Studio 60

What a strange road it's been for "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," the show that started as a buzzed-about pilot, became a critical disaster, and is finally slinking to a conclusion. In a year full of high-profile television flops ("The Black Donnellys," "The Nine," "Six Degrees"), this was certainly one of the biggest.

I wasn't a fan of "Studio 60"; the comedy bits weren't that funny, Aaron Sorkin's dialogue seemed to lack its usual snap, and Amanda Peet never convinced me she could pull off playing a tough-chick executive. Still, the show had its great elements — the reveal of Matthew Perry as a strong dramatic actor among them — and I'm still enough of a Sorkin fan to be excited to see what his next project will be.

In the meantime, "Studio 60" tonight will conclude the three-part "K&R" arc, which so far has featured pregnancy complications, a proposal, a kidnapping, and loads of flashbacks to Matt and Danny's original firing from the show. (The show officially concludes next week.) Fans: With two episodes to go, do you think the show can wrap things up in a satisfying way?

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• Pop is extremely excited for Mary-Kate Olsen who will be in 10 out of 15 "Weeds" episodes next season.
• And Bella alerts me to the new Cool Water perfume ads in which "Lost"'s Josh Holloway glistens with radiance.
• TV Squad has news on a possible reunion for the cast of sketch series "The State."
• Spinner has the super-cool new White Stripes video for "Icky Thump."
• The TV Addict ponders what went wrong with "Studio 60."
• Check out the trailer to Michael Moore's latest documentary Sicko on the Movie Blog.
• TV Filter tracks down the favorite currency of "The Office": the Schrute Buck and the Stanley Nickel.
• Idolator listens to Blake and Jordin's "American Idol" EPs so we don't have to.
• Popwatch reviews "Dancing with the Stars" judge Len Goodman's instructional DVD, which is apparently jazzed up with limericks.

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"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" will be back on the air tonight at 10 p.m., but it's not exactly the victorious return to the schedule many fans were hoping for. NBC didn't pick up the show for a second season, but at least the final six episodes will be airing on TV rather than just online. Interestingly, the show was supposed to air on Thursdays in the first place — until ABC's plans to relocate a pesky little show we like to call "Grey's Anatomy" got in the way.

The set has been torn down, so there's really no hope for the show to return now — but the good news is that six episodes is plenty of time to tie up the characters' stories. The even better news (for me, anyway) is that tonight's return episode guest-stars Allison Janney — better known as Sorkin favorite C.J. Cregg — who I believe can make any show outstanding with her very presence. NBC has a video preview over here, so check it out and let me know if you'll stick with "Studio 60" to the end.

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Good news for "Studio 60" fans: The show will return to the air May 24 at 10 p.m., according to the show's Web site.

May 24 is after the crucial sweeps period ends, so this could be another sign that NBC doesn't have a lot of confidence in the show going forward. It's also odd that NBC's only comment so far is that one tiny line on the Web site. But I'm glad that if the show is ending, it will at least get to go out on TV — unlike other canceled shows this year, which got shoved online. Six more episodes of "Studio 60" were produced, and I hope they all make it on the air.

I wonder if NBC now regrets its decision to pull "Studio 60" back in February after just 16 episodes. "The Black Donnellys" didn't do any better in "Studio 60"'s time slot and got canned itself, and the premiere of "The Real Wedding Crashers" this week was hardly a blockbuster. Do you think NBC should have stuck with "Studio 60" from the start?

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Matthew Perry has seen better days, but give him a break, he must be under a lot of stress. Studio 60's ratings were so bad the show was pulled before the end of the season. However, now there is hope for those wanting to see the rest of season one. The cast and crew are shooting episode 20 and episodes 17-19 were shot but never aired. While NBC hasn't said when or if it will air the last few shows we doubt the network will let them go to waste since it's got to be costing them a pretty penny to create.

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"Studio 60" fans, here's some potentially good news: According to Hollywood Reporter columnist Ray Richmond, the show is still in production, and the cast and crew are currently working on episode 20.

NBC still hasn't said when (or whether) it plans to air these additional episodes, but it's a good sign that fans might get to finish out the full season. Only 16 episodes have aired so far, and I can't imagine NBC spending the money to produce more if they weren't eventually going to make it to TV.

But when? Richmond speculates that the show won't be back this spring and could instead air its final episodes sometime over the summer. I could also see NBC getting frustrated with lackluster ratings for "The Black Donnellys" and putting "Studio 60" back in its original spot. It will be interesting to see what happens April 23, when "Heroes" is back and the stakes go up for the show that follows it.

Remember, if you feel strongly about "Studio 60," you can always give it your votes in E!'s Save One Show campaign.

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"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," once one of the most anticipated new series on TV, airs what could be its final episode tonight. NBC announced last week that "The Black Donnellys," the new show from Oscar-winner Paul Haggis, will premiere next Monday in "Studio 60"'s place. And because no date has been set for the return of "Studio 60," tonight's episode could be the last chance fans have to see Matt, Danny, Harriet, and Jordan in action.

The San Francisco Chronicle's TV critic has an interesting column today on why "Studio 60" didn't work. Sadly, I have to agree with most of it — I really wanted to like "Studio 60," but it just never clicked for me. Still, it would be a shame for the show to just disappear from TV without a chance for a satisfying ending, so I hope NBC finds a way to let it finish out the season. In the meantime, you can see the promo for tonight's episode if you read more

Adorable pregnant Amanda Peet hosted the Lucky Magazine Loves Thread event this week. She sure is having a fabulous year - first she got married in September and now she is expecting her first child. Angie Harmon can't resist rubbing Amanda's belly - so cute! And more good news for Amanda - despite Studio 60's not so stellar ratings, NBC has decided to keep them in their Monday night time slot but we don't think the show is going to last much longer.

More of adorable Amanda and Angie so read more

• K-Fed gave free tickets away to anyone who could take them for his show last night at The House of Blues. Maybe he's feeling pretty confident about his divorce suit. - TMZ
• Rosario Dawson and Sex and the City alum Jason Lewis have broken up. Isn't anybody staying together anymore? - US Weekly
• Daniel Baldwin was arrested again yesterday for allegedly stealing a car. If he goes to jail at least we have three other Baldwins to choose from. - AP
• Despite cancellation rumors, Studio 60 has been picked up for the full season. And Matt and Harriet still probably won't get back together. - Eonline
• Bill Cosby has settled his sexual assault suit with a woman who claimed he drugged and attacked her at his home. The terms of the settlement remain under wraps. I wonder what Mrs. Huxtable has to say about that. - AP

Amanda Peet is looking adorable at An Evening with Studio 60. The actress glowed even though her show is not doing incredible. Actually it premiered really well, but the audience for the second episode dropped by 16%. We're enjoying the latest Aaron Sorkin show and to be fair, this past Monday night the Saints were returning to center stage at the Superdome for the first time since Katrina. Let's hope more people tune back in next Monday.

More pictures of Amanda so read more