"West Wing"

[merpk]

Feeling like a weirdo, as I guess everyone in America's seen this before, but saw this show for the first time tonight (middle-of-the-night Saturday night showing). Wow. Compelling stuff. First TV show I've seen in years that was so compelling.

Then again, it's the first TV show I've seen in years ... :LOL

[kama'aina mama]

My favorite show for the past few years. The first couple seasons are dynomite. (Probably what you saw on Bravo) Then they started losing some of the creative staff and this season they have replaced Aaron Sorkin (the creator) with some guy who used to run ER... and not even the super first season ER... like 3rd or 4th season, starting to slide ER... and it shows. In the first two seasons they went with the radical idea that the audience was smart, could keep up waith fast paced dialogue and didn't need every important plot point repeated three times. Now they are treating us like morons and using title cards and explaining every little thing. They are also allowing the previously interesting and exciting characters degenerate into dumb cartoons of their former selves. But I still can't stop watching it.

[stayinghome]

I dsicovered this show this year, and we try and watch it whenever possible. I totally hear you about the downslide though- we've been watching the re-runs and they are AWESOME!! Rob Lowe alone makes it soooooooooo worth it.... Of course the pres. is a hottie too!!

[hvl25]

I started watching this year too. I think I used to watch Dawsons Creek and Felicity when it was on

[merpk]

How do you know if you're seeing an older episode or a new one?

We don't have cable, no Bravo network, so saw it on one of the regular networks. I don't even know what channel I saw it on, hope I can find it again next Saturday night ...





&in re "the pres being a hottie," when I worked in the NYC courts, way back when, saw Martin Sheen there a few times, making court appearances after a few anti-nuke protests (he'd been arrested). Looked very old then, truth be told, he looks much younger now ... how do they do that? But he was an absolute gentleman, respectful of the process & all that ...

[kama'aina mama]

Ah, carbon dating episodes.... well, gosh, CJ's hair alone! LOL

Okay, cast wise, the first big change was the early introduction (like two or three episodes into first season) of Moira Kelly in some sort of poorly defined job involving PR. (Moira Kelly is basically a very cute little button nosed dark haired Irish type if you don't know her by sight.)

First season also involved a few plots revolving around Sam (Rob Lowe) dating a call girl/ law student with long dark hair.

Second season Moira Kelly vanished, they started talking about re-election and MS. They brought in Marlee Matlin. (Hurrah!!!)

Also late first season John Amos started a recurring role as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs FitzWallace and a bit after that Anna Devere Smith as the Natn'l Security Advisor.

Third season Mrs Landingham is no longer the Presidents secretary and Lily Tomlin takes over eventually, early fourth season, I think.

Late third/ early fourth season Rob Lowe is gone and Josh Molina comes in. Less useful but of interest is who is the VP. They don't show him much but the first three seasons it was whats-'is-name from Animal House... Boone? Now it is the guy from Office Space who is getting more screen time so far.

Are you sure it was Sat night? It usually airs on Wedns night, at... probably 9pm your time. In my area Bravo has the syndication and runs it all week in the evening some time. Maybe a broadcast channel has the re-runs in your market. If you tell me what the meat of the episode was I can (shamefully) probably tell you the season and possibly even the title.

[scbegonias]

DH is addicted to West Wing...I prefer the earlier seasons. We catch reruns in syndication on the WB on the weekends.

[Graceoc]

Ok....I'll admit it we got dd's name from the charater Ainsley Hays that was on the show last season???or the season before that - she is on CSI Miami now......

[Sustainer]

How can you tell if it's an old one or a new one? Well, if it's fantastic, it's an old one. If it sucks, it's a new one. It has really gone down the toilet since Aaron Sorkin left. I watch the old ones Mon - Thur at 7 on Bravo -- in fact I tape them. The new ones are on NBC Wed at 9 (here, at least).

[merpk]

:LOL

Kama, don't be ashamed, dear. I can do the same with the Original Series and the Next Generation of "Star Trek," and in ten seconds or less, too ...

So our dear kama'aina mama is a WingHead. Or is it a Winger? WingNut? WingCrane?

:LOL




Okay, bad jokes, I know. Naughty me. :handslap Now back to "West Wing" ...








India and Pakistan are getting nasty with each other, the press is about to spill it that Leo (who is he, the WH chief of staff, I think?) is an alcoholic or recovering drug addict or something along those lines, and in the middle of this, the President's Secret Service agent has asked the Pres if he can date his daughter Zoe (great name).










And to complete the post's circle with a Star Trek reference, I think the particular Secret Service agent is the same actor who plays the resident Vulcan on Star Trek Voyager, but since that show never really addicted me (they're all TOS or TNG retreads, IMHO) I can't say for certain.

