Question: Now that both Matthew Perry and Steven Weber (and D.L. Hughley) have signed on to Aaron Sorkin's Studio 7 on the Sunset Strip, do you think NBC will give the show ER's current "must-see" Thursday time slot? After all, Perry (Friends) and Weber (Wings) are both former Thursday residents and many have suggested that perhaps ER finally needs a new night for its old age. Or do you think Studio 7 will get one of the vacated West Wing time slots (Sundays at 8 pm/ET or Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET)?
Answer: I'm pretty awful at guessing network schedules, but I'm betting that, given what I imagine would be the comedy-drama tone of Sorkin's new show (more Sports Night than West Wing), it would be perfect for West Wing's old Wednesday-night slot — although Lost has become a juggernaut these last few seasons, so maybe it would be better off inheriting the fading Law & Order's time period. Sundays won't be an option, at least for the first half of the season, because of NBC's new football
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Matthew Perry
Could we be any more excited about this? Matthew Perry is returning to NBC as the star of Aaron Sorkin's much-anticipated drama series (previously known as Studio 7) set behind the scenes at a Saturday Night Live-type show. As my esteemed colleague first reported in his TV Guide magazine column, The Ausiello Report, the former Friend initially turned down the gig for reasons Ausiello refuses to divulge — go ahead, try asking him — but Sorkin apparently didn't take no for an answer. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Perry will play a genius comic writer who was forced out of his position as one of the sketch show's producers after a dispute with the network. Onetime Wingsman Steven Weber will play the net's ambitious chairman, and D.L. Hughley one of the sketch show's stars.
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Question: Any casting news/update on Aaron Sorkin's NBC drama Studio 7 (Ask Ausiello 12/7)?
Answer: Yes, there's been a major development. Sources confirm that Matthew Perry passed on playing the male lead and the role has gone to former Wingsman Steven Weber. I understand Sorkin was also pursuing Bradley Whitford, but he was tied up with his West Wing duties. Oh, and Amanda Peet turned down the female lead. Not sure who they're going after now.
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