A Spoiler-free 'West Wing' Thread for the UK

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still got it!

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

Can someone say where we're upto in the UK so I don't sick my foot in it?

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

Aw, bless.

Anyway, yes, taking sides - Santos v Hoynes v Bingo Bob (though the spoileriffic obits for John Spencer have kind of ruined it).

(Santos has just announced that he's running, he was up in New Hampshire putting his foot in it last week)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:27 (twenty years ago)

at what point will donna join smits (or hawkeye, thinking about it)?

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

Once they realise that Bob is a tosser (which I think is entirely unfair, incidentally). hopefully Will will get back as well, as his little asides to Toby are a joy, as are most things Toby is involved in.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

not saying

Anna-Beth is the best new character IT's good that they finally admit that these highminded people need a hairstyles and daytime talkshows guru.

Will's an arrogant twat.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

Oh, Anna-Beth has totally grown on me too since her introduction, where she was dense bimbette from hell.

Will = arrogant, but necessary. They can't all be lovable, you know.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:37 (twenty years ago)

but to see him go from idealist local activist to opportunist aide to bingo bob, oy!

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

Oh, that never happens

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

of course it does, watching will turn into a twat is entertaining, he's still a twat though.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 20:52 (twenty years ago)

he is a twat.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 22:17 (twenty years ago)

Yes, he is a twat, but people change, I couldn't stand it if the core staff were all good people with the sun shining out of their arses forever. I like that Donna has walked off to join him because she knows she's better than just being Josh's lackey too. They are both opportunistic, yes, but they are realistic as characters - looking to the future for the party rather than remaining loyal to the outgoing Bartlet and the people who gave them their chance to shine.

I know that Rob Lowe is never coming back, btw, but it would have been nice if they'd mentioned Sam as a potential candidate, even if just to all go "nah, no chance", since that was the way his character was going before Lowe pissed off to unsuccessful pastures new.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 23:39 (twenty years ago)

Also, where can I start a campaign to get Ainsley Hayes back?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

I think the show certainly does everything iy can to make you think will made the wrong choice, but i fail entirely to see how he is a 'twat'

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 23:47 (twenty years ago)

When I said he was a twat, what I mean is that he has been stupid and is backing the wrong horse. However, he is still doing what he thinks is right, which is not in itself twattish, but his choice seems bad, which makes him seem, well, twattish. But I'd still prefer Bob Russell to John Hoynes IRL. There's something exceedingly unlikeable about Hoynes. Santos is still being pegged as the bumbling newbie, but he now has support from Bartlet as per the last UK episode, so there is hope that he will turn into the great hope that Josh sees him as.

When's Alan Alda coming in properly then?

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 00:05 (twenty years ago)

that's the thing - will his campaign be covered as much as the dems?

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 00:07 (twenty years ago)

CAn I talk about the format of the campign series without spoilering?

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 07:48 (twenty years ago)

don't see why not.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 09:20 (twenty years ago)

Is this worth watching again? The fifth series was so horrible I gave up.

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

i craftily missed it.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 10:44 (twenty years ago)

Once the campaign really get's going its about equal coverage going to the bartlet admin, the Dem campaign campaign and the republican campaign. (can you guess who the noms will be based on your knowledge of dramatic conventions).

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 14:21 (twenty years ago)

from the dvd packaging, it looks like hawkeye gets the republican nom -- but do they follow the GOP primaries much?

i missed series 5 -- what happened to john goodman?

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 14:24 (twenty years ago)

can't say more without spoilering, you'll know in four or five weeks anyway.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

it's a dangerously immersive show.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

yes the alternative political reality is much better than the real one, especially during the campaign.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

that's why i worry -- i invest in this unreality a lot more than in the real. john kerry makes bingo bob look like a paragon of innovationa nd spontaneity.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 14:33 (twenty years ago)

four weeks pass...

god damn it amy gardner is hot.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:26 (twenty years ago)

i found this random fact on the internets which i think it's important to share, also:

"Don Johnson & Philip Michael Thomas edged out [Gary] Cole and Jimmy Smits for the roles of Crockett & Tubbs in "Miami Vice" (1984)."

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:26 (twenty years ago)

god damn it amy gardner is hot.

I think you'll find you've misspelled "annoying" there.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:06 (twenty years ago)

???

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:14 (twenty years ago)

i like the way she doesn't enunciate.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:15 (twenty years ago)

I don't like her. I actually booed when MLP's name came up in the credits, and cheered when Josh told her to get out. Why doesn't she work for Abby anymore, I couldn't remember. She's the most annoying character after Margaret, and that's not so much that I don't like Margaret as that I find the actress who plays her to be really bad. Though maybe she's really good and she just plays Margaret as a really stilted and awkward person, but you'd think being the assistant to the Chief of Staff would require a bit more savvy. Basically, they (the lower-level staffers) should all be Donna or Charlie or Debbie. I think it's bad acting. I also hate that things like this bother me.

This series needs more Joey Lucas. It's about votes and opinions, you need a polling expert. And one small appearance in one episode so far this series just isn't enough.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:28 (twenty years ago)

we need more bruno!

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:31 (twenty years ago)

they also never explained ainsley leaving. iirc they promoted her -- and she was never seen again.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:32 (twenty years ago)

We don't need any more Matthew Perry though.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:35 (twenty years ago)

She's the most annoying character after Margaret

because she's direct, though casual about it? maybe the writers are looking at her through male eyes? your annoying is my charming.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:37 (twenty years ago)

and Josh's, obviously. though it's both, really.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:37 (twenty years ago)

she's too good for josh and his ub40.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:38 (twenty years ago)

I accidentally spoilered myself by clicking on the wrong episode of my season 7 disc and not realising until it was TOO LATE and I'd learnt something earth-shattering :(

I started out liking Amy and then she seemed to get annoying. West Wing characters seem to have a nasty habit of doing this - cf Will. The Margaret thing is weird... she's sort of cool because she's so eccentric but it's like Ally McBeal syndrome: you can't help feeling that someone that ditzy/odd wouldn't get to be a top lawyer.

