"The other show I'm casting is called "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." It's another "holy crap how did they get all these elements together for a show"-show. Aaron Sorkin as
ingw posted in the fanforum.com Lauren Graham thread about a WB Studio tour:
"Oh, and also Matthew Perry is gonna be starring in a new show which will be filming at warner brothers with amanda peet..(they were finishing the sets for it) in case anybody was interested in that..
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Uhm, don't think it's gonna be on the west wing set cuz west wing is still shooting and they were showing us where they were setting up for Matthews new show..I think it might be (if you look at the airshot of the wb) the one behind stage 14 or one of the ones next to it.. (to the right on the airshot) We didn't drive too far to get to the gilmore girls one (they were filming on stage 12 that day), but I wasn't really paying that much attention cuz I didn't know where we were heading"
From TV Guide's Ask Ausiello:
"Question: Is there any chance that we're going to see West Wing's Bradley Whitford join Matthew Perry and Amanda Peet in Studio 60 next season? — Lauren
Ausiello: Both sides continue to talk, but, according to a source, "there's no firm deal by any means.""
phodyss posted a rundown of the show's characters in Television Without Pity's "Studio 60" thread [some of this information is speculative ]:
"Looks like it will be a dozen regulars and two recurring to start out--which is a huge cast of regulars, but then again, it's gonna be an expensive show. (9 regulars would be a more usual configuration--which would leave 5 to recur--but I'm assuming 12 for the purposes of this list).
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Triangle #1 (The Central Characters):
Matt Albie, writer, used to date Harriet Hayes: Matt Perry
Danny Moore, recovering coke addict, director: (Sorkin wants Brad Whitford, Whitford wants it bad, NBC is resisting because BW is so identified with West Wing)
Jordan McDeere, newly minted network president based on Jamie Tarses, who is "always," the script tells us, "the quickest and smartest in the room": Amanda Peet
Triangle #2 (The Stars):
Harriet Hayes, who went on The 700 Club to hawk her C/W CD: (remains uncast, but rumor is Kristen Chenoweth, on whom the character is based)
Simon Stiles, about whom the script says "no amount of hip-hop attitude can disguise the fact that he went to the Yale School of Drama": DL Hughley
Tom Jeter, whose skit impersonating Bush is cut short by Mendel's on-camera meltdown in the pilot: Nate Corddry, younger brother of Rob, both "correspondents" for The Daily Show
Triangle 3: (The Heavies):
Ron Oswald, longtime Studio 60 producer/writer, burned out: Evan Handler
Ricky Beck , longtime Studio 60 producer/writer, burned out: Carlos Jacott
(They expected to be named to the top spot in the aftermath of Mendel's breakdown; Matt & Danny hate them... In fact, most of the others hate them. The feeling is mutual.)
Jerry Jones, network Standards & Practices: Michael Stuhlbarg
The Execs:
Jack Rudolph, UBS chairman at 45, ambitious, wants Wilson White's job: Steven Weber
Wilson White, 70s, CEO of GE-like corporation that owns UBS: (remains uncast, but I'm for George Coe, who played Senator Stackhouse in several West Wing episodes) [recurring]
And The Rest:
Cal, the show's well-liked director, has a wife and two small kids, whose future he gambles when he refuses Jerry's order to pull Mendel's meltdown off-the-air: Tim Busfield
Dylan, described by the script as a "Jack Black type" who has yet to begin "pulling his weight," (remains uncast)
Martha Moyer, LA Times star columnist based on MoDo who is dating Danny: (remains uncast, but with luck it will be Mary-Louise Parker) [recurring]"
Escardonme posted a run-down of the casting so far at Television Without Pity:
"Okay, so here's the cast for Studio 60 (formerly Studio 7) thus far:
Matt Albie, new “Studio 60” head writer: MATTHEW PERRY (“Friends”)
Danny Moore, new “Studio 60” showrunner: STILL UNCAST
Wes Mendel, exiled “Studio 60” creator: STILL UNCAST
Harriet Hayes, “Studio 60” star: STILL UNCAST
Tom Jeter, “Studio 60” star: NATHAN CORDDRY (“The Daily Show”)
Simon Stiles, “Studio 60” star: D.L. HUGHLEY (“The Hughleys”)
Wilson White, UBS corporate overlord: STILL UNCAST
Jack Rudolph, UBS chairman: STEVEN WEBER (“Wings”)
Jordan McDeere, UBS president: AMANDA PEET (“Syriana”)
Jerry Jones, “Studio 60” censor: MICHAEL STUHLBARG (Broadway’s “The Pillowman”)
Ron Oswald, “Studio 60” hack: EVAN HANDLER (“Sex and the City”)
Ricky Beck, “Studio 60” hack: CARLOS JACOTT (“Fun With Dick and Jane”)."
