Leading Sorkin's ensemble cast is Matthew Perry, who's been keeping a rather low profile since Friends finally called it a day; Perry will play a writer on a top-rated comedy sketch show, reputedly based on venerable American TV institution Saturday Night Live.

Sorkin, who's been writing a play for our own Abbey Theatre, is considered one of the mad geniuses of the TV medium; he finally got the heave-ho from The West Wing after it became painfully apparent that the whip-smart, mile-aminute dialogue was being delivered (rather late in the day, by all reports) by a man with a rather prodigious drug habit.

Sorkin, by all reports, is a changed man these days, as indeed is Matthew Perry, whose own struggles with addiction have been well documented . . . indeed, of the extended Central Perk posse, Perry's been The One With The Lowest Profile.

Rumours persist that a Friends reunion is still on the cards . . . don't hold your breath, however: David Schwimmer's heading for Broadway with a revival of The Caine Mutiny Court Marshall, while Jennifer Aniston should finally score that elusive leading lady breakthrough with this summer's The Break-Up, an 'anti'romantic comedy co-starring offscreen boyfriend Vince Vaughan.

On the other hand, Perry, who's already starred in more dud movies than we'd ever care to admit we saw, needs to shake that Chandler Bing Thing.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip is his best shot . . .

we're promised a noholds- barred look at showbiz excess, one that finally blows the lid on the murky politics that define American network television.

Alternately, we get a coked-up version of The Larry Sanders Show.

Either way, we can't wait.