Things Not to Do When You're a Famous WriterComplications Ensue
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Sunday, January 28, 2007

/* Studio 60 spoilers */
/* no, seriously, Studio 60 spoilers. Don't read this if you haven't watched Studio 60 yet. */
/* Though honestly? probably won't make much difference to your enjoyment of the episode */
/* This is a revised and clarified spoiler warning. */

Here are some things we expect you not to do when you're a famous writer:
  • Have someone lie about why they're breaking a date, then get busted on it by the infuriated ex-date.
  • Have a guy show up with a bunch of poisonous snakes, then lose one.
  • Have some people go up on the roof and then get locked out up there.
Unless, of course, you're going to twist the situation one further and surprise us all with your brilliance.

Which didn't happen.

/* Apologies for not marking *which* show I was writing a spoiler for. */
/* But, honestly, did anyone NOT see those plot turns coming? */

Labels: ,

16 Comments:

Dude. Did you see where I wrote /* spoilers */?

And anyway, my point is: you see that stuff coming down Fifth Avenue. None of it is any surprise at all. The disappointment is that there is no surprise.

I'm just trying to spare you the pain, is all!

By Blogger Alex Epstein, at 12:47 AM  

I don't think it's a huge deal, but I didn't see it, and even if I had, that could have meant spoilers for darn near anything out there.

It wouldn't have killed you to wait 24 hours for the overwhelming majority of the people that pay the bills through eyeballing the adverts, yet still somehow manage to come in second for the payoff.

I apologize for ranting, but I am so amazingly sick and tired of other countries getting *our* shows before we do. What the hell is that all about, anyway?

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:32 AM  

that's hilarious.

Guys, the rest o' the world just flipped you the great big finger.

Americans have always had no problem whatsoever spoiling anything for the rest of the world -- which is the way it works in 90% of the cases.

Morally, there is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE between Alex writing about what he saw -- legally -- over the air -- AND tagged with a spoiler warning, and what Americans do every night when they go on and on about what they just saw. The only difference is that in this rare case, you were the ones who got spoiled.

By 24 whole hours.

Try 6 months.

No sympathy, sorry. it was tagged spoiler.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:04 AM  

that is pretty funny...

I first read it and thought Alex was 'the famous writer' and he was relating some scenes he'd just tried in his spec pilot.

Because I'd missed Studio 60 last night you see...

Funny.

By Blogger wcdixon, at 9:09 AM  

If you were writing for General Hospital or As the World Turns all that would be just in a day's work for cast, crew and writers. That this is for a prime time weekly is just absurd.

By Blogger Hawise, at 9:26 AM  

for the mouthbreathers complaining about spoilers re-read the post, especially the part where it says "spoilers"

By Blogger Mef, at 9:37 AM  

To be fair, the earlier spoiler warning didn't specify what show it was for. I revised the warnings in the post for future readers.

By Blogger Alex Epstein, at 9:48 AM  

As we were watching the show last night, my beau started ranting that he'd be really mad if this turned out to be some stupid situation where the guy decides to lie about the date (and gets caught) instead of just explaining the perfectly explainable truth.

I told him not to worry, that Sorkin knew better than to use such silly, overused twists.

Oops.

Oh, and the roof thing, with both cell phones not working? Sigh...

By Blogger Martine, at 9:59 AM  

Spoilers for Studio 60

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

S

They're sat next to a glass skylight. Why doesn't one of them poke a hole in the skylight and call down for help?

By Blogger DAVID BISHOP, at 11:55 AM  

Dan,

That's a wonderful suggestion. Tell you what, could you go and tell all the entertainment blogs in the United States to please not post anything until the shows they're talking about air in other countries?

It means you should be able to safely talk about all television programs two years after they air in the USA.

-or-

In this one case, how about you recognize and do what all people in other countries who don't get U.S. feeds have to do... avoid the site where you worry there may be a spoiler until, you know, 24 hours later?

The more reasonable solution is probably not asking the world to conform to you.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:46 PM  

I have to admit, I read this before the revised warning to say what show was being spoiled (and before the west coast airing) and thought Alex was talking about himself at first, too. Tongue in cheek of course. Luckily they weren't exactly "whoa, the chick's a dude" kind of spoilers, but I still wished I hadn't read it before watching.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:36 PM  

The chick's a dude? Ohhhh, man! Now there's no point in my watching it.

You're talking about CASINO ROYALE, right?

By Blogger Alex Epstein, at 2:58 PM  

Just stumbled on this site and I've never seen Studio 60, but the "spoilers" don't sound any more revealing that the average commercial advertising a show! And now at least you've got me interested! We all do stuff we don't mean to anyway, right? I'm sure Alex didn't mean to spoil it for anybody. Oh and by the way,

If countries are going to b*tch at each other about spoilage lets b*tch about the big mess we're making of our world or better yet, skip the b*tching and try to fix it before it's too late if it isn't already. Just to keep things in perspective. Peace out and recycle! Here's your soapbox back!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:37 AM  

I watched five minutes and turned it off. It was already spoiled at the script stage.

Will somebody please drive a stake through this show's failing heart?

Just go Kervorkian on it and be done.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:15 PM  

STUDIO 60 earns my scorn and derision because it simply isn't entertaining. Yes, there are shows that aren't as well written, but they don't fall into the "Pit of mistakes" that 60 has because AT LEAST they aren't boring.

Also -

Your "shows more worthy of scorn" premise is flawed, Joshua. It's like saying Idi Amin wasn't as bad as Hitler so he gets a pass.

Scheize!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:29 PM  

I came in after the revised spoiler warning. After thinking to myself, at first, "I'm not getting involved," I started thinking. . .is this an "ironic" argument. . .as in, are people joking that Alex put too much emphasis on that he spoiled a show, but the spoilers reveal anything all that special? Now, however, I realize that it's a real argument and am slightly amused.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:59 AM  

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