Despite a great pilot and rapturous reviews, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (9 p.m., NBC) has become a bit of a dud.

In the second episode, the network brass and staff obsess over focus groups and ratings. How scintillating. On the show, the imaginary Studio 60 gained viewers. In the real world, NBC’s “Studio 60” lost a third of its audience. In either case, why should we care?

On last week’s episode, this inside-baseball, media-savvy dialogue continued in a way that can only be considered weird. Network executive Jordan (Amanda Peet) introduced Christine Lahti’s character with a gushing two-minute product placement for Vanity Fair magazine. She described their readers as highly coveted uber-consumers — rich trendsetters who are worth five “normal” people. It was obvious that “Studio 60” considers its audience similarly superior. Talk about a media elite.

“Studio 60” is certainly going to need its master race of superviewers, because writer/producer Aaron Sorkin appears to have painted his show into a creative corner. We’re supposed to care about the sublimated romance between Matt (Matthew Perry) and Harriet (Sarah Paulson), but there is no palpable chemistry between the two. We’re continually told that Harriet is a brilliant comic, but she’s yet to do anything remotely amusing. In fact, she’s kind of a pill. Her purported Christianity is similarly unconvincing.

Despite its backstage setting and ticking-clock dynamic, I never thought the show would become so claustrophobic so quickly. Can’t anybody go out to lunch? The folks on “Lost” are stuck, too. But we learn about them through adventures, mysteries and character-revealing flashbacks. I’d kill for a flashback on “Studio 60.” Heck, even the folks on “The West Wing” got to leave the White House.

In an odd way, the show reminds me of a hellish inversion of the old “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Van Dyke’s character, Rob Petrie, was a comedy writer for vain TV personality Alan Brady (Carl Reiner). But we weren’t asked to live and die with Brady’s show. It was considered “a job.” The real action took place with Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) back in New Rochelle. That was considered “a life.”

Who knows what can fix “Studio 60.” Maybe they should invite William Shatner to reprise his great “SNL” rant: “People, get a life!” That’s precisely what’s missing in this drama. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how clever or how rich you are. If you spend all of your time at your job, you’re just not that interesting. Get a life!

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ The Arizona Cardinals host the Chicago Bears in NFL action (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

¢ Cesar recalls his toughest challenges on “The Dog Whisperer” (8 p.m., National Geographic).

¢ Suresh tracks down a superman, just as his father predicted, on “Heroes” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ The 1987 civil-rights documentary “Eyes on the Prize” concludes on “American Experience” (8 p.m., PBS).

¢ An eminent-domain controversy turns deadly on “CSI: Miami” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ Flashbacks and cold feet on “What About Brian” (9 p.m., ABC).

¢ “Struck by Genius” (9 p.m., National Geographic) examines the mysteries of hyper-intelligent people.

Series notes

Lily challenges Barney on “How I Met Your Mother” (7 p.m., CBS) … Howie Mandel is host on “Deal or No Deal” (7 p.m., NBC) … Opposites clash on two episodes of “Wife Swap” (7 p.m., ABC) … Campaign dirty tricks on “Everybody Hates Chris” (7 p.m., CW) … Yogurt becomes a test of character on “The Class” (7:30 p.m., CBS) … An impromptu incarceration on “All of Us” (7:30 p.m., CW) … Ryan Stiles guest stars on “Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m., CBS) … The prince puts the petals to the metal on “The Bachelor: Rome” (8 p.m., ABC) … Joan fears Maya has stolen the spotlight on “Girlfriends” (8 p.m., CW) … Making room for Barb on “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … A kind gesture misinterpreted on “The Game” (8:30 p.m., CW).

Late night

Mark Wahlberg, Ruth Regina and M. Ward appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno is host to Hugh Jackman and Tim McGraw on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC) … Jessica Simpson, Carlos Mencia and the Killers appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:05 p.m., ABC) … Regis Philbin and Dierks Bentley chat on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (11:35 p.m., NBC).