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Episodes
[edit]Studio 60 consists of a single season of 22 episodes. Its pilot episode was written by series creator Aaron Sorkin, and directed by executive producer Thomas Schlamme. Its pilot was ostensibly based on Sorkin and Schlamme's experience on The West Wing.[1] Sorkin wrote or co-wrote all of the episodes. Schlamme directed four episodes, a total exceeded only by Timothy Busfield, who directed five episodes and co-directed a sixth.
The series includes two two-part episodes ("Nevada Day" and "The Harriet Dinner") and concludes with a story arc featuring a three-part episode "K & R" (kidnap & ransom) that is capped off with a fourth and final episode ("What Kind of Day Has It Been").
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Guest host & musical guest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Thomas Schlamme | Aaron Sorkin | September 18, 2006 | Felicity Huffman Three 6 Mafia | |
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The executive producer of a late night sketch comedy show sparks a media frenzy when he has an on-air meltdown during a live broadcast. The newly appointed network president, Jordan McDeere, has to scramble to make things right by hiring back two former prized employees to become the new executive producers of her network's flagship program. She hires writer Matt Albie and former sketch producer, now director Danny Tripp, who had both left the show years before on terms that were not amicable. Meanwhile, Matt and ex-girlfriend Harriet Hayes come to terms with having to work on the show together very soon after their breakup. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Cold Open" | Thomas Schlamme | Aaron Sorkin | September 25, 2006 | Mark Wahlberg[2] The White Stripes[3][4] | |
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Matt and Danny have five days to put together their first show, which is receiving enormous media attention and Harriet tries her best to work with Matt. In the meantime, Jordan puts her new job on the line by facing down pressure due to a controversial sketch amidst criticism from sponsors and affiliates scared of alienating Christians. Also, staff writers Ricky and Ron — who were catalysts to Matt and Danny's initial departure — express their dismay at being made to work for Matt. | ||||||
| 3 | "The Focus Group" | Christopher Misiano | Aaron Sorkin | October 2, 2006 | Rob Reiner Gwen Stefani[3] | |
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A network focus group sends a scare through the company that the ratings success of Matt and Danny's first show might have been a one-time thing. Harriet expresses her jealousy at Matt having spent the night with Jeannie so shortly after breaking up, accusing him of rubbing it in her face. The team is pleased to have had a high rating for their opening week with Matt and Danny's return, but fear they won't retain momentum in the ratings in the follow-up show. Jeannie is disappointed by the focus group's score for her sketch "Commedia Dell'Arte". Matt makes a deal with Jeannie regarding the success of the sketch on the live broadcast. | ||||||
| 4 | "The West Coast Delay" | Timothy Busfield | Mark Goffman & Aaron Sorkin | October 9, 2006 | None Featured | |
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Jordan is approached by Vanity Fair columnist Martha O'Dell (guest star Christine Lahti), requesting access to Studio 60 to write a long lead story about the rebirth of the show. Harriet offers Matt a baseball bat she was given by a major league baseball player, unaware that the pitcher had written his phone number on it. When it is discovered that the show has inadvertently plagiarized another comedian's material during a sketch, the team scrambles to break into the taped West Coast feed to correct their error. | ||||||
| 5 | "The Long Lead Story" | David Petrarca | Story by : Dana Calvo Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | October 16, 2006 | Lauren Graham Sting | |
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While the cast goes through rehearsals with Lauren Graham and Sting, Martha O'Dell tries to get the story on Matt and Harriet. Meanwhile, Jordan passes on a lucrative — but tasteless — new reality series. | ||||||
| 6 | "The Wrap Party" | David Semel | Story by : Melissa Myers & Amy Turner Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | October 23, 2006 | Lauren Graham Sting Continuation of "The Long Lead Story". | |
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A drunken Jordan makes friends with the cast during an after-show party, Danny tries to get Matt's mind off Harriet with the help of three sexy women, Simon makes a plea to hire more black writers and Cal deals with a mysterious man backstage (guest star Eli Wallach). | ||||||
| 7 | "Nevada Day, Part 1" | Lesli Linka Glatter Timothy Busfield | Story by : Mark McKinney Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | November 6, 2006 | Jessica Simpson[2][3] Simpson mentioned as both host and musical guest | |
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Harriet is cited in an interview as being anti-homosexual, though she claims to have been impartial in her comments. This causes a dispute in which Tom injures a man protesting against Harriet. Through a unique series of events, Tom is later arrested. Following this, a variety of cast and staff from NBS travel to Pahrump, a small town in Nevada, to get Tom out of jail in time for his show that night. Guest star John Goodman plays a judge who is not a fan of Studio 60. First part of a two-parter. | ||||||
| 8 | "Nevada Day, Part 2" | Timothy Busfield | Story by : David Handelman & Cinque Henderson Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | November 13, 2006 | Jessica Simpson[2][3] Continuation of "Nevada Day Part I". | |
