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Anonymous Critic
I Hated "The West Wing"
September 26, 2006
I saw the post on "Arrested Development" and hunted down this email address from a critic friend who shall also remain nameless. She was glad I was finally going to publish the rant I've been spewing at dinner parties for years. It might give away my identity, but it's a risk I'll take.
I hated "The West Wing."
I don't know Aaron Sorkin personally. I don't care that he was stopped for drugs in the airport in Las Vegas all those years ago. I just can't stand watching any more of his shows.
I liked "Sports Night." It was refreshing, interesting, and brought cleanly to life by its actors. Robert Guilliame, overlooked all those years as “Benson” was finally recognized for his honest genius. It was cancelled quietly, and I see little of it here on your site for a reason - nobody was watching it. "Sports Night" died peacefully in it’s sleep, and was buried like Eleanor Rigby – alone.
Those of us who watched “Sports Night” had to mourn the beginning-career work of Felicity Huffman. On this show, she played a role so complex that Sorkin had to assign the best parts of it to the various women he peppered throughout “The West Wing.”
I'll give Sorkin his women characters – they are absolutely some of the most impossible female characters you will ever find. They don’t make women like Sorkin does, and that is most of the problem here.
I understand that the America of “The West Wing” was a fictional world. But unlike the people who were somehow always in front of me at Starbuck’s – its was not a world I wanted to live in. I'm a democrat. I agreed with the politics of it, but the sanctimonious and seemingly high-minded holier-than-though rapid-fire-dialogue world of that show was enough to stop any democrat from ever associating with the democratic party. Were we supposed to believe that any American President has ever wandered the halls of the White House spouting Bible quotations, and grilling senators about the Visigoths?
Are we supposed to believe that anyone does?
There was this terrible sense I got from watching "The West Wing" that I was being scolded for not having the heart or soul to really care about (a fictional) American culture. In fact, that show made me feel as though its aim was to convince me of the sobering reality that the only person who truly cared about America anymore was Martin Sheen.
Or Alison Janney - the single good reason to watch.
What made me finally throw up my hands was when the show lectured me not to be angry after September Eleventh. Some said this was brave, a measured and reasonable storyline, outside the fictional world, that "really made us think." The wise and sagistic White House staff (writers) explains to a bunch of high school kids (us, the American boobs - literally "sophomores") that we should be patient and wait until we fully understood what happened before we rushed to anger. Yes, well, someone flew some planes into some buildings I could see from my bedroom window.
And so now, here we are. "Studio 60 at the Sunset Strip" wherein we will, once again, be told how we should behave when encountering some of the world's most shallow people. We will learn something brave and wise, that it is okay to be a drug addict as long as you're a good person. We will likely fall in love with Amanda Peet and all those other women because they absolutely will never exist in the real world.
And still, nobody thought to cast Alison Janney? I can't. I won't. I totally refuse.
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Recent Comments
December 6, 2006 at 01:50 AM
Catch A Phrase... Both Endearing and Annoying
lizzy: "well about this gem "i did not have sexual intercourse with that woman." president bill clinton about his affair with..."
December 5, 2006 at 03:42 PM
Where Are My Shows?
LANI: "Hi - Any info on shows that really were mostly brilliant-but-cancelled? Such as WEST WING or JUDGING AMY or CHRISTOPHER..."
December 5, 2006 at 01:46 PM
MASH: No more
Linda : "Writing that MASH was not (is not)funny ranks right up there with saying this Administration knows what they are doing..."
December 5, 2006 at 12:45 PM
Catch A Phrase... Both Endearing and Annoying
Lindsey: "So may Simpsons not listed. Don't have a cow man. Hi-didly ho neighborinos I didn't do it Eat my shorts..."
December 5, 2006 at 11:24 AM
Wonderfalls
Brian: "I knew the show was too good to last.Clever and fun just doesn't sell over mean and obnoxious these days.I..."
December 5, 2006 at 08:33 AM
MASH: No more
dumbod: "Actually, there were two MASH's. The first had McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers. It was funny and somewhat more true..."
Comments
Kati wrote:
I also share your quiet worship of "Sports Night," which, to me, will always be Sorkin's best work.
