She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie

Did Aaron Sorkin return to TV because he failed a drug test and wasn't allowed to complete a movie project?

Sorkin tends to write about things that happen to him. We've already discussed how he created a West Wing character in the likeness of his high-priced call girl. And Studio 60's Matt Albie-Harriet Hays relationship is based on Sorkin's romance with Kristen Chenoweth (Annabeth Schott on West Wing).

Sorkin left West Wing after four seasons. He was arrested in April 2001 at the Burbank Airport for carrying crack cocaine (along with mushrooms and marijuana) in his carry-on bag.

Recently, Sorkin wrote the screenplay for a film — The Farnsworth Invention — that is now on hold.

Sorkin returned to TV and created a character named Danny Tripp (clever surname, eh?), who left his TV show after four seasons, began a film career, and then tested positive for blow. Due to the cocaine problem, Tripp can't continue his film career and must return to TV. Is that part taken from real life too?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Well, for one thing you don't technically "trip" on cocaine, or crack.

But who cares? I'm only commenting to say I know someone with the last name Tripp. Pretty sure he doesn't know Sorkin.

As an aside, Sorkin is itself a funny name. Say it out loud, you'll see what I mean.
September 28, 2006
Anonymous said…
Well, I don't know much about how the whole drug testing thing works in real life, but assuming Studio 60 refelects reality accurately (with witty banter added), I'd say no. I'm guessing the issues are different for a director (Tripp) vs a writer (Sorkin). Bonding agreements usually apply to the director or producer, so I guess it would depend if Sorkin is acting as a producer.

According to Wikipedia, it's now going to be a play instead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farnsworth_Invention
September 28, 2006
SJB said…
Were Sorkin and Kristen Chenoweth really an 'item?' Was that confirmed? I remember being really surprised when she joined the WW cast because until then I'd mainly heard her on "A Prairie Home Companion" and there wasn't a whole lot of crossover between those two shows. In fact, I'm pretty sure Chenoweth is the only example of a PHC-WW crossover.
September 28, 2006
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