adversus solum ne loquitor [translation]

Have you seen the premiere episode of Aaron Sorkin's new show "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"?

I have. In fact, I've watched it three times now. I think I'm obsessing, perhaps. You see, it's on pretty late, because it uses adult words and addresses adult concepts. Words like "Christianity", concepts like "bigot". Or do I have those two reversed? Anyway, it's on late, and on a weeknight, so I can't stay up and watch it "live". I have to record it. But once I've recorded it, I can watch it over and over and over again. And I have. Though I may have already mentioned that.

I just watched it again today. Every viewing I notice something different. For example, consider these spoilers:

• First viewing: Did Matt Albie just say "he's never not been there for me"? This is the writer character using a double negative, mind you. And yet it works perfectly. Sigh, such dreamy words.
• Second viewing: Why does Jerry Jones say, "If you still had the muscle..."? Later a character talks about "balls", so it's not like they're not allowing that word. Ohmigosh, that's IT—Jerry's character is the Standards and Practices guy, so of course he's going to be familiar with alternatives to rude language and actually uses them. One word choice tells you everything you need to know about a character.
• Third viewing: I still can't figure out why Harriet Hayes says "truer words were never spoke" instead of "spokEN". But this time around I notice that Jack Rudolph tells Jordan McDeere that he fired Matt and Danny, yet later tells Matt that he wasn't fired. Such fascinating posturing going on among those characters.

Speaking of dreamworlds, the show's acting is solid, too; I never catch a whiff of Chandler Bing in Matthew Perry's characterization, and Amanda Peet's subtle facial expressions draw me in, make me wonder what exactly she's smiling about. Or is she smiling? Hard to tell, and all the more alluring because of it. Timothy Busfield doesn't remind me at all of his West Wing character.

No, really, judging these actors I've seen over and over again in other television roles by how they don't do something is completely valid. Stop laughing!

I loved the show completely. I hope I have enough time to give the second episode an appropriate view count. If you haven't seen it yet, it's available online here. I heartily recommend it.

Last updated by eric Sat Sep 23 22:53 2006 | word | link