Sunday, November 18, 2012

The West Wing, season 3

FOUR-STAR EPISODES: 5
AVERAGE EPISODE RATING: 3.0
-Isaac and Ishmael ***
Airing three weeks after 9/11, and a specific response to that event. The regular storylines are dropped, as Josh and Donna (with drop-ins from the rest of the cast) try to explain islamic terrorism to a group of high school contest winners, while they're all in White House lockdown because of a security alert. Leo interrogates a suspect (Ajay Naidu - OFFICE SPACE). His racist judgments, and Ajay's relative tolerance, are striking. Compelling narratives from Toby, Sam, Charlie, and Abbey, with humor provided by Jed. Josh almost "networks" one particularly bright student (Josh Zuckerman - SEX DRIVE), but instead tells him to just keep on doing what he's doing. Maybe it's just a dumb TV show...but it feels like much more. In this world, that may be as close to "truth" as anyone gets.
-Manchester **
What, we couldn't have had another terrorist attack, to put off this clunker for another couple weeks? Sorry if that was in bad taste, but you know what they say the difference between tragedy and comedy is. Anyway, nothing gels in this one. Nothing snaps. Sorkin wasn't proud of his writing...and for good reason. As the campaign for re-election gets going, three political strategists join the inner circle, led by Bruno Gianelli (the inestimable Ron Silver - REVERSAL OF FORTUNE, RHODA), who would do eighteen episodes over the rest of the run. Silver had some brilliant moments, but overall he never quite popped. His lieutenants are played by Evan Handler (STUDIO 60, CALIFORNICATION) and Connie Britton (SPIN CITY). Fine performers, but probably due to their guilt-by-association with this two-parter, they were dropped after a few episodes. Connie had some potential chemistry with Sam, but again the producers avoid that road for Mr. Seaborn. C.J. makes a huge press room gaffe, and offers her resignation. Joey Lucas and Oliver Babish and the regulars have some decent moments, but this episode never rises out of the muck it calls home.
-Ways and Means ***
C.J. convinces everyone that the prosecutor investigating the M.S. revelation (Nicholas Pryor - RISKY BUSINESS, AIRPLANE!) is too reasonable an enemy. Miguel Sandoval (JURASSIC PARK, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER) plays a mercenary latino activist. The debut of Mark Feuerstein as the smooth, earnest republican counsel Cliff Calley, who would brighten seven episodes over four seasons. Some prime Ainsley, Oliver, Bruno...
-On the Day Before ***
The staff manages the President's first veto, trying to assure it won't be overridden. Democratic congressmen hold them hostage, until they realize they can get the votes they need from republicans for much less. Josh has a meeting with an Indiana governor (Kevin Tighe - ROAD HOUSE, MUMFORD) who might challenge Bartlet in the primary. A fantastic scene. C.J. slaps down a snarky entertainment reporter. The debut of Thomas Kopache (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) as Asst. Sec. of State Bob Slattery, who would do fourteen episodes over the duration of the show (and is also one of only four actors to play seven different characters on STAR TREK).
-War Crimes ***
How much o'keefe is in this episode?? Well, not miles, but Michael. The delightful Mr. O'Keefe (CADDYSHACK, THE GREAT SANTINI) has developed into a fine performer in his maturity, as he plays a reporter temporarily and begrudgingly assigned to the White House. He chooses integrity over sensationalism, and his scenes with C.J. sparkle. Leo and an old military friend (Gerald McRaney - SIMON AND SIMON, MAJOR DAD) debate a new war crimes bill, and Leo learns he himself participated in a civilian massacre. After a shooting in Texas, Jed asks Hoynes to publicly reverse his position on gun control. Donna, Josh, and Cliff meet at the fountain used in the opening credits of FRIENDS. Yes, i realize some of you would rather i'd have kept that information to myself.
-Gone Quiet ***
When contact with a nuclear sub is lost, Asst. Secretary of State (Hunh? What about Bob?) Albie Duncan (national treasure Hal Holbrook - ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, WALL STREET), a crusty dinosaur whose scolding and pontificating make Jed hide, is called in. C.J.'s too sexy for her podium. Toby defends the N.E.A. from the philistines. He's asked what he thinks about an artist who strips, covers herself in chocolate, and and sings. He replies, "By and large, I'm not wild about musicals". The sparring between Abbey and Babish is priceless. The high point belongs to Bruno, when he talks with disgust over how the word "liberal" has been demonized...and the liberals allowed it to happen. Silver's finest WEST WING moment.
-The Indians in the Lobby ***
Finally, an episode with native americans as a theme (yes, there actually are one or two of them left). Two tribal representatives (Gary Farmer and Georgina Lightning) who have been waiting fifteen years for a judicial determination stage a lobby stand-in. A nervous C.J. has to convince them to stop. Powerful and moving. More strong work from Mr. Gianelli. Why does WW always loose its best comedic barrages on Thanksgiving? As Toby listens, Jed makes an hysterical, anonymous call to the Butterball hotline, for cooking tips. Bethersonton, Baharnd, and brilliant.
