Sadly, tonight the final episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip will be airing on NBC. I enjoyed this show from start to finish and was very disappointed to hear it was canceled over its low ratings (um, Friday Night Lights anyone?).
Caz was kind enough to alert me to an article from the “Help Thank Studio 60 & Support Tipitina’s” group over on LiveJournal, which highlights the show’s success and charitable efforts along with the Tipitina Foundation. Here is the article reprinted in full:
Fans say “Goodbye” to Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
A full page “Thank You” advertisement, paid for by fans of the show, will run in the Hollywood Reporter on June 28th, and will also encourage donations to Tipitina’s Foundation in New Orleans.
Frustrated by NBC’s unwillingness to renew Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, five loyal viewers from around the world have looked for a way to express their thanks for the innovative work of its cast and crew. Supported by countless fans worldwide, their solution has been to organize an Internet campaign designed to raise funds to buy a full page “Thank You” ad in the Hollywood Reporter.
The successful effort has been organized around the LiveJournal website, and NBC’s Studio 60 message board. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a cutting edge, satirical commentary on contemporary television entertainment, and its often damaging impact on popular culture. Funny, imaginative and well written, it is a standout in a medium short on quality product.
While the show developed a worldwide audience, achieved respectable ratings, and is one of this year’s most DVR’d and downloaded network shows, it was officially canceled by NBC in May.
The ad, which features images of Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, and Bradley Whitford, will thank the show’s creative team for “providing us with an intelligent, inspiring and compelling drama.”
The final episode of Studio 60 will air on Thursday June 28th in the US, and the “Thank You” ad will appear on the same day. It has been paid for by the generosity of the show’s viewers.
All I Want for Christmas is My City Back Along with the message from fans, the advertisement will also include information on Tipitina’s Foundation, the New Orleans based charity which was established in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Its mission is to restore the city’s unique jazz community, and preserve its irreplaceable music culture. In December of 2006, the Studio 60 episode “The Christmas Show” featured the stories of a group of homeless New Orleans musicians, working pick-up jobs
in Los Angeles so as to be able to send money home to stricken families and friends. Playing on the darkened and empty Studio 60 stage, against a backdrop of photographs of the devastated city, a small group of jazz musicians from New Orleans performed an emotional blues version of the carol “O Holy Night.”The performance exemplified the thoughtful, and often unexpected, directions the show would take — combining humour with drama to provide meaningful insights into modern culture.
A clip of that performance is available for viewing online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI2LdpW7g5U
The Studio 60 “Thank You” ad campaign raised a total of $3,061.64 in only six days. Contributions came in from all over the world, including the US, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Canada and Australia. The ad campaign was organized by four fans of the show – one from the US and three from the UK.
Ironically, the show has yet to air in Great Britain.
The ad will be released simultaneously on the LiveJournal website and
the NBC Studio 60 message board on Thursday, the 28th at 5:00 AM (DST)CONTACT INFORMATION
Thanks2studio60 community at LiveJournal
http://community.livejournal.com/thanks2studio60
Further information:
US – Diana Botsford 417-849-1051 – dianab@elysiumwebs.com
Michael Cudahy 508-748-2403 - strt15@verizon.net
UK & Europe – Carol Sissons ++ 44-7831-618998 – csizz@homecall.co.uk
Tipitina’s Foundation
http://www.tipitinasfoundation.orgBack Issues of the Hollywood Reporter can be ordered at:
JGonzalez@hollywoodreporter.com
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, you’ll be missed by this fan.
Posted on: Thursday, June 28, 2007
4 Responses to “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: Series Finale Tonight”
Leave a Reply
Pingbacks & Trackbacks:
-
24 Elects A New President; That’s Ms. President To You | Wild Bluff Media : Entertainment Examined
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:01 am[...] surprised to hear her partner is none other than Sarah Paulson from the recently departed “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” And why yes, Sarah is 18 years younger than Cherry Jones. Regardless of the cast’s [...]
June 30th, 2007 at 5:07 am
Matt, you may like to know that fans have already donated a further $1300 to the Tipitina’s Foundation in the last few days. We hope that more funds will be raised from those who see the advert and enjoyed the show as much as we did.
The finale was great, neatly wrapping up all the relationships, although it skipped over the effects of Matt’s drug use. But I’d gladly trade the happy ending for a second season. Now I’m looking forward to the DVD release in October. That should save me from the hell of reality shows next year.
Aaron, Tommy, Brad, Matthew, Tim and the rest of the cast and grew, Thanks, we’ll miss you.
June 30th, 2007 at 8:38 am
H, that is really great and I’m glad to hear you have been so successful in raising donations for the Tipitina’s cause.
The finale was pretty good. They definitely wrapped it up nice and neat. Out of all the resolutions I enjoyed Matt and Harriet’s the most, probably because it had been going on for so long. I’m sad to see it go, but it was great while it lasted.
June 30th, 2007 at 11:28 am
A huge and heartfelt “Thank you” goes out to Aaron Sorkin, and the cast and crew of Studio 60. In the sea of sludge that has become our television viewing choices, I am so grateful that at least one show spoke to me as an intelligent, involved human being and did NOT need to address the lowest human traits of greed, selfishness, and dishonesty, which are the purvue of most Reality Programs, and yes…dramas alike.
Aaron, DO NOT REST! DO NOT be discouraged! Just hurry to your computer and start knocking out the next project. I am waiting and will watch faithfully as I have watched everything you have ever written. I am hungry for your next piece of light…so get cracking! Please?
Until then, I will miss these people as I am still missing those from Sports Night and West Wing. They all remain a permanent part of my consciousness.
With deep gratitude…
Chrys