During season 6 I kind of lost interest in everyone but Josh and Donna, IIRC.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:43 (twenty years ago)

who are the most British and most American characters on the show?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:46 (twenty years ago)

Maybe it's because she (Amy) is written as a feminist woman as viewed through the eyes of a man? I don't like Abby Bartlet for much the same sort of reason, however the female characters who are characters first, women second (Ainsley, CJ, Donna, Annabeth, Debbie, Mrs Landingham RIP) are generally excellent. I think it's people with chips on their shoulders about stuff generally that I don't like, and Abby and Amy seem to crusade about theirs a lot more.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:49 (twenty years ago)

who are the most British and most American characters on the show?
-- gabbneb (gabbne...), January 19th, 2006.

good question!

leo is the most american, of the major cast. perhaps will most english.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:56 (twenty years ago)

Not counting Lord John Marbury, I assume?

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:00 (twenty years ago)

I thought that was a good question, but I have no answer. I think perhaps Mrs Landingham was quite British? Also, possibly Charlie, he seems quite, I dunno, reserved? That's not the word.

The least British character is Lord John Marbury :)

xpost!

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:04 (twenty years ago)

(four minute xpost because I was off to check on Roger Rees' nationality)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:05 (twenty years ago)

Hehe. Will seems less English now he's got all ambitious and arrogant. I'd say Toby is very British in some ways.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:12 (twenty years ago)

Actually, I said that was a good question, and it isn't at all because now I have a head full of stereotypes :(

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:26 (twenty years ago)

toby is one of the most english, even though perhaps more is made of his US-ethnic background than of any other character except bartlet.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:28 (twenty years ago)

Have we had a OPO West Wing characters yet? That would be really difficult. Mine would probably be CJ. Or Charlie. Or Leo. Or Donna. Or Toby. Gaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh *head explodes*

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:32 (twenty years ago)

Anna-beth, has to be anna-beth.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:42 (twenty years ago)

Matt and I are always having the OPO conversation, inconclusively. I love Donna. Sam was my favourite when he was still in it. Debbie is very cool too. But Josh has really grown on me lately, though maybe just because he is played off against Will who is deeply unappealing. But actually Bartlett himself may be my favourite. Gaaaahhhhhhh also!

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:43 (twenty years ago)

ginger is best.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:45 (twenty years ago)

but toby, really.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:45 (twenty years ago)

I do love Toby when he's off on a good rant.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:46 (twenty years ago)

I really enjoyed this week (belatedly just watched it on More4+1 last chance evah! channel) - Margaret is pregnant, wtf? Eps set in the White House are so much better than the campaign trail. But some fucker (OK, NBC) just pulled it in the US (mild spoilers that anyone reading John Spencer obits already knows), so next season = last season. All good things must come to an end, but still...

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 22 January 2006 22:40 (twenty years ago)

Also, we were discussing (because we are stupid and we forgot), what happened to Andie (Toby's ex-wife) and the twins? He bought her a house, and then, er, something? Nothing?

They never really explained when they wrote out Mandy either, did they? Continuity isn't always their strong point, is it? (but at least they threw in a reference to NASA this week when Toby's brother died, given that they based a whole episode around him being on a dodgy space shuttle)

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 22 January 2006 22:50 (twenty years ago)

Eps set in the White House are so much better than the campaign trail.

i think the opposite! but i liked this ep. i liked that they brought back donna's ex.

i think andie turned down the house.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 23 January 2006 11:30 (twenty years ago)

ooh they've invited rob lowe back! ie to repl. leo, you'd imagine.

DO IT

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 23 January 2006 11:36 (twenty years ago)

[whoops typed a spoiler by mistake DELETE DELETE]

I would love it if Rob Lowe came back for the final eps, it's not been the same without him. No chance of Sorkin returning with him, sadly.

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 23 January 2006 11:43 (twenty years ago)

what's the full story with that?

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 23 January 2006 11:45 (twenty years ago)

'Dispute with network' hem hem... don't know what really happened though.

Two pieces on the end of the West Wing in today's Guardian:
http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1694348,00.html
http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1694352,00.html

BOO HOO :(

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 09:48 (twenty years ago)

new yorker guy in 'snooty' incident!

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 11:48 (twenty years ago)

guardian person in 'the view from westminster village' shock!

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 12:17 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

More4 appear to be running straight on to season 7 this week. I was all upset last week at the end of season 6 and yet it's back on this week with season 7 ep 1. Hurrah!

I'm enjoying the campaign eps a lot more now. No idea what I was thinking back up there.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 20:34 (twenty years ago)

The death of John Spencer has led to no AnnaBeth, boo.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 20:42 (twenty years ago)

Spoiler-free please (season 7 hasn't started yet and Leo is still very much in it)

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 20:55 (twenty years ago)

I guess I'm the only person who hasn't t0rr3nted this yet, correct?

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 8 March 2006 20:56 (twenty years ago)

no, i'm torrent-pure. i didn't know they were running on but i'm sodding glad.

i think i like '6', or the second half of it maybe, more than any almost any other season, such good pace. i got round to '5' and it has its moments but where else could it all go? even with sorkin on board they'd run out of things to do with the show, however many guest stars they brought in. i think the last ep of '6' needed to be a two-parter, really, but it was pretty awesome.

they ought to do a film, about bartlett's original election campaign.

