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May 25, 2013

arnold vinick

TV Squad Ten: Events from The West Wing that wouldn't really happen

by Brad Trechak, posted Jul 16th 2009 2:04PM

The West Wing on DVDAs I mentioned before, I recently completed my summer project of watching the entire series of The West Wing from start to finish. After using a month or so to cogitate, I decided that while the show feign realism, it didn't quite achieve the mark.

Many of the events I refer to occurred after creator Aaron Sorkin was ousted from the series. I take that as more than coincidence.

Major spoilers for the show follow after the jump, so if you haven't seen it yet, turn back now.

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Is the real election following a West Wing script?

by Bob Sassone, posted Feb 21st 2008 2:33PM

Jimmy Smits/Barack Obama

Were The West Wing writers psychic or just very clever in their reading of the political landscape?

Several writers, including Stephen Siilver at NorthStarWriters.com, have noticed that the current Presidential election is very similar to the election that The West Wing had in its final season and a half. The show had a Democrat that inspired people by his speeches but didn't have much experience (Matt Santos), a Republican from the West that even liberals liked because he wasn't too far right (Arnold Vinick), and a candidate that had already been in the White House as a VP (Bob Russell). Does that sound like Barack Obama, John McCain, and Hillary Clinton?

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The Five: Secondary characters I'd like to see in their own shows

by Bob Sassone, posted May 9th 2006 9:17AM

Roger - American DadCreating a show for a secondary character can be a tricky thing. For every Frasier there are five A Man Called Hawks. It usually just doesn't work, because a character that is brilliant as a supporting character can completely fail in the lead role (all the things that make a secondary character great often disappear when they are thrust into the lead). But here are some characters on current shows I wouldn't mind seeing in their own shows. If the writing is good (and the new supporting cast supports them like they supported the people on their show), it could be worth doing:

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The West Wing: The Last Hurrah

by Bob Sassone, posted Apr 30th 2006 9:18PM

Alan Alda(S07E20) Hmmm...you would think they would leave a title like "The Last Hurrah" for the last episode of the series (it's not, the title of that episode is "Tomorrow"), but it fit this one. This was a very solid episode. I usually don't like the episodes that are almost all Vinick and new administration-oriented, but this one was great. Alan Alda is a flawless actor, and it's terrific to see what Vinick is going through now that he's lost. And another nice touch? Using the older characters of Amy and Ron to sort of bridge the old cast and the new cast.

While Santos is busy as hell (he and the new First Lady have to decide what school their kids should go to, Houston or D.C.), Vinick finds himself with nothing to do.

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The West Wing: Requiem

by Bob Sassone, posted Apr 16th 2006 9:59PM

West Wing(S07E18) Now this was the type of episode longtime West Wing viewers were hoping for. If you had asked me what should happen in the Leo's funeral episode and who should be in the episode, this is what I would have done. The montage at the beginning of the episode showed everyone getting ready for the funeral - President Barlet, Josh, Toby, C.J., Donna, etc - and then showed all of the people at the church. Sure, it was jarring not to have Sam there (Rob Lowe isn't back yet), but you really can't complain when you have Mallory, Nancy McNally, Carol, Margaret, Hoynes, Russell, Joey Lucas, Danny and everyone else. Nice touch having Toby stay in the church til everyone leaves and Charlie offering to walk out with him.

I was a little afraid they'd rush though the Leo memories and shove in the whole Santos plot, but that didn't happen. You had to show what was going on with the Santos plot (life does go on after all), and it was a nice balance of the old and the new.

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The West Wing: Election Day, Part II

by Bob Sassone, posted Apr 9th 2006 9:22PM

John Spencer(S07E17) This must have been the hardest episode for the cast to film. How do you even go about filming the onscreen death of a beloved character when the equally beloved castmate also died in real life?

NBC is fond of calling their comedies "Must See TV." But this was truly the one must see episode of any NBC show in quite a while. Leo dies, and the election goes down to the wire, all in one episode. Must see, but not handled as well as it could have been. Some good scenes with Josh, and some nice moments in the White House between Bartlett and C.J., but they really should have given Margaret more to do, get more of a reaction from her besides one shot of stoic tears.

And...no Toby?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

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The West Wing: Welcome To Wherever You Are

by Bob Sassone, posted Mar 26th 2006 9:09PM

Jon Bon JoviBefore I get into the review, a couple of questions. One, where is John Spencer? Supposedly he filmed several episodes before he passed away, but he hasn't been in it much at all.

Second, Jon Bon Jovi is not only the guest star, the episode title comes from one of his songs. Um, is Bon Jovi still a big star?

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West Wing actor John Spencer dead at 58 - BREAKING NEWS

by Kim Voynar, posted Dec 16th 2005 6:26PM

John SpencerThe West Wing star John Spencer, who played Leo McGarry, died today in a Los Angeles hospital of a heart attack, according to his publicist. Spencer played Chief of Staff to Martin Sheen's President Jeb Bartlet. On the show, ironically, Spencer's character suffered a heart attack that forced him to give up his White House gig. In a main storyline this season, though, his character had been tapped as a vice-presidential running mate for Democratic hopeful Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits.

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