# Re: WEST WING\>\>\>\>Am I nuts or... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265 "2003-11-20T06:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nanook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nanook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanook)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/1 "2003-11-20T06:48:57Z")
…was that Emily Proctor playing “Marina” in an unbilled perfomance tonight? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/2 "2003-11-20T19:12:35Z")
You’re nuts. No, not really, but I don’t see how anyone could have mistaken **Melissa Marsala** who played Rena, for Emily Proctor. It also makes no sense to have an actress who is currently playing a major role on CSI:Miami pop in for an uncredited role on a show in which she already had a recurring part. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/3 "2003-11-20T19:32:19Z")
Spoiler, it’s “Rina”, as in “Marina” - she was born on a boat. Not to mention that CSI is on CBS, which rarely happens. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/4 "2003-11-20T23:31:02Z")
I remember the “Marina” explanation from the show, but the source where I found the information (a West Wing site), listed her as Rena. Also, I have good reason to be familiar with the Rena spelling, which is why the character caught my attention in the first place. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/5 "2003-11-21T02:12:17Z")
In real life, the government shutdown is when Clinton and Monica Lewinsky first hooked up. I wonder of “Rina” is going to have similar repercussions? ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/6 "2003-11-21T04:11:12Z")
I was wondering what the HELL the deal was with that character. She just comes in and picks up the trash and asks stupid questions?? So I guess having her hook up with somebody is the only explanation…this show is turning more and more into a soap opera. … A boring soap opera… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/7 "2003-11-21T08:19:16Z")
> [@](#): > > In real life, the government shutdown is when Clinton and Monica Lewinsky first hooked up. Maybe off the topic, but how do you figure that Congress shut down the Federal government because of Clinton’s extramarital affairs? I’m hardly Newt Gingrich’s biggest fan, but I think he was acting on a slightly higher set of principles than pique over the idea that Clinton was getting some on the side. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/8 "2003-11-21T12:03:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Little Nemo \* > \*\*Maybe off the topic, but how do you figure that Congress shut down the Federal government because of Clinton’s extramarital affairs? I’m hardly Newt Gingrich’s biggest fan, but I think he was acting on a slightly higher set of principles than pique over the idea that Clinton was getting some on the side. \*\* IIRC, Congress shut down the government over a budget impasse, much like the one we saw on **The West Wing**. Monica Lewinsky was an unpaid volunteer at the White House. It was during this shutdown that she and Clinton first trysted; Hillary and Chelsea were in India at the time. Nobody claims that Congress shut down the Federal government as a reaction to Clinton’s marital affairs; I sure didn’t say that. I’m just wondering if, on **West Wing** , the shutdown and the introduction of a character who flutters around the West Wing in a sexually provocative manner are a coincidence, or if they’ll reflect the real-life events they seem to be based on. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-west-wing-am-i-nuts-or/214265/9 "2003-11-22T05:18:04Z")
Sorry Krokodil, rereading your first post I see I misunderstood what you said. My mistake.