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Thursday, 9 March 2006 09:31 (twenty years ago)

pretty fucking close to the bone re leo.

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Monday, 13 March 2006 09:28 (twenty years ago)

i still watch this, i wish it was as good as in teh past though.

― jeffrey (johnson), Monday, 13 March 2006 18:18 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, we said that too - life imitates art, eh? Good to see Joey back though.

See that bit at the start that was set in the future featuring those presumably still loyal to Bartlet - was John Spencer in that when first aired? It seemed odd that he wouldn't be there. Unless of course the intention was that "the President" was Santos and he would be being Vice Prez somewhere. Or they had intended to kill him off anyway?

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 13 March 2006 18:21 (twenty years ago)

that's a good point.

i think it is as good as in teh past, but in a very different way -- since about 1/3 of the way through '6' it's changed completely, but it needed to. i think it's a shame that toby is basically marginalized by everything that's happened, for example, but i'm enjoying it overall.

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 09:46 (twenty years ago)

it can't be all over for donna and will can it?

i think the lack of will was a problem in '5', and they never really explained how toby got on without a proper deputy. he had that sassy hispanic woman for a bit and then...? and now he's solo speechwriter and -- as far as we know -- he does the press conferences?

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 11:01 (twenty years ago)

Haha lack of will.

I just watched most of season 1 again and it IS incredibly good (although I hate Mandy). It's much funnier, obviously, and faster, but much much schmaltzier than the post-Sorkin shows too.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 11:50 (twenty years ago)

It's much funnier, obviously, and faster, but much much schmaltzier than the post-Sorkin shows too.

i've been watching it too -- and it's not *that* good. mandy is dire and it takes about 6 eps before everyone's really in character (bartlet especially). it's funny, but in a 'cute' way, and i dunno if it's faster. they deal with quite small-beer things, and there's hardly any foreign policy.

i think for me it's something like:

3 > 2 > 6 > 1 > 4 > 5

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 11:59 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

Series 7 is shaping up nicely towards the finale, although I can't help thinking about how they are going to sustain it beyond next week's US show.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 18:55 (twenty years ago)

Oi, stop even thinking about hinting at things near the finale, we're only on episode 4 over here in non-torr3nting-land.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 07:27 (twenty years ago)

i can't believe they've lost donna, wtf! surely she comes back?

am fkn loving series seven. although jeanean garolfinio (sp) is a poor man's amy, imo.

― Real Goths Don't Wear Black (Enrique), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 07:33 (twenty years ago)

Yeah and I don't think the character does her justice at all. When TF did she become so skinny?

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 07:36 (twenty years ago)

also (and i'm sure something of the sort will happen to provoke it): we need TV's john locke back as the let's-bomb-syria dude.

― Real Goths Don't Wear Black (Enrique), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 07:41 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Janeane looks weird. WTF with the sexual tension between Leo and Annabeth?

I was thinking of John Locke (also TV's Jim Robinson) the other day, in a "they should come back" manner.

Does anyone else find it difficult to take Kate Harper seriously as some big important decision maker?

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 07:54 (twenty years ago)

i *liek* the leo/annabeth thing, though obv it's a bit weird following their story. but totally otm re kate--i don't get her as a major character, especially given how they're minimizing the actual west wing characters anyway.

― Real Goths Don't Wear Black (Enrique), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 08:05 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

very glad will's back. needs a little levity at the moment.

― 25 yr old slacker cokehead (Enrique), Friday, 21 April 2006 12:16 (twenty years ago)

I still have a huge crush on Annabeth.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 21 April 2006 12:18 (twenty years ago)

i totally only started watching this program with series 7 on More4, and am eating it up with a spoon... one of those shows where i'm genuinely upset when the final credits run.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Friday, 21 April 2006 13:46 (twenty years ago)

i envy you!

it's a v diff series to any of the preceding. all these people used to like each other, and worked in something called 'the west wing'.

― 25 yr old slacker cokehead (Enrique), Friday, 21 April 2006 14:00 (twenty years ago)

hehehe, i figured as much. am tracking down cheap dvds of the earlier seasons...

it reminds me of the same compulsive, addictive thrill series like Hill St Blues and St Elsewhere offered, which i guess is the sense that everything could calamitously change within these character's worlds within that 50 minute episode, and if so, you would be involved enough to have to find out how it played out.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Friday, 21 April 2006 15:02 (twenty years ago)

one of those shows where i'm genuinely upset when the final credits run.

I know what you mean, I used to get that same thrill off early seres of LA Law as well - all hail the power of John Spencer and Jimmy Smits, eh?

UK viewers tonight, it's the "live" candidates' debate (oh great, now I have "Mrs Robinson" stuck in my head).

Incidentally, I now hate msn.com for a totally spoilertastic front page the other day, using a picture of something I didn't know about for a "let's look at occasions when [X] has happened in major TV shows" article. However, I don't care, because The West Wing is still one of my favourite TV shows ever ever ever and I'm going to blub like a big baby when it's finished (then start again from series one).

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 21 April 2006 16:00 (twenty years ago)

I'm watching along with the US version ... and knowing it's cancelled puts a whole spin on the thing.

― stet (stet), Friday, 21 April 2006 18:18 (twenty years ago)

At what point in the series was it announced that it was ending?

