Danny Tripp
Encyclopedia
Daniel Tripp is a fictional character
on the US
television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
, played by Bradley Whitford
.
. In high school he was president of the Audio/Visual Club and played saxophone
in the marching band.
Danny began working at Studio 60 as a segment producer, working his way up to become a co-executive producer. He resigned in 2002 as a display of support for the firing of his friend Matt Albie
and went on to direct a critically acclaimed film penned by Matt. The two proceed to watch each other's back, Matt's decision to go back to Studio 60 is a show of support to Danny, because Danny is a recovering drug addict, Danny relapsed in 2006 after eleven years of sobriety. He tested positive for cocaine use in an insurance physical, and as a result cannot get bonded as a director until he has been drug-free for eighteen months. In the pilot, Jordan McDeere
used this information to convince Danny and Matt to return to Studio 60 as executive producers following the on-air meltdown of Wes Mendell
.
Already twice-divorced, there are hints that Danny and Jordan may be developing feelings for each other. In addition to their playful banter and Danny's over-protestation of his dislike for her ("You're very winning... Not to me, to others.") Danny has been seen as Jordan's closest confidante since her ascension to President of NBS and Danny has appeared to be overly interested in the preservation of her career. In the episode "The Christmas Story", Danny admitted to Jordan that he was falling in love with her. "I've been married twice before and I'm a recovering cocaine addict and I know that's no woman's dream of a man, or of a father. Nonetheless I believe I'm falling in love with you. If you want to run, I understand, but you'd better get a good head start
'cause I'm coming for you, Jordan."
Extremely well-connected, Danny has a lot of famous and influential people he'd be willing to use as character references including Steven Spielberg
, Martin Scorsese
, Clint Eastwood
, and the Third Earl of Kent (a fictional nobleman, as even though there have been many Earls of Kent
in the past, in reality there is currently a Duke of Kent
).
In the Harriet Dinner Part II, when he is locked on the roof with Jordan, they discuss their relationship and after clarifying that he's genuinely interested in her, Jordan confesses that she likes him too. Since then, the two have been having a relationship that is undisclosed to the public as it might affect her job. In the same episode, it is revealed that Danny is afraid of snakes. The two start dating after that event. In "K&R" Jordan became Danny's fiance, moments before she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and wheeled into surgery. After she regains consciousness from the birth and surgery, they discuss names and she asks him to sign pre-prepared adoption papers for the baby, "Rebecca Tripp".
Danny may be Jewish; Jack Rudolph refers to him and Matt as "a bunch of Jews" in K&R Part I. Seeing as Matt is himself Jewish, it is unclear if this was fact or an assumption. In the final episode of the series, Matt congratulates Danny on the birth of his daughter by saying "mazal tov
", to which Danny replies "gesundheit
".
's frequent collaborator and Studio 60 executive producer Thomas Schlamme, although Danny's drug relapse corresponds with Sorkin's personal history.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was an American dramedy television series created and written by Aaron Sorkin. It ran for 22 episodes.The series takes place behind the scenes of a live sketch comedy show on the fictional television network NBS , whose format is similar to that of NBC's...
, played by Bradley Whitford
Bradley Whitford
Bradley Whitford is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his roles as Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on the NBC television drama The West Wing, as Danny Tripp on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, as Dan Stark in the Fox police buddy-comedy The Good Guys, as...
.
Personal history
Danny Tripp was educated at Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. In high school he was president of the Audio/Visual Club and played saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
in the marching band.
