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Mr. Willis of Ohio - or "Why I love the West Wing"
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Posted by: zync

I only recently became a fan of the West Wing having missed the first few seasons, and so I took great joy in watching Bravo's run of the pilot and first 5 episodes today. The writing, directing, and acting all lived up to the Emmys that the show has won, and makes for great TV watching*.

However when I got to Mr. Willis of Ohio I was reminded of the excellent story line this show carried up through the season finale this year.

OK - this is going as a spoiler in case there are other West Wing virgins out there...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
In one of the classic "West Wing" monologue moments, Bartlet delivers a play-by-play description of Zoey's abduction that occurs four years later. Having missed the first season, I didn't realize how well Sorkin brought the story line through a complete circle with the ending of last season.

My admiration for Sorkin's creativity and writing just grew another couple of notches. However I'm left with a deeper wonder of what will happen to this show with his departure.

Bravo to Bravo, I wonder what other great stories await me the coming months.

*I also only recently got hooked on Stargate SG1 and so I'm getting to watch two great shows from episode one!

Posted by: Uther

I love how the POTUS is introduced to us in the pilot:

"I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt have no other gods before me!"

Posted by: IJustLikeTivo

quote:
Originally posted by zync

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
In one of the classic "West Wing" monologue moments, Bartlet delivers a play-by-play description of Zoey's abduction that occurs four years later. Having missed the first season, I didn't realize how well Sorkin brought the story line through a complete circle with the ending of last season.

Was that in the pilot or a later episode? I sure don't remember it and since they start from scratch tomorrow, I'd like some idea of when that scene is.

Thanks

Posted by: zync

Actually Bravo showed the pilot + first 5 episodes today which was kinda funny because they were showing ads for the "premiere" which happens Monday.

Anyway, the one with the mentioned scene is "Mr. Willis of Ohio" which is ep5 I believe.

Posted by: cello

wow, zync. Just saw the episode. Wow. and again, wow.

Posted by: zync

Yup - I sat there going "wow" too... I'm glad I wasn't alone!

Posted by: IJustLikeTivo

quote:
Originally posted by zync
Actually Bravo showed the pilot + first 5 episodes today which was kinda funny because they were showing ads for the "premiere" which happens Monday.

Anyway, the one with the mentioned scene is "Mr. Willis of Ohio" which is ep5 I believe.

Thanks, it play again on the 19th. Tivo has it now.

Posted by: jsmeeker

I missed the first season and a half of "The Wst Wing". Sadly, I don't have Bravo, so I can't see what I missed.

Posted by: dssdbs

Was the first season of "The West Wing" not shown in letterbox format? I can't remember. It wasn't in letterbox format on Bravo today and was just wondering.

Posted by: markz

I agree with you 100% zync. When Bartlet did that, my wife & I just looked at each other and said "Wow!". That was pretty erie! What a great show!

I really hope that Sorkin's departure won't totally screw up the best show on tv! I just can't imagine TWW without all that witty banter that Sorkin is so great at writing.

Posted by: grecorj

quote:
Originally posted by dssdbs
Was the first season of "The West Wing" not shown in letterbox format? I can't remember. It wasn't in letterbox format on Bravo today and was just wondering.

First season was not letterbox; not sure about S2.

Posted by: Gunnyman2k3

NEVER play the West Wing Drinking game

Drink whenever someone says "yeah"
drink a double when Toby gets "emotional"

Seriously though when I saw that momment in EP 5 I was like holy crap that's exactly what happened...

I missed the 1st 2 seasons entirely so I am loving having em on Bravo

Now alls I need is H:LOTS back on TV.

Posted by: deathster

The Digital Bits (http://www.thedigitalbits.com) is reporting that Season 1 will be released on DVD on 11/18.

Good news :)

--Deathster

Posted by: Fustanella

We're having a grand time catching up with the first couple of seasons we missed. Making government sexy - that's cool.

Posted by: IJustLikeTivo

Ok. Here is my question. Regarding the spoiler above. Do you think Sorkin actually planted that seed with the intent of using it later or decided later to take advantage of that subtext and incorporate into last years season ender? I tend to think he decided to use it long after he wrote it.

