The Christmas Show

Season 1, Episode 11, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

With a holiday show on the horizon, Matt is determined to bring the Christmas spirit to Studio 60. Which works romantic wonders for him. Meanwhile, Danny has to confront his true feelings for Jordan.
9.6
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
431 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
Amazon Prime
Free Trial/Subsc...
VUDU
Buy/Rent

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (38)

See All

  • PITCH PERFECT! NBS gets slapped with a $73 million fine because a soldier says the F-word when an RPG explodes over his head on a live news broadcast. Is this the beginning of a war between the FCC and NBS? Read the review to find out!moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By rajm18, Sep 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    Now this is the reason that I watch this show. I'm writing this review having not seen this episode since it aired on December 4, 2006 which is almost 2 months ago and this monologue by Wilson White is still etched into my mind. There's a live NBS news broadcast where a reporter is talking to a soldier and an RPG explodes above their heads and they say the F-word. Now the FCC wants to fine NBS for every affiliate that aired it for a total of $73 million in fines. Take a look at what Wilson White has to say when Jack Rudolph tells him about this:

    Wilson White: I won't pay a 73 million dollar fine, I won't pay a 73 cent fine, I won't time delay the news, and I won't say, "I'm sorry." I no longer recognize the authority of the FCC in this matter. I'm going to have be ordered by a federal judge, and when they come to get my transmitter they better send a group a hell of lot more scary than the Foundation for Friendly Families or whatever the hell they are. Let those guys embed themselves with 2nd marine division for a while; they'll rejigger their sense of what's obscene. Jack, this is the one I have been waiting for my whole life. You are the chairman of the National Broadcasting System; that's why I wanted my grandchildren to meet you. That was so good I literally jumped out of my seat and screamed for joy. You can literally hear the thunder of warhorses rumbling in this episode. The FCC declares war on free speech and decides to take the first battle to NBS. Only NBS decides to fight back!!! How will it end?! Well we're up to episode s01e13 so far and it looks like it all hinges on whether Tom Jeter can convince Kim Tao not to give up the viola. You think that sounds weird or boring? Oh no. Oh so terribly no my friend. You couldn't be further from the truth. Watch this episode because along with the pilot and s01e13, it's one of the best episodes of the series so far with one of the best monologues of any series I have ever seen. That's right folks! I'm putting this monologue up there with the President's Independence Day speech in the movie Independence Day and the like. After 2 months, it still stands out. Watch this episode. Trust me. You're gonna like what you see ;)moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0

  • This episode dealt with several issues, including FCC restrictions and the use of New Orleans musicians.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By dougyray, Sep 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    This show epitomizes everything good about TV. Aaron Sorkin was gone too long and was sorely missed. Hopefully, network producers and executives saw this episode and maybe will fight for the right things on TV, instead of bowing down under threat of censorship. But, as a resident of Louisiana, it was especially satisfying to see Louisiana musicians included, reminding everyone that while Louisiana has come along in rebounding from the 2 major hurricanes we suffered just over a year ago, people still need to be reminded of what has to be done. When we have a President who couldn't even mention us in his State of the Union address, while concentrating on a war which no one except him believes we should be in or that American lives should still be sacrificed for his own personal views, it's a long road and Aaron Sorkin did a masterful job of reminding America of what needs to be taken care of. I hope Mr. Sorkin will be around for awhile because TV truly needs people of his talent and foresight, to keep fighting the battles that need to be fought, and who refuse to step down or give in.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0

  • This is the one of the top pieces of Aaron Sorkin ever.

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By Fireheart-tm, May 28, 2007 Report Abuse
    The writing in this episode is 100% Sorkinian. Best one since 'Noel' from 'The West Wing'.

    Here we see politics, humor, romance, friendship, all come together in a unique blend. I have watched this episode over and over, and each time I laugh and cry.

    Sorkin manages, once again, to strike out at the very structure of US society, by creating an example of how the system works against it self, and how powerhungry bureaucrats could very likely take the words of the law more important than the spirit of the law, and use the law to further their own personal agendas.

    A picture of typical US standards: If you can drag them to court and get money, then do it. At all cost, be it even common sense.

    Very nice demonstration Mr. Sorkin.
    Tnx.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    4 0

  • This was just a great episode.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By brunabear, Jan 12, 2007 Report Abuse
    And another great episode of Studio 60 goes by... this one continues with the high standards that the show has previously set. They did a Christmas episode, made it funny and touching all at the same time, and worked in the Katrina victims' plight as well.

    That was the part of the episode I liked best, actually; the Katrina victims, who are being forgotten as time goes on. The show managed to bring them quietly to the forefront again, and do it in a way that maintained dignity for the musicians; the scene where they played was beautiful, especially when the snow began to fall.

    Overall, this was not the standard "feel good" episode, while it ~did~ make me feel good!moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • I guess I am really in the minority on this one.

