228:) is another of the show's "Big Three". While his comedic skills and gifts for character parody are acknowledged, he is self-critical and often looks on the Internet at critics' appraisals. According to the pilot script, "when he's not crafting a joke in his head, he's not sure what he's supposed to be doing". In "The Wrap Party", Tom's parents drive from Ohio to visit him, and demonstrate their lack of understanding of his work. In the same episode, Tom mentions that he sent body armor to his younger brother Mark's unit in Afghanistan. In the "Nevada Day" episodes, we find out that Tom's younger brother is in fact a part of a group of armed forces
148:
mentions that on the day of the announcement of her hiring, the share price of NBS's parent company instantly took a 3/8 point dip) and the pressure on her to deliver is strong, with particularly intense scrutiny coming from network chairman Jack
Rudolph. In the pilot, Jordan is responsible for the hiring of Danny and Matt, knowing of the pair's abrasive history with the show (and Jack). In "The Cold Open", Jordan proposes a policy of charging a 20% "cowardice fee" to advertisers who had acquiesced to boycotts by the
569:. He is a rookie on the show and doesn't appear to have garnered much respect yet from the likes of the Big Three. In "Nevada Day 2", Matt picks Dylan to perform in the "News 60" sketch in case Simon does not return from Nevada in time for the show; Dylan is very insecure and self-conscious about his appearance in such a high-profile role until Matt goads Jeannie into flattering and flirting with Dylan to boost his confidence.
665:) and Matt's former girlfriend. In "The West Coast Delay" she talks Matt out of a plan to have her sign a stiletto boot in an attempt to get back at Harriet, who had given Matt a baseball bat with Darren Wells's phone number written on it. She reappears a few episodes later at the end of a dinner honoring Harriet and helps Matt back to the theater, where she reveals that she is newly engaged.
35:
505:) is a cast member who sleeps with Matt from time to time. This revelation leads Harriet to blow up at Matt in front of the show's writing team. She is considered a gossip on set; in "The Option Period", she leaked the news that Harriet was considering posing for a lingerie spread in a men's magazine, and Matt quipped that he didn't think there was such thing as the
374:. They stepped into the creative void left by Danny and Matt when the pair quit, and in the pilot are portrayed as poor writers, "hacks" and command little professional respect from the stars of the show. Matt refers to them as "Beavis and Hackboy". It is revealed that Matt harbors a grudge against them because when he came out in support of
304:
business, Jordan. I don't find you charming." Jack has a quick and intense temper which he frequently brandishes, but is also a man of conviction, coming to Jordan's defense in a period of personal turmoil and vehemently defending the independence of the nightly news. Jack reports to Wilson White, Chairman of TMG, NBS's parent company.
748:(Stephanie Childers) is the Vice President of Alternative Programming for NBS and has developed an adversarial relationship with Jordan. She first appears in the episode "Monday". Jordan has expressed her fear that Galloway is being groomed to take her place after the rocky start to McDeere's tenure as president of the network.
