Watching the television series, The West Wing for the first time. Sorkin is brilliant.

[LanternWaste]

Watching the television series, The West Wing for the first time. Where in the world have I been? This may be some of the most dramatic television I've ever watched. Season one just ended with an assassination attempt. Season two is picking up from that.

Sorkin is brilliant.

See everyone in a few weeks when I'm finally done with all seven seasons...

[Denninmi]

1. Yup, one of the finest programs ever put on the air.

Ever. Got me through a lot of the Bush years.

[SCantiGOP]

2. I'm very jealous

I saw all but maybe a couple of episodes when it ran originally. Then, with about 2 years left in the W administration, my wife and I got the entire series from Netflix and would watch one or two episodes a night. We would try to pretend it was a news show and W wasn't really President.
You are in for a treat.

[onehandle]

3. Re-watched all seven seasons on Netflix over the holidays. Just finished on Sunday.

It's my alternate reality.

Enjoy.

[Callmecrazy]

4. I've been a longtime fan of the West Wing...

I'm watching season six right now via Netflix Streaming. Would you believe I just watched an episode about the debt ceiling? Another on the NRA and gun rights. This show is ten years old and the subjects on the show still go on today.

[hedgehog]

6. That's what I can't get over! I missed a lot of shows the first time around

due to my work schedule. But show after show after show could be set in the Obama White House.

On edit: I guess George Bush really did spend 8 years kicking the can down the road!

[Ptah]

5. Lawrence O'Donnell

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640713/

The West Wing (TV series)
(consulting producer - 44 episodes, 2003-2005)
(executive producer - 22 episodes, 2005-2006)
(producer - 17 episodes, 2000-2001)
(co-producer - 5 episodes, 2000)

[Callmecrazy]

7. He also played President Bartlet's father. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. I am envious...

of you getting to watch it for the first time.
It is wonderful, and bears re-watching every year or so, which I why I have all the episodes.
The episode Two Catherals won so many awards, and had the whole nation reaching for the Kleenex.

Luckily, we have Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom current series now, can hardly wait for the new season to begin.

Hint: anything by Sorkin, get copies of.

Also, John wells was a producer of the show, and he also did ER, which I am watching for the first time, all the back series, so you are not the only person to have missed some excellent tv.
Wells did a very good series called Third Watch, and also Southland.

Sorkin and John Wells and David Simon are names to trust for good series.

[LanternWaste]

9. I'd seen, and been a fan of Sports Night.

I'd seen, and been a fan of Sports Night, and is in my DVD collection. Brilliant stuff there, too.

Never in my life did I think that watching White House senior staff prevent an opposition senator from blocking a vote on a bill via back channel negotiations would make for dramatic and entertaining viewing. But there it is. Simply amazing.

At this rate, I'll watch two cathedrals in the next few days... I'll let you know what I think about, but if season one is any indication of the standard caliber of the show throughout its run, my critique will most likely be tired (but true) clichés

And whoever writes and edits the scripts are artists too... *and* can research the poop our of arcane legal machinations.

I'm making notes of Third Watch and Southland to look into when I'm done with West Wing. Thanks so much for the recommendations.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Please tell me you have not missed...

The Wire
and
Homicide, Life on the Street
and more recently,
Treme

All David Simon's productions, of superb quality, miles above most other shows.

[Aristus]

11. I've been a fan since Episode #1 in 1999!

TWW got me through the B*sh years with my sanity intact, and with extraordinarily well-written ways of countering right-wing nonsense. I own the first four seasons on DVD and watch them straight through at least twice a year.

Word of warning: The quality of the writing drops off after Season Four. Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme both left the series then. It's still a good series, but Seasons 5-7 lack the brilliance of the first four. It becomes plot-driven, instead of character-driven.

My favorite episode (in the context of my career providing healthcare for our city's homeless) is "Holy Night" from Season 1. Toby drops the President's name when arranging an Arlington funeral for a homeless Korean War vet who died of exposure on a park bench near the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Bartlet asks Toby: "If I arrange a funeral for a homeless veteran, don't you think this will bring every homeless veteran out of the woodwork?"

Toby: "I can only hope."

And then the funeral itself, set to the music of "The Little Drummer Boy", sung by a boys' choir guesting at the White House Christmas Party.

Tears, and more tears...

[MadrasT]

12. I love that episode so much. n/t

[sarge43]

14. Two Cathedrals

Barlett calling out God. Barlett refusing the raincoat, Charlie removing his and the pan to Mrs Landingham's empty desk "That's my boys." The long march through the White House with Brothers in Arms in the background .... writing and acting doesn't get much better than that.

The West Wing got a lot of us through the Bush dark night of the soul years and taught us some politicking, too.

[myrna minx]

13. It's a magnificent show. It kept me sane during the Bush years.

[MissMillie]

15. One of my all-time favorites

It slows a bit in Season 5 when Sorkin left, but still very worthy