-The Women of Qumar ***
The U.S. sells weapons to Qumar, a country that brutally abuses women. The White House men hide from the women. A C.J. top-five entry. The debut of Mary-Louise Parker (FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, WEEDS) as Amy Gardner, women's issues lobbyist. In 23 episodes from now until the end of the run, she never misses a beat. A mercenary Earth goddess with a razor tongue. She and Josh have a high-powered debate on prostitution. They go on to share some of the most hysterical, resonant romantic moments in the history of the show...all while a part of you silently screams for him to get back to Donna. It's a fine line producers have to walk, when introducing a new romantic interest for a character the audience is aching to see with someone else. They have to be compelling...but only to a point. If the chemistry is too good, the larger arc is derailed. If it's too flaccid, the romance is just an obvious stalling tactic. No matter how good the performers and writing are, it's ultimately a crapshoot...and Amy couldn't have been more perfect.
-Bartlet for America ***
A flashback episode shows us how the Bartlet campaign began and how Leo fell off the wagon during the primaries, all while he's being questioned by congress. The chemistry between him and his lawyer (Joanna Gleason - CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, HELLO LARRY) is droll and darling. Cliff Calley's finest moment, as he convinces senate majority leader Bruno (James Handy) to take a principled moral stand. Perhaps unrealistically pie-in-the-sky, but we sentimental progressives lap that stuff up.
-H. Con-172 ***
Cliff offers to end the hearings, in exchange for the President accepting congressional censure. Leo refuses to let Jed be smeared on account of his drug failings. Josh and Amy sparkle. In a wonderfully-acted scene, Bartlet wipes away all the objections, and stands up to take the blame and the censure.
-100,000 Airplanes ***
A beautiful Seaborn episode, as he's interviewed by Vanity Fair reporter (and ex-fiance) Lisa Sherbourn (Traylor Howard - MONK, TWO GUYS A GIRL AND A PIZZA PLACE). After hearing Abbey's doctor friends making dinner small talk, Jed ponders declaring that the U.S. will cure cancer within a decade. Sam's the only one who supports him. This episode crystallizes the questionable treatment of Sam's character that ultimately played a part in his departure. Despite having tantalizing initial chemistry with a number of women over the first three seasons, no Seaborn romance was ever really pursued. Perhaps too much of that would have been just as wrong...but in this episode, there are three well-explored Josh romance partners: Amy, Joey, and Donna. It just pathetically points up what they never gave Sam. Can anyone tell me why? Throwing salt in the wound, Rob and Traylor have no chemistry whatsoever. Anyway, there's beautiful Seaborn poetry in this'n.
-The Two Bartlets ***
Jed, Toby, and Leo come to grips with Bartlet's two public faces. Josh redeems a failed vacation with Amy. The wonderful Sam Lloyd (SCRUBS) returns as conspiracy theorist Bob Engler, to set Sam spinning again, this time about a gold-less Fort Knox. One of the most gut-punching scenes (of the entire series) has Toby asking the President whether his father beat him. It's ever-so-slightly contrived, as both the process Toby went through to figure this out, and the likelihood that he would be so blunt with the President, both rest on ground that's a bit shaky. But that's a quibble you only make well after the fact. The scene is transfixing.
-Night Five ****
The transcendent Adam Arkin returns as trauma specialist Stanley Keyworth, thinking he's been called to counsel Josh again. A series of subterfuges plop him into the presidential library, where he's left alone with...a president! One who hasn't slept in five nights, since Toby questioned him about his father. Could we have an entire season of episodes devoted solely to sessions between Stanley and Bartlet? As the two of them get into father issues, and the size of the ever-growing image Jed's been trying to live up to...it's just brilliant. You get the feeling that Sorkin probably had as much fun writing it as the most appreciative fan did watching. As if all that weren't enough, there's a subplot that almost upstages the Emmy-worthy main plot, in which Sam compliments Ainsley on her sexiness, only to be accused of impropriety by an indignant temp (Alanna Ubach - HUNG, POUND PUPPIES). Also, Toby makes a compelling, even scorching, argument for global american interventionism.
-Hartsfield's Landing ***
Josh has Donna on the phone for hours in the cold, trying to influence two voters in a crucial primary. While China and Taiwan are in a tense standoff, Jed alternates between chess games with Sam and Toby, while preserving the safety of the planet. He and Toby talk about their two-Bartlets argument, while he and Sam talk about what it takes to broker world peace. Wonderful stuff on both sides. Jed tells Sam not to be afraid that he's going to run for President one day. Playing the Chinese ambassador is James Hong (BLADE RUNNER), whose 372-credit IMDB page is a gobsmacker.
