# West Wing: 20 Hours in America **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277 "2002-09-23T15:14:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/1 "2002-09-23T15:14:24Z")
Apparently the new season is upon us with the two hour premier coming this Wednesday at 9:00 eastern time. > [@](#): > > _originally from [TV Guide Online](http://www.tvguide.com)_ > **West Wing** > 20 Hours in America > 120 min. > In this expanded “day-in-the-life” episode, it’s an especially long day for Toby, Josh and Donna (Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney), who are stranded in Indiana when the Presidential motorcade leaves without them after a campaign speech. Back in the West Wing, Sam (Rob Lowe) fills in for Josh as the President’s “wide-angle lens,” and the President (Martin Sheen) again interviews feisty secretarial candidate Debbie Fiderer (Lily Tomlin). Meanwhile, Abbey (Stockard Channing) creates a firestorm when she calls herself “just a wife and mother”; the Qumaris are making noise about their missing Defense Minister; and the Dow keeps dropping. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/2 "2002-09-23T15:56:05Z")
I wonder where in Indiana they’re stuck. I hope it’s after a presidential visit to his alma mater. However, I haven’t heard anything about a film crew at Notre Dame in the news, or from my family in South Bend. Bummer. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/3 "2002-09-23T16:41:25Z")
They aren’t filming it in Indiana. There’s an article in the recent _Entertainment Weekly_ about the filming, complete with a few pictures on set. I’d love to say I remember WHERE they’re filming, but I can’t. Seems to me it might have been in Pennsylvania? But that’s a WAG. Unfortunately the magazine’s at home. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/4 "2002-09-26T12:09:35Z")
\*\*\*\*\* Warning: Spoilers from here on!! \*\*\*\*\* Well, they were stuck near “Unionsville”, if that is a real place. Seems to me that Indiana isn’t all that big. Heck, last ChiDope I drove all the way across it, catercornered, in about 3 hours. So theoretically no place should be more than 2-3 hours from Indianapolis, as long as you didn’t stick to the back roads. I messed up taping last night, so I missed some bits, plus I think some items referred back to events before I started watching. Who was the teenage kid that CJ was trying to find a mentor for? When did that plot line happen? And what was with the picture on Charlie’s desk? Also, I thought that Josh and Toby reverted to total putzes all too easily. If folks in Washington are really that far away from having a grip then heaven help us all. Now, I expect that from Hollywood… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/5 "2002-09-26T12:43:10Z")
Simon, CJ’s bodyguard, was a Big Brother. That’s who the teenage kid was, his Little Brother. I loved how Charlie rushed to her defense when he sassed her. Now we know why Debbie Federer was fired…not for hiring Charlie, but for not hiring David Dueck. I didn’t quite catch the whole women with rolling pins and aprons bit. What was so wrong with Abby saying, “I’m just a wife and mother?” How does that make her an elitist feminist? I can’t quite see total strangers spilling their guts in a bar…but then, I haven’t been in a bar lately. 😃 The picture on Charlie’s desk was of him and his mom. I thought cancelling the photo op with the guy who shook every President’s hand since Herbert Hoover was silly. I did like Dr. McNally calling Fitzwallace “Yeoman Fitzwallace” and “General Sissypants.” And it was very interesting that Qumar knew we killed Sharif, but decided to blame Israel instead. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/6 "2002-09-26T13:03:58Z")
Not another coverup storyline! We just got finished with the last one. The campaign seems like it may make for some interesting shows, though. I wonder how they’re going to get rid of Sam? They better not kill him. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/7 "2002-09-26T13:11:48Z")
I knew the picture was of Charlie and his mother, it even looked like him. My question was more around why was that significant. Total strangers spill their guts in a bar all the time. The mistake was that’s not what they talk about. The guy was a middle class father taking his daughter to visit Notre Dame and he gave a political speech. This was before he knew he was talking to guys from the White House. Sure. I thought it was interesting (maybe unintentional) that they ignored the young people, farmers, women, etc., but listened to the average middle class white male. Sure, it was after Donna harangued them, but… Rolling Pins: the key is the word “just”. It comes across as if she has been demoted. Many people feel that mothers play as vital a role as other work outside of the home roles. And yeah, I liked Fitzwallace talking about nuking Qummar. (I forget how they spelled it in the show). What fun is it being powerful if you can’t joke about it. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/8 "2002-09-26T13:12:35Z")