And I am annoyed by "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" in that it rips off a lot of "Sports Night," just like "The West Wing" did. That's one of the things that irritates me most about Sorkin. He wrote 3-4 amazing characters and keeps reusing them. I don't need a new Danny on "Studio 60." I like Danny Rydell. He is, and always will be, the best repressive/vulnerable/ex-drug addict funny guy that Sorkin will ever write.
"Studio 60" will have 2 or 3 good seasons. It won't ever be "Sports Night" or "The West Wing." I'll watch it, but I'll always go back to my "Sports Night" DVDs.
posted at September 26, 2006 03:16 PM
Sasha wrote:
So if I follow the *anonymous critic* logic; you hated West Wing because fish don't have bicycles. My debate proff would tear you a new one if you offered a sloppy disjointed unrelative arguement like that- EVER.
posted at September 26, 2006 06:15 PM
Kim wrote:
I never saw Sports Night. Well, maybe one episode before it was cut, so I judge the West Wing on its own merits, as should our anonymous critic.
I loved the fast-talking pie-in-the-sky high-mindedness of The West Wing, and I loved every character. I loved that the president of the U.S. was portrayed as someone who actually knew who the Visigoths were. I was uncomfortable with him being a devoutly religious man, but preferred his relatively quiet religiosity to the chest-thumping born-again self-righteousness of the real thing. And I loved the way Alan Alda's non-religious character was portrayed in the last season.
I stopped watching The West Wing at the same time as the anonymous critic, but not for the same reason -- where the critic found the show wasn't rattling the sabres loud enough, I found it overly jingoistic and militaristic, particularly after Bartlett's daughter was kidnapped. I guess distance allows perspective, I was nowhere near New York on 9-11 and the episode the critic refers to, where the students are cautioned to find out the facts before running off at the arsenal seems like eminent good sense. It did then and seems even more so in hindsight.
I started watching TWW again midway through the penultimate season because it was there, and actually enjoyed the hell out of the last season. But you know how they ran the first episode of the show just before the last one? I nearly cried for how well-written and interesting and hopeful it was. I can't tell Aaron Sorkin from a hole in the ground but I know intelligent TV when I see it and The West Wing was it. And so is Studio 60, or what I've seen of it so far. My only problem with TWW -- and this is what I'm afraid will happen with Studio 60 -- is that it essentially pulled its punches, showing us the way it could be in a perfect world, and then forcing us to accept the pragmatic settling for less. TWW couldn't decide whether it was fantasy or reality and so gave us not quite enough of either. It would have been interesting, for example, for TWW to have explored peace and diplomacy while the the real Amurrica was marching far too eagerly off to war.
Allison Janney rocks, though. I'd love to see her in the Amanda Peet role, because Peet is just too young for that job, don't you think? She hasn't lived long enough to have built that resume. Just a thought.
posted at September 26, 2006 07:43 PM
Melissa wrote:
I can't believe anyone who calls themselves a democrat could hate West Wing. West Wing shot for the ideal of how a country should be run. Anyone who can't appreciate watching an hour show with a cast like Martin Sheen, John Spencer, Bradley Wittford and Allison Janey doesn't know good t.v. I've watched both episodes of Studio 60 and I think it's a smartly written show. It's not mindless t.v. You actually have to have a decent grasp on the english language to comprehend the jokes. T.V. has been brought to it's lowest level with the dregs of reality t.v. I think it's great that Sorkin is willing to put shows out there that make America think. If America decides to change the channel to watch Super Nannys or a show about wife swapping we're all doomed to bad t.v. forever.
posted at September 27, 2006 05:30 AM
Kelly wrote:
Sasha-
I doubt you ever attended a debate much less a class, possibly even college. The response to the anonymous posting is the knee jerk reaction of the kind of flaming liberal who worshipped at the altar of The Left Wing, despite its glaring atrocities that pased for moral fiber.
