The West Wing

[JHyde]

It's so funny that you posted Silktie, because I almost always start a West Wing re-watch a week before Christmas. I've been thinking about WW all week.

I have never dug Noel the way most ardent fans of the show do, it's good though. I love the bit with Leo telling his AA story about the guy who falls into a hole, something which is brought up in the following year's Christmas episode, which is one I truly love: Bartlett for America, in which Leo is narrowly saved from being exposed as a relapsed alcoholic just days before Bartlett was to win his election.

The episode Tea Lady is thinking of is In Excelsis Deo, an episode that caused quite the scandal for Sorkin. He and Rick Cleveland won Emmys for that episode with a joint writing credit, Sorkin later claimed he almost exclusively wrote the episode. This was later retracted. As much as I love Sorkin he was really in the wrong on this one, and Cleveland went on to other fame and fortune writing for Six Feet Under.

Speaking of Sorkin, he went to town on Sarah Palin this week in the Huffington Post. Well deserved and in it he not only reuses one of his best lines from WW, but the gist of the article is also an echo of a monlogue that Josh Malina's character in Sports Night gave more than ten years ago about hunting.

[Silktie]

Oh, I'd forgotten that Bartlet for America was a Christmas episode! I LOVE that episode, as well as In Excelsis Deo. Mrs Landingham makes me cry when she talks about her two boys. And the editing at the end with the choir singing in the White House, juxtaposed with the military funeral was absolutely fantastic.

But I'm sticking to Noel, because the balance between comedy and drama was done so well. And I enjoy the interaction between CJ and Bernard so much:

CJ: How are you Bernard?
Bernard: I'm not at all well.
CJ: That's not unusual, is it?
Bernard: No.

Hahaha!

He's just so unapologetically grumpy, I love that. Reminds me a little of Harry in that respect.

[JHyde]

I loved that they brought him back 4 seasons later for a swatting match with Charlie in early season 6.

I do love the story of that woman's family and the painting. A good day's work for CJ, spurred on by Danny.

I also love the season 4 Christmas episode O Holy Night. Josh isn't happy about Donna and Christian Slater (who *would* be happy about that?), CJ likes the young eye candy of the Whiffenpoofs before Danny comes charging back into her life, and we find out where Toby really comes from. There's a genuine sadness to this episode and I like that it finishes with Will in his office working and Josh and Leo trying to fix a roof.

Bartlett for America is surely the episode that won John Spencer his Emmy, even though truthfully I would have voted for Michael C Hall and his masterful performance as David in Six Feet Under. But John Spencer was so good, like Schiff he has the great talent of making everyone around him look good, effortlessly. I remember watching the Emmys and you only need to see how happy the rest of the cast is for him when he wins to know how much he was loved.

[BravoNine]

How did I not see that there is a West Wing thread!??!?!?!??!?! O.O

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the West Wing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This show and Rob Lowe's character Sam Seaborn are the reason that I wanted to study Political Science and someday work in the White House!!!!!

I adore this show, its ability to show intelligent debates that does not demean either side, and how with this show we get to take a glimpse behind the inner workings of our government!

I still cry every time I watch Leo's funeral, if only the real world had a Leo McGarry.

I think to me, what I love most about this show is that it showed me a different side to politics, a more human side. Before this, politicians and government workers were just people that we saw doing mysterious things that we don't understand. They stand behind their fences that blocked out the rest of the world, doing their own special thing. But with the West Wing, the people who run our government, the people who serve the president, they aren't just people we hardly even see as real people anymore, with these characters, we began to see that those inside the White House, those in power, they are just as human and flawed as we are. That they aren't perfect and we shouldn't expect them to be. That they have to face with hard decisions that sometimes we hate them for, but it serves the greater good.

In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part I and Part II were probably my favorites. We as citizens have always seen our own feelings when tragedies like assassination attempts strike. We see how the world responds and how ordinary people responds. But with this two-parter, it's one of the few moments that we get to see how those inside the government respond, how those who are close to the president respond, and for those moments, we see human beings just like us, trying to be strong and run a nation.

I think the only thing that the West Wing ever really had me disappointed with was that Sam wasn't there for Leo's funeral. How I wish Rob Lowe had returned. He came back for last two episodes, but I really really wanted him at Leo's funeral, it just felt more fitting. He should be there.

And did I mention I actually met and talked to Rob Lowe? Probably the happiest day of my life!

Some of my fav scenes:

- Two Cathedrals: "Brothers In Arms" playing in the background as the Bartlett crew brave through the storm and walk in together, a true loyal team til the end.

