Can anyone give me some background on The West Wing?

[PeakOil2008]

I watched it for the first time ever tonight. Actually, I only really saw about the last 20 minutes since I was late getting back in from a local ward meeting. Seemed pretty interesting from what I saw. The President apparently stepped down and the Speaker of The House assumed the Presidency. Apparently there was an assassination of some kind? Anyone have any details?

[FlashHarry]

1. The President's daughter was kidnapped

by an Al-Qaeda-like group. He stepped down because he felt his feelings as a father would interfere with his ability to make tough decisions.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. I don't watch the West Wing, at least for this season!

The speaker of the house who is temporarily assuming the Presidency is a Republican!!!! Something happens to President Bartlett's(D) daughter with some foreign nationals!

The producers want to be fair so they decided to put a Rethug in the White House!

When will Fox give equal time to liberals Damn It????


It's all B.S!!!!

[Catch22Dem]

4. You can't possibly be serious?

You need to watch it. They're making him out to be a warmongering thug!!! They even got a dig in on Faux. It was subtle but funny. By the way, GREAT job by John Goodman.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. If this is so, that the Rethug is a murdering thug then maybe...

I will watch next week!

[Catch22Dem]

7. Oh you really should!

Shall I PM you and tell you a couple of things? I don't want to spoil it for the west coasters, but if you really wanna know... :)

[Wonk]

3. Plot summaries can be found here

http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show.cgi?show=4

[RevelerRevenant]

6. West Wing

Originally, the West Wing starred Rob Lowe and he was supposed to be the leading character. Martin Sheen was
to be just an occasional walk-on as the President. As the show
progressed, Martin Sheen became the focal point instead of the
the other actors. The first season was good, the second season
better. John Spencer(in my opinion) ranks second behind Sheen
as the best actor on West Wing. John and Martin are both staunch Democrats in real life. I taped tonight's episode and have not
viewed the program yet.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi RevelerRevenant!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[LanternWaste]

9. Here's a nutshell for ya....

President resently (last season) ordered the covert-assassination of a mid-east politician who had been backing terrorists. The terrorists responded by kidnapping the Pres's youngest daughter. He did not believe that he could effectively maintain the duel role of angry/frightened father AND president so he stepped aside temporarily. Next in line of succession should be Vice President, however he resigned very recently due to an affair he was having that was about to become public. Therefore, the Speaker of the House R-????) assumed the position.

I'm assuming his role will be limited to app. the next 3-4 episodes and that the dramatic B story line will be his attempt to appoint a VP before the original Pres. returns to office.

Good show. Good acting. Sharp, edgy and quick-witted dialogue. Worth investing time in to watch.

[Zuni]

10. last night's episode kicked ass

John goodman did a fantastic job.

[Bake]

12. Goodman ought to get an Emmy nomination for this

He was brilliant. He'll be interesting to watch the next few episodes. Quite a switch from Dan on the Roseanne show!

Bake

[Aristus]

11. In the past, I've always shaken my head in disbelief how Aaron

Sorkin could predict in the show things that would later happen in real life. Last night was even scarier. On the day a cinema was bombed in Baghdad in real life, TWW portrays the terrorist action of a cinema being bombed in Turkey, precipitating the bombing decision by a shoot-first-and-ask-questions-never blowhard Republican President. :scared: