studio 60 works best when it's not working. the comedic aspect of the show was really played up, and as the situation became more and more ludicrous (prop guys on strike, no cue cards, props being sabotaged, bomb threat on the building, f.b.i. being called in), it just got funnier. and that was due in very large part to the characters.
this episode suffered not at all from the lack of bradley whitford and matthew perry--the more minor characters benefited from it, and there were also wonderful performances from d. l. hughley, nate corddry, steven weber, and especially timothy busfield.
cal's trying against all odds to make the "disaster show" work--even though he accidentally destroyed the prop table (he should've learned from the 'coconut incident' at the holiday show!), prompting allison through the earpiece, dealing with a bomb-sniffing german sheperd (they only speak german!) sniffing his crotch--timothy busfield pretty much carried the show. but allison janney made it funnier.
hosting the "disaster show" and getting dumped with all the blame is hard, and allison proved again and again that her funny moments as c.j. were not a fluke. the opening monologue was hysterical. "it's great to be here in new york--i mean l.a.! i live here...my first..third! time hosting saturday night live...i mean studio 60!" and she looked like an absolute madwoman for nearly the whole show. it really does look stupid when you pretend to get shot, but the squibs don't go off. allison ranted and raved, but carried it off with good humor and aplomb, realizing at the end of the show that she wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else.
and steven weber also turned in a sterling performance in a slightly smaller role, not being all fire and brimstone about the network and ratings, but standing back and letting it all go by because he's drunk and hey, it doesn't matter. and he also made weird noises that were indescribable but hilarious. and when he told cal that there were ten seconds of dead air? priceless.
hopefully danny managed to come to some kind of arrangement with the props guys' union when he was in the parking lot for the entire show, because studio 60 is back next week at 10!
only five more to go. let's make 'em count.
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