# West Wing Finale...did Sorkin pulla Hitchcock? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 15, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782 "2006-05-15T01:42:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/41 "2006-05-16T19:58:54Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Me, too. > > Ya’ll reckon he’s kind of expensive? 🙂 Don’t know why. It’s not like he’s been busy with a show of his own lately (that lasted more than a couple of episodes.) And, yeah, I was hoping that Mallory wrapped The Napkin. So, I guess it’s back to watching the DVDs for me now, and doing the incredibly anal-retentive fan-boy thing by focusing on ridiculous details. Like wondering if the Senator that Josh hired Mandy away from in episode 1 was the same Senator Russell that eventually became VP. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/42 "2006-05-16T20:15:29Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > So, I guess it’s back to watching the DVDs for me now, and doing the incredibly anal-retentive fan-boy thing by focusing on ridiculous details. Like wondering if the Senator that Josh hired Mandy away from in episode 1 was the same Senator Russell that eventually became VP. I can answer that one! No. Sen. Lloyd Russell and Vice-President (and former House member) Robert “Bingo Bob” Russell are two different people. “This rebuke to the exemplary…” ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/43 "2006-05-16T23:24:14Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > Like wondering if the Senator that Josh hired Mandy away from in episode 1 was the same Senator Russell that eventually became VP. Bravo is showing the pilot episode right now, and that guy is Lloyd Russell – the veep is “Bingo” Bob Russell. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/44 "2006-05-16T23:25:56Z")
Crap, that’s what I get for trusting the board software to tell me that there were new posts I should have looked at. :smack: Sorry, **brianjedi**! ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/45 "2006-05-16T23:34:53Z")
> [@ScoobyTX](#): > > And they finally disclosed which was Ed and which was Larry (although I don’t remember, now who was who- I think the Asian guy is Ed and the Caucasian guy was Larry). I’m pretty sure that was the first time they were addressed separately, instead of as “EdandLarry.” In fact, Sam did so in the pilot, though it’s not like we were inclined at that point to remember either of them OR their names. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/46 "2006-05-16T23:42:02Z")
I’m rereading all the TWoP recaps of the West Wing. I too gave up after Sorkin left. News on NBC…Earl is moving to 8pm, and the new Sorkin/Schlamme show about the behind-the-scenes at a SNL-type show will be on Thu at 9pm. We know Matthew Perry (Chandler, Friends) will star, as will Bradley Whitford (Josh, West Wing). Doesn’t seem like Brad gets much rest, huh? I will have to continue to record CSI as it will be opposite the new Sorkin show. ---
**Author:** ![blueserge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@blueserge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueserge)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/47 "2006-05-17T01:11:35Z")
I have been a big Stockard Channing fan for years, since way before _Grease_. But I never liked her as Abby on TWW. I never saw the chemistry between her and Jed that others did. I used to think about who I might have cast instead had it been up to me, and decided Mary Steenburgen might have been a good choice. That’s a minor quibble, though, about what I think will go down as one of the best network dramas in history. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/48 "2006-05-17T02:06:07Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Crap, that’s what I get for trusting the board software to tell me that there were new posts I should have looked at. :smack: > > Sorry, **brianjedi**! Not a problem. It’s not surprising that someone would get confused, since names got reused pretty often in the early years. Before Bruno, there was a Senator Gianelli, and I’m pretty sure that the Stackhouse who ran for President wasn’t intended to be the same one from The Stackhouse Filibuster until they realized the mistake. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/49 "2006-05-17T02:10:14Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > Not a problem. > > It’s not surprising that someone would get confused, since names got reused pretty often in the early years. Before Bruno, there was a Senator Gianelli, and I’m pretty sure that the Stackhouse who ran for President wasn’t intended to be the same one from The Stackhouse Filibuster until they realized the mistake. Also there was a Representative Santos who got killed (in the Gaza episode?) a bit before they introduced Smits’ Rep. Santos. You’d think they could invent a few distinguishable names for characters. