The Studio Recap: I Hate Cancer!

by

In “The Pediatric Oncologist,” the sixth episode of The Studio‘s first season, we see two types of crises unfold. For Matt, it’s a sudden, dramatic crisis like an explosion (or as humorously put, a ‘shitsplosion’), tied to a new Spike Jonze movie starring Johnny Knoxville and Josh Hutcherson, where a zombie plague spreads through explosive diarrhea. On the other hand, Matt also experiences a gradual, prolonged crisis, symbolized by a high-society gala where he makes one mistake after another due to insecurity. As he mingles with pediatric oncologists, Matt begins to question his impact on the world, feeling insignificant compared to their life-saving work. Instead of acknowledging these feelings, Matt responds by growing increasingly aggressive and destructive. Essentially, Matt’s life revolves around a self-centered bubble that makes him seem significant within it, but in reality, he is quite inconsequential outside of it.

With just one pediatric oncologist, things appear to be going smoothly at the start of this episode. Sarah (Rebecca Hall) and Matt have progressed in their relationship to the stage where she’s begun spending nights over and enjoying morning cappuccinos together. As Matt hands Sarah her drink, he playfully comments on the design he’s added to the foam. Admittedly, it resembles a phallic shape more than a palm tree, but his effort is appreciated.

Matt takes pleasure in being inventive, yet Sarah playfully points out that he often basks in the limelight of others’ creativity. When Matt refers to MK Ultra 4 as “my” film, Sarah queries if he was the director. He replies with a hint of ambiguity, mentioning his involvement in securing the rights and building the now-expanded series into seven films. It’s unsettling for him that his girlfriend dwells in a realm oblivious to these movies. She inhabits a self-contained world – one dedicated solely to fighting cancer.

Apart from inviting Matt to join her, Sarah also proposed a sudden visit to a place they both might enjoy. This included an unexpected invitation to a gala event at Cedars-Sinai, which happened to be a black-tie fundraiser. There, he’d mingle with her circle of friends. Matt found this appealing and humorously mentioned his familiarity with medical discussions since he’s watched “Patch Adams” twelve times. This amused Sarah, as unlike most doctors she interacts with, Matt is known for not taking things too seriously. Let’s hope everything goes smoothly!

An evening out could provide Matt with the relaxation he needs, considering the pressure he’s under from having to create a trailer for “Duhpocalypse” that regional theaters in America would be willing to screen. The current version is problematic because it features a zombie exposing himself and defecating on Josh Hutcherson, which has been causing what Maya calls a “trailer crisis.” In addition to these apparent issues, Tyler questions whether the trailer will negatively impact sales of products like Coca-Cola. Leigh (Jessica St. Clair), Johnny Knoxville’s agent, suggests that this wouldn’t be an issue if they had sold the film to a streaming service instead of a studio. Matt responds to her with frustration, telling her “Don’t be such a fucking agent.” Clearly, these two individuals do not get along well.

In summary, Matt firmly believes the explosive scene should remain and can be improved with some adjustments. Knoxville is pleased that the studio head supports him. Also, Matt feels comfortable missing the fundraiser as long as his team keeps him updated on backup edits. They’re somewhat doubtful about his medical appointments, which leads Matt to mention proudly that his girlfriend recognizes the significance of his work.

In a clear and conversational manner, here’s how you could rephrase the given text:

As it stands, he appears to genuinely think this is the case, but the early scenes make it strikingly obvious that the choices Sarah and Matt make have life-or-death consequences. At the party, both characters are engrossed in their phones. Sarah discusses with parents of a terminally ill child the pros and cons of joining a clinical trial. In contrast, Matt proposes hiding the aftermath of an incident to avoid criticism. This moment is the funniest part of the episode and showcases the unique long-take style that Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have become known for at The Studio.

After ending the call, Matt draws attention to the commemorative plaques denoting films shot at the venue, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, such as “Fight Club,” a movie Sarah has only heard about but never watched. Matt’s unease over Sarah’s limited film knowledge deepens when they are joined by her medical friends Rebecca (Sugar Lyn Beard) and Steve (Arthur Keng). They find Matt to be a refreshing change. Matt compares the gala to a Hollywood party, except that everyone seems slightly more intelligent. Sarah and the others find the “slightly” part amusing. This is the first hint that the evening may not conclude positively.