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Jack has to get Tom out of a small town jail to make it back for his show that night as tension heats up between Matt and Harriet. In the absence of Simon to co-host the "News 60" segment, Matt asks Dylan to co-anchor with Harriet, who is surprisingly reluctant to "play" himself before the camera. | ||||||
| 9 | "The Option Period" | John Fortenberry | Story by : Christina Kiang Booth & Mark Goffman Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | November 20, 2006 | Jessica Simpson[2][3] Continuation of "Nevada Day Part II". | |
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After the show comes down, Matt discovers that Ricky and Ron are planning to leave — and take the writing staff with them — to write their adaptation of their Studio 60 character "Peripheral Vision Man" as a Fox network sitcom. Matt tries to discourage them from going since he thinks their show will fail, but Ricky takes his concern for condescension, claiming Matt is trying to hold him back. Harriet contemplates doing a lingerie photo spread in a magazine, which Tom and Simon advise her against for the sake of her professional image. Jordan and Danny wrestle with budget cuts, as Jordan suggests either adding product placement or firing 15 staff members. | ||||||
| 10 | "B-12" | Bryan Gordon | Eli Attie & Aaron Sorkin | November 27, 2006 | Howie Mandel Corinne Bailey Rae | |
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The cast has to get through the show despite being ravaged by a virus, and Matt has to get through the week with a new and much smaller writing staff. Matt calls for the help of fellow former writer of Studio 60 Andy Mackinaw. Jordan reveals to Danny that she is pregnant. Inexperienced writers Darius and Lucy have a sketch approved to air for the first time, only to have it pulled at the last moment due to its similarity with a real-life hostage situation. | ||||||
| 11 | "The Christmas Show" | Dan Attias | Story by : Christina Kiang Booth & Cinque Henderson Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | December 4, 2006 | No Host Featured A Tipitina Foundation Band | |
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With a holiday show on the horizon, Matt is determined to bring the Christmas spirit to Studio 60. Meanwhile, following a visit to the OB/GYN, Danny has to confront his true feelings for Jordan. Harriett is offered a career changing opportunity. Tom and Simon jump at the opportunity to assist the writing team to write Christmas-based sketches in order to enjoy the company of a certain member of the writing team, however their presence is seen as more of a hindrance by the writing staff. When Danny discovers that band members from various TV shows intend to call in sick in an effort to help musicians who have been homeless since Hurricane Katrina, he takes the opportunity to create an entire band from New Orleans musicians who play a centerpiece on the show. | ||||||
| 12 | "Monday" | Lawrence Trilling | Story by : Dana Calvo & David Handelman Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | January 22, 2007 | Masi Oka John Legend Seen in "The Harriet Dinner". | |
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The cast and staff come back from their holiday break and prepare for the first show of the New Year with Danny in full pursuit of Jordan. Matt starts bidding in an online auction for a date with Harriet to compete with Luke Scott, a film director interested in Harriet, both on and off screen. Jordan is introduced to Hallie (Stephanie Childers), the newly appointed Vice President of Alternative Programming, but does not get off on the right foot with her, due to referring to her area of specialty as "illiterate programming". Jordan makes a plea for Danny to stop pursuing her, claiming it's embarrassing, however he says that he won't. | ||||||
| 13 | "The Harriet Dinner, Part 1" | Timothy Busfield | Story by : Eli Attie Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | January 29, 2007 | Masi Oka John Legend Continued from "Monday". | |
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Danny and Jordan are locked on the roof of the theatre while other members of the cast and staff attend a dinner honoring Harriet, whose relationship with Matt begins to unravel.[5] | ||||||
| 14 | "The Harriet Dinner, Part 2" | John Fortenberry | Story by : Dana Calvo & Mark Goffman Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | February 5, 2007 | Masi Oka John Legend Continued from "Monday". | |
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Danny and Jordan are locked on the roof of the theater while other members of the cast and staff attend a dinner honoring Harriet, whose relationship with Matt begins to unravel. Grammy winner Natalie Cole guest-stars. | ||||||
| 15 | "The Friday Night Slaughter" | Thomas Schlamme | Story by : Melissa Myers & Amy Turner Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | February 12, 2007 | Peyton Manning Manning mentioned as host on outside billboard Diana Valdes (played by musician Gina La Piana) another replacement for The White Stripes Jennifer Love Hewitt mentioned as host in 1999 flashback N'Sync mentioned as musical guest in 1999 flashback | |
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Matt remembers how he and Harriet first met in 1999, and struggles to garner memories of a fired writer from Cal and Danny. In the aftermath of his argument with Harriet, he begins taking drugs. Tom and Dylan spend the episode lobbying to prevent their sketch from being cut between dress rehearsal and airtime. "Tim Batale", the name of the writer that Matt remembers from his early days of working at Studio 60 (but nobody else can), is an anagram of "Matt Albie". | ||||||
| 16 | "4 A.M. Miracle" | Laura Innes | Story by : Mark McKinney Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | February 19, 2007 | Renée Zellweger [2] | |
