the meantime, I can watch "Sports Night." Also JJ's "Alias" season 5 is due in late November, not to mention "24" season 5, due in December. Or I'll get all of "The West Wing" seasons for Christmas and that will last me through the end of January, (maybe).
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"West Wing" comes close though. It's just so damn smart. When you watch the show, you feel like
you're one of those people you hear on the talk show, a person who actually pays attention to the
news, knows history, knows politics inside and out. That's the appeal. You really do end up
feeling like Josh and CJ and Toby and Sam are your friends. Especially Josh.