Television Without Pity » Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip » Pilot -recap pg 7: A bank of television sets are tuned in to the local and cable news reports, all of which are teeming with word of the Studio 60 freakout. They seem to have all settled on one frame of reference for the event: Peter Finch's "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" speech from Network, written, as every reporter takes great pains to mention, by Oscar-winner Paddy Chayefsky.
I like the idea that all these different news channels have settled on the same one-dimensional take on a story, because that tends to be what happens, especially on cable. What I find extremely hard to buy is the fact that all these reporters would haul Chayefsky's name out of the cultural moth balls and hold it up to the (fictional) viewers as some kind of holy grail, as if they have any faith in the audience to (a) know, or (b) care. He's not their screenwriting hero, and they didn't just lift an entire section of his movie wholesale for their new pilot, so they wouldn't feel the need to assuage their guilt by dropping his name approximately ten times in five seconds.

Jack asks the room if the remarks about "worm-eating and 'Who Wants to Screw My Sister?'" were referring to NBS shows. Some random flunky (or is it Jerry?) huh - maybe - this recapper is good I like the writing says they're not sure yet, which causes Jordan to bubble a laugh over the surface. see? good writing, efficient, accurate Jack turns the Manson Lamps on Jordan (oh, Steven Weber in The Shining -- no one appreciates you but me) and asks if something's funny about this situation. Jordan: "God, Jack, there are like seven things funny about this. We're not sure which sister-pimping show he was talking about?" Super-cool, super-collected. There are a few things I found about Jordan's character that were problematic, and we'll get to them ..

pg 9: The table stands and applauds, and Danny comes over to hug Matt, and Matt thinks it's a solidarity hug, because of Harriet, though that doesn't explain the solidarity standing ovation by the rest of the table, unless he thinks they're trying to re-create the Dodger game scenario for him. funny Still hugging, Matt tells Danny 'I miss her. I really do. I'm dying inside and I appreciate your support.' aw. Danny tells the big idiot that he's won, and he should get his high ass up to the stage to collect his award.

pg 10: Harriet spots Cal sitting alone at a table."Tight show tonight," she opens. Heh.
? oh, sarcasm? as in 'you ran a tight show tonite', ship shape? I guess I tht she meant sth like, you were put in a tight spot tonite.
He asks her about Matt, and she reminds him they broke up. Which makes it sound like the breakup was very recent, but if this happened while Matt was promoting his movie, and we're now at the point where the movie is winning awards -- not to mention the fact that the WGA awards are in February(ish) and the Dodger season would have ended by October at the latest -- I'm just trying to establish a timeline here. Don't even get me started on how, if there's any logical consistency at all, WGA winner Matt would have very likely been nominated for an Oscar, as well, and hopefully the show will squeeze in a mention of that, and runaway recapper! I need to not do that.
So Harriet shoots down the oddly popular notion that it was the "Star Spangled Banner" that broke her and Matt up. Cal says that he's waiting for word from the network, since generally, people who face off with Standards and Practices during a live broadcast end up "lucky to get a job directing Good Morning, El Paso." Elitist! Good Morning, El Paso has a rich tradition! Harriet says they'll "stick together" and that she'll be saying a prayer for Cal -- so you know she's a giant Jesus freak, because saying a prayer on TV is to Christianity what throwing up on TV is to pregnancy. And you know what they say about being "a little bit pregnant.

pg18: She says that he got cold, and he got mean. "Right after you went on The 700 Club," he fires back. "Is that timing lost on you?" Ah, the age-old "Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl to religious crackpot. Boy gets job as girl's new boss." You can't beat a classic. hehee
Matt could give a shit about her album: "You put on a dress and sang for a bigot." Harriet says she sang for Pat Robertson's audience -- "not every one of whom is necessarily the grotesque stereotype you'd like them to be. Most of these people have nothing but their faith and that moves me." To condescension? nice
He tells her if she "scores" for the show on Friday nights, they won't have a problem. I'm sure.