- Posse Comitatus: Death of secret service agent Simon Donovan played by the lovely Mark Harmon (currently Gibbs on NCIS) and the beautiful song of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah. And not to mention Bartlett deciding to kick the Governor of California's butt in the election.

- Can't remember the episode, but Sam and Josh at the deposition about Leo's alcohol and drug abuse, and then Sam threatening to bust the guy like a pinata if he came after Leo. And then later the team all standing by Leo. True loyalty that you don't see in government these days.

- Santos' election night speech about Leo, "America has lost a giant tonight" no truer words were spoken.

- News of Leo's death breaks out on news networks as everyone stood and listened in silence and tribute. I miss Leo.

- Vinick refusing to use Leo as a step-stool to victory, finally a man who isn't greedy about winning and power, a man of honor.

- Sam being beaten by Ainsley Hayes (lovely Emily Procter!)

[Kazters]

^^^ I feel the same! on onluy discovered it two years ago!

not being american it gave a great insite into the politics of another country. but also its just some of the best written drama going.

i agree the death of leo is just the saddest thing, for me its CJ having to go tell the president ;(. i adore CJ and Josh.

there are so many great moments even after s4 where it does dip at least initialy after sorkin left. but i find myself getting annoyed by the santos campaign i found for me personaly it took over to much. i know they planned an nother series with the santos administration but for me im glad they ended it when they did and with CJ and Danny! i HATE what they did to toby though

[binkie]

(10-12-2010 06:50 PM)Kazters Wrote:  i HATE what they did to toby though

I read an interview with Richard Schiff in which he said he hated what the script did to Toby, and that he disagreed at every stage of the story's development that Toby would act that way. In the end, he said he had to rationalise to himself that Toby was covering for someone else, and would just never say.

[JHyde]

A friend of mine just posted this on facebook and I had to share.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/17/ew-reu...west-wing/

Nothing we haven't heard before but it's nice to see them talking about the show we all love. Mossy will probably (and deservedly) pick up a Golden Globe in a few weeks for her role in 'Mad Men' season 4 and Allison Janney (who is only now starting to look her age) has a bunch of new projects due out in the next few months, both film and on TV. Brad Whitford still might get another season of the 'The Good Guys' (I think it will get a shortened season but still be picked up) and Mary McCormack still has at least another season of 'In Plain Sight'. Dule Hill is still going strong on 'Psych', Josh Malina has several projects going, most notably his web series 'Backwash', but is also still acting. Rob Lowe is on Amy Poehler's show 'Parks and Recreation'.

Sheen looks like he's in great nick given his age, I hope he keeps making movies and he also has a couple out this year and next year, one of which is done by his son Emilio. Plus the guy has been married nearly 50 years, that's pretty damn impressive.

[BravoNine]

Hmmm very very cool, a few other cast-members missing from this reunion shoot but it looked cool, it's good to see they are all still friends after all these years.

Miss John Spencer a lot!

[Silktie]

(26-12-2010 01:50 PM)JHyde Wrote:  A friend of mine just posted this on facebook and I had to share.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/17/ew-reu...west-wing/

Nothing we haven't heard before but it's nice to see them talking about the show we all love. Mossy will probably (and deservedly) pick up a Golden Globe in a few weeks for her role in 'Mad Men' season 4 and Allison Janney (who is only now starting to look her age) has a bunch of new projects due out in the next few months, both film and on TV. Brad Whitford still might get another season of the 'The Good Guys' (I think it will get a shortened season but still be picked up) and Mary McCormack still has at least another season of 'In Plain Sight'. Dule Hill is still going strong on 'Psych', Josh Malina has several projects going, most notably his web series 'Backwash', but is also still acting. Rob Lowe is on Amy Poehler's show 'Parks and Recreation'.

Sheen looks like he's in great nick given his age, I hope he keeps making movies and he also has a couple out this year and next year, one of which is done by his son Emilio. Plus the guy has been married nearly 50 years, that's pretty damn impressive.

Oh thanks for this. It's great to see that the old gang still enjoy one another's company. Martin Sheen sure does have an impressive head of hair for his age! He looks great.

I'm really chuffed to hear Allison Janney has a couple of projects coming out soon. Haven't seen her in anything for ages.

Haha! Loved the actress playing Mrs Landingham saying dying on the show was the best thing that ever happened for her career.

[JHyde]

There was a point where Kathryn Joosten would just famously die on every show she was on. Almost immediately after wrapping on WW she went and died on Scrubs!

Janney has several things coming out. She has a recurring role on the US version of Shameless (she plays William H Macy's wife) which is due to start airing very soon, as well as Mr Sunshine. In terms of film, she has The Oranges coming out very soon and a bunch of other projects due for release in 2011 as well.