Two special episodes were produced to complement the series and broadcast on NBC. Two Cathedrals (Season 2): Cinematically the finest episode ever of the show, Two Cathedrals is a magnificent 42-minute display of ambition, passion, fury and brilliance (from both President Bartlet and the makers of The West Wing). By Tatiana Tenreyro. Toby locks horns in negotiations with the Republican Majority Leader's new chief of staff on minimum wage, against C.J. Emmys flashback 20 years ago to 2000: ‘The West Wing’ dominance, 1st win for James Gandolfini, emotional Michael J. Flashback episodes. With Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney. [2], In Canada; the US airing was pre-empted for one week by, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography", Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, Producers Guild of America Award for Best Episodic Drama, TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_West_Wing_(season_2)&oldid=995417732, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Rob Lowe once again receives star billing, while Martin Sheen receives the "and" credit for his role as President Josiah Bartlet. [50], A third retrospective "clip-and-interview" special was slated to air in the hour before the series finale; however, it was axed and replaced with a re-run of the "Pilot" episode, as cast members were not contracted to do the special and there were disputes over pay. There are 154 regular season episodes, plus the special episodes "Isaac and Ishmael" and "Documentary Special". Also vital to this theme is the new doctrine for legislating laid out in the first-season episode "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet.". Josh learns of a problem with funding for the government's Big Tobacco lawsuit. The first two episodes, "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part I and "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part II", showed how many of the central characters were introduced to Josiah Bartlet, his campaign for the presidential nomination, and his election. Seven of these were filled by returning main cast members from the first season, while Moira Kelly departed the cast at the end of the previous season. Flashbacks show how key staff members joined the Bartlet campaign. Mrs. Landingham, the longtime secretary of President Bartlet, dies in the penultimate episode, "18th and Potomac." PREVIOUSLY ON THE WEST WING. and Abbey about the President's MS cover-up. Sam works on a speech involving a tax increase and is later told the MS story. Lawrence O'Donnell plays Jed Bartlet's father in this flashback scene from the Season Two cliffhanger finale, "Two Cathedrals." The second season received 18 Emmy Award nominations for the 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards, winning a total of 8 awards. Directed by Thomas Schlamme. This theme remains central to the entire series. promotes a staffer to Deputy Press Secretary but then faces a slew of disappointed interviewees at a Kennedy Center concert. Toby's cellphone rings and it's Andy - she is alright, she was in the trailing car. A suspect in the presidential shooting is caught; staffers anxious await news on Bartlet and Josh's injuries; flashbacks show how C.J. The idealised, liberal portrayal of American politics provided a perfect antidote to the disheartening reality. White House Counsel Oliver Babish questions C.J. meets with The Organization of Cartographers for Social Equality advocating for an inverted Peters projection, and a friend of Donna asks Sam to consider a pardon request for an alleged Cold War spy. The President agrees with Leo that he should have a discussion with the staff about whether or not to seek reelection. Toby and Sam clash over a speech the President gives to an environmental group. [1], Thomas Del Ruth won an award from the American Society of Cinematographers for the episode "Noël". The First Five West Wing Episodes You Should Rewatch on Instant Netflix. April 6, 2018. By Margaret Lyons. It is later revealed that she was killed by a drunk driver. "The West Wing: The Complete Third Season", "Pay Concerns Scotch 'West Wing' Special", "Nielsen Media Research's Glossary of Media Terms", "The Programming Insider – Thursday 10/3/02", "Primetime Emmy Award Database: Outstanding Special Class Program – 2002", "West Wing : no. Plus we should make a list. 1: Manchester (Part I) 10 OCTOBER 2001: Aaron Sorkin tries to talk a comedian out of embarrassing the Bartlet administration. The rest of the ensemble, now including previously recurring Janel Moloney, are credited alphabetically. On a television political talk show a young woman Southern Republican lawyer, Ainsley Hayes (, An announcement by a senator makes it appear that the administration will likely have no chance of a favorable vote on the, Sam, Toby, and C.J. Stuck with a group of high school students who were visiting the White House, the staffers, President Bartlet, and the First Lady all debate the issues regarding terrorism. accompany President Bartlet on a. NASA prepares to receive the first pictures from their new Mars probe, accompanied by a live broadcast with the President. The West Wing is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that aired on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006. The first lady