Post by Admin on Jul 20, 2003 1:03:48 GMT
From TVGuide.com:
President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) finally meets GOP foe Robert Ritchie (James Brolin) in a campaign debate that also brings back cantankerous State Department veteran Albie Duncan (Hal Holbrook). Duncan, who's no fan of the president, is designated the White House's foreign-policy "spinner" for the event. Meanwhile, Leo (John Spencer) and Jordan Kendall (Joanna Gleason) meet with a UN diplomat about the escalating Qumari crisis; Sam (Rob Lowe) tries to persuade the staffers for a just-deceased Southern California Congressional candidate to end their election campaign; and Toby (Richard Schiff) once again tries to persuade his ex-wife, Rep. Andrea Wyatt (Kathleen York), to remarry him.
From NBC:
Bartlet engages in the final debate of his career.
From Warner Bros.:
One day before a debate between Bartlet and his Republican rival, Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin), even skeptical Toby must admit that Bartlet is ready. After a debate rehearsal, Toby meets with his ex-wife, Congresswoman Andrea "Andy" Wyatt (Kathleen York), who is advising on the campaign. Toby also tells C.J. that Albie Duncan (Hal Holbrook), a rather old, slightly crazy Republican, will help Bartlet deal with the aftermath of the debate. Later, the staff joyously watches Bartlet trounce Ritchie in the debate. Meanwhile, Leo and attorney Jordon Kendall (Joanna Gleason) negotiate a peaceful settlement to the escalating Qumar-Israel conflict. And Sam attempts to persuade an idealistic campaign manager, Will Bailey (Joshua Malina), to remove a recently deceased Democratic candidate from the Presidential ballot.
The only time we've shot handheld was in an episode during the fourth season where we wanted to convey a sense of nervous energy. We shot every shot with long lenses and handheld. It was a show where the President was about to lose the election, and that’s about as tense as things get. - Thomas Del Ruth
When candidates are on the stump or in debates and you're watching, how often do you say, `He should have said this,' or, `Why didn't he say that?' We're going to have some fun with that." - Aaron Sorkin
Sam's heading out to Orange County, Calif., where he happens to be from, to persuade the campaign manager of a recently deceased Democratic congressional candidate to stop campaigning because it's an embarrassment to the national party. But the campaign manager (played by Joshua Malina, the nerdy Jeremy on Sorkin's Sports Night) is no dummy...
...
Bartlet (Martin Sheen) gets the chance to take plenty of shots at him tonight, when the two square off in their only campaign debate. It's the episode's centerpiece, but it, too, is treated in a sidelong manner (though Sorkin definitely imparts its flavor). More directly treated is the way debates are "spinned" by the two sides, and this gives Sorkin not only another opportunity to be a policy wonk (the subject: trade with China), it opens up another guest spot for Hal Holbrook as the enjoyably cantankerous State Department veteran Albie Duncan, who's a wary Bartlet advocate.
"I won't pretend that I don't know who Bush is," says [Aaron] Sorkin, "but I was interested in writing about a demonization of intellect. Which didn't start with Bush-Gore -- it didn't even start with Eisenhower-Stevenson. It's peculiarly American: Being tagged as the smartest kid in your class turns into both a sense of arrogance and a sense of weakness -- that an 'egghead' [can't] see us through a world war."
"When it was really looking like Rob would be leaving, which got us all very sad, we had a meeting and started talking about people," Sorkin said. "In the two minutes it took me to get back to my office, I called Tommy (Schlamme, a co-creator) and said I'm absolutely convinced we have to get Josh Malina.
"And, amazingly, after that phone call, I opened my e-mail, and there was an e-mail from Josh."
"Just that day," Malina said, "I read in Variety that Rob was planning to leave. I thought I'd do a little fishing expedition. I think I said, 'What about using someone who's less attractive and would work for less money?' "
"I e-mailed him back," Sorkin said. "I said, 'Yeah, OK. I'll have you on the show.' "
"I'm like, really? Really?" said Malina. "I called my wife in to read it. I said, 'This sounds like there might actually be something there.' "
President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) finally meets GOP foe Robert Ritchie (James Brolin) in a campaign debate that also brings back cantankerous State Department veteran Albie Duncan (Hal Holbrook). Duncan, who's no fan of the president, is designated the White House's foreign-policy "spinner" for the event. Meanwhile, Leo (John Spencer) and Jordan Kendall (Joanna Gleason) meet with a UN diplomat about the escalating Qumari crisis; Sam (Rob Lowe) tries to persuade the staffers for a just-deceased Southern California Congressional candidate to end their election campaign; and Toby (Richard Schiff) once again tries to persuade his ex-wife, Rep. Andrea Wyatt (Kathleen York), to remarry him.
