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October 12, 2006
Reviews
I know I've already mentioned how much I love love love Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, but I have to say it again. I love love love Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. What an awesome friggin' show!
The INSTANT each episode ends, I want another one to begin. RIGHT THEN. I'm like a crack whore for this show. I've had several conversations with folks who feel the same way. We also tend to agree that this show can't possibly last (and that we'll all buy it on DVD and just enjoy the brief time we shared with such quality television).
So, anyway, as I tune in each week and see another actor friend guest-starring on the show, I get ever happier. It's awesome. And what a showcase for the actors in roles as "cast" on the show within the show! They get to show us glimpses of characters they'd play if they were on MadTV or Saturday Night Live, but in such tiny snippets that we want to see more more more (something that rarely happens on the senior sketch show). I could honestly listen to Sarah Paulson's character Harriet Hayes doing a dead-on Holly Hunter for hours.
Prediction: Emmy. Man... as much as I love working in indie film and small theatre casting, I have to say that this show makes me wish I had anything to do with the series. I'll just have to settle for being a rabid fan. Good thing I'm not alone.
Next, my NBF Milissa and I went to the premiere of Running with Scissors on Tuesday night. It was way fun. We were way under-dressed. That's totally my fault, as I thought I was just going to a SAG screening, since I had been invited by the SAG Foundation folks who wanted to give me a little thank you for all of the guest-speaking that I do. Well... oops. There was a red carpet, there was media, there were superstars. Good thing I was in a, "I yam what I yam" state, and had fun in my jeans just the same. (Besides, sure everyone looked stunning in all sorts of eveningwear, but in the end you're still sitting in a movie theatre for a couple of hours and you should be comfy.)
So, this movie felt like American Beauty meets Requiem for a Dream meets The Royal Tenenbaums. Very edgy and cool. Lots of screamingly uncomfortable and so inappropriately hysterical moments scattered throughout full-on jaw-droppingly "this cannot possibly be based on a true story" scenes. And I know I've gushed about Evan Rachel Wood before, but dear GAWD I cannot wait to cast this woman. What a rockstar!
Beautifully acted (and brilliantly cast, although it simply pisses me off to have a director stand up in front of the audience, thank BY NAME many members of the cast and crew--having quite a few stand up and take little bows from their seats--and not even MENTION that he's grateful to his casting director Mali Finn). The music was amazing (and yes, probably worth the $1M over-budget they had to go to secure the rights to it all) and the production designer (Richard Sherman) deserves an Oscar for the YELLOW scene alone. Gorgeous work!
I was mildly amused to see that Ryan Murphy and Augusten Burroughs look somewhat alike (it's how I feel when I watch Ryan's EP's other show's lead actor and consider how much she looks like her; and Jessica said something about this last month when we had tea. Directors often seem to cast actors who resemble them, so why not adapt a book by an author who looks like you, right?).
Anyway, this was a wonderful date night with my new actor friend. Thank you to SAG Foundation for the gift. It was great fun to schmooze with casting friends, manager friends, actor friends, former co-worker friends, and basically the entire supporting cast of Nip/Tuck. Kate Mantilini beforehand was a great choice. God, I felt so dang Hollywood after this night it's no wonder I needed a day of work on the Casting Wiki to remember that it's NOT the Entertainment Tonight version of Hollywood in which I work and live every day.
PS--You're doing your 12 of 12, right? Get on it!
Posted by bonnie at October 12, 2006 5:51 AM
Comments
I love Evan Rachel Wood. She is such a great actress. She's going to rule this town one of these days.
Posted by: Erik at October 12, 2006 9:01 AM
With us, of course.
Posted by: Erik at October 12, 2006 9:01 AM
I want to see this movie when it opens in NYC (maybe this weekend it is opening?? need to check). Brian Cox looks so different in the trailers for RWS than he did on "Deadwood" this past season. Hard to believe it's the same person.
I used to watch the show "Once and Again," and Evan Rachel was the actor that I noticed above and beyond everyone else on the series.
I like "Studio 60" but, as I posted on a messageboard today, I'm not sure that Amanda Peet was the best choice for the role of Jordan. (Was Allison Janney busy or something?) :)
Posted by: Ellenlisa at October 12, 2006 1:38 PM
I'm glad you had a Happy Hollywood Day, but I must express bafflement over this Studio 60 thing. I only saw (most of) the pilot, but to me, the whole exercise smacks of Trying Too Hard.
Oh, well. Good thing I am giving up TV soon. It sure won't miss me...
Posted by: communicatrix at October 12, 2006 2:11 PM
Nathan and I ADORE Studio 60. Like you, we could watch it over and over. More Sports Night and less West Wing. Yay. Which, of course, means it's doomed. Because everyone will think 30 Rock is better. After watching it on TiVo last night, we both kept looking at each other, waiting for it to get funny.
So amazed at your glitzy Hollywood life, and so proud of you that you built it all on your own.
Anyway, YES!!! Did a 12 of 12! About to post it!
XOXOXOXOXO
Posted by: Ali at October 13, 2006 6:14 AM
Studio 60 is my new TV crack too!!! Several of us here at "The Guide" talk about it every week. And I feel the SAME WAY when it ends each week - I just want it to keep going!
Posted by: NiNi at October 17, 2006 10:08 AM