Sunday Nights next Fall - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Miss Golden · 05-16-2005, 12:31 PM

NBC has released their 2005 Fall Lineup and West Wing will be moving to 8 PM Eastern next fall.

Rhiannon · 05-26-2005, 10:54 AM

Yes. I wish the show ended 2 seasons ago.

Miss Golden · 07-29-2005, 01:38 PM

West Wing limps toward perhaps its final season

Jul. 23, 2005 12:00 AM

Remember when The West Wing was good?

Granted, it'll tax your memory trying to reach back that far. Back in the day, Aaron Sorkin's version of political wish-fulfillment was a TV lovers' dream, full of dialogue - almost of it written by Sorkin in a herculean feat - that flowed through the excellent cast and managed a neat trick, not just to entertain but at times to inspire.

Those glory days are gone. So is Sorkin, from the show at least, exiting in a reported wake of personal demons, missed deadlines and blown budgets (and, truthfully, lesser scripts at the end). Gone also are the walking-and-talking scenes that served as the show's glue.

But The West Wing marches on. It'll be back in the fall, the new and presumably last season centering on the presidential election, which pits Democrat Matthew Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda). NBC is showing back-to-back episodes tonight that will help you get the lay of the land of the current version of the show, and help you decide which candidate you're pulling for.

Producers swear it's not a given that Santos will win, even though Smits would obviously play right into the younger demographic that advertisers covet. And although Smits is OK in the role, I'm a Vinick man, myself. It's great to see Alda back on television in a meaty role, and this one affords him plenty of opportunity to make big, thoughtful speeches. From what we've seen, he's far from a reactionary; instead (and this is getting back into wish-fulfillment territory), he's a thoughtful conservative who listens to all sides of an issue and usually takes the most sensible position.

It won't make you forget Hawkeye Pierce. And it won't make you forget those first three or four great seasons of The West Wing. But at least it's something, and the way this show has declined, that's about all we can hope for.

05-16-2005, 12:31 PM	#1
Miss Golden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 1,231	Sunday Nights next Fall NBC has released their 2005 Fall Lineup and West Wing will be moving to 8 PM Eastern next fall.

05-26-2005, 10:54 AM	#2
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	Yes. I wish the show ended 2 seasons ago.
	__________________ Nothing better the feeling is so fine Simply put I saw your love stream flow

07-29-2005, 01:38 PM	#3
Miss Golden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 1,231	West Wing limps toward perhaps its final season Jul. 23, 2005 12:00 AM Remember when The West Wing was good? Granted, it'll tax your memory trying to reach back that far. Back in the day, Aaron Sorkin's version of political wish-fulfillment was a TV lovers' dream, full of dialogue - almost of it written by Sorkin in a herculean feat - that flowed through the excellent cast and managed a neat trick, not just to entertain but at times to inspire. Those glory days are gone. So is Sorkin, from the show at least, exiting in a reported wake of personal demons, missed deadlines and blown budgets (and, truthfully, lesser scripts at the end). Gone also are the walking-and-talking scenes that served as the show's glue. But The West Wing marches on. It'll be back in the fall, the new and presumably last season centering on the presidential election, which pits Democrat Matthew Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda). NBC is showing back-to-back episodes tonight that will help you get the lay of the land of the current version of the show, and help you decide which candidate you're pulling for. Producers swear it's not a given that Santos will win, even though Smits would obviously play right into the younger demographic that advertisers covet. And although Smits is OK in the role, I'm a Vinick man, myself. It's great to see Alda back on television in a meaty role, and this one affords him plenty of opportunity to make big, thoughtful speeches. From what we've seen, he's far from a reactionary; instead (and this is getting back into wish-fulfillment territory), he's a thoughtful conservative who listens to all sides of an issue and usually takes the most sensible position. It won't make you forget Hawkeye Pierce. And it won't make you forget those first three or four great seasons of The West Wing. But at least it's something, and the way this show has declined, that's about all we can hope for.