It is the last West Wing commentary for now and by the end of Season Four we were without Sorkin, Sam and nearly the White House after the events of the THE 25th.
As he predicted four years ago, Bartlet endures the horror of his daughter’s kidnapping.
While the White House deals with the crisis, Toby faces the arrival of his children with a grimness only he can muster (not just about their names) and the President faces the dilemma the only way he can – by standing down in favour of Roseanne’s husband!
The most dramatic series cliffhanger so far, the show has MMM discussing the legality of Leo’s role, the way fathers are depicted on TV and the dramatic possibilities for Season Five (most not taken up). Plus Tony worries whether Emilio Estevez was paid for a flashback scene, Trev names his surprise favourite character and David considers whether there isn’t an obvious kidnapping suspect everyone is overlooking.
Otherwise known as the Laura Dern one. If you hadn’t noticed, the West Wing was never exactly a yuk-fest but this third series episode was more light-hearted than most without cranking up a laugh track.
On the campaign trail, an off-mike quip by the President about his opponent’s brain size seems to do more good than harm. Toby’s heart (and frown) is a-racing when he must dissuade the Poet Laureate from speaking out about landmines and Josh makes the error of contributing to a fan-based website! Horrors!
The MMM team tackles Season Three and key issues like Toby’s seduction technique ( such as it is) life in the aluminum siding business and whether it is a good idea to have a President who is Barbra Steisand’s husband (Crime.. gee I don’t know) Plus, how important is intellect to leadership? Should artists comment on politics and just how crazy are people on the Net? We said it was light but there is a lot to see in this story- the only one to feature two Jurassic Park stars.
Only time for the first part for now – but this was the dramatic opener to Series Two which was made in the shadow of two cliches – the assassination attempt and the flashback show. In the chaos after Rosslyn, the President is down but so is Josh. As the Joint Chiefs contemplate a possible attack by a man called bin Laden, the staff recall how they first came together on the campaign trail when things weren’t too hot and Bartlet speeches came with free jelly. Meanwhile, the President hasn’t signed a note for the VP and his latent health problems may come out…
See how you think the President looks in a hospital gown and catheter. The Mandyville legend begins and the WW does the first of many way back when tales. MMM looks at the 25th Amendment as only three Australians can and examines the epiphanies of three characters.
And Jane Lynch is in it.
The West Wing – you will NEVER forget to sign a note.
MMM Commentary: The West Wing - In the Shadow of the Gunmen, part 1[ 43:17 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (221)
Halfway through Season One and the Bartlet presidency is, to quote Sam Seaborn, “nowhere”.
The President’s inertia has led to a “let’s dangle our feet” mentality that has the team taking on several major issues (gays in the military, electoral contributions ) knowing there isn’t a shot in the chamber.
With that dreaded nemesis, “the piece of paper” floating around and a major drop in the polls, it is time for Leo to have it out with the President.
MMM returns to the West Wing with the first of four Sorkin-era commentaries. Join Trev, Tony and David as they discuss the causes of the President’s plight, what it has to do with THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT and just HOW do you spell his name. We also cover why Mandy left the show via becoming Donna and what it all has to do with Battlestar Galactica.
MMM Commentaries brings you a first in fan-recorded DVD commentaries. The team has put together commentaries for three pilot episodes for what we regard as important and exciting TV series, both old and new.
Please join us and enjoy commentaries for the following pilot episodes on this our Pilot Day.
Stargate SG-1 – Geoff and Trevor disuss the feature length opening episode Children of the Gods Futurama – Trevor and David cram into 22 minutes the entire history of Futurama as they look at Space Pilot 3000
West Wing – David and Geoff ruminate over the finer points of American politics as they look at the imaginatively titled episode Pilot.
