When one is feeling blue/bored/brain-dead (slash appropriately), there is only one fix to cure it. (Well. I'm sure there are plenty of other fixes. Like alcohol. But not the point.)
As I was saying, a fix to cure the Bs are Aaron Sorkin shows.
Seriously, I have watched and re-watched Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The West Wing and Sports Night so many times, I'm starting to speak Sorkinese. Everything about a Sorkin show is brilliant.
Point 1: The writing
The scripts of every show are amazing. They're funny and quippy, somber and serious, and just plain excellent. They'll make you laugh and they'll make you cry. They'll make you think and they'll make you talk. If you don't believe me, go rent the DVDs. (And realize how familiar this line is when watching Studio 60 Ep 2 The Cold Open. *Winks*)
Also, the TWW writers have been oddly psychic because the fictional presidential race in Seasons 6 and 7 is uncannily being played out in real life with the current 2008 presidential race. And just in case you were wondering, Seasons 6 and 7 were aired in 2004 to 2006.
Point 2: The cast
Peter Krause. Felicity Huffman. Josh Charles. Robert Guillaume. Joshua Malina. Sabrina Lloyd. Martin Sheen. Bradley Whitford. Alison Janney. John Spencer. Richard Schiff. Rob Lowe. Dule Hill. Stockard Channing. Janel Maloney. Mary McCormack. Jimmy Smits. Kristen Chenoweth. Alan Alda. Matthew Perry. Amanda Peet. Timothy Busfield. Steven Weber. Sarah Paulson. D.L. Hughley. Nathan Corddry.
If you don't recognize at least five of these names, then you have no idea what you're missing out on. And this doesn't even include the truly fabulous guest stars that have appeared.
Point 3: The filming
While most of you might not give a hoot about this, as a student of TV and film, I would be ashamed if I didn't at least devote one point to the absolutely brilliant long takes with the use of Steadicams following the cast as they deliver rapid-fire lines of dialogue while walking through the halls of the White House or the studio sets of CSC's Sports Night and NBS's Studio 60. Long takes that are reminiscent of Citizen Kane. Except, you know, it's on every episode. Believe me when I say it would've been a dream to work on just one episode of any of these shows. I would've done anything, even if I was just the coffee girl, to watch the production of these shows. I don't know how many times I've paused and backtracked the DVD just so I could watch the long takes and admire the true finesse of it all.
If none of what I've said has convinced you to watch a Sorkin show, then I honestly don't know what else I can say, except you're missing out on utter true brilliance that cannot be beat.
No comments:
Post a Comment