Hey Lounge--what's your opinion of the show "The West Wing"?

[Arkana]

I just got the first season of it off of iTunes while looking for something to watch...and I was wondering how the show was in the early seasons--since the Santos/Vinick race had the best episodes.

[tigereye]

1. loved it!

miss it - I would really like to see all those episodes again! I think it was better in the early days, actually. The Capra style quick smart dialogue is stellar. I used to rewind parts just to see the clever dialogue again.

[Lyric]

2. Oh god--my favorite show of all time.

I actually liked the earlier episodes better than the Santos/Vinick stuff.

My dearest wish is to get them all on DVD again. We had them a while back, but had to sell during a period of hard times, and I miss them so much. I keep looking out for somebody selling them used at a really good price. :hug:

[pokerfan]

3. great show, but....

it was annoying to see Sorkin reuse gags that he had used on Sports Night. But that's only an issue for Sports Night fans.

[bigwillq]

4. I never watched a full episode.

My sister says I would love it. She has all the DVDs.

[charlie and algernon]

10. Watch the first two christmas episodes

In Excelsis Deo
Noel


they will get you hooked.

[bigwillq]

14. I watched parts of In Excelsis Deo

I think. Was that the one when Yo-Yo Ma was in it? :shrug:

[charlie and algernon]

20. no, that was Noel

You should probably watch In the Shadow of Two Gunman parts I and II to get the full effect of Noel.

[sarge43]

22. Nope, that one is when Toby stands up for the dead, homeless vet.

Brings tears.

[Lavender Brown]

5. I think the early seasons were really good

The writing is great. Some of the later storylines might be hard to follow without watching the first few seasons.

[femmocrat]

6. I loved the earlier stuff, too.

I kind of lost interest in it about mid-run. It was actually a couple of women characters that ruined it for me: Marlee Matlin's character, Mary Louise Parker (the woman could not enunciate!), and that Ainsley (repuke) character.

I loved the original cast throughout.

[Catch22Dem]

15. I loved Matlin's character

She was so witty, and the banter between she and Josh had enough energy to fill a room.

I love Mary Louise Parker in Weeds. I liked her character on WW, but again, mainly for the banter between she and Josh.

[auntAgonist]

7. one of my most favourite shows to date.

[Catch22Dem]

8. Oh my, if you think the last season had the best episodes, you're in for the time of your life!

Enjoy. That's all I have to say. By the time you watch the first few seasons, the last season will bore the shit out of you.

Wait until the season 3 finale called "Posse Comitatus" with Mark Harmon. One of my favorites.

[Arkana]

39. I particularly enjoyed Bartlett schooling the arrogant evangelicals in the pilot.

I literally shouted "YES!"

[tigereye]

43. I think of that scene when I really want our candidates to skewer the

sanctimonious Reps.


I love it!

[charlie and algernon]

9. if you liked the Santos/Vinick episodes, you'll LOVE the early eps

some of the episodes in the first two seasons are some of the greatest hours of television of all time.

From Season 1:
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
The Crackpots and these Women
Mr. Willis from Ohio
In Excelsis Deo - GREAT!
TAKE THIS SABBATH DAY - AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!


From Season 2:
Shibboleth
NOEL - AMAZING!!!!!!!!
Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail
17 People - AMAZING!!!!!!!
18th and Potomac
TWO CATHEDERALS - GREATEST. HOUR. EVER.

[Catch22Dem]

13. How could I forget "Two Cathedrals"?

Another one of my favorites is when Leo is testifying and is recalling the story about Bartlett collapsing on the campaign trail. It's all about the MS and the subtext is Leo's alcoholism. I loved how that Republican lawyer (the one dating Donna) stopped the line of questioning of that slimeball repuke lobbiest turned senator (or rep) and broke for the holidays.

Son of a bitch, that was a great episode!

[charlie and algernon]

17. That's an incredible episode

His monologue explaining the debate night is so powerful. When I heard John Spencer died, I put in that episode, easily his finest work.

"He makes it his own, like it's an extension of his body. You ever see a pitcher work the mound so the dirt does exactly what his feet want it to do? That's the President. He sees it as a genuine opportunity to change minds, also as his best way of contributing to the team. He likes teams. I love him so much."

Then it gets good...

[sarge43]

26. When he gets in God's face about the raw deal he's been handed.

Sheen was absolutely amazing because he's a devout Catholic. "To the cross with You!" That's acting to go against the grain like that.

