The West Wing: "Tell your friend POTUS he's got a funny name."

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > TV IV > The West Wing: "Tell your friend POTUS he's got a funny name."

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TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Mandy went off to Mandyland... but Mrs Landingham is critical.

Please don't paint Rob Lowe as a bad guy. They sold the treatment/pilot predicated on his credentials as a leading man. The fact that the series took on a life of its own doesn't make him a bad guy for moving on when Aaron moved on.

TheBigBad fucked around with this message at 05:47 on Jul 7, 2011

# ¿ Jul 7, 2011 05:44

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# ¿ May 22, 2024 06:31

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

bobkatt013 posted:

He left earlier then Aaron. He left midway through the 4th season and Aaron left at the end of the season.

Aaron was having his cocaine meltdown during season 4.

# ¿ Jul 7, 2011 06:08

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

I loved Ainsly. I wish she didn't take the CSI Miami gig. I know its a huge cash cow, but I think it ultimately tanked her promising career.

# ¿ Jul 7, 2011 18:36

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

I think MASH influenced everything that followed it.

# ¿ Jul 8, 2011 09:31

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

What's Sam like after an intern owns him?

# ¿ Jul 9, 2011 22:22

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Squinty posted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ0AsMh6M68

All West Wing fans need to watch The Good Guys. It's on Netflix instant I think.

Well its cancelled and it wasn't very good... so I don't see why.

# ¿ Jul 10, 2011 03:59

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Josh Lyman posted:

Ainsley wasn't an intern when they appeared on Capital Beat.

I was referring to when you guys helped Stackhouse filibuster for his grandkid.

# ¿ Jul 11, 2011 22:41

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Mu Zeta posted:

That scene reminds me of one thing I find annoying about Sorkin's shows. The characters constantly talk about their credentials, their title, their education etc. Mandy talked about how she's cute and has a PhD. Even on Studio 60 some guy constantly talks about how he went to Harvard and one character bitches about online blogs because they aren't real journalists that went to Yale. On Sports Night one guy talks about how he has BA, MA, and JD degrees and Dan talks about how he went to Dartmouth. We get it, you are smart people! Don't need to shove it down my throat.

I'm an admiral in the U.S. Navy and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... Beat that with a stick.

Though I guess you can be smug when you're the Chairman

That just reminds me of life as people run around touting their credentials.

# ¿ Jul 15, 2011 19:18

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Mostly because his characters are smug pricks who are put in situations where their wit is useless and they have to actually work their way out of situations.

# ¿ Jul 16, 2011 02:38

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

General Ironicus posted:

The weird thing about Mrs Landingham was he actress immediately showed up on Scrubs for an episode about accepting death. I have to wonder if that was a bit of corporate synergy.

She left West Wing for Desperate Housewives.

# ¿ Jul 18, 2011 04:03

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Just started Sports Night for the first time. Wow... that pilot is seriously confused. Is it a sit-com? Is it a precursor to West Wing? There's definitely some beautiful set ups and pay offs by Mr. Sorkin. I wonder if I can make it through the next 44 episodes.

# ¿ Jul 26, 2011 02:43

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Its a really good bottle episode, so I watch it and I remember what happened to necessitate it. I'm glad its there and that they took the effort to educate the public.

At work, we had a lot of diversity and anyone and everyone with origins from the middle east, regardless of whether it was Indian, Egyptian, Turkish... no matter how ludicrous had spent weeks walking around almost cowering and avoiding eye contact. Not without reason because every white person I knew and sat in a cubicle next to was pissed. Pissed like OJ got off again pissed.

# ¿ Jul 28, 2011 01:04

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Gravy Jones posted:

Sure you can. And if you get bored of it at least you can occupy yourself by pointing out plots, themes and actors he recycled in the West Wing. There's a lot of them.

It's a great show in it's own right but suffered because a lot of the time what Sorkin was trying to do just didn't fit into the format. Especially some of those "beautiful set ups and pay offs". It's a lot more difficult to earn them (if that's the right way of putting it) in such a short span of time. On top of that you have a subject matter that is somewhat limited in terms of dramatic pay-offs.

