Okay, I’m about ready to give up. Last night’s episode did absolutely NOTHING for me. I think I’m going to stick around for one more episode to see if my suspicions are correct: The staffer the President asks to quit is Charlie
I really weep for this show. It was most excellent, but ever since NBC pushed out Aaron Sorkin it’s been but a pale, weak imitation.
Well, at least there’s the repeats on Bravo.
I concur. CJ as CoS is completely implausible. The first 45 minutes were actually pretty good - because it was obvious she was in way over her head. Then I swear I saw President Bartlett ski-jumping over a shark…
My mother called after the show, demanding that I agree that the show is better than ever. “Isn’t CJ great?!” No, Mom, she isn’t. Do you remember what her job was before politics? “No, wasn’t she working for a Senator or something?” No, she was a PR agent for a talent agency in LA. “What? That can’t be right. Besides, who else is qualified?” Oh, I don’t know, maybe Josh Lyman, who’s been Leo’s Deputy for the last 6 1/2 years and has been in politics for most of his career? “Oh, but Josh is funny. He wouldn’t fit.” That’s because he’s written as funny! You can’t be a Deputy CoS without being qualified for the job!
Aaaaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!
Damnation! 
Here I was, ready to toss it out while everyone else was giving the first two episodes rave reviews and now, after last night, I was going to come in and start a thread titled, “West Wing 11/10: Back with a vengeance!”.
I thought last night’s episode was great. The old, crisp, close-to-the bone writing. Fine editing. Essentially drama, but just the right amount of comic relief. It ceased being about events, and started being about characters again. That damn blond woman who came out of nowwhere to save the day like Mighty Mouse, elbowing her way between Leo and Jed — bitch was gone! 
Nancy’s back. And I loved seeing CJ beginning to grow into her new job. I like how Tobie is having a hard time adjusting, and I like that Josh is back to his old oblivious self. Lots of nice touches and nuances (like Charlie finally taking CJ by the arm and leading her to her private Oval Office door, CJ calling the DoD Secretary by his first name, dropping by Leo’s room, and giving Margaret some much needed affirmation.)
The only portion I thought to be slow was Smit. But all in all, I felt like West Wing was back.
Damn, you, Lib! I’ve been not watching but checking in here. I did see a few minutes of the first ep this season, and was not enthused. But now I might actually have to watch an episode if you say the writing’s improved. At least I can see whose opinion mine lines up with better, you or the previous illustrious posters.
They addressed that when he went to meet with Jimmy Smits, and Jimmy told him he couldn’t do the kind of politicking he does from behind Leo’s desk. It makes sense; Josh’s great skill has been in the details, getting the Senate votes one at a time. Putting him in Leo’s job might take him away from the tasks he truly excels in. Of course, CJ is still a barely plausible choice for Chief of Staff, but I can get why it might not be Josh.
I didn’t think the episode was that bad. I will say, though, that if they get rid of Charlie, I will cease to be that interested.
When the Secret Service were in her apartment, they said that if an emergency is announced, she was to go to a pasture about a mile away where she would load into a helecopter with the President, and others. They also mentioned that there would be three minutes from “code” to liftoff.
Do they really expect CJ to run a 3 minute mile?
Huh? Whyzzat? Charlie’s a pretty good character, but in the scheme of things, fairly minor.
Last week they hinted that the reason Charlie is not finishing his final credits is because POTUS made him promise to quit once he graduated.
I’m figuring next week Bartlet tells him to get off the pot.
No, but as Chief of Staff, she is probably issued an emergency rocket pack for just such occasions. Or at least a Segway!
Perhaps her personal Secret Service guys are supposed to pick her up, sling her over their shoulders, and run the three minute mile for her.
I loved the teaser at the end of the episode: “Jimmy Smits! Alan Alda! Kristen Chenowith!” Kristen what now?
That actress was Kristin Chenoweth, who just recently left the Broadway cast of Wicked, where she originated the role of Glinda.
Just, you know, for the record.
I watched last night’s episode, the first in quite some time. It still just seems different. My favorite seasons were the ones when Ainsley Hayes was still around, and I miss Rob Lowe’s character. I don’t like all the big international intrigue, and I agree with Liberal here, I want more character driven stories! Less saving the world, more running the WH talking really fast and stuff. I’ll catch the odd episode if I can, but I’ve long since stopped setting my week around it.
Yeah, but if they were going to bring in a “blonde pixie” (-CJ to Toby), why couldn’t it be Ainsley Hayes returning?
And I missed the first couple of episodes. What exactly is the extent of Donna’s injuries? Is she expected to walk again?
Isn’t she busy investigating crime scenes in Miami? What, you want her to get on a plane to Washington every Tuesday?