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Matt is stuck on a Wednesday night with writer's block and also has to contend with a lawyer named Mary Tate (guest star Kari Matchett) who is investigating a sexual harassment claim while Harriet continues shooting her movie. In addition, Jordan and Danny enter into a contest to see who would make the better parent. | ||||||
| 17 | "The Disaster Show" | Thomas Schlamme | Story by : Chad Gomez Creasey & Dara Resnik Creasey Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | May 24, 2007 | Allison Janney Macy Gray | |
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Allison Janney, as herself, is the guest host of a show that goes haywire when the propmasters and cue card workers stage a last minute wildcat strike. While the show is on, a bomb threat referencing a Muhammad sketch threatens the building. Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, and Bradley Whitford do not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 18 | "Breaking News" | Andrew Bernstein | Aaron Sorkin | May 31, 2007 | Jenna Fischer Gran Bel Fisher | |
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Jordan experiences an emergency with her pregnancy during the live show when she suddenly cannot feel her baby kick. However, an even larger emergency is unfolding for Tom, whose brother is involved in a hostage crisis. Amidst all this, Matt's pill use gets discovered as he deals with the continuous presence of Mary Tate. | ||||||
| 19 | "K&R, Part 1" | Timothy Busfield | Story by : Mark Goffman Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | June 7, 2007 | Jenna Fischer Gran Bel Fisher Continuation of "Breaking News". | |
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Jordan is rushed into surgery as the situation with Tom's brother grows more grim. It is discovered that the cause for Jordan's concern is a nuchal cord. While resting in the emergency room, she suffers spasms indicating eclampsia. Treated initially with magnesium sulfate (also called Epsom salts), it leaves the doctor with no choice but to proceed with an emergency caesarean section. This leads Danny to propose to Jordan on the spot, which she accepts. Matt and Harriet respond to Tom's situation in different ways, one with hope, the other with prayer. Flashbacks have Wes ill and interim show heads Matt and Danny forced on the difficult task of heading the show's first post-9/11 episode. | ||||||
| 20 | "K&R, Part 2" | Dave Chameides | Story by : Jack Gutowitz & Ian Reichbach Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin | June 14, 2007 | Jenna Fischer Gran Bel Fisher Continuation of "Breaking News". | |
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The situation with Tom's brother continues to drag on through the night. After a news anchor describes the relationship between the brothers as "estranged", Simon lashes out harshly at the media. At the hospital, Jordan's baby is delivered, but the situation worsens as Jordan begins bleeding internally. Mary Tate counsels Matt that if Jordan were to die, Danny would have no rights regarding Jordan's child. Flashbacks depict Danny and Matt fighting with network brass over a yet-to-be-aired, post-9/11 sketch depicting the relationship between Hollywood and the White House. | ||||||
| 21 | "K&R, Part 3" | Timothy Busfield | Aaron Sorkin & Mark McKinney | June 21, 2007 | Jenna Fischer Gran Bel Fisher Continuation of "Breaking News". Jason Alexander Sheryl Crow The host and musical guest on the show in the flashback scenes. | |
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Jordan's internal hemorrhaging has stopped, but her prolonged exposure may have led to a bacterial infection, leaving Harriet and Danny feeling helpless to do anything. Jack tries pressuring Simon into releasing a written apology to the media, which he firmly refuses to do. The military gains information that the terrorists may have executed one of the airmen, leading Mary Tate's K & R efforts to go forward. In addition to this, Mary Tate begins to draw up the paperwork that can make Danny the baby's legal guardian in the event of Jordan's death. Flashbacks reveal that Matt and Danny aired a sketch displaying the dubious relationship between the White House and Hollywood five weeks after 9/11, a sketch that angered many viewers. When Matt refused to release any apology, Jack threatened to fire them. This lack of principle led Matt and Danny to quit the show. Martin Sheen voices a conservative talk show host. | ||||||
| 22 | "What Kind of Day Has It Been" | Bradley Whitford | Aaron Sorkin | June 28, 2007 | Jenna Fischer Gran Bel Fisher Continuation of "Breaking News". | |
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This series finale episode shares the title of the first season finales of both of Sorkin's two previous series, Sports Night and The West Wing as well as the series finale episode of his show to-follow The Newsroom. The long night for the cast finally comes to an end: Jordan, Danny, and the newborn finally become true family, Simon agrees with Jack to apologize for his harsh remarks, and the relationship between Matt and Harriet begins a new chapter. Most importantly, Tom's brother and his comrades are successfully saved and delivered into American hands. The final image in the show's run is the entire cast of Studio 60 looking back on the day's events, ready to start all over again come Monday. | ||||||
- ^ "4.23: Twenty Five (Live with Thomas Schlamme)". The West Wing Weekly. May 9, 2018. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ a b c d e The guest host mentioned did not actually appear in the episode.
- ^ a b c d e The musical guest mentioned did not actually appear in the episode.
- ^ The White Stripes were initially the musical guest, but it was revealed they had to cancel. They were replaced by the Los Angeles Philharmonic as part of Matt's idea for the all-important opening to their first show.
- ^ "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip". Retrieved April 8, 2017.