From NBC:
Bartlet engages in the final debate of his career.
From Warner Bros.:
One day before a debate between Bartlet and his Republican rival, Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin), even skeptical Toby must admit that Bartlet is ready. After a debate rehearsal, Toby meets with his ex-wife, Congresswoman Andrea "Andy" Wyatt (Kathleen York), who is advising on the campaign. Toby also tells C.J. that Albie Duncan (Hal Holbrook), a rather old, slightly crazy Republican, will help Bartlet deal with the aftermath of the debate. Later, the staff joyously watches Bartlet trounce Ritchie in the debate. Meanwhile, Leo and attorney Jordon Kendall (Joanna Gleason) negotiate a peaceful settlement to the escalating Qumar-Israel conflict. And Sam attempts to persuade an idealistic campaign manager, Will Bailey (Joshua Malina), to remove a recently deceased Democratic candidate from the Presidential ballot.
The only time we've shot handheld was in an episode during the fourth season where we wanted to convey a sense of nervous energy. We shot every shot with long lenses and handheld. It was a show where the President was about to lose the election, and that’s about as tense as things get. - Thomas Del Ruth
When candidates are on the stump or in debates and you're watching, how often do you say, `He should have said this,' or, `Why didn't he say that?' We're going to have some fun with that." - Aaron Sorkin
Sam's heading out to Orange County, Calif., where he happens to be from, to persuade the campaign manager of a recently deceased Democratic congressional candidate to stop campaigning because it's an embarrassment to the national party. But the campaign manager (played by Joshua Malina, the nerdy Jeremy on Sorkin's Sports Night) is no dummy...
...
Bartlet (Martin Sheen) gets the chance to take plenty of shots at him tonight, when the two square off in their only campaign debate. It's the episode's centerpiece, but it, too, is treated in a sidelong manner (though Sorkin definitely imparts its flavor). More directly treated is the way debates are "spinned" by the two sides, and this gives Sorkin not only another opportunity to be a policy wonk (the subject: trade with China), it opens up another guest spot for Hal Holbrook as the enjoyably cantankerous State Department veteran Albie Duncan, who's a wary Bartlet advocate.
"Executive Decision"
by Paul Droesch
October 30, 2002
TV Guide Online
by Paul Droesch
October 30, 2002
TV Guide Online
"I won't pretend that I don't know who Bush is," says [Aaron] Sorkin, "but I was interested in writing about a demonization of intellect. Which didn't start with Bush-Gore -- it didn't even start with Eisenhower-Stevenson. It's peculiarly American: Being tagged as the smartest kid in your class turns into both a sense of arrogance and a sense of weakness -- that an 'egghead' [can't] see us through a world war."
"How the 'West' Was Undone"
by Ken Tucker
November 8, 2002
Entertainment Weekly
by Ken Tucker
November 8, 2002
Entertainment Weekly
"When it was really looking like Rob would be leaving, which got us all very sad, we had a meeting and started talking about people," Sorkin said. "In the two minutes it took me to get back to my office, I called Tommy (Schlamme, a co-creator) and said I'm absolutely convinced we have to get Josh Malina.
"And, amazingly, after that phone call, I opened my e-mail, and there was an e-mail from Josh."
"Just that day," Malina said, "I read in Variety that Rob was planning to leave. I thought I'd do a little fishing expedition. I think I said, 'What about using someone who's less attractive and would work for less money?' "
"I e-mailed him back," Sorkin said. "I said, 'Yeah, OK. I'll have you on the show.' "
"I'm like, really? Really?" said Malina. "I called my wife in to read it. I said, 'This sounds like there might actually be something there.' "
"White House rookie"
by Rick Kushman
March 2, 2003
Sacramento Bee
by Rick Kushman
March 2, 2003
Sacramento Bee