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 21 April 2006 18:25 (twenty years ago)

the episode before the live one

― stet (stet), Friday, 21 April 2006 19:46 (twenty years ago)

I shall keep an eye out for signs of winding down - I've noticed with other shows that it's really easy to spot when they decided to just take the piss and fit as much in as they wanted and start to shoe-horn in loads of extraneous plot development to resolve stuff that was obviously planned for the next series they never got to make.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 21 April 2006 21:44 (twenty years ago)

Continuing my irrational dislike of Kate Harper, last night's opening credits were much pared down (debate episode, no real other characters in it) - the long-standers, Allison Janney, Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, John Spencer (I think) remained in the credits, they dropped Janel Moloney and Joshua Malina after just re-instating them last week, and no Dule Hill or Kristin Chenoweth - basically seemed to be major old characters (contractual obligation to keep them in the credits?) and the two candidates.

Yet Mary McCormack remained in the credits. WHY? WHY? She's pointless and rubbish! She's doesn't do anything apart from have silly hair and lipgloss and stand funny in badly-fitting suits and try to affect an air of gravitas whilst looking like a student playing dress-up-as-an-adult-and-people-might-take-me-seriously.

I don't even get why she's a major character and gets in the credits anyway. People like, say, Nancy McNally, or Debbie Fiderer/Mrs Landingham or even poor old Margaret (who seems to have undergone some radical makeover and personality transplant) play as much of a part, yet never trouble the credits. Why is that?

Alan Alda's on Parky tonight. Seems odd that he would be given prime ITV space to plug something stuck away on a rival channel's secondary cable channel that no-one appears to be watching.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 22 April 2006 08:34 (twenty years ago)

Alan Alda is over here for the Hay festival and also...WTF, he *is* Alan Alda. You play out the scene in your head where you're Parky's researcher in charge of bookings and find out Alda's in town. D'oh!

I am lovin' the moments where Vinick looks like Walter Mondale.

― suzy (suzy), Saturday, 22 April 2006 10:16 (twenty years ago)

toby is right, isn't he?

santos isn't that amazing when it comes down to it. it's just josh trying to play on the world stage, but he doesn't have the size, does he? series 7: the contenders is very upsetting. will is the only character with funny lines. cj's kind of monged out. i like it as much as ever but in a different way.

i know! i think she is nancy's replacement as nsa? the problem is that in her hands impending armageddon isn't very exciting, it feels a bit unreal. they should have kept lost's locke on-board.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 08:29 (twenty years ago)

nb stevie, go to series 2 first, is my suggestion.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 08:38 (twenty years ago)

Am I going mad or was Margaret not pregnant at some point in season 6 (5?) What happened?

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:16 (twenty years ago)

mm, don't recall that (or really ANY of series 5). could be toby's lovely redhead wife andy that you mean?

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:22 (twenty years ago)

no, I clearly recall Margaret with a big bump!. maybe it was adream...

I also totally forgot about Terry O'Quinn being in it, and I love him. Was he in the Camp David eps?

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:26 (twenty years ago)

yeah, he kind of hinted that leo should lead a military coup iirc.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:33 (twenty years ago)

nb stevie, go to series 2 first, is my suggestion.

am halfway through series one - am enjoying it, but its a very different series - the pace slower, the mood brighter. i like it, but am more excited by where it's going, than where it's at. weird to be watching the series on More4 at the same time.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:41 (twenty years ago)

early eps of shows are always weird. some characters are kind of right straight off the bat -- toby, leo, maybe sam. but i think they had to iron out a whole lot -- MANDY -- before they hit that amazing stride. also i think the post-9/11 amount of sit-room drama (in series one they make a big deal about, like, rescuing some guys from the dmz) was a good thing, even if they sort of ignore the aftermath each time.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:47 (twenty years ago)

Wikipedia: 'Margaret was unmarried and pregnant in the sixth season, but little else is known about her private life.'

West Wing message boards also mention the disappearing pregnancy, which seems to just have been bad continuity again. Possibly the actress was pregnant and they thought they'd write it in and then forgot/changed their minds?

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:51 (twenty years ago)

maybe bruno was the father.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:51 (twenty years ago)

was Mandy Josh's ex girlfriend? she is annoying.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 11:16 (twenty years ago)

yeah, thankfully they phased her out very quickly indeed.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 11:50 (twenty years ago)

Except they then replaced her with a succession of identical high-powered ballsy female characters who nevertheless served little purpose other than to be a sexy foil for Josh and his ego: Amy, Lou, Joey Lucas (ok not Joey Lucas.)

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 12:59 (twenty years ago)

don't say mean things about amy.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 13:07 (twenty years ago)

Amy is rubbish. Sorry, Enrique. Not as rubbish as Mandy, but rubbish nonetheless. I agree with you about Santos though, he's not all that.

Does Helen Santos have a job of her own, rather than potential-First-Lady? She seems to be around a lot, without actually doing anything.

My Kate-hate continues unabashed. Just GO AWAY already.

Cor, I'm all about the women-bashing today. I still like CJ. And I'm getting quite fond of nouveau-Margaret as well (who bears no real character resemblence at all to the old Margaret).

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

Amy rules at least a little bit, and Santos is definitely all that.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 16:35 (twenty years ago)

Oh no FITE!!!

(I like Santos plenty, but when I say he's not all that, I mean he's not Bartlet)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 16:38 (twenty years ago)

it's kind of turning into '24' isn't it? kind of micro-plotlines. i like it, just sayin.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Monday, 8 May 2006 10:49 (twenty years ago)

It's getting to be too much about the power-people. Originally, they weren't going to have the President ever appear, except in passing. The show was about the people who worked around him. Now the focus is on the two candidates -- I mean, who knows the name of the woman with the bob who works for Santos? Can you remember the name of Home Improvement woman?

― stet (stet), Monday, 8 May 2006 11:45 (twenty years ago)

I still like it, but not in the way that I used to. I think stet has nailed the reason why.