I though the dialog in this episode showed a great deal of improvement, but I am still infuriated that the writers keep falling back on the “Let’s create drama by having characters become suddenly incompetent” schtick. Toby’s disasterous press briefing was just painful to look at, and not in a good way.
OTOH, I thought the “watchable quality” bit was hilarious, and, I know it’s lame, but I’m with Munch’s mom: I love CJ. CJ is my hero. I especially love it when she throws the switch and goes from emotional, sensitive mode into buttkicking mode, and I’m sure that she’ll have lots of opportunity to do that as Chief of Staff.
Hasn’t Toby tried to Press Secrete before and failed miserably? Or was that Rob Lowe? I seem to remember somebody tanking in the press pool before.
Oh, I love her too. I think she’s one of the best characters on the show. It’s just that CoS is an incredible leap of logic to make for her character. Not only doesn’t she have a lick of foreign policy experience, she doesn’t have any administrative experience! Hell, Mary-Louise Parker would have been a better choice for the job. Or Vice President Otter. Or Oliver Pratt. Or, and this is brilliant, Bruno Gianelli (the Ron Silver character).
This is all true. But I keep going back to the episode where Josh is out of town (with Leo, I believe - maybe it was during the Leo hearings), and Rob Lowe has to fill in for him. It showed Josh to be brilliant at thinking of the large picture, know a lot about a lot of things, and to be incredibly capable in the role. Yes, he’s fantastic at the Deputy job, of getting the individual votes and being a general handler of legislators. But as Margaret indicated, there are policy wonks all over the place. Josh is much more than just a policy wonk, and should have been the first to be considered for the position.
I may be wrong, but I think the actress that Liberal is referring to is Mary McCormack, who showed up as the uber-annoying Kate Harper part way through last season.
And in general, I agree with Lib on some other stuff as well. Snappier dialogue with a bit more humour. The resignation scene was great, I thought. Yeah, given CJs back story, it’s a stretch that she’d land the job. But I liked her learning curve in this episode.
I think you might be thinking of the time Josh stepped in, thinking he was way smarter than the reporters because he’d gone to TWO Ivy League schools.
thwartme
Bingo, that was it. Thanks!
Not content to jump the shark just once a season…
Toby did it too, although we barely saw it, during “The Long Goodbye” when C.J. was in Dayton for her high school reunion. It wasn’t a Josh-level meltdown, but he wasn’t smooth and suave like the lovely Ms. Cregg.
You’re right, that’s the one. […shudder…] Her character was like a giant Bulldozer Dramatis, coming out of nowhere and screwing up everything. Her whole brief schtick was the lamest storyline in the history of the show, sweeping in and solving problems as inexplicable lightbulbs popped on over her head. I mean, holy cow, one more week of her, and I would have taken the show off the DVR schedule.
Regarding CJ as Chief of Staff, it really is a very malleable position. It isn’t always about foreign policy, and it certainly isn’t always about administration (the Carter White House notwithstanding). It’s about trust, and a relationship between the President and the Chief of Staff. I recall an episode once in which Bartlett was about to leave for his State of the Union address. He was quickly briefing the minor cabinet official that they chose to leave behind in case of some disaster in the Capitol. Leo was standing outside, in earshot but unseen. Bartlett asked the guy if he had a best friend that he trusted more than anyone else. He nodded. Bartlett said, “Is he smarter than you?” The guy nodded and laughed. Bartlett said, “He’s your Chief of Staff”. Leo was visibly moved.
Granted, CJ isn’t his best friend, but after Leo, there aren’t any. Josh is just too hotheaded, too impestuous, too narrow of vision. He is unable even to articulate an opposition view, thinking he is pro causa right about every issue. He takes too many risks, and is just generally politically immature (savvy maybe, but mature, no). CJ on the other hand is steady, reliable, brilliant, thinks quickly on her feet, and brings a wealth of experience with a broad range of issues. She has spent her time in the White House absorbing everything. She retains knowledge and knows how to apply it. She’s not afraid to take risks, but she thinks it through first. I can see lots of great storylines developing in her relationship with Bartlett. I’m glad Leo recommended her.
No way its that person. I’m willing to wager that its the Secretary of Defense who will be ushered out, or maybe someone from State, so Jimmy Smits can be given one of those types of jobs.
As I said in last weeks thread, I thought I was done w this show b/c the writing pretty much blows these days, but my other tv option in this timeslot was the World Poker Tour and they had that idiot Unabomber guy on, so I settled on WW. They did well to have CJ partially undressed at the beginning, a surefire way to get my attention for awhile, but the Toby press conference thing was pretty much awful, along w the fake resignations.
Unless I get a Tivo so I can record Magnum PI and Dallas during the day to watch in this timeslot, i guess i’ll be watching for a bit more. bring back sorkin!