Sports Night, Not West Wing

I like Sorkin's new show, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," and will be a regular watcher until his ADHD kicks in. But the show is not banging up the ratings despite its high-powered cast, losing audience in the second half-hour of its premiere, then down 12% for its second episode (see here for details). The reason, I think, is that he's reproduced not his big hit, "The West Wing," but his big disillusion "Sports Night." Long-time buddy team--check. Old romance--check. One friend "single" and repressed--check. Hyper-competent female exec--check. Very "inside baseball"--check. Network "suits" and conflict--check. Tiresome and ignorant rants against bloggers--ch . . . wait, that was "West Wing." It's too well-written and -acted to die immediately, but it just feels old, or maybe predictable, like we've seen this before. Well, we did, and now have that "Ghostbusters II" feeling. Like "Sports Night," it will struggle for audience, just as it will produce some truly memorable television, amidst Sorkin's flittering and fluttering. And, in a couple of years, it will be gone, its death lamentable but understandable. Like "Sports Night." But maybe we'll be able to get the complete set in one DVD package, like "Sports Night," too.