From the Hollywood Reporter:
"Amanda Peet is reuniting with her "Whole Nine Yards" co-star Matthew Perry, this time on the small screen.
Peet has been tapped to star opposite Perry in Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme's new project for NBC, now titled "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."
Evan Handler ("Sex and the City"), Michael Stuhlbarg ("The Pillowman"), Nathan Corddry ("The Daily Show") and Carlos Jacott ("Fun With Dick and Jane") also have joined the ensemble cast of the Warner Bros. TV show set behind the scenes of a fictional broadcasting network's flagship late-night sketch comedy show.
Peet will play Jordan McDeere, the newly appointed president of the network.
Corddry is Tom Jeter, one of the stars of "Studio 60."
Handler and Jacott play senior writers on the show, and Stuhlbarg plays the network's by-the-book censor.
Peet, Corddry, Handler, Stuhlbarg and Carlos Jacott join previously cast Perry, Steven Weber and D.L. Hughley.
"The problem with getting actors of this caliber is that if the show doesn't work, Tommy and I can be pretty sure it was our fault," the project's writer Sorkin said.
Peet, most recently seen in the film "Syriana" and the Neil LaBute off-Broadway play "This Is How It Goes" with Ben Stiller and Jeffrey Wright, is making her Broadway debut in "Barefoot in the Park" opposite Patrick Wilson, which is slated to premiere Feb. 16.
On the big screen, she will be seen starring opposite Zach Braff and Jason Bateman in the comedy "Fast Track," with John Cusack in "The Martian Child" and in the romantic drama "Griffin and Phoenix" with Dermot Mulroney.
Peet is repped by Management 360 and the Gersh Agency.
Handler, who most recently co-starred in the ABC/WBTV comedy "Hot Properties," is repped by APA.
Jacott is repped by Domain and managed by Thruline."
Also from the Hollywood Reporter:
"LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Amanda Peet is reuniting with her "Whole Nine Yards" co-star Matthew Perry, this time on the small screen.
Peet will join Perry in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," an NBC project set behind the scenes of a fictional broadcasting network's flagship late-night sketch comedy show.
She will play Jordan McDeere, the newly appointed president of the network. Perry plays a genius comic writer.
Steven Weber and D.L. Hughley were previously cast as the network chairman and one of the "Studio 60" stars, respectively.
Evan Handler ("Sex and the City"), Michael Stuhlbarg ("The Pillowman"), Nathan Corddry ("The Daily Show") and Carlos Jacott ("Fun With Dick & Jane") also have joined the ensemble cast. Handler and Jacott play senior writers, and Stuhlbarg plays the network's by-the-book censor. Corddry also plays one of the "Studio 60" stars.
Peet, most recently seen in the film "Syriana" and the Neil LaBute off-Broadway play "This Is How It Goes" with Ben Stiller and Jeffrey Wright, is making her Broadway debut in "Barefoot in the Park" opposite Patrick Wilson, which is slated to premiere February 16.
On the big screen, she will be seen opposite Zach Braff and Jason Bateman in the comedy "Fast Track," with John Cusack in "The Martian Child" and in the romantic drama "Griffin and Phoenix" with Dermot Mulroney."
Development update from the futoncritic:
"STUDIO 7 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBC) - Timothy Busfield ("The West Wing") and stage actor Michael Stuhlberg ("The Pillowman") are the latest additions to the drama project, about the lives of those that work on a long-running "SNL"-esque sketch-comedy show based in Los Angeles. Details on their respective characters weren't released. The duo join the previously cast D.L. Hughley, Steven Weber and Matthew Perry in the Warner Bros. Television/Shoe Money Productions-based project, which comes from Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme."
The same update also reports:
"NINE LIVES (ABC) - Jessica Collins ("Tru Calling") is understood to have joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the lives of nine strangers who share a bond after experiencing a 52-hour hostage crisis. She joins the previously cast Chi McBride in the Warner Bros. Television-based hour. No specifics about her character were given. In addition, Emmy-winner Alex Graves ("The West Wing") has signed on to direct the project (not Rodrigo Garcia as previously reported), which comes from creators Hank Steinberg and K.J. Steinberg."
