Doctor Who Club of Australia

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Slow News Day:
I thought this was well done as Toby tries to get a deal from Senator Gaines on social security only for everything to go wrong.
Nice appearance by Kate Burton as Sarah Brainerd. Since this appearance she now has a recurring role in Grey's Anatomy.
Just as it seems the end for Toby, Josh saves him but coming up with a last minute solution.

The Warfare of Genghis Khan:
Another good episode as a mysterious player has joined the nuclear club.
Another appearance by Terry O'Quinn as General Alexander. Once again he was on Lost (in this case the episode Three Minutes) at the same time as this.
Poor C.J. gets trashed by Taylor Reid.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

An Khe:
While I was recording this I saw guest star Terry O'Quinn once again in Lost (in the episode Live Together, Die Alone Part 1).
John Spencer presents an outstanding performance and I like the song "My Country 'Tis of Thee" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
Very fun seeing C.J. on the Taylor Reid show.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Full Disclosure:
The West Wing has unwittingly become a casting couch of stars of future TV shows. Following on the appearances of future Desperate Housewives stars Steven Culp and Mark Moses, this episode featured James Pickens Jr who is now a regular on Grey's Anatomy. This comes two episodes after another Grey's Anatomy star Kate Burton had appeared in Slow News Day.
Allison Janney was very good in this episode and quite shocked to find out about her history with John Hoynes.
To my surprise the Muppets are coming in next week.

Just before I finished watching this episode The West Wing got mentioned by Margaret Pomeranz in At The Movies as I was watching the repeat of that show yesterday. When reviewing the movie The Sentinel, Margaret says the dialogue was like publicity talk on The West Wing.

The West Wing on August 17 comes third place in TV WEEK's highlights of the day.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Just over a week ago found out that the ABC will stop showing The West Wing when it shows the final episode of season 5 on August 31 and planned to show the last two seasons next year.

However Madds at Buffy Down Under posted information saying that season 6 has been provisionally scheduled for Monday November 20.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

The season 5 finale on August 31 comes second place in TV WEEK's Pick of the Day.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Memorial Day:
Quite like how we got to look at what happened when Jed Bartlet was only the newly President-elect in contrast to what is happening now.
Oh my I hope Donna gets through that operation.
The best part of the episode comes at the end as it ends season 5.

The season 6 trailer is very good which includes CJ saying it is her last press conference as White House Press Secretary. I haven't seen season 6 myself but I know exactly why she will no longer be Press Secretary.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Season 6 makes its debut tonight on Australian television. Unfortunately I am going to have to record it since I have to go out with the family to celebrate my sister's birthday.

Meanwhile the next instalment on November 27 comes third place in TV WEEK's Pick of the Day.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

The West Wing on December 4 comes fifth place in TV WEEK's Pick of the Day.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Third-Day Story:
So funny how all those sweets keeps on coming to Josh after he promised CJ that he would not eat any of them in return for her cooking dinner for him. As to her comment to him about her wearing whatever he wants, I much prefer if she wore nothing at all.

Also recently I found out from mx newspaper in Sydney that comedian Colin Lane is a fan of the show.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

In the second of the two episodes this week, In The Room, Alan Alda makes his debut as Senator Arnie Vinick. This is not the first time that he has played a US Senator, he also played the real life Senator Owen Brewster in The Aviator.
It has been a long time since I seen him in M*A*S*H so it is good to see him in another TV show.

Meanwhile the next instalment on December 18 comes fifth place in TV WEEK's Pick of the Day.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

The West Wing on Monday January 8 is TV WEEK's Pick of the Day. I look forward to the second of the two episodes that night, The Wake-Up Call because this one features a guest appearance by Pam Salem.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Unfortunately Pam's appearance was very brief but I was still happy to see her. While The Wake-Up Call was a very good episode the episode that came before it King Corn was excellent.
Also The Wake-Up Call featured Anthony Azizi who would later had a role in Commander In Chief which is also about an American president.

The voiceover for the ad for the next instalment made a mistake when he said that Santos was the US presidential nominee. To be a nominee you have to win the nomination first which Santos has not yet got!

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Found out from Madds at Buffy Down Under that Season 6 finishes on Monday February 5th. The 7th and final season will then be shown in Double Episodes starting on the following Saturday (February 10th) after The Bill. Definitely good news for me as The West Wing currently clashes with Supernatural on 10 in the Monday slot.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Things Fall Apart:
Oh no, it looks like CJ may have tipped off the media about the astronauts.

2162 Votes:
Had a little laugh when President Bartlet said 20 votes for Aaron Burr.
I was not surprised that Santos got the Democratic nomination as the TV guides beforehand gave that away. However I was surprised that Leo becomes Santos' running mate despite the fact that Leo asked Santos to withdraw.
What a very intense picture as the Democratic candidates tried to get the necessary to win.
Nothing is more powerful than presidential persuasion as shown here with that teacher representative meeting the President. This makes me think of Harry S Truman being told by FDR to take the vice presidential nomination in 1944.
Slightly amusing that upon seeing Santos as his rival in the election, all Vinnick could do was to say "Let's win this."

Finally this observation: it seems that the makers of The West Wing does not seem to grasp the fact that the job of the Vice President is to one day become President*. Not only did Hoynes and Russell got beaten by Santos but Santos rejected the vice presidential offer from Russell. Leo got to be Santos' running mate most probably because he is not someone who is expected to seek the presidency in future.

Season 7 starts this Saturday February 10 and it comes fourth place in TV WEEK's Pick of the Day. Got something to watch on the ABC on Saturday nights while waiting for Doctor Who.

*I am speaking as someone who is more interested in a Vice President becoming President than a President worrying about his reelection, history and legacy.

ADAMK · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 217 Location: Canberra

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

Here Today:
Quite like this one as Toby gets fired for being the leaker to Greg Brock. However did not like this storyline of Ellie Barlet's upcoming wedding.

The Al Smith Dinner:
Upon knowing the title of this episode I already knew that Al Smith was the first Catholic nominated by a major party for the presidency in 1928 by the Democrats only to lose to Republican Herbert Hoover. Given Hoover's experience in the presidency, it could easily be argued from a historical viewpoint that Smith was the real winner of the 1928 presidential election as he didn't have to deal with the Great Depression.
As to the episode itself, did not really like it although I did enjoyed Will's debut as Communications Director.

Next week's instalment on March 3 has Santos and Vinnick debating each other and this is TV WEEK's Pick of the Day.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4141

The Wedding:
What an unspectacular wedding which gets overshadowed about whether Josh should continue to run the Santos campaign.

Running Mates:
What an impressive performance by Leo in the Vice Presidential debate. Interestingly the question that got asked in the debate was about the concerns of Leo's health since the Vice President is the first in line for the Presidency. Interestingly the question that wasn't asked (at least not on-screen) was whether Leo could handle being President should the need arise. This is not the same as the health question as this is more about Leo's competency to do the job.

The next instalment on March 17 is TV WEEK's Pick of the Day.