The anonymous arguments were thoughtful, laid out logically, and made valid points. Your posting on the other hand was simply a blind, uninformed attack, typical of your likely political leanings. When in doubt or trouble, raise your voice above the voice of reason. Sheer volume and shrillness will eventual drown out logic. Do us all a favor please. Get a dog, fantasize all you want about Bill Clinton giving YOU the blue dress treatment, and buy the Left Wing on DVD, just leave such banal opinions off-line where they belong
posted at September 27, 2006 08:42 AM
Sam wrote:
Kelly_
Follow your own advice. Your uninformed, scathing criticism of The West Wing is without any substance whatsoever. The fact that you called it "The Left Wing" suggest that you have no credibility and that your point of view comes from listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Bill O'Reilly. Instead of worrying about Sasha's political leanings worry about your own, which are very questionable. Get yourself a pilot suit and a "Mission Accomplished" banner and fantasize all you ant about George W. whispering little white lies in your ear (while being eavesdropped upon), and keep YOUR banal, uninformed opinions off line where they belong.
posted at September 27, 2006 11:46 AM
Rhiannon Brock wrote:
Don't hate The West Wing because of how it portrayed Democrats/America. Hate it because it was boring.
posted at September 27, 2006 11:52 AM
Kate wrote:
The West Wing will be sorely missed and the brilliant writing of dialouge between the characters can never be replaced. Sports Night was genious in its own right. I find all of Sorkins work to be wonderful. I am sure that Studio will be the same. Its been pretty good so far. Alan Sorkin's work is smart and funny. His shows are the only thing on entertainment TV that I watch that makes me need to rewind the Tivo - sometimes to rehear something for humor somtimes for brilliance. TWW made you want to go out and become active in politics like SpaceCamp made you want to go to space when you were 12. Lets just hope that Studio does not make us all want to go work for SNL....
posted at September 27, 2006 02:51 PM
NightHawk wrote:
Second Episode of Jericho Is Kicking Butt: If this show is cancelled is because CBS has their brain up their butt. If you did not see the second ep you really missed something.
posted at September 27, 2006 05:57 PM
MU wrote:
I liked West Wing after about 2 years and it seems that is the way I am. I take way to long to warm up to the good shows. But when I don't like it, I really don't like the show right away.
The so called reality show and "what ever with the stars" are both something we can all do without and not miss it one bit. Or as my husband puts it dead air would hold the commercials apart better and be preferable.
posted at September 28, 2006 08:29 PM
Liz wrote:
Wow! Passionate about TV. I find Studio 60 to be an excellent show, and I find the first episode to be so completely ironic as to the effects of reality tv vs. smart tv in America. Reality tv is the likes of FOX news, CNN and Survivor where smart tv is the likes of The West Wing, Studio 60 and interestingly enough Vanished and 24 - if you watch closely (do you know what a free mason is?). It's time for Americans to discover that using your brain is not a bad thing, let's catch up to the rest of the world and learn about politics, diplomacy, and the fight of the right and the left. We all know that we can gain more from the likes of TWW and Studio 60 then we can from the evening news. Stop being dumbed down by televison, it's just sad.
posted at September 29, 2006 12:52 PM
Media (yeah it's my real name) wrote:
Very well-written review. I love Studio 60. I think NBC should post a warning BEFORE each episode that goes something like this "the values, assumptions, and beliefs of the writer may be emotionally harmful to people who think TV shows are designed to enhance an individual's self-esteem. If you feel that you will be harmed by entertainment that does not reinforce your particular worldview, please change the channel Now!
posted at October 11, 2006 03:38 AM
Ty wrote:
Poor Poor Pauvich! Destined to a life of Springerdom. Can he ever be taken as a serious journalist. His show should be on the Death List for one reason, lack of taste. Who watches that show other than overweight women sitting at home on their pleather couch eating cheetos. It really disheartens me that their is still a market in American society for these tragic excuses for TV.
I also want to comment on Vanished. This was a good show, not great. Seems like the networks overloaded us with kidnapping related shows to add what was already in play. The networks have once again canned excellent shows like Justice, and last seasons Conviction. It seems I have a curse over my viewing head because all the shows I get interested in get canned. Where are the good sci-fi shows? Invasion-gone, Threshold-gone, oh well I guess the Network big wigs know what the public wants, kinda like the government.
posted at November 20, 2006 06:45 PM
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