# West Wing fans- Do you have a single favorite moment from the show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [November 1, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344 "2015-11-01T16:55:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beelzebubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Beelzebubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebubba)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/21 "2015-11-01T20:57:19Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > It’s not a matter of respect for the man, but for the office. EXACTLY! I respect The Office of The President but rarely like the the actual POTUS! BTW, I used to jokingly say that Martin Sheen should run for President, but now that we live in a world where Donald Trump is front runner, I think Sheen should really consider it!!! ---
**Author:** ![Beelzebubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Beelzebubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebubba)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/22 "2015-11-01T21:01:00Z")
This is kinda off topic, but it’s my thread… I thought Ainsley Hayes (Emily Procter) was brilliant and hilarious, the relatively few times that we got to see her. I’ve often wondered what that character would have become if Procter hadn’t landed the role of Calleigh Dusquesne in CSI:Miami??? Granted, she MADE that show, but still I wonder what if… Sidebar- WTF is up with the names of the characters that Emily Procter plays? Ainsley Hayes? Calleigh Dusquesne??? She stretches Horatio into at least five or six syllables, it could take her half the show to say her own characters name! ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/23 "2015-11-01T21:19:15Z")
I really like physical humour when it’s done well. In fact you often know it’s coming - the set up - but that doesn’t seem to detract from the reveal. I still like the first time Josh meets the deaf pollster chick and he’s got a hangover and is wearing yellow waders in his office. But my fav is the White House Counsul smashing the dictaphone on his desk with his gavel - it’s the timing that does it 🙂 Can’t find it on youtube - I believe its S2E19 ---
**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 1, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/24 "2015-11-01T21:29:43Z")
Josh: I thought you wanted to hug me. Leo: Boy, did you read THAT one wrong! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/25 "2015-11-01T21:34:22Z")
For me, it’s the cursing at God in Latin. Better than Shakespeare, my friends. My son and I just watched the episode with Matthew Perry’s first day, when he brings down the VP for having an affair. Josh’s snarl as they leave the VP’s office, “I better not have seen you crack a smile in there” was spot on. Matthew plays a Republican lawyer, replacing Ainsley Hayes, who I heard went to Miami 😃 but he didn’t gloat at all. He seemed genuinely horrified at what he found, and I think that would be true of most people who work in the White House. You’re there to get things done, not play politics. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/26 "2015-11-01T21:59:37Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > For me, it’s the cursing at God in Latin. Better than Shakespeare, my friends. > > My son and I just watched the episode with Matthew Perry’s first day, when he brings down the VP for having an affair. Josh’s snarl as they leave the VP’s office, “I better not have seen you crack a smile in there” was spot on. Matthew plays a Republican lawyer, replacing Ainsley Hayes, who I heard went to Miami 😃 but he didn’t gloat at all. He seemed genuinely horrified at what he found, and I think that would be true of most people who work in the White House. You’re there to get things done, not play politics. I liked him cursing out god in the National Cathedral. I loved it when he stomped out his cigarette on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/27 "2015-11-01T22:42:20Z")
[Post hoc, ego propter hoc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL_vHDjG5Wk) > [@ivylass](#): > > …replacing Ainsley Hayes, who I heard went to Miami… Mandyville. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/28 "2015-11-01T23:22:45Z")
There were many great moments in the West Wing, but this short sequence makes me cry (for multiple reasons): - the subject of homeless war veterans - when Mrs. Landingham goes to the funeral because her sons were killed in Vietnam - when the flag of honour is presented to the homeless war veteran’s brother - when the small band of mourners walk through the cemetary ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/29 "2015-11-01T23:29:06Z")
I’m going to pick a couple of smaller moments that I really liked. When Bartlett was shot, the first bulletin had just come on the TV and Mrs. Landingham was out of the office and on her way to the hospital before anyone else on the staff even had time to react. Just seconds before the debate, when Abby Bartlett decided that Jed needed to get his adrenaline pumping, so she cut off his tie. Pandemonium ensued, but what clinched the scene for me was Stockard Channing’s mischievous expression. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/30 "2015-11-01T23:29:39Z")
Season 1: Let Bartlet Be Bartlet Major Tate: Sir, we’re not prejudiced toward homosexuals. Admiral Fitzwallace: You just don’t want to see them serving in the Armed Forces? Major Tate: No, sir, I don’t. Admiral Fitzwallace: 'Cause they impose a threat to unit discipline and cohesion. Major Tate: Yes, sir. Admiral Fitzwallace: That’s what I think, too. I also think the military wasn’t designed to be an instrument of social change. Major Tate: Yes, sir. Admiral Fitzwallace: The problem with that is, that’s what they were saying to me fifty years ago. “Blacks shouldn’t serve with whites. It would disrupt the unit.” You know what? It did disrupt the unit. The unit got over it. The unit changed. I’m an admiral in the U.S. Navy and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff… Beat that with a stick. John Amos totally rocked that scene… ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/31 "2015-11-01T23:40:07Z")
So many great moments, but the one that sticks with me is a very small bit, at the end of the episode where the Coast Guard(?) ship was caught in the storm, and Bartlett had some junior rating on the radio link, and tells him, “Okay, son, I’m right here with you” …and IIRC, the ship ended up being lost, but that scene went to black/end credits. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/32 "2015-11-01T23:52:34Z")