Further signs quickly follow in quick succession. It appears no one grasps what Matt’s role is or can fully appreciate its significance, especially when he labels it “stressful.” When two new doctors, Josh (Derek Wilson) and June (Shereen Khan), join the group, Matt listens to an articulate argument in favor of golf’s enjoyment, which he fails to comprehend. Eventually, everyone seems to say the incorrect things. June inquires if he found Entourage “too personal to appreciate.” (“Entourage was, well, a show cherished by millions,” he replies nonchalantly.) It’s later revealed that they don’t frequent movie theaters. Instead, they stream all content. Josh proudly asserts that June’s 77-inch TV offers a better viewing experience than any movie theater when it comes to watching Real Housewives.

As I momentarily step aside to handle a call about the Duhpocalypse trailer, it’s almost like a breath of fresh air. However, upon returning, the evening takes an unexpectedly grim turn when Matt casually mentions that he too can have challenging workdays and faces “serious stakes.” There’s a hint of laughter in the room, but a tougher executive, not Matt, would gracefully excuse themselves. Instead, he stands his ground, especially when Josh challenges Matt’s categorization of his work as “art.

During the discussion, Matt presents some compelling arguments that he considers any expression of human emotion to be inherently ‘art.’ However, it seems he’s unaware that this isn’t the right setting for this argument, and his actions are causing frustration among others. Alternatively, it might be more accurate to say that Matt doesn’t seem to care about their feelings.

On a different note, when the opportunity for a joint golf trip to Ireland came up at auction, Matt heard them discussing a maximum bid of $100,000, saw them getting tense as they waited for the outcome within their budget limit, and then unexpectedly outbid them with an offer of $200,000.

Everyone, including Sarah, gets upset by this, and she urges Matt to let the others have the vacation, suggesting, “Doing so will make you appear heroic and perhaps start mending your image a bit from being seen as selfish.” In essence, it’s Matt’s only option to keep his relationship with Sarah intact. So, he makes his request: before he gives up the vacation, the others must acknowledge that his actions are equally significant as theirs. In a sense, he agrees to this.

Sarah argues that people enjoy movies, but she believes they need doctors more. Matt finds it difficult to agree with her perspective. Later, he learns that the movie trailer has been approved, but he slips and hurts himself. In the end, everyone dislikes Matt and shows no mercy as he’s taken away in an ambulance.

The episode concludes in a familiar manner, as Matt prepares a cappuccino for a new overnight visitor – not Sarah this time, but Leigh. They’ve shared more than just a bed, yet their mutual affection remains elusive. However, at least she’s watched all the MK Ultra films.

And … Cut!

Matt’s not typically a very likable figure, but this episode takes it to a new level of being hard to empathize with. This change is largely due to the shift in setting, as he finds himself far from his comfort zone and surrounded by individuals who serve as a stark contrast to his profession. The work he’s doing might seem pointless compared to their real-world struggles. Although his actions are unjustifiable (regardless of his charitable donations), they do offer some level of comprehension. It can’t be a pleasant realization. Moreover, these individuals have little interest in movies.

Matt is usually not very endearing, but this episode makes him seem especially hard to like. This change comes from the new location because he’s working outside his comfort zone and with people who show him how trivial his job can appear compared to their real lives. His actions may be unjustifiable (no matter how much he donates to charity), but they are somewhat understandable. Yet, it’s not a comfortable feeling for him. Plus, these people couldn’t care less about movies.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but marvel at the Wilshire Ebell. If only this iconic fountain could bear plaques for every film and TV show shot here, it would need a much grander vessel to hold such a rich cinematic history. From “Forrest Gump” to “Babylon”, “Cruel Intentions”, and “Ghost”, the list is extensive, not mentioning the numerous television productions that have graced its presence.

In this episode, it’s Alex Gregory himself who makes an appearance, portraying the character known as “Doctor.” It seems plausible that this doctor could be the one offering assistance to the wounded Matt.

Read More

2025-04-23 18:55