I’ve been watching it on Bravo and renting CDs.
Who is Jimmy Smitts?
CJ slept with the previous VP, not the current one, right?
A Democratic Congressman (or Senator?) that they are setting up for a run at the Presidency.
CJ slept with the previous VP, not the current one, right?
Yes, it was Otter, not Lumbergh.
What a great freakin answer!
Jimmy Smits plays a Representative from Texas, Houston to be more precise.
His first appearance was in last week’s episode (11/11), when he made it known that he was not running for re-election to the House. Josh went to talk to him, saying that when he leaves office, his seat will probably go to a Republican.
Smits’ character is a fervent proponent of health care reform, and was disillusioned by the recently passed bill for that. He said he did more for health care as the Mayor of Houston, and is going back to Texas to continue that work.
Viewers are under the impression that Smits will be joining The West Wing as a candidate against VP Bill Lumbergh for the Democratic nomination for President when Barlett finishes his second term.
But we only found that out when former-VP Otter started writing his memoirs. Their little tryst happened before Otter became ran in the election that eventually netted him the VP slot, and presumeably before CJ started working for the Hollywood PR firm. He picked her up in an elevator in a hotel somewhere.
He didn’t say he was mayor, did he? I thought he said he ran a large number of health centers.
CJ didn’t sleep with any of the VPs. VP Otter came on to CJ (supposedly during the first presidential campaign), but nothing happened.
Which raises in interesting question: will the show continue beyond the Bartlett administration? I can imagine the network wanting to keep it if they feel it can make money with Martin Sheen gone (or reduced to occasional “Just stopping by to visit” appearances) but logically, wouldn’t all the senior staffers be replaced in a new administration, even if it was Democratic? I thought it was a huge stretch to promote CJ to COS, leapfrogging Josh and Toby, but trying to keep any of them around in a subsequent administration would just be ridiculous.
So, will it be the “All New West Wing”, with one or two low-level actors kept, no audience appeal, and quickly cancelled, or will they do the smart thing and end the series while it is still popular and at a logical time within the storyline?
Depends on the ratings. If done properly, the transition could include some of the current cast (maybe Josh in a different position) and bring on mostly new characters. The president (looks like it’ll either be Smits, Cole, or Alan Alda) will get plenty of screen time prior to the election, so audiences will see him as the star.
She acted as though it did, regrets getting into the elevator, asking him if she will be in the book, talking with Toby.
That’s a really good point. I can’t imagine there’d be “book material” if he’d just hit on her.
I could see Josh being Smits’ Chief of Staff. Smits said Josh is too much of a policy wonk, but I think Smits’ would be more of a hands-on president, which would need more of a policy guy in the CoS position. Donna would stay (maybe in a minor policy position, or a communications position).
Will would be out. CJ might be out (especially if Josh makes CoS). Toby might stick around - he’s broadening his skills.
There’s an easy way to keep the whole cast together: simply replace The West Wing with Bartlet Presidential Library.