However compared to 24 (which I am also watching at Sky One pace, no downloads, no spoilers) it is a shining example of how to maintain quality TV. West Wing has changed, but is still good (albeit different). 24 has changed and is totally shite (but I'm still watching it).

Kate Harper is still annoying. And now she appears to be dating Will. I don't give a fuck about any of their private lives, ESPECIALLY NOT KATE SODDING HARPER.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 8 May 2006 17:17 (twenty years ago)

their private lives never go anywhere! on past form this is the last we will ever hear about will-'n'-kate.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Monday, 8 May 2006 18:09 (twenty years ago)

I want to spoil, so much

― Ed (dali), Monday, 8 May 2006 18:10 (twenty years ago)

I'll just settle for praising Lou's frequent 'Citizen Kane' in Converse pose.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 8 May 2006 18:19 (twenty years ago)

Ed, with the greatest of respect, we get it. You've seen it. Well done. Now get over yourself.

Talking of private lives and that, how come Charlie has vanished, you'd think they'd have wheeled him and Zoe out for Ellie's wedding?

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 8 May 2006 18:22 (twenty years ago)

It gets so good though.

charlie got booted out of his job in series 6 because he promised bartlett he'd quit as valet when he graduated. He used his cv to get a lower dogsbody job in the Whitehouse.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 8 May 2006 18:43 (twenty years ago)

Yes, I know that. He came back as CJ's assistant's assistant or something, and didn't actually "leave". He was caught sneaking around the corridor outside Zoe's bedroom just after that. I just thought with it being a Bartlet family occasio, he might have been around. He seems to have vanished without being actually written out, is all.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 8 May 2006 18:53 (twenty years ago)

I think he's just become two unimportant with all this election going on, it's a shame he didn't spread his wings and join one of the campaigns but I guess that would have been out of character.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 8 May 2006 18:57 (twenty years ago)

also MIA: larry, ed, ginger, bonnie.

and yet they still have kate.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Monday, 8 May 2006 19:07 (twenty years ago)

Carol came back yesterday! I have hope.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 8 May 2006 19:21 (twenty years ago)

God, that was abysmal last night. It's just dawned on Helen Santos that, gosh, they might be in the public eye a bit. Leo (the man, don't forget, that Bartlet once justified as Chief of Staff on the grounds of being his "best friend" who was "smarter than him" who he would "trust with his life" - qualities CJ doesn't have, but that's by-the-by) can't articulate an argument and Josh and Lou and Donna, erm, the other ones, can't do anything to change it. Kate and Will have some bad flirtation. Leo leaks his own ineptitude to the press in a "twist" I spotted a mile off. By hacking into AnnaBeth's email, no less, hurrah for national security!

AnnaBeth is a treasure though, isn't she? Toby and Josh still good.

"Can a convicted felon still vote?"
"...."
"Too soon?"

The tribute to Spencer was touching, but, oh, the irony of the first ep transmitted after his death having the line "the first symptom of a heart attack is death" ...

Has it ever been properly explained how he can be running for VP anyway when he was excused from his duties as Chief of Staff after a massive heart attack?

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 13 May 2006 08:46 (twenty years ago)

bit weird sheen doing the tribute *in character*.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Monday, 15 May 2006 07:21 (twenty years ago)

The tribute to Spencer was touching, but, oh, the irony of the first ep transmitted after his death having the line "the first symptom of a heart attack is death" ...

ooh, was this right at the start of the episode? i didn't catch it - though i thought spencer was very touching last night, great performance.

but yeah - being as i'm just discovering this series, and watching earlier series on DVD between new episodes (am up to halfway through series two), it is so markedly worse a show than it was - it hurts.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 15 May 2006 10:07 (twenty years ago)

i don't think it's worse (wait till you get to series 5 for worse!!!!!), just very different -- though this last ep was a bit dud. also watching on dvd, which i tend to do back-to-back, sort of makes it better?

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Monday, 15 May 2006 10:17 (twenty years ago)

yeah totally - and to be honest, last night's was just a bit of a dud. like ailsa, i think the whole teri polo subplot seemed insubstantial. but that said, the debate episode a couple of weeks back was one of the best i've seen, and leo's stuff in last night's episode was great.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 15 May 2006 12:07 (twenty years ago)

i think they were going for 'donna asserts herself' but it didn't come off.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Monday, 15 May 2006 12:12 (twenty years ago)

Watched season one again the other night. It's massively, massively better.

What's Sorkin doing these days?

― stet (stet), Monday, 15 May 2006 12:25 (twenty years ago)

a new thing with matthew perry.

i'm kind of meh on series 1 tbh, it's all about 2-4.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Monday, 15 May 2006 12:26 (twenty years ago)

NRQ, your comment on another thread, that the music is the only truly cloying or mawkish aspect of the early series, is really OTM.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 15 May 2006 12:52 (twenty years ago)

Yeah 2-4 are best.

There's this really schmaltzy, sick bucket moment in the first season where Bartlett grabs Leo and (?)Josh at some event and waxes lyrical about 'these women' that work for them and how wonderful they all are in their own special ways. Puke.

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 15 May 2006 12:54 (twenty years ago)

Sexism: the hidden vice of the Bartlett administration? Despite all the Abbies and Amys and CJs and liberalism?

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 15 May 2006 12:57 (twenty years ago)

i dunno, nancy is a feisty lady, uh, supremely competent staffer i mean.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Monday, 15 May 2006 13:11 (twenty years ago)

also: whither jordan!

