I've Found The West Wing

[unimatrix7]

Aah Mandyland, home of the forgotten West Wing characters. I find it hilarious that Mandy just disappeared in the middle of a shooting and nobody even asked where she got to.

The disappearing characters and plot-lines was annoying, but that's just the way Sorkin was; he never seemed to plan things out and consequently forgot a lot of the stuff that was going on. That's one of the few good things which happened during the final seasons, the writing staff didn't let quite as many stories just disappears into nothingness. Except that Mr Frost thing, I still don't know what that was about.

One that bothered me...

Spoiler: Season 3 spoiler

The sub plot raised in an early season 3 episode where the possibility existed of the first US case of Mad Cow disease. It was just left hanging, and by the end of the episode it just vanished completely. A throwaway line 'false alarm lol' would be too hard?

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

^^

It was mentioned that Sam was probably going to lose his congressional race and that was it. No information about whether he actually lost. And no information what happened with Sam after that. In fact, when Will Bailey got Sam's job it was explicitly mentioned that he was going to be promoted senior counselor to the president if he loses in California. But instead he simply disappeared from the show and the senior counselor thing wasn't mentioned again either. Sorkin doesn't really seem to know how to write a character out.

In Sorkin's defense on this one small point. The Sam storyline ended in the last episodes of season 4, after that Sorkin was already gone and couldn't add to it.

Yeah, but Sam last appeared in the episode "Red Haven's on Fire" (4x17), while Sorkin didn't leave the show until "Twenty Five" (4x23). Was it really impossible to bring back Rob Lowe for one last episode between 4x17 and 4x23? Or at least it could have been mentioned on screen that he a) lost his congressional race and b) turned down the senior counselor offer.

 

[Mr Light]

Spoiler

I just finished 6X21 and I'm confused about something. Leo is back in the White House, but does he actually have any position? He seems to be there reading books and occasionally talking to the characters, but does he have any authority? Is he just there for moral support and advice?

 

[TheGodBen]

^^^
I don't think he did, he just seemed to do odd jobs like talking to Castro. (Worst episode ever! ) Don't worry, he wont work there for much longer.

 

[Kaych]

Is it just me, or was the music over the ending credits really inappropriate? I mean, like after the Arlington scene in 1x10 or the season 1 finale, it just broke out into that happy music, it was really bizarre .

EDIT: ok, maybe not inappropriate, just out of place

 

[Sci]

Is it just me, or was the music over the ending credits really inappropriate? I mean, like after the Arlington scene in 1x10 or the season 1 finale, it just broke out into that happy music, it was really bizarre .

EDIT: ok, maybe not inappropriate, just out of place

Well, the ends credits music was constant throughout the show, and, really, that's a problem that vexes any show with standard end music -- the possibility that it will be tonally incompatible with a given episode.

Spoiler

I just finished 6X21 and I'm confused about something. Leo is back in the White House, but does he actually have any position? He seems to be there reading books and occasionally talking to the characters, but does he have any authority? Is he just there for moral support and advice?

Spoiler

Spoiler

I believe that Leo was serving as Senior Counselor to the President -- a paid advisor and employee of the Executive Office of the President, but no longer with operational authority over the other employees of the Executive Office.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Is it just me, or was the music over the ending credits really inappropriate? I mean, like after the Arlington scene in 1x10 or the season 1 finale, it just broke out into that happy music, it was really bizarre .

EDIT: ok, maybe not inappropriate, just out of place

I agree. They should have used a more dramatic music and/or something similar to the music in the opening credits. Sometimes it's a bit weird... especially after an episode without a happy ending. Interesting that nobody at the show seemed to see it that way.

The opening credits are good though.

 

[Harvey]

Yeah, but Sam last appeared in the episode "Red Haven's on Fire" (4x17), while Sorkin didn't leave the show until "Twenty Five" (4x23). Was it really impossible to bring back Rob Lowe for one last episode between 4x17 and 4x23? Or at least it could have been mentioned on screen that he a) lost his congressional race and b) turned down the senior counselor offer.

A mention could have been made, but a further appearance was out of the question. Lowe wanted out of the show, and he was let go after finishing his contract in season four (which is why he only appears in 12 episodes that season).

So, Sorkin gets partial credit.

 

[TheGodBen]

Is it just me, or was the music over the ending credits really inappropriate? I mean, like after the Arlington scene in 1x10 or the season 1 finale, it just broke out into that happy music, it was really bizarre .

EDIT: ok, maybe not inappropriate, just out of place

Completely agree, it is particularly jarring at the end of Commencement. That-thing-that-happens-at-the-end-of-season-four just happened, there is a really intense song playing for the last ten minutes, the last shots are of Leo running through the West Wing in panic, and it ended by fading to white which was memorable because they never did that before.

