Kids, I know we’re crotch-deep into the new fall television season, but we wanted to do something else to not only highlight one of our favorite programs of the recent past, but to have Ivey stop complaining about the cancellation of According to Jim. Over the next week, we’re going to highlight The West Wing with a number of well-thought, comprehensive articles. Or, whatever we can dig up on the Interweb.
So, you might be asking yourself this question while walking down a hall muttering references to ancient Roman law: Why The West Wing? Basically, it was one of the best written and acted dramas in recent history. Not because it was rife with left-leaning politics, or religion, or social commentary; though the show was rife with liberal politics, religion, and social commentary. Even if you stripped that all away, it was still one of the best acted written and acted dramas.
On the writing side, the credit can go to Aaron Sorkin, who helped pen a majority of episodes during four of the show’s seven seasons. With fast-paced chatter littered with both pop and political references, Sorkin made the West Wing of the White House seem more like a family gathering, rather than a place where the fate of the free world hangs in the balance every single minute. Though, there was plenty of that balance hanging in the show’s history.
On the acting side, the credit goes to … well, everyone! From Martin Sheen as President Jeb Bartlet, to Rob Lowe as Deputy Director of Communications Sam Seaborn, to Dulé Hill as Charlie Young, as well as everyone else; the acting on The West Wing was rarely poor. Even the A-List guest stars who popped up on the show — Mary Louise Parker, Ron Silver, Mathew Perry, John Goodman, Alan Alda … among many — were given the best treatment when it came to characterization.
There’s another reason why The West Wing is one of our favorite programs: we probably won’t see this type of drama again. Oh, we’ll have great dramas like Mad Men and Breaking Bad as long as television exists. But, there was a “once in a generation” feeling to West Wing that made it click with the viewer as soon as they saw Sam leaving the future Dr. Cuddy because POTUS had a bike accident. It was was the feeling that fans of ER had as soon as they saw Dr. Green sobering up a drunk Doug Ross in the first episode of the series.
Sure, West Wing had its faults. Sometimes it was a bit too preachy when it came to politics (depending on who was writing it). Other times, the volume of the characters’ knowledge made you feel like a total idiot. Then there was the complaint that the dialogue sped by so fast that you missed something. But, other than those, West Wing was a show that worked from beginning to end.
So, in the next seven days we’re going to present some character profiles, some flashbacks, and some Blow the Hatch moments on The West Wing. We’re even going to hear from folks who never watched the series. During this time we’d like to hear from you as well about what was good and bad about the series. That’s why CliqueClack TV is here, isn’t it?
Clacked by Richard Keller 
on Sep 25, 2009 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
One of my, if not the, all time favorite shows. There was only one story line I absolutely hated: Toby betraying the President. It was so completely out of character and I could have seen it coming from Josh (not intentionally but as was typical for the character as an impetuous act ). Most memorable story line for me was Mrs Laningham’s death.
Its real simple. In my head, it was all about Barlett and Toby working in collusion to leak the info.
I agree, no one likes Toby’s betraying the president. It would have made more sense if he leaked the info FOR the president because the president wanted to save the guys but the military was against the idea. Still Toby should have just left the show and went on to teach somewhere. Several of the storylines were rather silly later in the show. However the amount of stories that came somewhat true during the last election was scary. :)
The whole MS storyline about how slowly it came out and how Toby found out was some of the best TV ever.
I want to state, for the record, that I’ve never watched According to Jim.
At least I don’t think so :)
I always would stop every scene and rewind if I didn’t get every word or the dialogue, since I loved it all– a source of contention with my husband, who said it was all about feeling it and the rolling scenes, and you weren’t meant to hear every word. Either way, I loved it! (Though in my opinion, the Sorkin years were the best…)
I agree, i just pretend the election years were a spinoff, because when it dealt with the elections, and not a space shuttle with a laser on it, or a stupid Iraq war, it was superb.