266:. He feels limited by his skills as a comedic performer, unable to do "voices". However, it is seen by his subsequent place in the "Big Three", the enthusiastic response of the audience to his warm-ups to the show, and the respect shown to him by Danny in the initial episodes that Simon has rightfully earned his place in the
59:, and recently suffered a relapse after 11 years of sobriety. Danny has to complete 18 months of clean drug tests to obtain completion bonds as a film director; while this information was confidential, Jordan McDeere discovers this via a personal contact and offers Danny a two-year contract of convenience on
55:) is a producer who takes over show-running duties with Matt Albie, his long-time friend, and who worked on the show four years prior, before leaving with Matt over disagreements with network executives. In the pilot, it is revealed that he has a history of alcoholism and drug problems, specifically with
719:
years before, while Matt and Danny were still there. After Matt and Danny's initial departure from the show, Andy's wife and daughter died in tragic circumstances. It is revealed in a flashback scene in "K & R, Part I" that Matt never saw Andy smile until he walked into the writer's room in 2001
303:
groups, a move that he would later regret. While his frustrations at the re-hiring of Matt and Danny are evident, his main focus of administrative swagger is over Jordan, upon whom he places enormous pressure to succeed. In the pilot, he says, "I'm not like the other heterosexual males in the show
152:
but came back after the boycotted show in question turned out to be successful. In "The Focus Group", Jack reveals that her ex-husband is working on a tell-all book about her. At one wrap party, Danny told Jordan, "You look like one of them but talk like one of us", due to her willingness to side
330:
executive Jerry; Danny so highly approved that he told Cal he would have earned a raise had he let Wes rant for 54 seconds. Cal is thoroughly upbeat with an equally fast-and-fluid sense of humor and extremely efficient at his job when circumstances change. (Busfield had a recurring guest role on
147:
is the flagship show. She is described in the pilot script as an "instantly likeable 30-something" and "someone who every man's wife can find an irrational reason to hate". While Jordan's previous credentials are impressive, she knows that confidence in her is not very high (on the pilot, she
426:(which is commented on in the pilot itself), venting against bureaucratic control, the influence of minority groups in the censorship of the network, and the nature of the broadcast industry. It is stated that he has worked with many of the great comedy writers and performers, such as
198:, where she promoted her album. In the pilot, Harriet stood by the controversial "Crazy Christians" sketch and its contents, demonstrating fierce loyalty to the show. She tells Tom that rather than being offended by "Crazy Christians", she was more upset about not
292:) is the chairman of the network NBS and Jordan's boss. Jack has a history of controversy with Matt and Danny, having caused the pair to quit Studio 60 four years earlier (in the wake of 9/11), when he ordered the two to apologize for a
486:
and responsible for cutting a controversial sketch in "Pilot". The cut results in a furious on-air rant from Wes. Jerry later appears during flashbacks in "K&R Part II" asking Matt and Danny to cut a sketch about
96:
who in the show's pilot episode, is asked to return when executive producer Wes
Mendell is fired. With Danny, Matt has gone from strength to strength, with the pair going onto films and Matt even winning a
382:
for writing in the past (Matt mentions this in the context of a disparagement of which other parts were made up). In "The Option Period", Ricky and Ron leave the show to pursue a spin-off pilot on
121:
political leanings, which causes tension between him and
Harriet. In "The West Coast Delay", it is revealed that he was forced out of his prior role on the show for supporting talk show host
192:
and has recorded a successful album of spiritual music. In the pilot, the recent ending of her romantic relationship with Matt Albie is suggested to have been caused by her appearance on
734:) used to be a PA on the show before becoming Matt's assistant. She is the first to confront Matt about his drug use in the episode "Breaking News", revealing that her mother took 20-30
715:) was introduced in "B-12" after Ricky and Ron's departure (from the prior episode: "The Option Period") when Matt needed the help of an extra writer. Andy was previously a writer on
601:) is an English junior writer on the show and the only pre-Matt and Danny writer to remain after Ricky and Ron's departure. She then begins a romantic relationship with Tom Jeter.
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and religious groups. In the events of the pilot, he is the catalyst that brings Matt and Danny back to the show, fired on the night for the hijacking of the live broadcast of
850:
326:. He has two children he is putting through private school. In the pilot, he allows Wes to rant unscripted for 53 seconds on live television, despite threats from network
992:
623:
game. In "The Wrap Party", Harriet found out that Darren also wrote his phone number on a baseball given to Jordan, which apparently ended the relationship.
274:. Tom and Simon are united by their "mutual respect, their dedication to their show and nothing else." As he told Matt in "The Wrap Party", Simon grew up in
202:
in the sketch. However, later in her confrontation with Matt she confessed to also being upset about the sketch. She received her undergraduate degree from
982:
825:
987:
444:) is the Chairman of Tunney Media Group, the parent company of the National Broadcasting System. This may be a (thinly) veiled reference to
460:
is usually minor, although at times uses it for business ventures, such as in "Nevada Day" when in order to secure a deal he arranges for
928:
858:
914:
143:) is the recently promoted President for Entertainment Programming for the network NBS (National Broadcasting System) of which
232:
civil engineers that construct buildings incredibly fast, such as "a hospital in three days" (quote taken from the episodes).
