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No Word on a Studio 60 Movie

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (23)

affleck-olbie.jpg

Riding on the high of the success of The Social Network, Aaron Sorkin has been easing back into the spotlight. Perhaps best known for The West Wing, he’s been getting feisty on the interwebs, as Dustin noted back in December, when Sorkin decided to verbally obliterate Palin in the wake of her televised Moose murder. It’s hardly any surprise then that Sorkin is moving his writing back into the political with his two next projects.

First up is an adaptation of Andrew Young’s book The Politician, which is Young’s account of working for John Edwards and agreeing to be the fall guy for that little knocking-up-the-videographer thing. Sorkin is also talking to John Edwards to get the other side of the story. I imagine it’s to develop all of the nuance of character, but I can’t help thinking it’s simple curiosity. I mean, if you hear from a married guy that his boss convinced him to take the blame for knocking up another employee, or in other words, volunteering to take all of the consequences of having an affair, without, you know, the benefits of the affair itself, then that’s some serious charisma right there. We’re talking the Mule almost bringing down Seldon’s plan level of mojo.

Second, in the wake of the Olbermann departure from MSNBC, Sorkin is talking up a new television series focusing on cable news, drawing the inevitable description of being the bastard love child of “The West Wing” and “Sports Night.” The show doesn’t have a name yet, but it’s going the HBO route, which means two things that you know you always wanted on “Countdown” but never got: swearing and nipples. The pilot’s been written and they’re casting for it now, and we can only hope that Sorkin got Ben Affleck’s audition tape. Sorkin had this to say about the concept:

“I’ve spent some time at CNN…with Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, Fox News, I’ve spent some time being a fly on the wall at those shows…What the hope is, is that I can bring the same kind of idealism and romanticism that made government seem sexy on The West Wing, and I can bring it to the news and journalism, which in America is held in at least as much contempt as government.”

The full interview from the BBC is below.

(source: Collider)









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Comments

"the bastard love child of “The West Wing” and “Sports Night.”"

I'm already on Amazon pre-ordering the complete series.

Posted by: WestCoastPat at January 25, 2011 10:27 AM


"Sorkin is also talking to John Edwards to get the other side of the story."

Yeah, because shady trial lawyers who cheat on their wives and sire illegitimate kids with members of their staff always tell the truth.


"What the hope is, is that I can bring the same kind of idealism and romanticism that made government seem sexy on The West Wing, and I can bring it to the news and journalism, which in America is held in at least as much contempt as government.”"

Good luck with that. A piece of shit placed in a box and wrapped it a bow is still a piece of shit.

Posted by: Some Guy at January 25, 2011 10:37 AM

Some Guy speaks the truth.

Unless he's a shady trial lawyer who cheats on his wife and sires illegitimate kids with members of his staff.

Posted by: , at January 25, 2011 10:53 AM

So, it's going to be some bullshit about Olbermann doing it all for a girl. Great.

Posted by: seth at January 25, 2011 10:54 AM

The other side of the story:

My wife was fat and had terminal breast cancer and never really got over that whole child dying thing and I couldn't divorce her or my Presidential chances would be harmed so who could blame me, a handsome youthful-looking Senator for seeking the arms of a younger blonde.

Posted by: PaddyDog at January 25, 2011 11:01 AM

A Foundation reference? Dayum! The Nerd is strong with this one.

Posted by: The Mutt at January 25, 2011 11:24 AM

**yawn** I fail to see the big deal. Never watched "The West Wing" (Or "The Left Wing" if you will).

So...BFD

Posted by: Uncle JR at January 25, 2011 11:33 AM

Oh, Aaron Sorkin! I find you to be so abusive, but I just can't leave you. I know I should... your pompous arrogance in knowing the people who disagree with you are wrong, but pretending you think they really have a right to their opinion...your long winded diatribes that allow you to think you make a difference in the world without actually having to *do* anything...

But you write so pretty. I can forgive you every time you punch me in the face. I simultaneously hate you and want to be you.

Posted by: Sbrown at January 25, 2011 11:58 AM

*tingles of happiness and joy*

Posted by: Berberuh at January 25, 2011 12:23 PM

I support all of this.

