Talk about setting the bar high for this new drama.

Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme were the team behind the Emmy-winning “The West Wing” during its glory years. Its cast includes Amanda Peet, slumming from film, and TV stars Matthew Perry (“Friends”), Steven Weber (“Wings”) and Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing”).

Oh, and to keep things interesting, NBC has the confidence in it to throw it up against ratings powerhouse “CSI: Miami.”

And yet “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” soars above expectations. It has all the best qualities of “The West Wing” without the policy wonkery that would trip up viewers in the heartland.

The drama is set backstage at a long-running sketch comedy show (think “Saturday Night Live”). It starts off with a bang with the on-camera implosion of its longtime producer (played by Judd Hirsch).

That leaves NBS’ new president, Jordan McDeere (Peet), scrambling to handle this P.R. nightmare. Her solution is to approach the creative team from the show’s glory days, writer Matt Albie (Perry) and director Danny Tripp (Whitford), who had been forced out by the network several years ago and had gone on to success in the movies.

Because of a problem in Danny’s personal life, the pair grudgingly accepts, and undertakes the onerous task of making “Studio 60” relevant again. An added complication is Matt’s recently ended relationship with the series’ female star Harriet Hayes (Sarah Paulson, “Down With Love”). Harriet is the most intriguing character on the drama, an avowed Christian working among the liberal heathen.

“Studio 60” is a series about people wanting to prove themselves: Jordan trying to flourish despite the scrutiny of her boss, Jack Rudolph (Weber), Danny and Matt working to revive a show they love, and performers Harriet, Simon Stiles (D.L. Hughley) and Tom Jeter (Nathan Corddry) hoping to refloat a sinking ship.

This should be appointment TV for “West Wing” fans. It has the same sparkling, rapid-fire dialogue for which Sorkin is renowned, along with an even bigger dose of humor. This is easily the best new show of the fall season so far. (Dale McGarrigle, BDN)