says the President is well enough for sex, but he faces frustrating delays. work to combat a threat to firebomb black churches in Tennessee on Christmas Eve; … The decision to include these episodes came from a few basic facts: 1) It took a few seasons, but “West Wing” had recaptured some of its Sorkin-era glory by this point. announces that she sees Andy on the TV and they all look up. The West Wing goes under lock down as a suspected terrorist is found to be working at the White House. The democratically elected new Haitian president is facing a military coup and the U.S. finds itself in the middle of the storm when a U.S. diplomat smuggles the new President into the safety of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. at the West Wing. The final scene of the staggering body of work that was The West Wing Consecutive wins included Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Allison Janney), Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Thomas Schlamme for "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen"), and Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series (Thomas Del Ruth). Full Series: every season & episode. 227223, The special episode / directed by William Couturie", "The Programming Insider – Thursday April 25, 2002", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_The_West_Wing_episodes&oldid=1002749512, Lists of American drama television series episodes, Articles with dead external links from November 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr. & Paul Redford and Aaron Sorkin, "Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail", This page was last edited on 25 January 2021, at 21:58. President Bartlet uses many takes to tape a radio address. The first was a terrorism-themed episode produced in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Here are the worst episodes of The West Wing according to IMDb. Warner Bros. TV. Written By; Aaron Sorkin: Directed by . Josh, speaking from his at-home hospital bed, advises C.J. The West Wing is often at its best in its holiday episodes. Sometimes The West Wing ’s best episodes are the hardest ones to watch, and that is the case for “Noel”. [46] The episode "was written and produced in record time" – less than three weeks. The episodes deal with President Bartlet's decision to run for re-election, and the activities of the weeks leading up to his official announcement. Top 25 West Wing Episodes by Trizzy19 | created - 25 Aug 2012 | updated - 02 Nov 2013 | Public The best episodes of the best TV show or all time. Series 2 of The West Wing begins with the end of President Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) second year in office. While the senior staff prepares for the midterm elections, 12 weeks away, much debate and discussion take place. Episodes; Previous Next; 18th and Potomac: Isaac and Ishmael: CRISIS BREWS IN SEASON FINALE-- The Haitian army besieges the American Embassy there and Bartlet (Martin Sheen) continues his campaign to sufficiently fund the … [46][47] Although timely and well-intentioned, the episode was criticized for being condescending and preachy. The second season details the period between the end of President Bartlet's second year in office and the middle of his third. uncovers a Nazi-looted painting at the White House and Sam voices support for tapping the. In a brief conversation with Mrs. Landingham, directly before she goes to collect her first new car, the President says he'd like to have a word with her on her return. The 10 Definitive Episodes of The West Wing. 10 Eppur Si Muove. The President takes an unusual interest in a school board election, which the senior staff is alarmed to learn is because a Republican who shared mutual loathing with (and narrowly lost a Congressional race to) Bartlet is running for an open spot, but the President eventually accepts his old foe will win that important, if overlooked, contest. Two Cathedrals. [47], The second special interspersed the characters' fictional lives with interviews of real West Wing personnel, including Presidents Ford, Carter and Clinton; press secretaries Marlin Fitzwater and Dee Dee Myers; presidential advisors David Gergen, Paul Begala and incumbent Karl Rove; Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; Chief of Staff Leon Panetta; presidential personal secretary Betty Currie; and speechwriter Peggy Noonan. In the final episode, "Two Cathedrals," Mrs. Landingham's funeral is central as is the question of whether the President will run for re-election. Bradley Whitford won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and the series also won for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series, and Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series. The second season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from October 4, 2000 to May 16, 2001 and consisted of 22 episodes. [49] Both episodes ran within the season 3 television season and were included on the season's DVD. Carol yells that MSNBC has video and people begin to look up at the TVs. New content will be added above the current area of focus upon selection With Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney. C.J. C.J. An evacuation operation turns deadly when U.S. soldiers shoot and kill several rebel Haitians who tried to