Danny began working at Studio 60 as a segment producer, working his way up to become a co-executive producer. He resigned in 2002 as a display of support for the firing of his friend Matt Albie
Matt Albie
Matthew Albie is a fictional character on the U.S. TV series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, played by Matthew Perry.-Personal history:Matt began working at Studio 60 in 1997, but remained largely anonymous until 1999, when Harriet Hayes joined the cast...
and went on to direct a critically acclaimed film penned by Matt. The two proceed to watch each other's back, Matt's decision to go back to Studio 60 is a show of support to Danny, because Danny is a recovering drug addict, Danny relapsed in 2006 after eleven years of sobriety. He tested positive for cocaine use in an insurance physical, and as a result cannot get bonded as a director until he has been drug-free for eighteen months. In the pilot, Jordan McDeere
Jordan McDeere
Jordan McDeere is a fictional character on the United States television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, played by Amanda Peet.-Personal history:Jordan is the president of the National Broadcasting System, a great achievement for a woman of her age...
used this information to convince Danny and Matt to return to Studio 60 as executive producers following the on-air meltdown of Wes Mendell
Wes Mendell
Wes Mendell is a fictional character on the US television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, played by Judd Hirsch.-Personal history:...
.
Already twice-divorced, there are hints that Danny and Jordan may be developing feelings for each other. In addition to their playful banter and Danny's over-protestation of his dislike for her ("You're very winning... Not to me, to others.") Danny has been seen as Jordan's closest confidante since her ascension to President of NBS and Danny has appeared to be overly interested in the preservation of her career. In the episode "The Christmas Story", Danny admitted to Jordan that he was falling in love with her. "I've been married twice before and I'm a recovering cocaine addict and I know that's no woman's dream of a man, or of a father. Nonetheless I believe I'm falling in love with you. If you want to run, I understand, but you'd better get a good head start
Head start (positioning)
In positioning, a head start is a start in advance of the starting position of others in competition, or simply toward the finish line or desired outcome...
'cause I'm coming for you, Jordan."
Extremely well-connected, Danny has a lot of famous and influential people he'd be willing to use as character references including Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
, Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, and the Third Earl of Kent (a fictional nobleman, as even though there have been many Earls of Kent
Earl of Kent
The peerage title Earl of Kent has been created eight times in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.See also Kingdom of Kent, Duke of Kent.-Earls of Kent, first creation :*Godwin, Earl of Wessex...
in the past, in reality there is currently a Duke of Kent
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
The Duke of Kent graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 29 July 1955 as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys, the beginning of a military career that would last over 20 years. He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1961. The Duke of Kent saw service in Hong Kong from 1962–63...
).
In the Harriet Dinner Part II, when he is locked on the roof with Jordan, they discuss their relationship and after clarifying that he's genuinely interested in her, Jordan confesses that she likes him too. Since then, the two have been having a relationship that is undisclosed to the public as it might affect her job. In the same episode, it is revealed that Danny is afraid of snakes. The two start dating after that event. In "K&R" Jordan became Danny's fiance, moments before she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and wheeled into surgery. After she regains consciousness from the birth and surgery, they discuss names and she asks him to sign pre-prepared adoption papers for the baby, "Rebecca Tripp".
Danny may be Jewish; Jack Rudolph refers to him and Matt as "a bunch of Jews" in K&R Part I. Seeing as Matt is himself Jewish, it is unclear if this was fact or an assumption. In the final episode of the series, Matt congratulates Danny on the birth of his daughter by saying "mazal tov
Mazal tov
"Mazel tov" or "mazal tov" is a phrase used to express congratulations for a happy and significant occasion or event.-Etymology and pronunciation:...
", to which Danny replies "gesundheit
Gesundheit
Gesundheit may refer to:* A response to sneezing in German which is sometimes used in the United States * Gesundheit! Institute, American health project*Focus Gesundheit, German tv channel...
".
In Real Life
Danny is believed to be mostly based on Aaron SorkinAaron Sorkin
Aaron Benjamin Sorkin is an Academy and Emmy award winning American screenwriter, producer, and playwright, whose works include A Few Good Men, The American President, The West Wing, Sports Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Social Network, and Moneyball.After graduating from Syracuse...
's frequent collaborator and Studio 60 executive producer Thomas Schlamme, although Danny's drug relapse corresponds with Sorkin's personal history.