tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post9017901008553761058..comments2024-03-28T10:18:52.493-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: The West Wing: Bartlet's Third State of the UnionBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-3043869484803635812015-09-01T04:52:52.720-04:002015-09-01T04:52:52.720-04:00I love this episode due mostly to Abbey Bartlet wh...I love this episode due mostly to Abbey Bartlet who is one of my heroes. There is a brief moment at the end that always gets me. She's just found her our husband is running for a second term and had a fight with him, so she is understandably upset. As she leaves the kitchen, she pauses. takes a breath, straightens her shoulders, and goes back into the fray with a smile on her face. Wonderful character beat.<br /><br />The exchange between CJ and Sam about the bathrobes is one of the greatest in this series.ChrisBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10843864158239536750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-17182457604163623782015-08-19T20:09:44.087-04:002015-08-19T20:09:44.087-04:00The show does NOT start 18 months into Bartlet'...The show does NOT start 18 months into Bartlet's first term. It starts about nine months in. I know various comments from people associated with the show make it sound like it's more than a year but if you do the math that doesn't make sense. The first four seasons are all set roughly around the same time they aired, except for specific episodes, like In the Shadow of Two Gunmen is immediately after What Kind of Day Has It Been?. Aaron Sorkin has said they're all set at roughly the time they air because it's easier for the audience that way. Bartlet is elected in 1998 and takes office in January 1999. The show picks up in September of 1999.Countess of Monte Cristohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04196174516492620419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-83365688136691858382015-08-19T19:18:32.603-04:002015-08-19T19:18:32.603-04:00No I still buy that it's his third State of th...No I still buy that it's his third State of the Union address based on the thought that the series begins 18 months into Bartley's first term.Hankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07196063215365424121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-72517525056673674522015-08-17T17:37:14.942-04:002015-08-17T17:37:14.942-04:00Mariana, I love all those lines - I always have tr...Mariana, I love all those lines - I always have trouble not just typing out the script of West Wing episodes, there are so many great lines!Juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00203399623895589924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-6359196710017211122015-08-16T21:53:22.612-04:002015-08-16T21:53:22.612-04:00This may be my favorite The West Wing episode of a...This may be my favorite The West Wing episode of all time! You are correct that it is the second State of the Union; I vaguely remember reading that Aaron Sorkin admitted it was a mistake. <br /><br />In additions to the ones you listed here are some other quotes I love from this episode:<br /><br />Josh: Joey? Can I ask you what may be a silly question?<br />Joey/Kenny: Sure.<br />Josh: It's not possible, is it, for us to just open up one of these computers with a screwdriver and get the numbers that are in there, right?<br />Joey/Kenny: Why did you think that'd be a silly question?<br /><br />Josh: Call Sam. [yells] I want the numbers!<br />Donna: You know Josh, everyone else is having fun with this.<br />Josh: You're the only one who's having fun with this. Nobody else is having fun with this.<br />Joey: Boo!<br /><br />(to continue one you started)<br />Mrs. Landingham: Charlie, is it possible that C.J. isn't wearing any pants right now?<br />Charlie: Yeah. She sat in wet paint.<br />Mrs. Landingham: And she's not wearing any pants?<br />Charlie: Well, she's wearing underwear Mrs. Landingham. She hasn't gone smokeless.<br />Mrs. Landinham: Okay.Mariannahttp://www.mariannahorn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-42256381762641351872015-08-16T12:12:49.241-04:002015-08-16T12:12:49.241-04:00It's definitely the second State of the Union ...It's definitely the second State of the Union that we see, since the show starts almost a whole year into his term. I thought I remembered Obama giving a State of the Union in 2009, his first year in office, so I looked it up and learned that both Obama and the four presidents before him (Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Reagan) gave speeches to joint sessions of Congress that technically weren't States of the Union but were close enough that http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/sou.php includes them in its archive of SOTUs and says "For research purposes, it is probably harmless to categorize these as State of the Union messages." Looking at this, it appears the history of the State of the Union isn't quite so cut-and-dried as to what constitutes a SOTU as I thought (and I'm American). But it makes sense to me that his staff would think of it as his third SOTU, if he gave a speech shortly after taking office like Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama did, and he probably did because one of Jed Bartlet's strengths is public speaking and they'd want to show it off. Countess of Monte Cristohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04196174516492620419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-16034769114115483762015-08-16T07:23:25.133-04:002015-08-16T07:23:25.133-04:00You're probably right about it being the secon...You're probably right about it being the second state of the union, Juliette. I think I just assumed there was one we hadn't seen before the show started. But that's not right, is it?<br /><br />I have to say, one thing this show does extraordinarily well (along with so many other things) is conveying how important every single tiny detail can be, and how good these people are at their jobs. <br /><br />Ainsley Hayes has started to remind me of Harmony in <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>. I loved the way she shrieked and her glass just went into orbit when Bartlet came into the room.<br /><br />Joey Lucas is not an expert in either airplane repair or electricity. Good to know. Lighten up, Josh.<br />Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.com