Joho the Blog
An Entry from the Archives

I haven't been able to watch more than a few episodes since the Sorkhism, but now that you mention this pattern, it seems to be at the root of why I hated the new episodes. There was no reason, other than lack of writing talent, to digress into all that discord and forced drama. I want more moments like the one where the President calls Donna’s elementary school teacher, or when the President gives Charlie the Paul Revere knife, or the amazing ending to In Excelsis Deo.

I did see enough of the new episodes to find the exact moment when the show jumped the shark, however. When Josh shook his fist at the capital building and yelled something inane, I knew it was over between me and the West Wing. It’s sad, because I think that some episodes of the West Wing are some of the best things that were ever on TV and I hate that their gone.

OK, why I am venting about West Wing on your Blog? I have no idea.

But David, don't you find it intriguing that Vinick is a pro-choice, environmentalist Republican? Wouldn't it be more fun to reinvent/reposition the GOP with West Wing than to continue with same-o, same-o?

I just can't understand TV's obsession with casting retreads from NYPD Blue (witness David Caruso et al on the truly awful CSI: Miami).

I was thinking about this. What casting choice would get me genuinely excited about another West Wing "administration"? I thought some more, and then I thought: Pam Grier!

If it's a choice between Alan Alda and the other guy, I'd prefer they go with Alda. I can't take four years of Jimmy Smits doing that sad, stoic face.

PS Pam Grier starred in blaxploitation movies in the 70's, and then in the really wonderful Tarantino movie Jackie Brown. She's got great comic timing and I think could do the gravitas.

On the other hand, why not Anna Deveare Smith?
And why do they have Lily Tomlin on the show and *never* use her? Either of them could act circles around many of the "main" characters.

Many TV shows get hollowed out from the middle -- the "stars" simply don't have the acting chops. The show ends up looking like Detroit.

Ok, I'll stop free-associating now...

I think Santos and Vinick should run as a bi-partisan team.

Sorkin's name is Aaron. I too have thought the show has gone downhill since he left.

A few weeks ago I watched my first West Wing ever. BRAVO has it on every night in reruns and I really like it. You get some continuity problems, like assassinating the arab dude after the drama when the assassination was the oblique cause for the president's daughter's kidnapping, but what the heck! Best soap on a rope...

The good news is that I have like six seasons of reruns to see before I catch up with what's current today. By then there will be at least another season or two in the past and I'll be watching re-runs forever. Shades of Zeno's paradox. When does Rob Lowe get the boot?

I'm hoping that show has the sense to end after next season. It's the story of the Bartlett administration, and to keep it going would turn into a mess like AfterM*A*S*H or Galactica 1980.

Besides, do I recall correctly that the standard for TV actors' contracts is that things get messy at the seven-year mark? Considering that they started the series one year into the admistration rather than with its beginning, I suspect that they had the seven year structure in mind from the git-go.

I won't give the writers credit as to the seven year glitch, but instead chock it up to luck. I don't think this group knows where it is going.
It is hard to split an ensemble cast and plate juggle two storylines. They cannot make much happen at the White House as they have to focus on the staff to be elected.
So what we see is the aftermath. Charlie wandering out of Zoe's bedroom. Leo having flashbacks of Cuba in his drinking days. Josh and Toby having a fist fight. Josh and Toby making amends after the fist fight. CJ leaking information to the press, although she is no longer the press secretary. Donna and Josh in the bar talking about the Republican Party and the question "How did you get so smart ?" {DUH}
These are all "dead end" actions which terminate at the next station break and are all but forgotten by the show.
I came to this party late in the game and have seen the shows on Bravo. I hope that this next season is the end. I want to see Santos win and the last installment to be him standing in front of a judge on the capitol steps.
The twelve hours or so of TV time before that can be Bartlett legacy and the drama of setting up a new administration. Then we can free up a great group of actors to do more directing and acting for a very limited amount of shows that are non reality TV.