When the Executive Producer of sketch show 'Studio 60' has an on-air meltdown, new network president Jordan McDeere hires Danny Tripp and Matt Albie to replace him and save the show.

It's the week of Matt and Danny's first show. A Christian group is threatening to protest and boycott the show, the musical guest suddenly becomes unavailable, and Matt is obsessing over the show's opening skit.

Focus group numbers have some people at the show and at the network up in arms, Matt seems apprehensive about airing skits that make fun of Republicans, and an embarrassing event from Jordan's past comes to light.

The show faces a legal nightmare when an viewer notices that a joke in the news segment was plagiarized from a stand-up comedian, and posts the clip on the Internet during the show.

A magazine writer shows up to write a story about the show, but ends up focusing her questions on the hot-and-cold relationship between Matt and Harriet.

Tom gets a visit from his uptight conservative parents, Matt and Simon go out to find new African-American writers for the show, and Cal tries to find the identity of a confused elderly man who wanders into the wrap party.

A sequence of peccadilloes lands Tom (and Simon's jacket) in front of a Nevada judge, making this a bad day that's about to get worse. for a variety of reasons. It's show day, so the studio heavies (plus a wealthy business partner and Tom-fan daughter) fly to Nevada to throw their weight around. Danny and Jack play dueling agendas with Jordan's career as subtext. Back in LA, Matt and Harriet deal with censorship, public remarks half-quoted, and the possibility of writing a new show that doesn't use Tom or Simon. Written by norcekri

Jack continues to plead with the judge to bail Tom out of jail before the show airs. Meanwhile, the ones left behind try to write an alternate show in case Tom and Simon don't return in time.

Through a scripting error, Matt discovers that writers Ricky and Ron are taking Peripheral-Vision Man, their tepid S-60 character, to a series on another network. Due to last week's deal with China, Amanda needs budget cuts; losing staff helps. She also suggests product placements; the bonus laughs in this show are the plethora of product placements appearing in the episode, incidental to the discussion of product placement. Harriet considers posing for a lingerie spread, trying to improve her image with the mainstream. Tom and Simon follow her around the set, trying to talk her out of it. How many feet can three people swallow in 44 minutes? Is it more than number of gratuitous product placements? Late in the episode, a minute of quality time with Matt helps her decide. This episode also introduces the phrase Pray for peace in the Midwest, attributed to guest-host Jessica Simpson filling the 37-second script gap. Written by norcekri

A fever-based illness runs through Studio 60, putting the rehearsals and show itself in jeopardy. Matt brings in former co-writer Andy, a deadpan friend who has the magic touch to whip Lucy and Darius into productivity. Harriet will be honored at a banquet, and struggles to tell a simple joke. Jordan finally grants an interview, but is all too honest; Jack stops just short of formally firing her. She announces her pregnancy by fainting into Danny's arms. Howie Mandel is guest host; we finally get to see one full sketch when Danny comes on stage to parody Deal or No Deal in the monologue. The cast loosen up backstage, and even the partial sketches are amusing. Written by norcekri

Matt gets the Christmas Spirit (despite being Jewish). Jordan gets an OB exam. Jack gets upset over an FCC fine. Simon and Tom get pedantic about the origins of Christmas traditions, and take the writing staff with them. Cal gets coconuts. Harriet gets a major movie role and a kiss. Danny gets the courage to tell Jordan how he feels (Jordan gets a sandwich). Santa gets identified as a predator (sketch). Wilson gets what he's been waiting for all his life. New Orleans Jazz gets a few minutes of air time and a standing ovation. The viewers get a few laughs, a few tears, and a Merry Christmas. Written by norcekri

After the Christmas hiatus, the cast and crew of Studio 60 are back in full force. Jordan must deal with both Danny's advances and Hallie, the new VP of Alternative Programming. Jack and Wilson White continue to fight against the FCC fines, and Jack goes to see Zhang Tao to ask for his help. Simon and Darius fight over a new sketch and Darius' lack of gratitude. And Tom asks Lucy out. Written by Anonymous

Matt's bid to be Harriet's date to a dinner held in her honor ends in a tie--with a 15-year-old Star Wars-obsessed snowboarder. Cal films a promotion for a video game with live snakes, and one gets loose in the studio. When Danny tries to apologize to Jordan for his obsessive behavior, he accidentally locks them both on the roof. Tom breaks his date with Lucy so he can go to Harriet's dinner with Kim Tao on Jack's orders, only to find out that Lucy got an invitation too. Darius and Simon's feud continues. Written by Anonymous

Tom is stuck at the dinner with a drunk Kim Tao who keeps coming on to him. Jordan and Danny get rescued from the roof. Matt and Harriet's relationship falls apart.

Matt recalls how he met Harriet.

Matt has writer block and must deal with a lawyer filing a sexual harassment suit. Harriet continues shooting her movie. Jordan and Danny enter into a contest to see who is the better parent.

When the prop men and cue card holders go out on strike just before show time, chaos reigns on the set. Guest host Allison Janney hasn't quite memorized her lines, and it shows. Props aren't in the right place, sound effects and sight gags go off at the wrong time, and the cast and crew struggle to get through the show. Meanwhile a 'phoned in bomb threat complicates matters. Written by Ron Kerrigan mvg@whidbey.com

Jordan faces a scare with her pregnancy. Tom must deal with a crisis. Matt's drug habit is no longer a secret.

A militia group takes Tom's brother (and two other airmen) hostage in Afghanistan, throwing the after-party into turmoil -- and lock-down, as the press discover the relationship. Jordan has pregnancy complications and is rushed to the hospital. Danny catches up as soon as he can. When the complications turn to a C-section, he proffers the engagement ring he's been carrying around; Jordan accepts. Mary Tate (lawyer) mentions that there are international liaisons who have a decent record of ransoming hostages. Matt wrestles with the implications, then asks her to sound them out. Due to the situation, he breaks their dinner date, although she continues to come on to him. All of this is set against flashbacks to 9/11 and the S60 season premier that Friday. Wes was in the hospital, leaving Matt and Danny in his stead. Jack refuses to postpone the premier, adding the restriction that they control their script content. We see the early conflicts leading up to their dismissal. The 2001 Jack is ... Written by norcekri

The Air Force comfort officer is anything but; Tom and Simon try to deal with him and with public misinformation. Flashbacks to the post-9/11 show provide political perspective, foreshadow Danny and Matt getting fired, and showcase Andy and the earlier writing team. Harriet and Matt visit Danny as Jordan has internal complications. Danny discovers he's not a father -- at least, not to the hospital or the courts. He sends Matt back to deal with the hostage situation, while Harriet remains for support. The doctor's pace and focus easily stand up to S60 repartee. Written by norcekri

Jordan faces a new complication, Jack spends time with Simon following the actor's outburst and in flashback we finally see why Matt and Danny left the show five years previously.

Dawn finally rises after the night from hell with some good news, new beginnings and new additions for some of the cast and crew of the show.