I was bored with the episode. 2 hours was too long. I see Sam is back at the “silly” plots. I like how the Indiana people put teh big shot white house staffers in their place. Nobody cared who they were. I did that Toby was a bit rude to people doing HIM a favor. I would have dropped his ass off in a cornfield. Sorkin’s going too far with his Richie, or Ritchie portrayals. Don’t insult our intelligence like that. If the guy’s governor of Florida and the candidate for half the country, he must have some decent qualities. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/9 "2002-09-26T13:14:40Z")
I got the impression from the show that they are going to spin Sam off to a career in politics. Remember the last bit about how exciting it was in the Oval Office, and how he had to get back in there. I think that meant he feels stifled in Communications and needs to get where the action is. Interestingly, if they do this it would leave a window open for him to come back in later. Death puts the kibbosh on that. Usually. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/10 "2002-09-26T13:16:04Z")
I think the significance of the picture of Charlie’s mother is that she was killed in the line of duty (she was a DC cop). But when CJ said she had gotten the picture from somebody, I didn’t recognize the name. Anybody catch this? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/11 "2002-09-26T13:39:22Z")
I loved Bruno calling Sam a “freak.” And Abby yanking the big guy’s chain. And I imagine at least a couple female hearts went pittypat when Charlie went all he-man on that punk. ---
**Author:** ![GregAtlanta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb9ed0/32.png) [@GregAtlanta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GregAtlanta)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/12 "2002-09-26T13:44:57Z")
When Charlie was talking with Bartlett about whether to continue with the photo op that was creeping him out, Charlie said something about how the prez shouldn’t do so many photos or something like that, then he said something like “You don’t see any photos on my desk, do you? Why do you think that is?” Unfortunately I didn’t catch what he really said because it was one of those low volume, mumbling but rapid fire dialogue moments that drive me crazy on this show. CJ gave Charlie the photo of him and his mom, which she had gotten from Deanna, whom Charlie says he “just got off to school” or some thing like that. Who the heck is Deanna? And when Charlie put the photo on his previously photo-less desk, that apparently had some sort of meaning. But I don’t know what meaning because I missed the earlier comment. Please, someone step up and explain all this. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/13 "2002-09-26T14:12:08Z")
“David Dueck wants a dwink of wawa!” Bwa-ha-ha-ha! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*The picture on Charlie’s desk was of him and his mom. I thought cancelling the photo op with the guy who shook every President’s hand since Herbert Hoover was silly. \*\* It wasn’t “cancelled” is was _re-scheduled for the following day_ for the admittedly silly reason that the stock market was wobbly and the Bartlet suddenly got a case of suspersticious heebie-jeebies. Hoover had shaken hands with the man the day before the Stock Market had a major hiccup that may have heralded the Great Depression. Bartlet acknowledged in that too-quiet conversation that he was being silly, but nonetheless… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/14 "2002-09-26T14:12:52Z")
Deanna is Charlie’s little sister. Charlie mentioned that some Africans believe taking one’s picture steals their soul. I think that’s why he doesn’t have pictures on his desk, but it seemed a little odd to me for him to make that comment. I caught that part about Sam feeling a bit out of things. It sounds like the beginning of a long story arc that will end in May (sweeps) with Sam deciding to run for Congress or something. I have to agree about the portrayal of Ritchie. I know Sorkin is a die-hard liberal, but not all conservatives are “Whoo, what we gonna do now?” good ol’ boys. If he’s governor of a state like Florida, he didn’t get there by being stupid. I wonder if that’s a slam on the Bush brothers? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/15 "2002-09-26T14:27:13Z")