stop a plane from taking off at the airport. "The West Wing" creator and executive producer Aaron Sorkin wrote the script. Josh returns to work. The second season episode "Shibboleth" is no exception to that rule. This was the first season with executive producer John Wells as showrunner after series creator Aaron Sorkin departed the series at the end of the previous season. The multiple sclerosis arc (also introduced in the first season) becomes central late in the second season as staff members are introduced one-by-one to the President's ailment and the public made aware. Ellie Barlet is forced into the spotlight when news about … What else? Leo tries to convince President Bartlet of the importance of supporting a missile defense plan, while Lord John Marbury is appointed British ambassador to the United States. 11 Inspiring 'West Wing' Episodes to Watch That'll Make You Want to Run for Office . and Donna joined Bartlet's campaign. Directed by Thomas Schlamme. With Congress reconvening, the White House is planning a "leadership breakfast" to encourage bipartisan cooperation. By Stacy Lambe 8:00 AM PST, November 23, 2016 . It's telling that the worst episodes belong to the three seasons which followed the show's creator and primary writer Aaron Sorkin's departure. The West Wing Season show reviews & Metacritic score: The staff and the F.B.I. Meanwhile, the Russian government covers up a missile silo fire, a report that the President doesn't like green beans poses an electoral problem in Oregon, and Josh investigates the consequences of honoring a man who called for Puerto Rican statehood. Lionel welcomes her in his own way, and he assigns her first task, which takes her into conflict with two other staff lawyers; Sam deals with the conflict. "Manchester" is the two-part third-season premiere of the American political drama television series The West Wing. 16 May 2001. With Rob Lowe, Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney. Thomas Schlamme. The staff considers how to deal with the bad news of a poll by Joey Lucas that reveals voters have hugely negative reactions to the possibility of a politician having a potentially fatal disease and covering it up. Click here and start watching The West Wing in seconds. Refine See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. The staff begins to develop a strategy to deal with the impending MS crisis. Nicole Robinson as Margaret Hooper, Assistant to the White House Chief of Staff, This page was last edited on 20 December 2020, at 22:51. What were your favorites? Josh grows ever more anxious and volatile after his shooting, and is ordered by Leo to see a psychiatrist. Directed by Thomas Schlamme. The staff participates in "Big Block of Cheese Day," Toby is assigned to speak with a group of unruly anarchists protesting the WTO, C.J. Since the shooting the job-approval rate of the Bartlet administration has risen from 51% to 81%. The President addresses the nation, and five, The crisis over the missing DEA agents in, The President is put in a tricky spot when the, "Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail", Staffers are blindsided when an elderly Senator begins a Friday night, The President decides that he needs an opinion from White House Counsel Oliver Babish (. I'm going from memory here. The fifth season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from September 24, 2003, to May 19, 2004, and consisted of 22 episodes. Ainsley meets her new boss, Lionel Tribbey (John Larroquette), the White House Counsel, who puts on quite a show. Toby remains in a morose mood while he seeks to act against hate groups, and the President speaks with him. A special episode dealing with some of the questions and issues currently facing the world in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States. Leo shows Ainsley to her basement office. Photo: NBC. Charlie has behaved toward Zoey in a cool and distant way since the attempt on his life, but warms up. In the bullpen, people are desperately trying to contact representatives of the codel. Thanksgiving Flashback: Behind the Scenes of 'The West Wing' Turkey Pardon. Both Sam and Donna try, and fail, to impress an influential newspaper columnist. Five episodes later, The West Wing was as tonally different as it is possible to be. Some Sorkin gold, these were. [51], In Canada; the US airing was pre-empted for one week by. Donna is told by Toby about the President's condition. Later Josh returns to his apartment, where Donna visits him, often taking lunch and papers. Josh follows up on his previous week's discovery that a Congressional lawsuit against major tobacco companies is running into funding problems. There are 154 regular season episodes, plus the special episodes "Isaac and Ishmael" and "Documentary Special". In this Thanksgiving episode, family drama unfolds between Leo and his sister, and C.J. The second season made frequent use of flashbacks, revealing Bartlet's campaign for the presidency in the period prior to events covered in the first season. Months after Josh was near-fatally shot during the white supremacists’ attack in Rosslyn, his PTSD and suicidal thoughts are becoming clear to his best friends, the staffers of the West Wing. A crisis in Haiti takes much of the President and Leo's time, while the senior staff are