"What's next?"Two words that set up one of the most amazing 7 year run in TV history. Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme's The West Wing. The show was kicked off at the end of the Clinton presidency, while real world politics was bogged down in a sex scandal. In the fantasy world of The West Wing we had President Bartlett, an upstanding, honorably, terribly intelligent dream Commander in Chief.
But the show wasn't just about Bartlett, it was about the senior staff. Chief of Staff, tortured political operative Leo McGarry, Deputy Chief of Staff, smarmy, sarcastic Josh Lyman, Commications Director, self righteous and pessimistic Toby Zeigler, Deputy Communications director, idealistic academic Sam Seaborn, and press secretary, smart mouthed and charismatic CJ Craig. Not to mention Josh's put upon assistant Donna, President Bartlett's personal aide, Charlie and his doctor wife Abigail.
The show's story lines ranged from tiny and personal, like CJ's flirtation with reporter Danny Kincannon, (who didn't cheer when they finally got together at the end?) to soap operaish and absurd, like first daughter Zoe's kidnapping, but the show was almost always captivating. I watched the show from pilot to finale, stuck with it thorugh cast changes (Rob Lowe for Joshua Molina, downgrade!), character deaths (Mrs. Laningham, sob!), shift in focus (from the Bartlett White House to the Santos and Vinnick campaigns, which 3 years ahead of time was eerily similar to the 2008 presidential race), time slot changes (Wednesday to Sunday, actually way better, I never had rehearsals on Sunday nights), and I loved 95% of it. There's never been anything before or since like The West Wing.
Oh right, and did you know that in the foyer of the White House Andrew Jackson had a two ton block of cheese?
4 comments:
It was Joshua Malina, with an "A," and I think he was a big step up in acting talent from Rob Lowe!
Trish J.
Oops on the spelling.
Talent wise I'll give you, he's definitely a better actor, but I never cared about Will the way I did Sam, which granted wasn't all his fault.
Also not as good looking. I'm pretty shallow when it comes to my TV actors. They should be pretty.
It certainly didn't help that Will switched to the dark side so soon after getting all excited about being asked to stay on Bartlett's staff.
Seriously. Although one of my favorite episodes is when Will plans Ellie's wedding. That shit is effing hilarious.
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