[elshiva]

11. Wonderful show.

:)

buffy/

[Aristus]

12. One of the best TV shows ever. Hands down.

Watch the episode "In Excelsis Deo" from the first season. If you are not crying by the end, you are probably dead. Astonishing character play. Any of the first four seasons puts the last two seasons to shame. It was my wife's favorite series too, and she's a Republican! She appreciates good writing and superb acting.

She asked me once why they couldn't make a similar series about a conservative President. I told her: "He would cut taxes for the rich and kill lots of brown-skinned people in a country that is no threat to us. That's the first fifteen minutes of the pilot episode. End of series right there." She thought a minute, laughed, and agreed with me.

edited to correct the title of the episode.

[Catch22Dem]

16. They already make one. It's called 24.

HAHAHA.

[Catch22Dem]

18. Great quote from your episode

President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet: Toby, If we start pulling strings like this don't you think every homeless vet is going to start crawling out of the woodwork?

Toby Ziegler: I can only hope so, sir.

[Aristus]

24. That's the line that makes me cry!

Especially moving, since my patients are all homeless...

[sarge43]

34. Oh yes. n/t

[MissMillie]

19. I *heart* the West Wing w/ a capital "H"

I own all 7 seasons on DVD

[sarge43]

21. If you think the final season was good, wait until you watch

Two Cathedrals

[MissMillie]

23. probably the best 60 minutes of television

EVER!!!!!!

[charlie and algernon]

25. Gratias tibi ago, Domine

:chills:

[sarge43]

28. Yup. Thanks a lot, Daddy

And the long walk with Bothers in Arms in background

It just doesn't get better.

[Aristus]

27. Aaron Sorkin took such an enormous risk writing a scene where a character

calls God to account. It was right out of the Book of Job. Sorkin had to write that scene in Latin; if Bartlet had spoken those lines in English, it would have been the last episode. Every single advertiser would have pulled out. The lines Bartlet spoke in English were shocking enough. We live in such a touchy country when it comes to discussions about religion.

Most TV is bad, or just mediocre because writers, directors and producers just don't have the balls to take risks like that. They want safe, tame, harmless and inoffensive, and that's not worth watching.

[charlie and algernon]

29. Sorkin probably handled religion in the best way possible

He explores and delves into people's faith in a touching and personal way. Look at any of the religious episodes, they are always the best ones: In Excelsis Deo, Take This Sabbath Day, Noel, Two Cathederals, In God We Trust.

[Aristus]

30. I think he is a master of handling delicate topics like religion.

Unfortunately, it was the "Jesus Christ" episode of "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip" that threw my wife into a rage, vowing we would never watch it again.

[charlie and algernon]

31. which one was that one?

[Catch22Dem]

33. I loved that show...which episode?

Crazy Christians was a repeating theme on that. I'm not sure which Jesus Christ episode.

[lildreamer316]

32. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED IT.

If not my fave of all time; at least in my top three.

[sarge43]

35. Some great comic moments, too.

Bartlett getting loaded on pain pills "Give me a hug, Toby." Toby about jumping out of his skin.

Josh taking on the Washington Press Corps and being reduced to ground round.

Josh getting sucked into the lemonlime.com loony bin.

CJ: If you ever post there again, I'm going to stick a motherboard so far up your ass...

Josh: But .....

CJ: SO FAR UP YOUR ASS!!

[Catch22Dem]

37. Ahh yes, the secret plan to fight inflation

Josh Lyman: Uh, long story short you're going to be reading a bit today about your secret plan to fight inflation.
President Josiah Bartlet: I have a secret plan to fight inflation?
Josh Lyman: No.
President Josiah Bartlet: Why am I going to be reading that I do?
Josh Lyman: It was suggested in the press room that you do.
President Josiah Bartlet: By who?
Josh Lyman: By me.
President Josiah Bartlet: You told the press I have a secret plan to fight inflation?
Josh Lyman: No, I did not. Let me be absolutely clear I DID NOT do that. Except yes, I did that.
President Josiah Bartlet: Josh, I'm a little confused.
Josh Lyman: Sir, there was this idiotic round robin. It was sarcastic! There's no way they didn't know that. They were just mad at me for imposing discipline and calling them stupid!

[sarge43]

38. Toby: Mr President, as much as we enjoy you slapping Josh around .... n/t

[Beaverhausen]

36. Best show ever. Even better than St. Elsewhere

and I loved St. Elsewhere.

[huskerlaw]

40. If you liked Santos/Vinick, you LOVE the first 4 seasons.

The final 3 were crap in comparison. Seriously. It's the best TV show ever, in my opinion.

[PVnRT]

41. Fucking right-wing propaganda nonsense

:hide:

[hippywife]

42. The earlier seasons were the best one. n/t