josh and donna

Yesterday, Slate posted a great article by Kate Arthur about how poorly TV shows treat sexual tension between characters. In the article, Arthur mentions every major TV couple that's teased us with their constant "will they or won't they?" games over the last thrity years, from Sam and Diane to Mulder and Scully.

The jump-off point for the article is the recent West Wing episode where longtime flirts Josh and Donna first kissed, then had sex. Twice. Took 'em long enough, right? I mean, the show's been on for seven years, for Pete's sake. But they're willful teenagers compared to some of the other couples that Arthur examines in the article. She even includes couples that do hook up, like Luke and Lorelai of Gilmore Girls, giving the added twist that they are being kept at arm's length from each other this year because Lauren Graham's and Scott Patterson's physical chemistry with each other is so poor (I've heard that the two don't get along, but I don't see that tension on screen at all).

Of course, she cites the grandaddy of all TV hookups, when Maddie and Dave slept together on Moonlighting, as the big reason why TV flirts never get together anymore.

Damn you, Moonlighting! If it weren't for you, we would have never had to endure the words, "We were on a break!" for eight years.

Did someone put something in the water that the Santos campaign workers are drinking? Everyone's hooking up! Lou (Janeane Garofalo) and the 23 year old campaign worker; two women who work on the staff; even...Josh and Donna! Yup, even they go off to Josh's hotel ro...HOLY CRAP, LOOK AT JANEL MOLONEY IN HER UNDERWEAR!!...room. Later in the day Matt and his wife get into the act, waiting for numbers to come in.

Are they sure the title of this episode isn't "Erection Day"?