ARE YOU FEELING WARMER TODAY?

Today is the first day of summer. The 4th of July is just around the corner. Visions of outdoor barbecues, bikinis and beach activity are dancing in our heads. Or is that just my head?

AND THEN THERE ARE VISIONS OF "WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?"

Like the before the season anticipation of NBC's new show, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip".

This had "can't miss" written all over it.

This was an Aaron Sorkin show. The guy who invented "The West Wing". During "West Wing's" glory years, it was appointment television. "Studio 60" would be appointment television as well. Or that's what we thought.

So what happened?

"Studio 60" was a behind the scenes show about a late night comedy show that featured a terrific cast of actors. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford played the guys who pretty much ran things. Perry's on again, off again girlfriend, was played by the very delightful Sarah Paulson and in later episodes, Whitford's girlfriend was played by the very adorable Amanda Peet. The actors who played supporting roles on "Studio 60" are actors who could easily headline their own shows.

The first show's ratings were good. The second show's ratings dropped off a bit. After the third show, what appeared to be a campaign reared its ugly head. A campaign (seemingly) led by people who had experienced success as writers in previous comedy shows. And their main gripe was? The show wasn't funny.

To me, this was a show attempting to show us the behind the scenes stuff that goes on before, during and after the show goes off the air.

If the argument was that the show was "too hip for the room", I would have understood that argument. But, "not funny" sounded like sour grapes from people who seemed to be saying, "You should have hired me!"

I didn't watch "Studio 60" because I hoped to watch something comparable to "Saturday Night Live". Shoot, I haven't watched that show in years. I tuned in to watch a story!

And I was very much in the minority.

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" was put on a very long hiatus by NBC and it finally returned a few weeks ago, but it was moved from Mondays to Thursdays. I saw every episode before the hiatus and I've seen every episode since. Tonight's show will be "Studio 60's" next to last show. I think that the story line leading up to tonight's show has been first rate television. It involves a brother of one of the cast members who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Iraq and it involves the Amanda Peet character possibly dying after giving birth. Will there be a rescue of the brother? Will Jordan (Amanda Peet) die? A death that could result in Danny (Bradley Whitford) not being able to claim the child as his own?

And after next Thursday's show, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" will be over. For good.

And the "what might have been" aspect, will linger.

THREE MORE SHOWBIZ ITEMS:

Bob Barker is now saying that he isn't endorsing Rosie O'Donnell to be the new host of "The Price Is Right". He just likes her and thinks she would do a good job if she was hired. Rosie has apparently had her meeting with "Price" producers, because on Rosie.com she said (something like), I don't think they liked me or want me.

Casting for new characters on "Shark" is continuing. As we told you more than a month ago, "Shark" producers and CBS were worried that James Woods was going to leave the show because of all the hours it required, so in order to get Woods to stay, they're doing everything they can to lighten his work load.

Did you watch "The O.C" when it was on the air? Do you remember who Kelly Rowan was? She played Kirsten, the wife of the Peter Gallagher character. Kelly Rowan is about to be married for the first time. To a guy named David Thomson who is the richest person in Canada.

PRESIDENT BUSH PAYS HOMAGE TO HIS FRINGE SUPPORTERS AGAIN:

Most of America is in favor of embryonic stem cell research, including Nancy Reagan, who believes this kind of research could have helped her husband. I'm also in favor of it. But President Bush listens to loud religious folks who tell him this research is akin to abortion. President Bush vetoed federally funded research yesterday. We supporters of that research are hoping for a miracle override.

Speaking of President Bush... In the new Newsweek's "Conventional Wisdom Watch", an observation was made about President Bush. "Good news: He's amazingly popular and mobbed by well-wishers. Bad news: Applies only to Albania."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't forget! You can HEAR this blog. The links to the three stations broadcasting today's blog can be found at the bottom of my links section which is to the right of what you're reading now. It's the last three links.

If you read this before pictures have been added, come back! Pictures will be up soon. A new blog is written every morning, Monday through Friday and is posted between 7 and 7:15, Pacific Time (sometimes earlier). Questions and or comments can be sent to scottstjames@sbcglobal.net I do write back.

TOMORROW: You'll be as surprised as I am!