For me Studio 60 suffered from the same problem. I mean I know a lot of people had plenty of problems with it, but overall I enjoyed the show. The environment of the show just didn't provide a good match for the weighty plots Sorkin likes to toss around and play with. So you end up with some fairly stupid stuff shoe-horned into a dramedy about a comedy show. Three episode arcs about kidnapped soldiers simply don't make sense in the context of the show, it's like a "derail". Especially in the shadow of The West Wing where these kind of high stake plots make more sense.

I'm hoping "More As This Story Develops" works better and you can kind of have the best of both worlds. The behind the scenes stuff that works from his previous shows coupled with an environment where weighty subject matter makes more sense.

I loved Studio 60. Its cancellation is up there with Firefly for me. But I was a rabid West Wing/Friends fan so this makes sense. Sorkin is definitely my favorite writer.

# ¿ Jul 28, 2011 17:38

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

zakharov posted:

I got the impression that the writers/actors thought Allison Janney's Jackal schtick was a lot funnier than it really was.

Its not funny- its cool. Stop outing yourselves.

# ¿ Jul 28, 2011 17:53

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

mr. unhsib posted:

Hahah, right.

Chandler Bing stars in everything, Mathew Perry just cashes the check. BING!

# ¿ Jul 28, 2011 20:32

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Finished Sports Night. Talk about an unceremonious ending. Seemed like they tried to wrap up as many loose ends as possible at the latest possible minute.

I think my favorite storyline was the original Tery Polo arc.

# ¿ Aug 8, 2011 18:10

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

"I'm thinking about getting a dog. Golden Retriever"

# ¿ Aug 14, 2011 17:39

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

He was in and out of rehab and then wrote his last season before he left from what I remember. He also couldn't deliver scripts on time and couldnt let go of the controls. He was also best friends with the other executive producers and still is.

# ¿ Aug 16, 2011 20:19

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

myron_cope posted:

Ah, I thought the cocaine stuff was pre-WW.

edit: And I'd heard the stuff about Lowe being the "star" of the show as initially planned and then it becoming more of an ensemble, but I wasn't sure if his actual departure was planned from the start of season 4 or if one day he just said gently caress it and left or something.

He wanted out as the cast negotiated higher salaries but the studio wouldn't budge on his salary. (Allegedly he still made more per episode than anyone else). At the end of the third season, everyone publicly confirmed his leaving during the 4th, and that he would do 16 episodes of that season arc. So they knew through hiatus and during the 4th season exactly how long Sam was gonna stick around.

To his credit, Rob is the kind of actor who LOVES his characters. He loves Sam Seaborn and talks about him affectionately all the time.

# ¿ Aug 16, 2011 21:01

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

OSheaman posted:

Remember The Lyon's Den? Hahahaha, me neither, thanks Rob.

He turned down McDreamy on Greys Anatomy.

# ¿ Aug 17, 2011 02:54

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Mu Zeta posted:

Studio 60 shows that Sorkin can hold a grudge for a long time.

Clearly it should have gone on for half a decade or more, but those drat dirty viewers wouldn't tune in.

# ¿ Aug 17, 2011 09:24

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Theres a reason I loved Harriet Hayes so much, and that reason is Kristen. (Also Sarah Paulson is spot on in just about everything she does).

# ¿ Aug 17, 2011 19:22

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

I'm Aaron's biggest fan, and his behavior at the Emmy's was pretty reprehensible... even if that's what they all agreed to ahead of time.

# ¿ Aug 17, 2011 22:59

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Dancingthroughlife posted:

What year? Was his speech too self-serving or what?

52nd Primetime Emmys (2000). He didn't have really anything to say because he had said everything earlier and Rick Cleveland looked like he wanted to say something. His body language was dismissive (his back was to Rick) and he just filled time for no good reason and then escorted Rick off.

I was probably pissed that Joss didn't win that year too though.

# ¿ Aug 18, 2011 06:05

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

It was actually excellent at the time. I re-watched it this year and its worth going through. Sutherland is fantastic, his Chief of Staff is a young still thin Natasha Hendridge who I could stare at for hours on end, Geena's Cheif of Staff is really solid. The only real annoying part is the arc of the First Gentlemen. Watching a castrated man waffle about in gender roles seems good on paper but its mind numbingly stupid in execution.