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/50 "2006-05-17T02:19:16Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > Also there was a Representative Santos who got killed (in the Gaza episode?) a bit before they introduced Smits’ Rep. Santos. You’d think they could invent a few distinguishable names for characters. Sorkin loves reusing names. Before Alberto Fedregotti worked at the Italian embassy, he was a little-known tennis player on **Sports Night**. He reuses actors, too: Janel Moloney was on **Sports Night** , as were Joshua Malina, a couple of the WH Press Corps regulars and Ellie Bartlet. And, the first-season finale of both shows was titled “What Kind of Day Has It Been” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/51 "2006-05-17T03:24:58Z")
One of the most interesting aspects of the show has been its portrayal of the minutiae of the White House. I remember a third-season episode that showed how a bill was sent from Congress to the White House for the president’s signature (though I think that was a bill he vetoed). So in this one we learned about the process of moving out one president’s family on the same day that the incoming president is inaugurated. I was kind of surprised at the idea that they need sixteen moving vans for the Bartlett household. How much stuff did they have? But perhaps some of that includes the official paperwork. (And I remember hearing how they had to move out John Kennedy’s family immediately after he’d been assassinated, which was awkward at best.) By the way, there was an [opinion piece](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/13/AR2006051300039.html) in the Washington Post about how popular the show was among British politicians, particularly in its idealism. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/52 "2006-05-17T03:29:41Z")
After reading that Post piece, I just have to ask: Is there anyone who doesn’t want to be Josh Lyman, if for no other reason than the delectable Donnatella Moss? ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/53 "2006-05-17T15:34:12Z")
More on Sports Night / The West Wing crossovers can be found [here](http://westwing.bewarne.com/overlaps/sports_episodes.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/54 "2006-05-17T16:58:18Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > Sorkin loves reusing names. Before Alberto Fedregotti worked at the Italian embassy, he was a little-known tennis player on **Sports Night**. > > He reuses actors, too: Janel Moloney was on **Sports Night** , as were Joshua Malina, a couple of the WH Press Corps regulars and Ellie Bartlet. > > And, the first-season finale of both shows was titled “What Kind of Day Has It Been” What about Elsie Snuffin - Will’s sister. That’s the real name of the woman that played Kim on _Sports Night_. And as for recycling Molina, he and Sorkin have been friends since high school, from what I’ve read. He was also in _An American President_ (along with Martin Sheen and the Siemaszco woman that played Barlet’s middle daughter… Yeah, Sorkin goes with the familiar. And I did catch the pilot last night on Bravo, too, and immediately saw that it’s Lloyd vs. Bob (I already remembered that Gary Cole didn’t play the earlier Russell.) ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/55 "2006-05-17T17:18:23Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > What about Elsie Snuffin - Will’s sister. That’s the real name of the woman that played Kim on Sports Night. [Are you sure about that?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165961/fullcredits) The actress playing Nancy McNally was also in American President (as press secretary maybe?) Molina was also in Few Good Men as Col. Jack’s aide. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/56 "2006-05-17T19:59:31Z")
> [@FlightlessBird](#): > > [Are you sure about that?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165961/fullcredits) If you would have clicked on [Kayla Blake’s](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004759/) individual page link, you would have answered your own question (see “Sometimes Credited As”). ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782/57 "2006-05-18T01:51:59Z")
> [@FlightlessBird](#): > > [Are you sure about that?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165961/fullcredits) > The actress playing Nancy McNally was also in American President (as press secretary maybe?) > Molina was also in Few Good Men as Col. Jack’s aide. I watched that movie the other day. It’s a little weird to see Martin Sheen in the Leo role, and even weirder to see Dr. Nancy McNally as C.J. and Will Bailey as… well, okay, he could still be Will Bailey. Also: watch Michael J. Fox and tell me that’s not Josh Lyman. I think he might be the only other person on the planet who could play Josh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-finale-did-sorkin-pulla-hitchcock/356782.md?page=2)