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Monday, 15 May 2006 13:11 (twenty years ago)

There are many sick bucket moments in the first season - hyper sensitive, oddly archaic-sounding "win one for the Gipper" pep talk sorts of things. My favorite ungh one is some Leo / Bartlett confrontation where Leo threatens to bring the forces of the almighty to Barlett's doorstep if he doesn't, um, change his socks or some shit. Seasons 2 through 4 are the stuff, tho (as has been noted). I'm partial to Season 5 as well (if Season 5 is the final Sorkin season, & not the Bingo Bob government-shutdown shitfest that followed). Tho my favorite episode is probably the one guest starring Glenn Close & William Fitchner as possible Supreme Court nominees, & that sucker is mired in the aforementioned shitfest, IIRC.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 15 May 2006 13:16 (twenty years ago)

New Aaron Sorkin thing is called "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (catchy titles ahoy!) and stars Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford and Timothy Busfield in a "jobs for the boys" kind of way. It's a behind the scenes look at a TV show. So pretty much Sports Night crossed with The West Wing, I guess.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 15 May 2006 15:04 (twenty years ago)

who's Jordan?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Monday, 15 May 2006 15:14 (twenty years ago)

Leo's lawyer ladyfriend, wasn't she?

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 15 May 2006 15:23 (twenty years ago)

Studio 60, despite the clunker title, sounds quite cool tho - like equal parts Larry Sanders and that SNL oral history from a whiles back. i want to see it, anyway...

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 15 May 2006 15:43 (twenty years ago)

MOTHERFUCKER.

MOFO + 1 no longer exists! so my sweet-ass bb --> ww plan was cruelly jabbed in the nuts.

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Saturday, 20 May 2006 10:24 (twenty years ago)

Gets repeated on Sunday at 8 o'clock on MoFo.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 20 May 2006 10:25 (twenty years ago)

vraiment, but STILL.

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Saturday, 20 May 2006 10:27 (twenty years ago)

Trailer for Studio 60 which gives nothing away at all other than it's got Aaron Sorkin written all over it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jayIdnWdqLQ

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 20 May 2006 14:13 (twenty years ago)

and josh lyman -- as himself.

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Saturday, 20 May 2006 14:28 (twenty years ago)

bradley whitford actually looks like lorne michaels
ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bradley_Whitford.jpg
ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lorne_Michaels.gif

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Saturday, 20 May 2006 15:47 (twenty years ago)

http://eur.yimg.com/i/xp/premier_photo/9/91fb052024.jpg
http://www.pbs.org/weta/onstage/twain2004/images/lorne3.jpg

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Saturday, 20 May 2006 15:54 (twenty years ago)

Nope, not seeing it. I forgot real-life Josh was married to real-life Malcolm's mum.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 20 May 2006 16:05 (twenty years ago)

^ NSFW ^

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Saturday, 20 May 2006 16:07 (twenty years ago)

Better and longer preview of SSOTSS. Starring lots of people you will recognise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7tLTLogH0I

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 20 May 2006 16:39 (twenty years ago)

looks awesome...

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Saturday, 20 May 2006 17:01 (twenty years ago)

i though last week's ep was great. v glad to see danny back.

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Monday, 22 May 2006 12:18 (twenty years ago)

was written by bradley whitford, and it was odd cos cj was sort of very different -- half series 7 cj, half series 1-5 cj, and a lot of it was quite 'josh' humour.

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Monday, 22 May 2006 12:19 (twenty years ago)

Was Sports Night any cop?

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Monday, 22 May 2006 12:43 (twenty years ago)

yes

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Monday, 22 May 2006 12:50 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I really enjoyed this week's episode, it was the most old-skool one for a while.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 22 May 2006 15:22 (twenty years ago)

As, in fact, was this week's. A crisis, being dealt with from within the White House. No piddly annoying inconsequential back-stories with Will'n'Kate, Helen Santos seems to be over her "I don't want to be First Lady" outburst - just a proper old WW "let's all get together and deal with this as best we can, with humorous Press Room banter thrown in" storyline. Hurrah!

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 27 May 2006 07:59 (twenty years ago)

that was a fuckin' classic omg. is it me or have they removed all taint of wg 'snuffy' walden now ('cept for the credits obv)?

i think it was k-classic cos it combined great old-skool ww with the best things about nu-ww (ie bruno vs josh, alan alda). loved it.

but thanks so so much more4 for trailing um, an episode some weeks from now (or maybe next week). that wasn't at all annoying, noooo.

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Saturday, 27 May 2006 08:38 (twenty years ago)

Just wanted to note that this week's episode name-checked both Bono and Dave Matthews.

Also, Josh and Donna snogged! (though the use of Kate & Will's boring-assed relationship as convenient plot device to allow Donna to explore the possibility of shagging a co-worker was crap-writings-ville)

How the fuck do adults get to teh sexing in, say, an office, then leave without an item of underwear it would be fairly uncomfortable not to be wearing, if not for PLOT DEVICE CONTRIVANCE purposes? I mean, you'd notice if you forgot to put your bra on, and how difficult can it be to lose it in a confined space?

Best line = Donna's "Seriously, it was bound to happen some day" to Josh. I actually cheered. Go Donna (though you could do better)!

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 5 June 2006 20:21 (twenty years ago)

No, I've changed my mind. Best line = Debbie to Vinick in the West Wing "make yourself comfortable"...*mutters* "not too comfortable"

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 5 June 2006 20:50 (twenty years ago)

heheh YES! goood episode. tho i am sad every time jon spencer is onscreen - leo was such a noble character....

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 5 June 2006 23:21 (twenty years ago)

ailsa otm: GREAT ep except the will/kate thing (and i LIKE will now, a had to see series 5 to realize it wasn't his fault). brilliant leo-prez conversation, and generally the more bruno the better.

one minor problem is that while alda is strong as hell, santos isn't all that inspirational!

