AVERAGE

It was supposed to be Aaron Sorkin’s great follow-up to The West Wing, featuring parts of the same cast and crew. A knowing look behind the scenes of a Saturday Night Live-type show, the focus was on two brilliant comedy writers and producers who were asked to save the show even though they once had been fired for being too independent.

The Matthew Perry-Bradley Whitford pairing was perfect, and they were ably assisted by Amanda Peet and Steven Weber as network execs.

The show also benefited from Sorkin’s clever dialogue, but the lack of truly engaging plot lines made audiences ignore it completely. Also, the “comedy” featured in show-in-show skits was alarmingly unfunny.

2006-2007:U.S. 22 episodes. Color. Created by Aaron Sorkin. Cast: Matthew Perry (Matt Albie), Amanda Peet (Jordan McDeere), Bradley Whitford (Danny Tripp), Steven Weber, D.L. Hughley, Sarah Paulson, Nathan Corddry, Timothy Busfield.

Emmy: Outstanding Guest Actor (John Goodman). 

Quote: “Look, I hate Los Angeles just like everybody else, but I have to work here because in any other part of the country I’m unemployable.” (Perry)