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By ShirleyFilms, Jan 04, 2007 Report Abuse
    I thought this was one of the weakest episodes so far. Don\'t get me wrong... I am the BIGGEST fan of this show and watch religiously every Monday. But this episode felt... contrived. To me. It felt like an episode that was written for people who don\'t like this show. The banter was okay. As a non-believer I was not offended at all by the anti-Christmas talk around the office... but it just felt forced to me. The Nazi-Santa... Was that funny to someone? I don\'t know. I guess I have just seen that \"nazi-salute\" gag done a few hundred times.

    My biggest complaint of the show was Jack Rudolphs character. Suddenly... out of the blue he is going to fight the good fight? There is NO WAY (based on what we have seen of this character so far) that he would roll up his sleeves and resign over ethical conflicts. This guy is all business. I didn\'t buy it for a second.

    The best part of the episode (in my opinion) was the end. I thought that Danny\'s romantic venting was touching. Although I thought that it was way out of left field, too. I mean. They could have used the previous episodes to lead us into it ... a little maybe. Between Danny\'s newfound emotions and Jack\'s newfound moral center, I felt like maybe I missed an episode or two. I think it was just convenience on the part of the writer (s).

    Don\'t know... maybe I am asking too much. I still love the show... I will just be hoping the rest of the episodes don\'t leave me feeling like this one did. A 10 out of 10 show.
    A 6 out of 10 episode.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 5
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • The storyline regarding the explosion of an RPG was probably inspired by a similar event that happened to ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff. In January, 2006, Woodruff was embedded with an Iraqi patrol in Baghdad; while Woodruff was taping a report from a tank turret, an IED went off. Woodruff was critically injured, and in a coma for over a month. The incident was the first time a US news anchor had been injured in a war. Edit
    • The theme of this episode is the FCC new indecency rules. During a live news coverage in Afghanistan, an RPG flew over and exploded close to an NBS journalist and the soldier she was interviewing. The soldier uttered the F-word. The FCC wants to fine NBS and all its affiliates 73 millions dollars because of this utterance. In a recent hearing in front of the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, the lawyer for the FCC explained that news (live or not) are exempted from the rule. This means that this specific scenario would not warrant any action by the FCC under current regulations. Edit
    • In the "To Catch a Predator" sketch, it is broad daylight outside the window on the set, yet "Chris Hansen" accuses Santa of visiting a little girl "in the middle of the night." Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Music in this episode: Musicians from The Tipitina's Foundation Troy Andrews - Trumpet Kirk Joseph - Sousaphone Roderick Paulin - Saxophone Frederick Shepherd - Saxophone Stephen Walker - Trombone Mervin Campbell - Trumpet Bob French - Drums Edit
    • For these first 11 episodes, Sarah Paulson (Harriet) was nominated for the 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Series, Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television. Also, she and Amanda Peet (Jordan) were both nominated for the 2006 Satellite Award for Outstanding Actress In A Drama Series. Edit
    • For these first 11 episodes, both Matthew Perry (Matt) and Bradley Whitford (Danny) were nominated for the 2006 Satellite Award for Outstanding Actor In A Drama Series. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Jordan: (to Jack's secretary) How's his mood? Jack: (Yelling inside his office) Son of a holy bitch! Jordan: Never mind. Jack: Son of a holy godforsaken bitch! Edit
    • Matt: We are going to deck the halls with boughs of holly. I want to hear sketch ideas with Santa and Rudolph and chestnuts and burning logs. Darius: We could set the tree on- Matt: Shut up. Edit
    • Harriet: I need to see Danny. Matt: About what? Harriet: About a private conversation between me and Danny! Matt: I'm an executive producer too! Harriet: Yeah, but I need to speak to the one who's important! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Suzanne: I called K-Earth 101. I told them that Matthew Albie wants to hear some Perry Como. K-Earth 101 (KRTH, 101.1 FM) is an actual radio station in the Los Angeles area. Their playlist consists of "oldies" music, generally from 1964 to 1979. Edit

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 1 Episodes

See All
Ep 22
What Kind Of Day Has It Been
Ep 21
K & R (3)
Ep 20
K & R (2)
Ep 20
K + R, Part 2
Ep 19
K & R (1)
Ep 18
Breaking News
Ep 17
The Disaster Show
Ep 16
4 a.m. Miracle
Ep 15
The Friday Night Slaughter
Ep 14
The Harriet Dinner (2)
Ep 13
The Harriet Dinner (1)
Ep 12
Monday
Ep 11
The Christmas Show
Ep 10
B-12
Ep 9
The Option Period
Ep 8
Nevada Day (2)
Ep 7
Nevada Day (1)
Ep 6
The Wrap Party
Ep 5
The Long Lead Story
Ep 4
The West Coast Delay
Ep 3
The Focus Group
Ep 2
The Cold Open
Ep 1
Pilot

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use