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Tuesday, 6 June 2006 07:36 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, but he's decent and upstanding, and sort of Bartlett-esque in that respect.

Favour time here. Does anyone have the post-September 11th one-off episode, which I don't believe they ever showed on British TV due to the crap way that the West Wing used to get shunted round the schedules?

(trying to see if it was on YouTube, I notice someone has uploaded most, if not all, of Sports Night, for whoever was asking about it upthread)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 6 June 2006 08:04 (twenty years ago)

Ailsa, that ep was on cable in Oz about a month ago. It wasn't specially good or memorable on any level.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 12 June 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

it is v bad.

if you can explain how i can shot it via ysi, i will do so though.

― Seriously, Try Punching This Guy in the Face and See What Happens (Enrique), Monday, 12 June 2006 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

it's a bit arbitrary, the donna/garolfano thing. who works where!?

― Seriously, Try Punching This Guy in the Face and See What Happens (Enrique), Monday, 12 June 2006 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

Ailsa, I've got it too. I'll put it on a CD for you if Seriously, Try Punching This Guy in the Face and See What Happens can't get the YSI on.

― stet (stet), Monday, 12 June 2006 15:37 (nineteen years ago)

i have it on dvd, ailsa, so if neither of these chaps can hook you up, i'll post it to ya for viewing purposes, loike. i actually liked it, for all its hokiness.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 12 June 2006 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

Cor, youse are all lovely. Possibly getting from stet would be easier since I may well be drinking bouze with his other half at some point in the not too distant future. Unless someone knows more than me about the technical stuff.

This week's UK ep (Vinick has a sore hand from shaking hands with people, Santos has an illegitimate kid, oh no, he doesn't, it's a family scandal, despite the fact that not a year ago he was asked by Josh to disclose every bit of history that may come back to haunt him and he totally forgot to mention he has his whole separate bank account to pay his wayward brother's child maintenance, we've all forgotten about Josh and Donna's pending shag-fest) was a bit dullsville.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 12 June 2006 18:25 (nineteen years ago)

How big is the file, Enrique? You can send up to 1GB via YSI. my email is as below, but less googleproofed.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 12 June 2006 19:33 (nineteen years ago)

season 7 > season 6 but i don't know how difficult that is. I am glad i have the first few seasons on dvd.

― jeffrey (johnson), Monday, 12 June 2006 22:47 (nineteen years ago)

I watched the first episodes of season two (the shooting). They were ace.

― stet (stet), Monday, 12 June 2006 23:58 (nineteen years ago)

stet, it'd be menschy if you could hook ailsa up, my leeched wifi inn't up to the ysiing of the west wing.

this last ep wasn't so great -- it would have been better if santos *was* having an affair! but i think josh did know about the cheques -- santos mentioned his wayward brother and we can assume he told him around then.

also it needs more toby!

― Seriously, Try Punching This Guy in the Face and See What Happens (Enrique), Tuesday, 13 June 2006 09:03 (nineteen years ago)

I watched the end of season seven courtesy of the internet. i won't spoil it.

― jeffrey (johnson), Tuesday, 13 June 2006 21:37 (nineteen years ago)

No, please don't. I think Ed's stopped threatening to, as well. Hurrah! A spoiler-free thread which is actually spoiler-free!

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 14 June 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, more Toby!

Actually, what happened to Toby? I missed those episodes.

And wasn't there supposed to be some ambiguity over whether Victor Sifuentes was fibbing at the end?

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Wednesday, 14 June 2006 17:08 (nineteen years ago)

Toby leaked the space shuttle story to the press. Bartlet wasn't best pleased.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 14 June 2006 17:20 (nineteen years ago)

he sure wasn't.

― jeffrey (johnson), Thursday, 15 June 2006 00:21 (nineteen years ago)

And wasn't there supposed to be some ambiguity over whether Victor Sifuentes was fibbing at the end?

naw. i guessed it was his feckless bredren straight off the bat.

team vinick is the tru core of this series. alda, silver, and root, and their mean-ass GOP women. the dems on the other hand don't talk about political stuff very much.

― Seriously, Try Punching This Guy in the Face and See What Happens (Enrique), Thursday, 15 June 2006 07:05 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

god damn it amy gardner is hot.

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Monday, 17 July 2006 08:51 (nineteen years ago)

also a 1,000,000x kudos to rob lowe for coming back, wot a dude.

plus FINALLY santos does the kind of thing that made josh pick him up in the first place.

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Monday, 17 July 2006 08:52 (nineteen years ago)

yes. this episode made me wish it wasn't the last series.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 17 July 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

yeah totally.

loved josh offering cj a job -- what could she say? you can't take a step down. but as we know she ends up in cali with danny.

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Monday, 17 July 2006 11:59 (nineteen years ago)

it had that great West Wing twist at the end, too - i was anticipating a fiery face-off between Santos and Bartlett - but, no, the wily old dude planned the whole thing behind everyone's backs.

i do miss leo tho.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 17 July 2006 12:28 (nineteen years ago)

that's what i mean, it was pretty much like josh's first encounter with santos, when i was all for him. he got kind of boring in the election. and of course bartlet had guessed what he was up to. love it.

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Monday, 17 July 2006 12:30 (nineteen years ago)

yeah. West Wing is best when it is way smarter than me, and goes in directions i hadn't even considered.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 17 July 2006 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

We cheered, like out loud and stuff, when Rob Lowe spun round in his chair. Hurrah! Sam really is a great character, isn't he?