378:
after Maher made a controversial on-air remark, Ricky released a statement hanging Matt out to dry. They may have won an
63:. He is twice-divorced. Danny claims to be the smarter of the Matt and Danny duo, a contention Matt does not argue with.
766:
suit by Karen
Salzburg, a writer who was fired from the show. She has an obvious sexual and romantic interest in Matt.
413:
105:
that Matt accepts the position. This also puts him in an awkward position; he has recently ended a relationship with
679:) is a junior writer who is hired by Matt Albie and Simon Stiles after seeing his stand-up act in "The Wrap Party".
693:) used to be a writer on the show and is Matt's main rival for Harriet. He is currently directing a movie about
155:
130:
786:(Raymond Ma) is a Chinese businessman who is behind a multimillion-dollar merger with NBS to turn the city of
22:
101:
Award on the night featured in the pilot. It is because of his loyalty to his friend and his history with
798:." Zhang becomes a key player when the board of NBS attempts to remove Wilson White as chairman and CEO.
163:. Peet's real-life pregnancy was written into the show, with Jordan being pregnant by an ex-boyfriend.
370:) are writers and, as part of their $ 30,000 per-episode contracts, current co-executive producers of
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177:. As she describes to journalist Martha O'Dell in "The Long Lead Story", Harriet was born in
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cast. He may be based on black SNL player with a long tenure but a low comedic ceiling,
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405:
319:
203:
178:
181:— and uses her middle name because a Hannah Hayes was already registered in the
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791:
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259:
211:
698:
449:
412:. His power is dwindling and he is furious with the network for bowing down to the
315:
52:
109:
star
Harriet Hayes, for whom he still holds strong personal feelings. Despite his
634:
149:
75:
527:. He is not a member of the "Big Three", but is recognized as the complement to
676:
637:) is a journalist writing a "long lead story" about Matt and Danny's return to
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243:
170:
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78:, although Danny's drug relapse corresponds with Sorkin's personal history.
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173:) is a "multi-talented" performer and one of the "Big Three" main stars of
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430:. He is referenced in various episodes, but appears only in the pilot.
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251:
250:, and frustrated about parts lost to other prominent black performers (
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118:
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488:
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619:. He started dating Harriet after she sang the National Anthem at a
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with the talent in arguments. On
October 20, 2006, Peet revealed on
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506:
468:
to entertain Kim Tao, the daughter of a potential business client.
661:) is a member of the "Bombshell Babies" (a dance group similar to
189:
114:
56:
39:
Busfield, Corddry, Paulson, Hughley, Weber, Perry, Peet, Whitford
34:
543:, in which he plays the title character, and has also portrayed
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in the show following the beginning of the war in
Afghanistan.
110:
420:
and ranting an improvised tirade, similar to that in the film
246:) is the final member of the "Big Three". After attending the
813:
787:
762:) is a lawyer from Gage Whitney Pace who is investigating a
954:
587:. Her most notable sketch is "Samantha Li's Thai Therapy".
379:
262:
are named as examples), Simon was recruited to the cast of
456:), the network carrying the actual show. His interest in
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sketch he had expressly approved following pressure from
615:) is a professional baseball player, a pitcher for the
482:) works for NBS as network censor. He is in charge of
884:"'West Wing' to West Coast: TV's Auteur Portrays TV"
776:(John F. Carpenter) is the announcer for the show.
535:in the cast. He has at least one recurring sketch,
738:a day before killing herself when Suzanne was 10.
509:, there was only "Jeannie telling people stuff".
974:
278:and risked death or imprisonment as a teenager.
993:Lists of American television series characters
877:
875:
816:prodigy. She is infatuated with Tom Jeter.
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33:
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881:
983:Lists of comedy television characters
812:) is the daughter of Zhang Tao and a
66:Danny is apparently largely based on
988:Lists of drama television characters
929:"Studio 60 Impregnates Amanda Peet!"