From The Hollywood Reporter:
"Matthew Perry is returning to NBC.
After lengthy negotiations, the former "Friends" star will join D.L. Hughley and Steven Weber in an untitled drama set behind the scenes at a fictional long-running sketch-comedy series in the mold of "Saturday Night Live."
Perry will play a genius comic writer who was forced out of his position as co-executive producer on the sketch show after a dispute with the network, UBS. Weber will play UBS' ambitious chairman, and Hughley one of the sketch show's three stars.
Aaron Sorkin, who created the project with Thomas Schlamme, wrote Perry's part with the actor in mind.
"A lot is going to be asked of this cast," Sorkin and Schlamme said. "We still have a number of roles to fill to complete the ensemble, but you couldn't hope for a better start than these incredibly gifted actors."
Written by Sorkin on spec, the drama ignited a bidding war between NBC and CBS that resulted in a monster deal with NBC said to include a fee of more than $3 million for the pilot.
The project, previously known as "Studio 7." reunites Perry with Sorkin and Schlamme after the actor's guest stint on "The West Wing" earned him Emmy nominations in 2003 and 2004.
Perry was in high demand this pilot-casting season, with a number of projects at various networks courting him for the lead. He is the third "Friends" star to return to series television after Matt LeBlanc's turn in the ratings-challenged "Friends" spin-off "Joey" and Lisa Kudrow's starring role on HBO's short-lived "The Comeback."
From Variety:
"NBC and Warner Bros. TV are back in business with one of their best "Friends," signing Matthew Perry to star in the
No longer called "Studio 7," the now-untitled hourlong project is set behind the scenes at a "Saturday Night Live"-style sketch comedy show. Steven Weber and D.L. Hughley have also signed on as cast members.
NBC gave a 13-episode commitment to Warner Bros. for the Sorkin/Schlamme project. Sorkin will write the series and exec produce, along with Schlamme, who is directing the pilot (Daily Variety, Oct. 17).
"It's a demanding show requiring a great ensemble of actors," Sorkin and Schlamme told Daily Variety. "We're not casting yet, but you couldn't ask for a better start than Matthew Perry, Steven Weber and D.L. Hughley."
Perry will play Matt Albie, a former writer for the show who is asked back when the sketch skeinskein's Lorne Michael-esque producer quits. To complicate matters, he has recently broken up with the show's major female cast member.
Sorkin said he created the character with Perry in mind. It's the first regular TV role for Perry since his Emmy-nominated run as Chandler Bing on "Friends," which left the airwaves in May 2004.
The casting reunites Perry and Sorkin, who worked together on "The West Wing""The West Wing" when the actor guested in the show's fourth season as Joe Quincy. He later returned in the role, earning an Emmy nom for guest actor in a drama.
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Also on the Sorkin/Schlamme show, Weber is set to play Jack Rudolph, the head of UBS -- the network that airs the sketch show. Rudolph was behind the original termination of Perry's character.
Hughley will play Simon Stiles, another major cast member on the show-within-a-show."
Comment from on Friday, January 27th's "Countdown with Keith Olberman":
"And another former “Friends” star going back to TV. Matthew Perry on NBC but it's not a comedy, Perry will join a one hour drama written by “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin. The story is set behind of a long-running sketch comedy series. Like a “Saturday Night Live.” A drama about a comedy show. The as yet untitled program will cast Perry as a genius comic writer who is forced out of his job as executive producer after a fight with his fictional network called UBS, an homage, perhaps, to the movie “Network.”
Sorkin wrote the part with Perry in mind. As for Sorkin, this is his first non political series since “Sports Night.” A behind the scenes look at an all sports cable network and its two lovable but complex star anchorman based on Dan Patrick and—what was that guy's name that worked with Dan Patrick?"
From TV Guide's Ask Ausiello:
"Question: Why did Matthew Perry initially turn down the gig on Aaron Sorkin's new show? — Mike
Ausiello: Beat$ me."
Previous Casting Updates
Various "Studio 7" Updates
Matthew Perry Rumor
Round-Up of Info
Casting Info
Info on accessing the audition script.
Praise for the show
Announcement
1 comment:
They're going to be filming at Stage 19 on the WB Lot - apparently it's a 2 storey set.
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