Leo's funeral was well done, everyone (except Sam, which made it doubly exciting to see him back this week) that you'd expect to see there, and no giving them plots just because they were there (Joey, Mallory, etc), they were just there as you'd expect them to be at a funeral.

This week's episode really was marvellous.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 17 July 2006 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

NBG. it's great that they've dumped blondie mctitsalot but an ep without josh/toby/sam/will or donna isn't a real ep. and there's only two left now.

plus wtf is amy's job? she seemed to be standing in for sam... who was meant to cover for josh.

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Saturday, 22 July 2006 11:30 (nineteen years ago)

i saw it again and actually it was good. but at this stage i find it hard to watch, ya know...

more4 are doing a 'best of the west wing' thing on saturday. but no 'posse comitatus'! no 'commencement'! no 'the one where will writes the state of the union (or whatever it is)'!

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Thursday, 27 July 2006 08:46 (nineteen years ago)

don't forget the West Wing quiz! hosted by rory bremner!

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Thursday, 27 July 2006 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

with tv's dr who!

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Thursday, 27 July 2006 12:24 (nineteen years ago)

it'll be soul-crushing but i will watch anyway.

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Thursday, 27 July 2006 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

Phones are being unplugged and stuff in here tomorrow night - disturbance is punishable by something nasty. And we'll be recording it too. And also recording Saturday stuff for a good old night in some other time. Then I'm going out to procure them all and start again, unless More4 do something nice like repeating them all again from the start.

I had seasons 1-3 borrowed off someone before, but stupidly (yet legally, pirating-patrol) never copied them.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 27 July 2006 19:16 (nineteen years ago)

Wow. That was lovely. More thoughts once I've time to form them, but I think, on the whole, they got it right (but there should have been more Rob Lowe). We thought the present from Leo would be a chess set, but as soon as Bartlet opened it, I said to Neil "it's the Bartlet for America napkin", and it was.

The West Wing Challenge was pish. I saddened myself by knowing most of the answers. I got stupidly irate with them for remembering loads of quotes but forgetting about Glenallen Walken, even though it was as obvious as Donna getting her and Helen's offices mixed up that it was totally scripted.

Millions of trailers for Studio 60 "coming soon". Hurrah!

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 28 July 2006 21:57 (nineteen years ago)

penultimate one was fucking great. great toby and great danny and great cj (for the first time all series?).

sad not to have much josh and sam in either of them.

and obviously the BIG CLUNKER was will and i-will-not-mention-her-name.

yay for ginger cameo.

― Enrique (Enrique), Saturday, 29 July 2006 08:50 (nineteen years ago)

Haha, my next DVD-watching project is Murder One, starring Clunker Woman, who actually looked older 10 years ago. The last one was cameos -a-go-go, I was sort of worried they'd resurrect Mandy from somewhere, but thank God it didn't go that far.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 29 July 2006 08:56 (nineteen years ago)

haha yeah i thought that!!

must be weird, being mandy, hate-object but at one point presumably quite successful. wonder what kind of residuals you'd get for that.

― Enrique (Enrique), Saturday, 29 July 2006 10:18 (nineteen years ago)

nice big post from penman on these (and LOVEJOY!).

i don't think the west wing is that mushy. you're not always supposed to approve of bartlet or santos. with the kazakstan (sp) thing the show gives no clue as to the rights and wrongs of the thing; and santos *does* disagree with bartlet; hence vinick over nancy.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 31 July 2006 10:04 (nineteen years ago)

Then I'm going out to procure them all and start again, unless More4 do something nice like repeating them all again from the start.

Thank you More4, I shall offer you my first-born, and a packet of Jaffa cakes.

(Sunday 8pm, nostalgia fans!)

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

bah, more 4 is still not on freesat.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

Murder One! Patricia Clarkson! Stanley Tucci! Intense Bald Guy! AWESOME!

Also, re: "great cj (for once)" - dude, wha bout the ep where she screwed the pooch about the Prez having something important to worry about for once? Or the one where she dresses down the fashion reporter? Or the solo ep w/ her dad & her high-school reunion tryst?!?!

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 19:22 (nineteen years ago)

Also, y'know, THE JACKAL...

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 19:36 (nineteen years ago)

Though to be fair to Enrique, he did say great CJ for this first time THIS SERIES. I don't really buy CJ as Chief of Staff, and I miss her sparking off the White House reporters. But I wouldn't go so far as to say she's been not good this last series.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 20:05 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, shit - series = season! My bad.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 20:15 (nineteen years ago)

oh god yeah only this season.

the solo ep w. modine is great.

― Bashment Jakes (Enrique), Thursday, 3 August 2006 11:58 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

cover for 'series 7: the contenders' is weird -- no republicans!

― a rapper singing about hos and bitches and money (Enrique), Thursday, 14 September 2006 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

Spoilerz:

I go to college with Martin Sheen

― Breean Weldrick (weldrick), Thursday, 14 September 2006 12:53 (nineteen years ago)

Watching again from the start on More4. Archel completely OTM way upthread about the "nnnngggggggg" horror of the "wow, aren't women great, look, Mandy can even have a conversation with a MAN" episode.

Mandy = still as annoying as I remember all those years ago. Bring it on with Season 2 (I watched "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen" a couple of weeks ago on the More4 WestWingathon and my God is that not utterly fantastic telly)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 14 September 2006 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

Watching The American President on UK Gold just now. Starring Martin Sheen as John Spencer! And Michael Douglas as Martin Sheen! And Nancy McNally! And Josh Malina! And Martin Crane from Frasier and her that he married at the end of Frasier too! And Ellie Bartlet! And lots of people walking and talking and saying "it's this thing" a lot!

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 8 October 2006 20:33 (nineteen years ago)

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