# ¿ Aug 18, 2011 19:41

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

thrawn527 posted:

edit: ^^^ drat you.

According to this, which should hardly count as a definitive anything, she and Aaron Sorkin both decided her character had run it's course, and Donna was a better foil for Josh. Which sounds like bullshit, but I can see Aaron Sorkin thinking that. Just not Moira Kelley agreeing.

I've also heard she didn't test well with focus groups, and Donna did. Donna was made a regular in the second season, so it would make sense.

I think Aaron never used her properly. She is in fact the best snarky bitch ever. See Cutting Edge.

# ¿ Aug 18, 2011 22:25

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

She was the best media consultant on the planet evidently. An infallible in house pundit. Meaning she would be able to tell you how the media would react, and the first season the White House was rounding their first year in office having accomplished very little (as they so often do). It became more and more important to get the will of the people on their side so they could get things done. They simply gave CJ her expertise and she became useless.

# ¿ Aug 18, 2011 22:49

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Studio 60 is so much better with Harriet as Kristen Chenowith.

# ¿ Aug 20, 2011 05:03

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

MikeJF posted:

Although that misses out the best bit, which is Toby's expression when she first swaggers up singing about how sexy she is. Confused and just a wee bit turned on.

Allison Janey could have you or anyone else she set her mind to having. Her sexy is in her brain.

# ¿ Aug 23, 2011 08:32

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

thrawn527 posted:

Since season 1 was never aired in widescreen, I assume they shot it with full screen in mind. Watching it in widescreen, are there any screw ups in the edges of the screen they didn't bother cutting out since they were showing in full screen? Boom mikes or anything like that?

Is it awkward watching it in widescreen when that's not how they shot it? Is it basically everything crowded in the middle, with useless stuff on the edges?

(Please note I have been a huge proponent of widescreen since before widescreen TVs became the norm. Been defending black bars for years. I'm just curious how it works here, when they shot it without thinking it would ever be in widescreen.)

No but the composition is very center mass most of the time. Occasionally the wide screen adds something to it but its few and far between.

# ¿ Aug 24, 2011 16:35

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Charlie and Mrs. Landingham!

# ¿ Aug 31, 2011 06:55

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

I'm sticking to mrs landingham, because you can yell at a cat as much as you can yell at her. Or at least with the same effectiveness.

# ¿ Aug 31, 2011 16:06

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

El Grillo posted:

One of the best scenes in the series, and an incredibly poignant comment on the state of warfare in the modern world.

Also that improv (I assume) at the beginning is awesome.

Sorkin wouldnt give up writing credit for that gold.

# ¿ Sep 1, 2011 18:22

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

There is nothing more humbling than the moment the president gives Charlie the carving knife. Nothing.

# ¿ Sep 6, 2011 09:57

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

What is he sobbing about?

# ¿ Sep 12, 2011 03:30

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Ur Getting Fatter posted:

I'm going through the show for the first time, and midway through season 4 I'm struck by how much the Bartlet adminisitration touts its own horn about its accomplishments but we don't really see them recognized by other characters. It really seems like Bartlet's reelection is won over more because of his ability to charm the electorate than through actual policy victories.

Wait til you see 2012's results.

# ¿ Sep 30, 2011 08:40

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

myron_cope posted:

I really don't like how Bartlet says "we've got a doctrine" *fist pump*. That scene just annoys me. I think it's when they make Will the deputy?

Yeah it was Inaguration: part two in the fourth season

# ¿ Oct 6, 2011 07:14

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

tissue paper thin pastrami.

# ¿ Oct 9, 2011 22:56

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Exi7wound posted:

Worst gimmick in the show?

"The Jackal". Hands down. What the gently caress is -that- all about?

Its about the sexiest thing you've ever seen. What are you? A quaker?

# ¿ Oct 16, 2011 18:34

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# ¿ May 22, 2024 06:31

TheBigBad: Feb 28, 2004; Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule.

Exi7wound posted:

Yeah... no. It's not. Especially since it's before Allison had that giant gap fixed.

SO missionary only for the future Mrs, eh?

# ¿ Oct 16, 2011 18:40

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > TV IV > The West Wing: "Tell your friend POTUS he's got a funny name."

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