I like that analysis, and I think it's largely correct. However, I think there's a deeper proble here, and that's Aaron Sorkin's inability to remove his head from his own ass.

Just like every episode of Law and Order seems to be "ripped from the headlines," every piece of Studio 60 was ripped straight from Sorkin's wounded-genius psyche. We have the "drug-addled (yet genius!) writer/producer" combo (clearly Sorkin and Schlamme). Toss in a "blonde Christian comedic actress girlfriend," a clear Kristen Chenoweth stand-in. The whole Jordan storyline was her struggling against the big bad tv networks who prefer reality shows to high minded concepts like "an hour long drama about the UN." (!?!?) It's his life, and he was (is?) PISSED.

So the whole show is him patting the Danny and Matt and Jordan characters on the back, while simultaneously taking pot shots at the straw man "evils" of network tv, "crazy christians," and, I dunno, the war in Iraq.

Not that West Wing and Sports Night didn't contain a good dose of back patting and cheap pot shots. But it all felt a bit more personal this time around; more unhinged, and less fair.

(Also, every sketch we saw was terrible. I don't even know what happened there, I guess Mark McKinney has finally exposed himself as the Eric Idle of Kids in the Hall.)

Dear Mr. Sorkin,

Please write a scientists lovin' on science or professors lovin' academia show. It would do wonders for a.) science funding in the nation, and b.) young people getting motivated to go into science.

Regards,
lab crab