Studio 60 vs. 30 Rock

We have two contenders in category of Shows-about-late-night-live-comedy-
sketch-shows-with-numbers-in-their-names and obviously, with both a few episodes in, the question on everyone’s mind is which they should watch.

Before we go any further, we should probably explain how while they are both based on the same premise, Studio 60 and 30 Rock are very different shows. While 30 Rock is from SNL’s Tina Fey and employs a generally slapstick approach, Studio 60 is a drama from the creators of The West Wing with a few laughs thrown in. Both are quite behind-the-scenes with very little of the actual show being seen each week. Let’s break them down and compare.

Studio 60

• Pro: the similarities to The West Wing are uncanny at times, especially political drama’s patented let’s-walk-through-lots-of-rooms-quickly dialogues. The first 10-minutes of the pilot were riveting.  The sweeping zoom shot behind the Oval Office desk rolling up to Wes with the house lights shinning was absolutely stunning and honestly, my heart was pounding as more and more truth came out of his mouth right up until the control room guy snapped his fingers, cutting to the Studio 60 splash screen.  It was amazing.
• Pro: subtle humor. The show is smart and doesn’t lower itself to the lowest common denominator, much like the approach that the producers (played by Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford) in the show are trying to take. Some critics, however, are saying that this approach is “turning off the audience”. I seriously can’t imagine that this show is too smart. I’d probably just say that much of the audience that doesn’t get it is too dumb.
• Pro: Way better than SNL. The pilots opening scene was almost scary in how much truth it spoke about SNL, which has turned in to a weak, toothless version of what it used to be.
• Con: Matthew Perry. While I applaud him for tuning down his usually outrageous antics, his character on the show is simply a tuned down version of Chandler from Friends. If Jim Carrey and Will Ferrell can turn the crazy off, why can’t he? Being a comedy writer is one thing but when you watch the show, you’ll feel like “Didn’t I see this joke on Friends five years ago?”
• Con: Needs more action. While there are bits that are frantic and fast paced, much of the show is too relaxed. We need more moments like the producer going on a rant about the network or the show finding that a joke was plagerized and rushing to beat the West coast delay. The snow criticizes SNL about being too “pussyboy” about controversy without actually showing much of its own. Let’s see some real stuff that will piss off half the world. I dare you and guarantee that viewership will go up.

30 Rock

• Pro: the hotness. Studio 60 has Amanda Peet but good Lord, have you SEEN Katie Bowden (Cerie, Fey’s secretary)? I mean…wow. Also, I’ve always loved Tina Fey and her “nerd hot” look. 30 Rock definetely wins the sexy battle.
• Pro: Awwric BALLWIN. Whoever cast him is a genius.
• Con: the humor. While Fey’s brand of ironic comedy is usually hilarious, the show has been relatively unfunny save for a laugh-out-loud moment here and there and some scenes are actually quite boring. It just hasn’t been all that funny even on a stupid level.
• Con: Too little from the rest of the cast. Two-fer, the guy that wears the stupid hats and everyone else seems to have a real background to them. Why aren’t we seeing it?
• Con: Occasionally poor acting from certain cast members. Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey are off the hook but…how hard it is to play…yourself? Alec Baldwin stands out amongst a cast that seems like part of the scenery.

Clearly, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is the better show of the two and NBC seems to agree as they extend the drama by another 9 episodes for this season. As for 30 Rock, Fey needs to step up her game and take more risks. The show has been fairly paint-by-numbers so far and is not getting the laughs it should. Whoever is overseeing the production needs to take a step back and let Tina Fey run the show.

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe to my full feed RSS and follow me on Twitter!

del.icio.us Digg Reddit Netscape StumbleUpon