> [@glee](#): > > There were many great moments in the West Wing, but this short sequence makes me cry (for multiple reasons): > > - the subject of homeless war veterans > - when Mrs. Landingham goes to the funeral because her sons were killed in Vietnam > - when the flag of honour is presented to the homeless war veteran’s brother > - when the small band of mourners walk through the cemetary Ah damn…that one made me cry all over again, too. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/33 "2015-11-02T00:16:03Z")
Another one that sticks is Donna on the operating table looking pretty messed up and about to go under. Josh comes in and she has a sign saying ‘nice hat’, and then ‘scared’. awwwww , ---
**Author:** ![Beelzebubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Beelzebubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebubba)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/34 "2015-11-02T00:21:03Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I’m going to pick a couple of smaller moments that I really liked. > > When Bartlett was shot, the first bulletin had just come on the TV and Mrs. Landingham was out of the office and on her way to the hospital before anyone else on the staff even had time to react. > > Just seconds before the debate, when Abby Bartlett decided that Jed needed to get his adrenaline pumping, so she cut off his tie. Pandemonium ensued, _ **but what clinched the scene for me was Stockard Channing’s mischievous expression.** _ Stockard Channing was often a ‘scene stealer’ just as she has been in many movies! She is brilliant and her facial expressions and body language often say far more than anything coming from her mouth. I am a huge fan. I thought the role of Abbey Bartlett was perfect for her! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/35 "2015-11-02T00:34:18Z")
The sequence where the Republican-led house shuts down the government, and Barlet walks through DC streets to the Capitol buildlng and the guy can’t get his shit together before Josh says “sir… let’s go” and they leave, with reporters recording the fact that Congress would not make time for him. ---
**Author:** ![Beelzebubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Beelzebubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebubba)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/36 "2015-11-02T00:36:15Z")
One of the tiny moments that will always stand out in my mind was in the Season 4 opener “The West Wing: 20 Hours in America, Part I”. Sam is briskly walking down the hall with Communications Aide, Ginger, following and he says- _ **“Do we have some sort of condensed, Reader’s Digest index of…well, all human knowledge?”** _ Ginger replied, _ **“We usually just use Margaret.”** _ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/37 "2015-11-02T00:39:56Z")
> [@glee](#): > > There were many great moments in the West Wing, but this short sequence makes me cry (for multiple reasons): > > - the subject of homeless war veterans > - when Mrs. Landingham goes to the funeral because her sons were killed in Vietnam > - when the flag of honour is presented to the homeless war veteran’s brother > - when the small band of mourners walk through the cemetary Yeah. I’ve been avoiding re-watching the show just because there are SO many tender, brilliant, poignant moments. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/38 "2015-11-02T00:40:38Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > So many great moments, but the one that sticks with me is a very small bit, at the end of the episode where the Coast Guard(?) ship was caught in the storm, and Bartlett had some junior rating on the radio link, and tells him, “Okay, son, I’m right here with you” …and IIRC, the ship ended up being lost, but that scene went to black/end credits. This was mine as well. First season, don’t remember which episode. They were moving elements of the Atlantic Fleet, trying to avoid getting caught at Port during a hurricane. They read the storm wrong and sailed into the teeth of a “Perfect Storm” type scenario. Bartlett, relatively new a President, wants to talk to the Fleet, Presumably to chew them a new one (yes, while they’re dealing with a hurricane). The only person they can reach on the radio is a junior radio-man on one of smallest ships in the Fleet. Bartlett demands the Captain. “Sorry, sir, I can’t get him right now.” “Well, what the hell is going on out there?” Gradually, as the scene emerges, (the ships have been scattered by the storm, and this ship is small and unlikely to survive the storm), Bartlett’s bluster fades. You can tell the kid on the radio is scared. Bartlett tells him that he’ll stay on the line with him as long as he can. It’s implied that the ship sinks, but I don’t think we’re ever told. I just love the way that Bartlett, the new President, is sort swept up in his own self-importance and then re-discovers his humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/39 "2015-11-02T00:45:01Z")
One of my favorites was a throwaway scene, where they are playing poker and CJ owns the table with a full boat: sixes full of queens. And the smile on her face when she rakes in the loot. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344/40 "2015-11-02T00:49:38Z")
I loved the moment when Leo tells this story-- a subtle reference to AA: > [@](#): > > "This guy’s walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can’t get out. > "A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, ‘Hey you. Can you help me out?’ The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. > "Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, ‘Father, I’m down in this hole can you help me out?’ The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on > “Then a friend walks by, ‘Hey, Joe, it’s me can you help me out?’ And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, ‘Are you stupid? Now we’re both down here.’ The friend says, ‘Yeah, but I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.’” BTW, [this](http://westwing.bewarne.com/queries/story.html) is a good site for WW fans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-fans-do-you-have-a-single-favorite-moment-from-the-show/736344.md?page=3)