Martin SheenWEST WING: S1 (DVD)

The West Wing is easily one of the best television shows ever created, and hands down is the best drama to come out of the 1990s. This look at a fictitious Democratic administration in the late 1990s is a wonderful mixture of drama, lessons in government, humor, empathy, and a master class in witty writing and the value of a strong ensemble cast. A network television staple, this television show is safe for teenagers and even those fourth through sixth graders who are incredibly interested in American government. It's amazing that 20 some odd years later we are still arguing about the same things, and while this show does tend to air on the idealistic side, you can't help but be inspired by these characters and their drive to lead with integrity and make the country a better place.Season 1 in particular is a standout of the show, not least of which because these characters were in their early days and the writers and creators were figuring out how to make the best use of them. There's not a single member of this ensemble cast that is weak, including Moira Kelly who often gets overlooked for her contributions to the show since she was only in season 1. Martin Sheen is at his best, with a career defining role for Allison janney and beautiful solemnity and cantankerousness from Richard schiff. You can't forget the powerful impact of Rob Lowe and Bradley whitford and of course John Spencer, Dule Hill, and Janel Maloney.The show is highly quotable, and feature some of the best holiday episodes of television ever created. Get the tissue box ready when you watch the season 1 Christmas episode In Excelsis Deo. I still cry when I hear the Little drummer boy.Give this gem a watch. And as President Bartlett would say, "What's next?"

I was never really interested in watching this show. I often saw it playing on TV while I was living in Toronto, Canada, but was never captivated to sit indoors and watch it (I spend most of my spare time in outdoor activities).Then one day Bush junior took office. Then came September 11, then the US invasion of Afghanistan, followed by the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Then Moore's Fahrenheit 911 hit the screens to become a box office hit. Then came Bush's second term, which I did not expect he'd win, followed by the lowest approval ratings in US history. Iraq was a disaster; Afghanistan was becoming another problem as the Taliban regrouped and regained strength; and Bin Laden was still evading capture.Suddenly I found myself interested in American politics. I wanted to know more about what goes on behind the scenes. What makes a US President popular? How are decisions taken? Does the President act on his own or as a team? Can the President sleep at night when US troops and innocent civilians are dying? How does the secret Service protect the President? My questions could fill several pages. I could easily have gone on the internet and typed each question on Google. Better still, I could have gone to the Library, a trip few of us take today with the advent of the internet. But I decided to watch Season 1 of the West Wing, and am I glad I did.The West Wing will give you an inside look at the American Presidency. You will really learn a lot about American politics. Did you know, for example, that the American Eagle holds thirteen arrows in the left talon and an olive branch in the right talon? When at peace, the Eagle faces the olive branch. When at war, the Eagle faces the arrows. In the halls of Congress the carpets are actually changed to reflect this.Did you know that the Secret Service is aware at all times of the location of the President, even while he is in the White House? A Secret Service agent radios the Central Command when the President enters the Oval Office and when he leaves it. A Secret Service agent is practically positioned at every door in the White House, radioing where the President is at all times. There is little privacy for the President in the White House. Maybe being the President of the US is not as glamorous as we all think if one has to forego his privacy and freedom.Every word the President utters must be well thought off, and the consequences of the words calculated ahead of time by his team. A US President goes through rehearsals before giving speeches and before standing in front of journalists. He is always surrounded by a team of experts advising him of how he should answer questions, and which questions should not be answered. One wrong word could mean a slide in approval ratings.The Secret Service also protects the President's family. Could you imagine an unfriendly country kidnapping the President's daughter? What would the President do in such a case? Would he make the wrong decisions in order to save his daughter? Would his daughter come first, or the country? Would the President be relieved of his duties in such a situation as not to compromise US security? This series will answer a lot of these questions.This series will also show you the relationship between the President and his staff. The Vice-President is not necessarily always on the President's side, and he often has his own agenda. Sometimes he would act to his own benefit in order to gain popularity for a possible run at the Presidency. Politics can be a dirty business, and a very selfish one.I enjoyed learning about the press core in the White House, and how they retrieve news. I now watch CNN in a new light.The characters in this series are well thought off, very believable, and likable. There is one character I did not particularly like, and I think he was later replaced in other Seasons. Martin Sheen plays the President, and I don't think anyone could have played the part better.This series is exciting, with many twists. The series ends with an attempted murder at the US President and his daughter, and someone is shot, but we don't know who. You'd have to watch Series 2 to find out.If you've always wanted to learn more about the US Presidency and US politics in general, this series will be a great start. Get your notebook out and join US Presidency 101! You are going to enjoy this course.

There are some tv shows that don’t just stand the test of time, but past or present, you are moved as you watch. The West Wing is one of the shows that has rightfully moved its way to the top of the heap: directing, acting, and writing all among the best ever. I love that Amazon has made it available for purchase via streaming and had to get the whole series.Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing keeps me going when our non-fictional government lets me down. But it’s because the writing is intelligent, thoughtful, strong, impassioned, and inspired. From the first episode through the last the characters of President Bartlet, CJ, Josh, Abby Bartlet, Leo, Donna, Toby, Charlie, and the rest carry us both personally and professionally through the ins and outs of how government works at the federal level. While the Bartlet administration is Democrat, Sorkin’s characters passionately show us how government works and what and why persons on both sides of the aisle think, feel, and work for.Sorkin famously ‘invented’ the walk-and-talk scene, whereby talented actors walk their way through the halls of the White House and deliver lines so flawlessly you drop right in next to them. It’s almost breathless to watch. While some of the issues of this 90s show are no longer an issue, others remain as vital to Americans now as they were then - it’s fun and eye opening to watch. But Sorkin presents ideas, ideals, and viewpoints so clearly you can’t help but think about and perhaps even understand what another’s viewpoint really is.But what stands out - aside from the writing and directing - are the outstanding actors and performances. These are the top of the heap, the cream of the crop for series television, actors and actresses whose work remains with me years later. There is a reason this show continues to draw crowds (and until recently a very popular podcast): because they are phenomenal.Series One hit the ground (or technically a tree) at full speed and never let go until season 7 was in the books. Meet the Bartlets, Josh and Toby the president’s advisors, Sam another adviser and frequent crux of the issue, Charlie, POTUS”s body man and ‘son’ figure, Leo, the chief of staff and best friend, and all the others who pass through those halls and tell us the story of us all.