[Sustainer]

I like WingNut.

I am also a Trekkie. (Not a Trekker -- that to me means TNG) -- I am an Original Series Trekkie.

[abranger]

I just got the complete first season on DVD for my birthday! Anyone know when the rest of the seaons will be released?

Amy

[kama'aina mama]

Yeah, I'm a Wing Nut! :LOL


Okay, first off the dashing young Charlie is the Presidents "body man", ie personal assistant, not Secret Service. Played by the talented and charming Dule Hill (accent ague over the e, pronounced due-lay) he was introduced in episode 3, season 1. I do not believe he has any Star Trek credits. The episode you saw was "Lord John Marbury" Season one, Ep 11. The British fellow is a guest star. A good episode from the very good first season. This was also John Amos' first appearance as FitzWallace. It's curious because I am watching occasionally on Bravo and they are deep on Season 3.

[Graceoc]

Actually he is not a SS agent - he is the presidents personal assistant. ... that is not this season, maybe the last or the one before???

[Sustainer]

Can somebody do me a favor? My stupid computer won't load bravotv.com

I want to know when the episode "20 Hours in America" is going to be shown. You have to click on West Wing on the pull down menu and then click on Schedule.

I thought it was going to be tonight at 7 -- that would follow their usual pattern -- but instead they played an older one. I think what they're doing is playing all the xmas ones today in a marathon or something.

I'm trying to tape them in order, so I want to know when they're going to start showing the season 4 episodes (they just finished up season 3 last night). "20 Hours in America" is the season 4 premiere.

TIA!

[kama'aina mama]

Dev, yer lucky I luv ya! I think they are calling it "Manchester" based on it's place in the order and that it is, indeed, a two part episode.
Thu, December 11 11:00 AM The West Wing
Stirred



Thu, December 11 12:00 PM The West Wing
Enemies Foreign and Domestic



Thu, December 11 7:00 PM The West Wing
Bartlet For America



Thu, December 11 9:00 PM The West Wing
In Excelsis Deo



Thu, December 11 10:00 PM The West Wing
Noel



Thu, December 11 11:00 PM The West Wing
Bartlet For America



Fri, December 12 11:00 AM The West Wing
Enemies Foreign and Domestic



Fri, December 12 12:00 PM The West Wing
The Black Vera Wang



Fri, December 12 7:00 PM The West Wing
Noel



Fri, December 12 11:00 PM The West Wing
Noel



Mon, December 15 11:00 AM The West Wing
The Black Vera Wang



Mon, December 15 12:00 PM The West Wing
We Killed Yamamoto



Mon, December 15 7:00 PM The West Wing
Manchester, Part I



Mon, December 15 10:30 PM The West Wing




Mon, December 15 11:00 PM The West Wing
Manchester, Part I



Tue, December 16 11:00 AM The West Wing
We Killed Yamamoto



Tue, December 16 12:00 PM The West Wing
Posse Comitatus



Tue, December 16 7:00 PM The West Wing
Manchester, Part I



Tue, December 16 11:30 PM The West Wing
Manchester, Part II



Wed, December 17 11:00 AM The West Wing
Posse Comitatus



Wed, December 17 12:00 PM The West Wing
The West Wing Special Episode



Wed, December 17 7:00 PM The West Wing
Ways and Means



Wed, December 17 11:00 PM The West Wing
Ways and Means



Thu, December 18 11:00 AM The West Wing
The West Wing Special Episode



Thu, December 18 12:00 PM The West Wing
Pilot



Thu, December 18 7:00 PM The West Wing
On the Day Before



Thu, December 18 11:00 PM The West Wing
On the Day Before



Fri, December 19 11:00 AM The West Wing
Pilot



Fri, December 19 12:00 PM The West Wing
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

[merpk]

You're right, Dule Hill is not Tim Russ. Who, my google search informs me, is the actor who plays "Tuvok" on "Voyager."

Just being thorough.

[abranger]

Happy to see another Star Trek and West Wing fan. The only 2 hours of TV we watch aroudn here. ...wish they weren't on the same night though

checkout the link in my sign to see our halloween costumes. The Star Trek geek family

amy

[Sustainer]

kama'aina mama, thank you!

Unfortunately, Manchester parts 1 & 2 was the premiere of season 3. The next episode I need is 20 Hours in America. I wonder when on earth they're going to start showing season 4?? :

[kama'aina mama]

Dev... ah..... Sorry for the bum steer. I looked at the schedule to the end of the year and did not see "20 Hours". Now that you put the question that way, since they are only in the middle of season 5 right now it is very possible that season 4 was not part of the syndication package.