Thoughts?

Posted by: Lori

I had forgotten how staggeringly good that first season was. Not to take anything away from how good the whole series has been, but that first season was just wow in a box.

Posted by: David Platt

I'm having the pleasure of watching the West Wing for the very first time, and I can say that within five minutes of the first episode, I was totally hooked. The Mr. Willis episode just blew me away.

Looks like I'll have something to keep me busy for the next couple of month!!

Posted by: zync

quote:
Originally posted by IJustLikeTivo
Ok. Here is my question. Regarding the spoiler above. Do you think Sorkin actually planted that seed with the intent of using it later or decided later to take advantage of that subtext and incorporate into last years season ender? I tend to think he decided to use it long after he wrote it.

Thoughts?

Don't know. There is a lot of dialog like that throughout the series, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sorkin wrote that without thinking "gee, this would make a great episode down the road".

Posted by: brahamt

quote:
Originally posted by grecorj
First season was not letterbox; not sure about S2.

I'm pretty sure that S2 was not in Letterbox, but S3 and definitely S4 are.

Posted by: sschwart

My sister called me up totally shocked when she got to that episode. She, like many, missed the first season or so.

I missed the first one as well, but I had read transcripts before this past season. So it wasn't as mind blowing, but still pretty awesome.

Posted by: grecorj

:eek:

Wow! Jaw-droppingly good!

Posted by: ADG

While my wife & I agree it's probably the best show on television, I for one could do with a few less "yeah's". Sorking does tend to get a bit carried away, having everyone - EVERYONE - saying "yeah" all the time - including brand new characters on their first appearances.

Okay, a minor annoyance on a great show.

Posted by: Fustanella

Yeah. :D

Posted by: grecorj

quote:
Originally posted by ADG
While my wife & I agree it's probably the best show on television, I for one could do with a few less "yeah's". Sorking does tend to get a bit carried away, having everyone - EVERYONE - saying "yeah" all the time - including brand new characters on their first appearances.

Okay, a minor annoyance on a great show.

Ever seen Felicity? "Hey!" "Hey." "Hey." "Hey!" Now that used to be annoying.

Plus WW doesn't have Sorkin to kick around anymore this season.

Posted by: jwjody

I wanted to watch WW when it first aired but never got around to it. I started watching the reruns on Bravo and have fallen in love with the show.

I loved the scene in the bar.

Josh: "Oh, this is too good to be true. You guys don't know how bad a night you're having."

I think Tobey is my favorite character on there.

J

Posted by: jackm1249

I just saw Stockard Channing on "inside the actors studio" and she said her first day of work ( which aired yesterday on bravo) was when she was walking down the stairs to the state dinner., She kept asking Martin, " So we have kids right? how did we meet? etc.. Sorkin asked her if she wanted to be a Dr. on the show.. she said "Sure" Also mentioned that she still hasn't met 2 of her daughters. Good Ole Sorkin, he will be very missed this year.

Posted by: stafford

I don't remember which season this was from, but I think my favorite West Wing moment was at the end of the Leo McGarry drug adiction story arc, when the President showed McGarry that he had kept & framed the napkin on which McGarry first wrote "Bartlet for President".

Heavy, heavy.

Posted by: keithcarl

quote:
Originally posted by stafford
I don't remember which season this was from, but I think my favorite West Wing moment was at the end of the Leo McGarry drug adiction story arc, when the President showed McGarry that he had kept & framed the napkin on which McGarry first wrote "Bartlet for President".

Heavy, heavy.

Good one. Every once in a while a tv show gives me chills. That was one.

Posted by: Wil

quote:
Originally posted by stafford
I think my favorite West Wing moment was at the end of the Leo McGarry drug adiction story arc, when the President showed McGarry that he had kept & framed the napkin on which McGarry first wrote "Bartlet for President".

Heavy, heavy.

Indeed. But personally I would have written the original script to have the napkin read "Bartlet for America." But I am a superb writer and it would not be fair to hold a mere TV series writer to that standard.