Then there's an incredibly jarring jump to the cheery end credits. Really throws you out of the moment, that is one episode which really needed a darker end credit music or perhaps even none at all.

 

[scorpius1701]

Aah Mandyland, home of the forgotten West Wing characters. I find it hilarious that Mandy just disappeared in the middle of a shooting and nobody even asked where she got to.

I was actually hoping that the last scene of the show would be Mandy stumbling into the Oval Office a disheveled mess growling at everyone and everybody looking guilty about having left her there.

 

[Sci]

Aah Mandyland, home of the forgotten West Wing characters. I find it hilarious that Mandy just disappeared in the middle of a shooting and nobody even asked where she got to.

I was actually hoping that the last scene of the show would be Mandy stumbling into the Oval Office a disheveled mess growling at everyone and everybody looking guilty about having left her there.

:shrugs: I had always assumed that Mandy had been unable to get back into the District once traffic was shut down the night of the shooting, and that she the shooting itself prompted her to resign shortly thereafter during the four months covered by episode 2.03, "The Midterms."

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

I assume that I'm not the first one to observe this, but now that I'm introduced to the actress/character:

Annabeth Schott sounds as if she's on helium!

 

[Sci]

I assume that I'm not the first one to observe this, but now that I'm introduced to the actress/character:

Annabeth Schott sounds as if she's on helium!

Gasp!

You've never encountered the glory that is Kirsten Chenowith before?

She's a fairly well-established actress, though to be fair she's far more famous in theatrical circles for her work on Broadway and off-Broadway than she is in Hollywood.

And while, yes, her speaking voice is very high-pitched, her singing voice is amazing. Just listen to her in the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

You've never encountered the glory that is Kirsten Chenowith before?

Not as far as I can recall... I'm not so much into the Broadway.

 

[IndyJones]

You've never encountered the glory that is Kirsten Chenowith before?

Not as far as I can recall... I'm not so much into the Broadway.

She's pretty smoking on Pushing Daisies too.

 

[Harvey]

Is it just me, or was the music over the ending credits really inappropriate? I mean, like after the Arlington scene in 1x10 or the season 1 finale, it just broke out into that happy music, it was really bizarre .

EDIT: ok, maybe not inappropriate, just out of place

Completely agree, it is particularly jarring at the end of Commencement. That-thing-that-happens-at-the-end-of-season-four just happened, there is a really intense song playing for the last ten minutes, the last shots are of Leo running through the West Wing in panic, and it ended by fading to white which was memorable because they never did that before.

Then there's an incredibly jarring jump to the cheery end credits. Really throws you out of the moment, that is one episode which really needed a darker end credit music or perhaps even none at all.

A darker version of the end credits was used very early in season one, IIRC, but was abandonded thereafter. A shame, really. The tonal shift is often COMPLETELY wrong.

 

[IndyJones]

A darker version of the end credits was used very early in season one, IIRC, but was abandonded thereafter. A shame, really. The tonal shift is often COMPLETELY wrong.

Did the end credits music ever play on NBC?

 

[Christopher]

Did the end credits music ever play on NBC?

Never to my knowledge, though it has sometimes been heard in the reruns on Bravo.

Anyway, I usually hit the mute button when the title music of a show comes on, since I've heard it many times before anyway. It's a good way to avoid that kind of tonal mismatch.

 

[ST-One]

Is it just me, or was the music over the ending credits really inappropriate? I mean, like after the Arlington scene in 1x10 or the season 1 finale, it just broke out into that happy music, it was really bizarre .

EDIT: ok, maybe not inappropriate, just out of place

I see it the same way.
Rome managed a far better musical transition to the end credits.

 

[Josh_Lyman]

My housemate finished the show a few weeks ago and told me to give it a shot and dam, this show has dull the pain of losing BL by giving me a new show to watch, which gives great drama and good comedy. I have just started the 3rd season and I am totally hooked on this show, the characters have been written so well and how they tackle politcal issues in such a serious and funny way reminds me of Boston Legal in so many ways.

The cast interact so well together and my favourite is probably a tie between Josh & The President, who are witty/charming characters with a great sense of humor but also moralilty when it comes to daily issues. Even Toby who is so grumpy has become a warmer character, the longer it goes on but the supporting cast is so strong too, which gives the show a much more greater depth than most others.

Anyone else a fan or watching it at the moment like me. (I might keep this a running thread as I watch it, if wanted)

This is why I love TV, for shows like this.

The West Wing is a great TV show. I think one of the best in TV history.