planning the announcement of the President's MS. [48] The documentary won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002 for "Outstanding Special Class Program". Have you heard that The West Wing is … But there are two important plots in this episode that elevate it to a new level. Shadow of Two Gunmen I and II. The West Wing was always careful to avoid actual political issues, happy to exist in its own parallel universe. Director: Jessica Yu . The second season had star billing for eight major roles. Watch The West Wing Online: The complete guide by MSN. (And let's not include timewarp episodes such as Manchester or Inauguration.) Notable nominations included Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, John Spencer and Richard Schiff for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Stockard Channing for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Oliver Platt for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, Aaron Sorkin for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen", and Laura Innes for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for "Shibboleth". But after the events of September 11, that changed for one episode. Many dedicated fans will tell you that the show went downhill after Sorkin left at the end of season four. Sam, Josh, C.J., and Toby help Ainsley with the decor in her office. The death of [spoiler] causes Bartlet to flashback to his teenage years, and the episode concludes with consecutive scenes of perfection: Bartlet’s speech … It covers a wider legislative array than the first season does, and presents issues including the rights of hate groups and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. spoken by Josh. The West Wing is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that aired on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006. Sam strongly encourages one of his law-school classmates, Tom, to run for a seat in the Congress. C.J. However, C.J. The President makes an appearance at a reception for radio talk show hosts, where he engages, questions, and completely blows apart the reactionary views of a radio counselor. C.J. RELATED: The West Wing: Ranking Every Season Finale. New content will be added above the current area of focus upon selection 's wishes and to a truly disastrous end. While many of The West Wing's episodes are works of genius, other episodes were not quite as impactful. C.J., Sam, Toby, and Donna chat with Josh on his front steps, and they share a patriotic toast. Fox victory . Barlett for America. The season ends with the President announcing his multiple sclerosis, and concludes just moments before he answers a reporter's question: "Mr. President, can you tell us right now if you'll be seeking a second term?". and Leo separately learn damaging facts about Tom and racism, so Leo directs Sam to cancel the support for Tom and Sam is left saddened and shaken. Aaron Sorkin originally planned to have such flashbacks as a major part of the entire season, but budget and logistical demands prevented this. The numbers on IMDb bear that out— only one episode from the post-Sorkin era of The West Wing breaks into the top 10 episodes … C.J. is tasked with choosing the turkey Jed must pardon. Susan Pennington TV; September 1, 2020 1:00PM Warner Bros. Season 5, Episode 17 Writer: Debora Cahn . A trend that he continued in S60, and used quite well in The Social Network. Josh runs into trouble with an insurance carrier over its refusal to pay $50,000 of his hospital bill; while Sam lends a hand, he suggest Josh sue the Ku Klux Klan, who were indirectly responsible for him getting shot. In this season, The West Wing characters are shown as being more capable of legislating thanks to an increased approval rating (described as a temporary "bubble" due to the shooting that ends the first season). From The West Wing, Season 2, episode 2 - "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part II" The President is rushed to hospital following a shooting; staffers field questions on protection measures and executive authority. Undoubtedly, the last three seasons of The West Wing are inferior to the first four. Season Episode; 2: 22: Info. The second season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in … In its time, The West Wing was a pioneer of the political drama genre, producing an extraordinary number of top quality episodes. 22 Episodes 2000 - 2001. An… Original Airdate. In an episode dotted with flashbacks, Leo and his attorney Jordon Kendall (Joanna Gleason) face a Congressional inquiry into whether the president lied to the American people regarding his MS, but this particular day of hearings concerns itself more with Abby and her secretly medicating Jed, and … The episode pushed the scheduled season premiere back a week and encouraged viewers to donate to charity—profits from the episode and cast members' weekly pay were also donated. A rating/share represents the percentage of all television households tuned into a program, and the proportion of the television audience viewing a particular show, respectively. has to deal with a decorated Army general who finds the administration's defence pathetic; she eventually finds out he wears medals he may not have earned and gets him to shut up, but the President later tells her to allow him to speak.