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848:
720:and announced his daughter's birth.
342:
16:This article contains summaries of
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842:
335:and also directed six episodes of
206:. Harriet's character is based on
14:
1004:
452:, the parent company of NBC (Via
159:that McDeere is loosely based on
583:) is one of the cast members of
565:) is one of the cast members of
523:) is one of the cast members of
942:
927:Veitch, Kristin (2006-10-18).
920:
915:"Studio 7 on the Sunset Strip"
386:of "Peripheral Vision Man", a
156:The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
131:September 11 terrorist attacks
129:that Maher made following the
92:) is a former head writer for
29:
1:
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828:Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
70:'s frequent collaborator and
23:Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
697:and he cast Harriet to play
7:
882:Carter, Bill (2006-09-11).
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20:appearing on the TV series
10:
1009:
214:, whom Sorkin once dated.
950:"IMDB - Timothy Busfield"
849:Chun, Wing (2007-07-24).
276:South Central Los Angeles
917:Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
855:Television Without Pity
484:Standards and Practices
328:Standards and Practices
531:, being the lead male
41:
448:, the former head of
37:
248:Yale School of Drama
621:Los Angeles Dodgers
617:Los Angeles Dodgers
183:Screen Actors Guild
113:heritage, he is an
74:executive producer
851:"Who's That Girl?"
695:The Rolling Stones
663:The Pussycat Dolls
406:executive producer
320:technical director
204:Rutgers University
179:Brighton, Michigan
42:
764:sexual harassment
480:Michael Stuhlbarg
260:Denzel Washington
212:Kristin Chenoweth
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869:
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857:. Archived from
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755:
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517:
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450:General Electric
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343:Supporting roles
316:Timothy Busfield
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125:in the light of
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959:. Retrieved
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863:. Retrieved
859:the original
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436:Wilson White
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356:Evan Handler
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298:conservative
290:Steven Weber
284:Jack Rudolph
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238:Simon Stiles
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226:Nate Corddry
217:
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195:The 700 Club
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185:. She is an
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161:Jamie Tarses
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68:Aaron Sorkin
65:
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44:
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931:. E! Online
659:Cyia Batten
644:Vanity Fair
613:Teddy Sears
575:Samantha Li
549:Ben Stiller
474:Jerry Jones
402:Judd Hirsch
396:Wes Mendell
350:Ricky Tahoe
310:Cal Shanley
272:Tim Meadows
187:evangelical
141:Amanda Peet
47:Danny Tripp
30:Major roles
977:Categories
961:5 December
935:2006-11-29
893:2006-10-25
865:2009-01-21
836:References
810:Julia Ling
790:into "the
685:Luke Scott
599:Lucy Davis
545:Tom Cruise
515:Alex Dwyer
503:Ayda Field
446:Jack Welch
376:Bill Maher
362:Ron Oswald
256:Will Smith
252:Jamie Foxx
123:Bill Maher
84:Matt Albie
18:characters
796:East Asia
792:Las Vegas
782:Zhang Tao
754:Mary Tate
736:Percocets
717:Studio 60
639:Studio 60
585:Studio 60
567:Studio 60
525:Studio 60
489:Karl Rove
466:Studio 60
462:Tom Jeter
458:Studio 60
418:Studio 60
410:Studio 60
388:Studio 60
372:Studio 60
337:Studio 60
324:Studio 60
318:) is the
301:Christian
294:Karl Rove
268:Studio 60
264:Studio 60
230:RED HORSE
220:Tom Jeter
208:West Wing
175:Studio 60
145:Studio 60
107:Studio 60
103:Studio 60
94:Studio 60
72:Studio 60
61:Studio 60
830:episodes
826:List of
820:See also
507:Internet
390:sketch.
127:comments
117:and has
804:Kim Tao
726:Suzanne
423:Network
210:alumna
190:Baptist
119:liberal
115:atheist
57:cocaine
358:) and
111:Jewish
814:viola
788:Macau
653:Wendy
200:being
963:2012
955:IMDb
641:for
547:and
541:Show
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380:Emmy
258:and
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