Posted by: Sara H at January 25, 2011 12:32 PM

If I could fictionalize myself, I would choose Aaron Sorkin to write my life. Yes, it would probably go downhill after a few years -- I would have to start wearing lower-cut tops and have lots of relationship drama -- but it would be well worth it to have a few years of well-written glory. Think about how witty my banter would be! How thoughtfully my points would be made! How poignant my personal tragedies would become! Plus, I bet he could get Yo-Yo Ma to make an appearance.

Posted by: esme at January 25, 2011 1:19 PM

Yes please! I need new Sorkin in tv, so thanks for the great news.

@Uncle JR

Focus on "fail".

Posted by: marigi at January 25, 2011 1:33 PM

Yo-Yo Ma RULES!

Posted by: The Internet Magpie at January 25, 2011 1:35 PM

**yawn** I fail to see the big deal. Never watched "The West Wing" (Or "The Left Wing" if you will).
So...BFD
Posted by: Uncle JR

Ho! "The Left Wing"! Hah.

Posted by: Brenton at January 25, 2011 2:19 PM

I heard Andrew Young interviewed on the radio and frankly he doesn't appear to be much better than Edwards.

At first he played the angle that he had made a noble sacrifice for his boss and then got screwed over as well.

It didn't take long for the host to expose that he was just grubby and ambitious, prepared to lie to a wife dying of cancer because he had invested 6 years in this particular political lottery ticket.

If Sorkin dignifies him in any way, I'll be sorely disappointed.


Posted by: Simon at January 25, 2011 2:40 PM

In the middle of a long, LONG West Wing Netflix stretch (43 slots deep in our queue of all West Wing), and, as a huge fan of Studio 60, I can't wait for this show.

As long as they get someone new to do the opening theme music. All his opening credit sequences are shit.

Posted by: ChristianH at January 25, 2011 2:43 PM

But it's composed by W.G. "Snuffy" Walden!

Posted by: The Internet Magpie at January 25, 2011 3:03 PM

I can remember people dissing "Studio 60" because it wasn't a 'realistic potrayl' of what it was like behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show (like the documentary series 30 Rock). Screw realism! Does anyone think "The West Wing" was a realistic potrayl of politics? Nobody on that level is that articulate or idealistic, but that's why it's a television show and not real life!

Been holding that in for a while now. All better.

And actually, I'd be willing to bet that HBO is where Keith Olbermann will probably end up when the dust settles.

Posted by: Leftylad at January 25, 2011 4:05 PM

"And actually, I'd be willing to bet that HBO is where Keith Olbermann will probably end up when the dust settles."
Ah, ok. Well, there goes any chance of me ever ordering HBO.
I do wish Olbermann would just crawl under a rock and shut the hell up. Man oh man, I can't stand him.

Posted by: Stel at January 25, 2011 5:27 PM

Sorkin's writing it? I wonder if it'll be glib.

Posted by: Conway at January 25, 2011 5:47 PM

@LeftyLad - I'm pretty sure that there were multiple people, including political experts and people who worked in the actual White House who came out and said how spot-on the television show was. Also, it's spelled "portrayal."

Posted by: Matt at January 25, 2011 8:39 PM

Do NOT rent Sports Night. I just went back and saw it via Netflix and it doesn't stand up. Sorkin's repetitive banter is horrendous in the wrong actor's mouth and I wanted to shoot the Natalie character.

Plus, he recycled whole plots/episodes for West Wing- cheating dad episode, etc. I guess he figured nobody watch Sports Night so he'd do it again.

I do think Studio 60 was canceled too early. It would have been great to see a 2nd or 3rd season.

Posted by: bananapanda at January 26, 2011 3:01 PM

Overrated is right, bananapanda. After years of being encouraged to watch "Sportsnight", I was utterly underwhelmed by the stiltedness and complete lack of realism of the series. I've seen more authentic romantic storylines on professional wrestling shows.

My only query is why you wanted to shoot Natalie and not the charmless, shrill and petulant Dana, who always looked like she'd been ridden hard and put away wet‏. With the exception of C.J., it's clear that Sorkin struggles to develop strong, likeable women.

Posted by: Xiufetish at January 26, 2011 4:32 PM