-Dead Irish Writers ****
Hear ye, hear ye, his boozy, randy lordship is back in town! Marbury (Roger Rees) returns, to ogle Abbey's breasts and protest the White House's meeting with an IRA leader. He and Toby have a brilliant conversation in a smoke-filled bar. Sam has an equally blow-out plot line as Hector Elizondo (AMERICAN GIGOLO, CHICAGO HOPE) drops in as his old physics professor, to counsel him on why funding for a supercollider shouldn't be cut off. Depressed during her birthday celebration, Abbey takes C.J., Amy, and Donna upstairs to get boozy. The talk gets lubricated and loose, and Donna tells Abbey to just admit that she lied and broke laws. Abbey mispronounces the name of King Baudouin, which only super-geek fans of QUIZ SHOW (or, um, Belgium) would know.
-The U.S. Poet Laureate ***
Poet Tabitha Fortis (Laura Dern - BLUE VELVET, JURASSIC PARK) threatens to boycott a dinner in her honor, unless the U.S. signs an international anti-landmine treaty. Toby appropriates the task of handling her. Sweet and poignant. Beth Littleford (who did the funniest movie reviews ever, on THE DAILY SHOW with Frank DeCaro) plays a news anchor. Josh arrogantly engages in a conversation on a website (lemonlyman.com) devoted to his foibles. Bartlet makes an on-air gaffe (or was it?), calling the presumptive republican candidate dumb.
-Stirred ***
The writers display deftness by not having two working class African-Americans who unexpectedly provide Charlie a moment of consolation, tell him they "know who he is", though they must have. Donna asks Josh for a presidential proclamation honoring her favorite teacher. In a Seaborn meeting with Hoynes, it's revealed that the President doesn't know John is an alcoholic, something that astounds the V.P. John tells Jed and his staff. All the while, the staff has been pondering the electoral math, and replacing Hoynes on the ticket. Wonderful work by Mr. Matheson. Look for Randy Oglesby, another of the only four actors to play seven different characters on STAR TREK.
-Enemies Foreign and Domestic ***
The unassuming start of the most awesome four-episode run in the history of the show. A new russian President, caught between ideals and conservative hardliners, communicates a major initiative through a protocol meeting between his aides and Sam. One of the negotiators is played by irresistible heavy Ian McShane (DEADWOOD, SEXY BEAST). Leo and Jed fret over a recall disaster that befalls a major computer company. They give its CEO (the uber-wonderful Peter Scolari - BOSOM BUDDIES, NEWHART) an unorthodox bailout. Then, in the final minutes, the quiet jolt of adrenaline arrives, in the form of secret service agent Simon Donovan (Mark Harmon - SUMMER SCHOOL, CHICAGO HOPE, NCIS), who is assigned to protect C.J. after she receives death threats. They have an instant, electric Lucy/Desi chemistry.
-The Black Vera Wang ****
C.J. and Simon continue to spark. They go on a shopping trip with C.J.'s niece (Evan Rachel Wood - ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, THE UPSIDE OF ANGER), to get a (junior) prom dress. In a distinguished career, Harmon has never been at the center of more celluloid magic than this moment. A disturbing anti-Bartlet attack ad is anonymously delivered to the White House. Against Bruno's urging, Sam delivers it into the hands of the opposition, a plan which blows up in his face. Fitz and the chiefs inform Jed that a failed attack on the Golden Gate Bridge was carried out by a Mideast ally, Qumari defense minister Abdul Shareef.
-We Killed Yamamoto ****
Shareef is visiting the U.S., but cannot be arrested because of diplomatic immunity. The heart of this episode is a Sit Room scene between Leo and Fitz, in which Fitz argues that the U.S. cannot let Shareef get away. The argument ranges far and wide, about geopolitical issues, the definition of war, and the meaning of modern terrorism. John Amos' most incendiary moment in show history (and perhaps his career, excepting of course BEASTMASTER). Plans are made to assassinate Shareef on an airstrip in Bermuda. In the middle of intoxicating bliss, the Josh/Amy romance begins to disintegrate as their job agendas collide. The simmer between Simon and C.J. continues off the meter, as she exercises in the Secret Service gym and makes a marksmanship wager with him.
-Posse Comitatus ****
This one punches you in the gut, makes you cry, lifts you up, and steals your lunch money. The presidential motorcade heads to Broadway to see a five-hour play about all the Henrys and Richards (with music). The show coincides with Shareef's planned assassination. Probably the most ambitious episode of television ever filmed, but it's so seamless you won't even realize it. Almost lost in the shuffle (along with a drop-in by Adam Arkin!) is the debut of Lily Tomlin (LAUGH-IN, NINE TO FIVE) as Jed's new personal secretary, Debbie Fiderer. Over 34 episodes, she never quite reached the Landingham level of juice, but went her own hysterical four-star way nonetheless. The republican presidential challenger (James Brolin - WESTWORLD, TRAFFIC) meets Jed during intermission. They have a fantastic bathroom scene. C.J.'s stalker is caught. She and Simon kiss. With the epic pageantry of Shakespeare in the background, Shareef is killed...and a few moments later, Simon as well, as he accidentally interrupts a bodega robbery to buy a rose. C.J.'s reaction is stunningly underscored by Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah". It's at this point that we can start talking about WEST WING as the greatest show ever.

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