I’ve become readdicted to NBC’s “The West Wing” this season, just in time to see a new president elected and the series come to an end next month. The Democratic Texas congressman played by Jimmy Smits beat Alan Alda’s Republican California senator to narrowly win the election in last Sunday’s episode, in part, according to a New York Times article, because producers thought it would be overkill for Smits to lose both the election and his running mate (series veteran John Spencer, who died in December and whose character died on election night). I was rooting for Alda, who has been amazingly persuasive playing a moderate Republican buffeted by the conservative forces in his party. When he lost, I thought what many viewers no doubt did — that Hollywood could not bring itself to give a Republican a break.
Something else in the Times story was worthy of praise: why Martin Sheen, the series’ Democratic president for the past seven years and Iraq war critic in real life, recently declined an invitation to run as a Democrat for U.S. Senate in his native Ohio: “I’m just not qualified,” he told Ohioans. “You’re mistaking celebrity for credibility.” Too bad more celebs don’t see it that way.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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9 Comments
I watched a couple of episodes years ago but I never got into it. I guess it is one of those series that you have to watch from day one to get into it.
I tired that with “Commander and Chief” but after the second episode it was a bore. I watched it tell the fouth one then I stopped. Apparently so did everybody else.
There are only three shows I watch religously. That is “24″, “The Wire”, and “The Sapranos”. The last two mention are HBO shows.
That’s pretty much it for me.
One more piece of liberal tripe to the ratings dustbin of history. Commander in Chief will join you soon!
Like others have said, I got a little lost during this shows last two seasons of change- however, I like many have become readdicted and would love to watch it transform itself. How can we save this awesome show?
The West Wing is tripe and offensive tripe at that.
Viva La Raza Blanco!!
Amen Ian! I can honestly say I’ve never watched a single episode. My whole take on this thread is, if you care about the series, you need to get a life.
I like Commander in chief. It is a testament to the acting skills of Sutherland. Though he is actually a liberal, he does a magnificent job of portaying a sinister Republican.
West Wing is no more offensive than those silly “reality shows” and it’s a heck of a lot more thoughtful. It was witty and fast-paced in its first several years and even as it grew a bit more mundane, worth watching most of the time, if only to see the late John Spencer.
West Wing was not a show for a passive audience, however, as unlike so-called reality shows, it forced you to think once in a whle.
The West Wing, for the past seven years, has positioned itself, fantastically in my opinion as a credible alternative, albeit a ficticious one, to the administration that currently occupies the White House. To call it tripe, liberal and offensive, I believe, is naive and unfounded. The show, which is one of the best written dramas out there, questions the power, the politics and the morality of the White House. Yes, at times, the idealism is a bit heavy but please, lets reflect that this is a good thing. A democratic white house that actually ponders the consequences of going to war instead of the gung ho, dangerous attitudes of the current leader of the freeworld. Imagine that. As for the acting, the writing, the pacing and the general packaging of this show – well, it’s a dreadful shame that NBC pulled the plug.
For Ian and the idiot who have never watched this show before, go enjoy your reality shows. First 3 or 4 seasons were great but then I kind of lost interest in college. But I started watching the reruns on Bravo and fell in love with it again. Its not so much a “serial” show as 24, because many of the episodes deal with one main single subject matter (ie. hostages) which is usually reconciled by the end. Last three seasons (after sorkin left)not so good. Only watched last two because the homie Spencer (Rip) passed away. I was really sad.