It’s hard, really, to feel bad for Aaron Sorkin. After the runaway success of The West Wing and the critical embrace of the pilot episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the series’ failure could easily be shrugged off. But for so many fans of Studio 60, its departure from the airwaves marked a significant downturn in the amount of quality television available. If only Sorkin hadn’t felt it so necessary to continue telling us so.

The DVD set of the series is, like the show itself, is a study in duality. The sound and picture quality are stellar, truly worthy of Sorkin’s aspirations for the show. They’re better, even, than the quality I remember on television. The disparity is not that much of a surprise, but it enhances the experience many times over.

On the other hand, there’s the DVD extras. The commentary on the pilot episode is an interesting look into the show, but what it provides in insight it lacks in quantity. It would have been fabulous to hear commentary on some of the show’s other highlight episodes, notably “The Christmas Show,” which, to this day, I consider the series’ best.

Of course, the meat of the set is the show itself, and it’s a tasty dish indeed. Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry bring an incredible chemistry as Danny Tripp and Matt Albie; each is on top of his game. But, like all Sorkin shows, the strength extends to the ensenble cast. As embattled network president and Danny’s love interest Jordan McDeere, Amanda Peet adds a smart and sassy edge. As cast members on the late-night comedy sketch show, Sarah Paulson, D.L. Hughley and particularly Nate Corddty shine.

Yes, the show gets preachy at times; at the worst of these times cutting off its nose to spite the rest of the TV world. Pot shots directed towards reality television and oversexed shows, while somewhat accurate, are like so many stones thrown in a castle of crystal stemware. But the characters are so likeable, the themes so enjoyable, the show so well crafted in the standard Sorkin style that its misgivings are easy to overlook, and the DVD set of Studio 60 is one that you’ll gladly find yourself eager to revisit.

Rating: * * * * of 5

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