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"The Cold Open"
Season One, Episode 2
[[File:© 2006 NBC Universal Photo|center|250px]]
Air date September 25, 2006
Written by Aaron Sorkin, Christina Booth
Directed by Thomas Schlamme
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The Cold Open is the second episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It was written by Aaron Sorkin and Christina Booth and directed by Thomas Schlamme. It premiered September 25, 2006.

Summary[]

Matt and Danny have five days to put together their first show, which is receiving enormous media attention and Harriet tries her best to work with Matt. In the meantime, Jordan puts her new job on the line by facing down pressure due to a controversial sketch amidst criticism from sponsors and affiliates scared of alienating Christians. Also, staff writers Ricky and Ron — who were catalysts to Matt and Danny's initial departure — express their dismay at being made to work for Matt.

Production[]

Credits[]

Cast[]

Starring

  1. Matthew Perry as Matt Albie
  2. Amanda Peet as Jordan McDeere
  3. Bradley Whitford as Danny Tripp
  4. Steven Weber as Jack Rudolph
  5. D.L. Hughley as Simon Stiles
  6. Sarah Paulson as Harriet Hayes
  7. Nate Corddry as Tom Jeter
  8. Timothy Busfield as Cal Shanley
  9. Evan Handler as Ron Oswald
  10. Carlos Jacott as Ricky Tahoe

Guest stars

  1. Ayda Field as Jeannie Whatley
  2. Simon Helberg as Alex Dwyer
  3. Wendy Phillips as Shelley Green
  4. Diana-Maria Riva as Lilly Rodriguez
  5. Merritt Wever as Suzanne
  6. Margaret Easley as Constance Gower
  7. Scott Klace as Peter Goldman
  8. Kimberley Huie as Jane
  9. John Mahon as George

Co-stars

  1. John Mauceri as Himself
  2. Nate Torrence as Dylan Killington
  3. Camille Chen as Samantha Li
  4. John Cabrera as Elliot
  5. John Ennis as Denny
  6. Chris Hogan as Hal
  7. Wendle Josepher as Deb
  8. Ben Murray as Louis
  9. Amir Talai as Fred
  10. Bill Escudier as Mitch
  11. John F. Carpenter as Herb Sheldon
  12. Mark Edward Smith as Joe Reardon
  13. Robin Karfo as Gail
  14. Bob Jesser as Bill
  15. Terry Walters as Kathleen
  16. Edward Stanley as Martin
  17. Ursula Garcia-Schmidt as Veronica
  18. Emiko Parise as a Producer
  19. Parisa Fitz-Henley as Celia
  20. Jane Yamamoto as a TV reporter

Crew[]

Opening credits

  1. Aaron Sorkin - Creator
  2. W.G. Snuffy Walden - Music
  3. Mark Goffman - Producer
  4. Patrick Ward - Producer
  5. Eli Attie - Co-executive Producer
  6. Dylan K. Massin - Produced by
  7. Aaron Sorkin - Writer
  8. Chris Misiano - Director

Opening credits

  1. Aaron Sorkin - Executive Producer
  2. Thomas Schlamme - Executive Producer
  3. Dana Calvo - Story Editor
  4. Jessica Brickman - Staff Writer
  5. David Handelman - Staff Writer
  6. Cinque Henderson - Staff Writer
  7. Melissa Myers - Staff Writer
  8. Amy Turner - Staff Writer

Trivia[]

  • Jack Rudolph says to Jordan McDeere "You know what, Mary? You've got spunk. I hate spunk." This is the famous line that Ed Asner said to Mary Tyler Moore on the Mary Tyler Moore show. Ed Asner appeared in the Studio 60 pilot episode as Wilson White.
  • When Matt and Danny search for an office, they mention that Lorne Michaels works in New York. This, along with a later explicit reference to Saturday Night Live, make it clear that SNL still exists in the Studio 60 universe.
  • Evan Handler and Carlos Jacott join the starring cast with this episode after not appearing in the pilot.

Goofs[]

Quotes[]

Harriet Hayes: You are an adolescent, oversexed, whoremonger, with the sensitivity of a head of cabbage.


The Cold Open Lyrics[]

We'll be the very model of a modern network TV show
Each time that we walk into this august and famous studio
We're starting out from scratch after a run of twenty years and so
We hope that you don't mind that our producer was caught doing blow


They hope that you don't mind that their producer was caught doing blow
They hope that you don't mind that their producer was caught doing blow
They hope that you don't mind that their producer was caught doing lots of blow


Yes it's hard to be a player when at heart you've always had a hunch
To bite the hand that feeds you is a scary way of doing lunch
But still when we walk in to this august and famous studio
We'll be the very model of a modern network TV show


But still when they walk into this august and famous studio
They'll be the very model of a modern network TV show


I am a Christian tried and true baptized at age eleven
So unlike the liberals, gays, and Jews I'm going straight to heaven
That if you feel you've been cheated and our sordid content lets you down
We'll happily do the favor of an intellectual reach around


They'll happily do the favor of an intellectual reacharound
They'll happily do the favor of an intellectual reacharound
They'll happily do the favor of a hundred dollar hooker's reacharound


(That wasn't the same thing we said…)


They'll happily do the favor of a verbal euphemistic reacharound


We know the Evangelicals are lining up to tag our toe
And then the corporations will not hesitate to pull their dough
But still when we walk into this august and famous studio
We'll be the very model of a modern network TV show


But still when they walk into this august and famous studio
They'll be the very model of a modern network TV show
But still when they walk into this august and famous studio
They'll be the very model of a modern network TV show

References[]

  • Schlamme, T. & Sorkin, A. (Executive Producers). (2006, September 25). Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip [Television program]. Burbank, California: Warner Bros. Television.
  • Lyrics to "The Cold Open"
  • TV.com Trivia
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Pilot (tv) The Focus Group
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