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Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was my most anticipated new show of the season, and Sorkin didn't disappoint, other than the minor disappointment of it being more West Wing meets Saturday Night Live than Sports Night meets The State. The live dynamic of the show within a show makes for better drama. It was also necessary for the impetus of the show, one that shows Sorkin's love for words - like "feckless" - that are generally unwelcome on network television.

As expected from Sorkin, the dialogue is intelligent, fast-paced, and at times witty. Most of that wit comes from Amanda Peet's character, Jordan McDeere. She plays the newly hired president of the network who hasn't even started her first day. McDeere must replace the show runner, which she does with a pair a men who have gone on to success after being forced out of the show a few years previous by the chairman of the network, Jack Rudolph, portrayed by Steven Weber.

For the new show runners, and more than a few other cast members, Sorkin opted for familiarity. Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry both worked for Sorkin on West Wing, each garnering Emmy recognition for said work. Whitford's Danny Tripp is a director with past addictions that come back to haunt him - something that Sorkin is unfortunately too familiar with. He and Perry's Matt Albie are introduced at a Writer's Guild Awards show where Albie is nominated for an award. The majority of their introduction deals with his being on too many painkillers, something Perry is unfortunately too familiar with, and his recent breakup.

His ex-girlfriend is Harriet Hayes, played by Sarah Paulson, one of the main stars of the show he's being hired to take over. The other main stars, referred to collectively as The Big Three, are Tom Jeter and Simon Stiles, played by Nate Corddry and D. L. Hughley, respectively. Timothy Busfield plays the last of the main characters, control-room director Cal Shanley.

The pilot delivered everything I anticipated from the people involved. The writing and acting are both top-notch, and the Thomas Schlamme's directing is very good and reminiscent of his work on West Wing. Hopefully that quality will continue and the show will have the success such quality deserves.