Yeah, when JB said he felt silly (meaning being hesitant about the photo op) Charlie said he thought it was silly (meaning even considering having the photo taken.) My fave part in this interchange was when Charlie was referring to how he keeps his desk, and the Pres asked along the lines of, “Exactly how much time do you think I spend, on an average day, thinking about your desk?” Like when the secretarial candidate observed that there were memory improvement courses, and JB said, “Yes, I’ll have to find time for that.” Nother good line from Charlie’s rant, “Or you could continue committing crimes, but YOU keep getting arrested, so you might want to consider an alternative.” Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Wrong_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/16 "2002-09-26T14:33:11Z")
I’ve never watched this show before, but it was our homework to watch the season premiere for my Public Relations class, and I have to say, I’m really impressed! I knew that a lot of people liked this show, but I’d never watched it for myself. It made me want to keep watching it–it was really funny in some moments, and very well written. The only thing I thought was dumb was the guy talking in the bar at the end. It just seemed kind of cheesy, along with the presentation of Indiana. Come on, Middle America isn’t THAT hokey. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/17 "2002-09-26T14:40:40Z")
The diner where they stopped to get food… I’ve been in places like that. Now I’m going to have drive out to Indiana in search of “dry rub”. Do they really have something like that there. **TWG** , beyond sports and videos this is the only TV show I allow myself to watch. It can become compelling, I must warn you. The sequence with Charlie going ballistic and showing compassion in the same scene is a perfect example of how well this can be done. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/18 "2002-09-26T15:05:39Z")
> [@](#): > > I see Sam is back at the “silly” plots. Other than him falling out of bed, I’m not sure what you mean. Sam’s character had the most development of anyone on the show, as we got an insight into his hopes, dreams, aspirations, as well as several in-depth conversations with many of his coworkers. Plus, we got to see Sam directly attributed for easily the most kick-ass speech we’ve ever seen Bartlet give, topping even “My name is Jebediah Bartlet, and I’m running for President!” and his solilique in “Two Cathedrals”. > [@](#): > > Charlie said something about how the prez shouldn’t do so many photos or something like that, then he said something like “You don’t see any photos on my desk, do you? Why do you think that is?” No, Charlie had said “How many photos have you seen of yourself taken on a Monday? Why do you think that is?” > [@](#): > > Charlie mentioned that some Africans believe taking one’s picture steals their soul. I think that’s why he doesn’t have pictures on his desk, but it seemed a little odd to me for him to make that comment. He said that some South American tribes believe that, so I don’t think that that had to do with why he doesn’t have any pictures on his desk. > [@](#): > > The only thing I thought was dumb was the guy talking in the bar at the end. It just seemed kind of cheesy, along with the presentation of Indiana. Come on, Middle America isn’t THAT hokey. My dad called and said that he gave nearly the exact same spiel to the guy next to him in the bar when my brother visited Notre Dame. By the time I went to school there, everyone my father’s ever met has heard that same spiel. And Indiana is even more hokey than portrayed. Shibb, you can certainly find some good dry rub, try southern Indiana. But the best would be found in Memphis, Tenn. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/19 "2002-09-26T16:55:04Z")
What is dry rub? Is that herbs and spices they rub on ribs? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/20 "2002-09-26T17:11:56Z")
**Munch** , as much as I’d love to get to Memphis (I know a very special Doper[sup]TM[/sup] who lives there), it’s less than an hour to Southern Indiana. Now if you’re talking about Evansville or some such place, that’s a bit farther. But stranger things have been done in search of good meat. Can you recommend a place/area? Do you think they’d have it in Lawrenceburg? Something just occured to me: I thought I saw them walking near corn in the show. I also distinctly recall someone saying the election was “6 weeks away”. Wouldn’t they have harvested corn in northern Indiana by the time the election is 6 weeks away? [/nitpick] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277.md?page=2)