239:) 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
159:
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
580:. 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.
676:) 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.
516:) 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
385:. 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
315:
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.
759:(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.
46:
277:. 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
70:, 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
66:) 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
730:
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
314:
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
163:
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
341:
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
158:
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
437:(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
209:, 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
303:) 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
497:
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
107:
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
393:
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
132:
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
203:
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
745:) 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
1003:
726:) 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
612:) 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
861:
337:. 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
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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.
285:. 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
213:
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
455:) is the Chairman of Tunney Media Group, the parent company of the National Broadcasting System. This may be a (thinly) veiled reference to
471:
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
424:
939:
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154:) is the recently promoted President for Entertainment Programming for the network NBS (National Broadcasting System) of which
243:
civil engineers that construct buildings incredibly fast, such as "a hospital in three days" (quote taken from the episodes).
166:
141:
33:
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after Maher made a controversial on-air remark, Ricky released a statement hanging Matt out to dry. They may have won an
74:. He is twice-divorced. Danny claims to be the smarter of the Matt and Danny duo, a contention Matt does not argue with.
777:
suit by Karen
Salzburg, a writer who was fired from the show. She has an obvious sexual and romantic interest in Matt.
116:
that Matt accepts the position. This also puts him in an awkward position; he has recently ended a relationship with
690:) is a junior writer who is hired by Matt Albie and Simon Stiles after seeing his stand-up act in "The Wrap Party".
286:
704:) used to be a writer on the show and is Matt's main rival for Harriet. He is currently directing a movie about
394:
109:
797:(Raymond Ma) is a Chinese businessman who is behind a multimillion-dollar merger with NBS to turn the city of
494:
338:
654:
112:
Award on the night featured in the pilot. It is because of his loyalty to his friend and his history with
809:." Zhang becomes a key player when the board of NBS attempts to remove Wilson White as chairman and CEO.
174:. Peet's real-life pregnancy was written into the show, with Jordan being pregnant by an ex-boyfriend.
381:) are writers and, as part of their $ 30,000 per-episode contracts, current co-executive producers of
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188:. 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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192:— and uses her middle name because a Hannah Hayes was already registered in the
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423:. His power is dwindling and he is furious with the network for bowing down to the
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star
Harriet Hayes, for whom he still holds strong personal feelings. Despite his
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538:. He is not a member of the "Big Three", but is recognized as the complement to
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648:) is a journalist writing a "long lead story" about Matt and Danny's return to
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184:) is a "multi-talented" performer and one of the "Big Three" main stars of
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441:. He is referenced in various episodes, but appears only in the pilot.
261:, and frustrated about parts lost to other prominent black performers (
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630:. 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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to entertain Kim Tao, the daughter of a potential business client.
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798:
672:) is a member of the "Bombshell Babies" (a dance group similar to
44:
50:
Busfield, Corddry, Paulson, Hughley, Weber, Perry, Peet, Whitford
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554:, 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.
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and ranting an improvised tirade, similar to that in the film
257:) is the final member of the "Big Three". After attending the
773:) is a lawyer from Gage Whitney Pace who is investigating a
598:. Her most notable sketch is "Samantha Li's Thai Therapy".
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are named as examples), Simon was recruited to the cast of
467:), the network carrying the actual show. His interest in
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sketch he had expressly approved following pressure from
626:) is a professional baseball player, a pitcher for the
493:) works for NBS as network censor. He is in charge of
895:"'West Wing' to West Coast: TV's Auteur Portrays TV"
787:(John F. Carpenter) is the announcer for the show.
546:in the cast. He has at least one recurring sketch,
749:a day before killing herself when Suzanne was 10.
520:, there was only "Jeannie telling people stuff".
289:and risked death or imprisonment as a teenager.
1004:Lists of American television series characters
8:
888:
886:
827:prodigy. She is infatuated with Tom Jeter.
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994:Lists of comedy television characters
823:) is the daughter of Zhang Tao and a
77:Danny is apparently largely based on
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999:Lists of drama television characters
940:"Studio 60 Impregnates Amanda Peet!"
731:and announced his daughter's birth.
27:This article contains summaries of
346:and also directed six episodes of
217:. Harriet's character is based on
25:
463:, the parent company of NBC (Via
170:that McDeere is loosely based on
594:) is one of the cast members of
576:) is one of the cast members of
534:) is one of the cast members of
938:Veitch, Kristin (2006-10-18).
926:"Studio 7 on the Sunset Strip"
397:of "Peripheral Vision Man", a
167:The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
142:September 11 terrorist attacks
140:that Maher made following the
103:) is a former head writer for
1:
839:Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
81:'s frequent collaborator and
34:Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
708:and he cast Harriet to play
893:Carter, Bill (2006-09-11).
31:appearing on the TV series
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225:, whom Sorkin once dated.
961:"IMDB - Timothy Busfield"
860:Chun, Wing (2007-07-24).
287:South Central Los Angeles
928:Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
866:Television Without Pity
495:Standards and Practices
339:Standards and Practices
542:, being the lead male
52:
459:, the former head of
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259:Yale School of Drama
632:Los Angeles Dodgers
628:Los Angeles Dodgers
194:Screen Actors Guild
124:heritage, he is an
85:executive producer
862:"Who's That Girl?"
706:The Rolling Stones
674:The Pussycat Dolls
417:executive producer
331:technical director
215:Rutgers University
190:Brighton, Michigan
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775:sexual harassment
491:Michael Stuhlbarg
271:Denzel Washington
223:Kristin Chenoweth
16:(Redirected from
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670:Cyia Batten
655:Vanity Fair
624:Teddy Sears
586:Samantha Li
560:Ben Stiller
485:Jerry Jones
413:Judd Hirsch
407:Wes Mendell
361:Ricky Tahoe
321:Cal Shanley
283:Tim Meadows
198:evangelical
152:Amanda Peet
58:Danny Tripp
41:Major roles
988:Categories
972:5 December
946:2006-11-29
904:2006-10-25
876:2009-01-21
847:References
821:Julia Ling
801:into "the
696:Luke Scott
610:Lucy Davis
556:Tom Cruise
526:Alex Dwyer
514:Ayda Field
457:Jack Welch
387:Bill Maher
373:Ron Oswald
267:Will Smith
263:Jamie Foxx
134:Bill Maher
95:Matt Albie
29:characters
18:Alex Dwyer
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803:Las Vegas
793:Zhang Tao
765:Mary Tate
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536:Studio 60
500:Karl Rove
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421:Studio 60
399:Studio 60
383:Studio 60
348:Studio 60
335:Studio 60
329:) is the
312:Christian
305:Karl Rove
279:Studio 60
275:Studio 60
241:RED HORSE
231:Tom Jeter
219:West Wing
186:Studio 60
156:Studio 60
118:Studio 60
114:Studio 60
105:Studio 60
83:Studio 60
72:Studio 60
841:episodes
837:List of
831:See also
518:Internet
401:sketch.
138:comments
128:and has
815:Kim Tao
737:Suzanne
434:Network
221:alumna
201:Baptist
130:liberal
126:atheist
68:cocaine
369:) and
122:Jewish
825:viola
799:Macau
664:Wendy
211:being
974:2012
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