# WEST WING'S SEPTEMBER 11th Terrorist Episode **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180 "2001-10-03T14:17:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/1 "2001-10-03T14:17:55Z")
> [@](#): > > The West Wing - KPRC,Wed Oct 3 8:00PM (CST) > Isaac and Ishmael (Season Premiere, new,) > The White House is under lockdown during an emergency situation. NBC must truly trust Aaron Sorkin. He wrote and shot this episode in a few weeks (obviously). It deals with the fictious White House administration dealing with the WTC attack. Very bold. Very risky. I can’t wait! This could be a real make or break moment (of course the show is currently “made” so he can only lose…) Anyone planning on watching? Let’s meet back after the episode to discuss. Incidentally, Isaac and Ishmael were the two sons of Abraham. Jews/Christians say Isaac was the favored son, born of a free woman. Muslims say Ishmael was favored, born of Abraham;s slave. ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/2 "2001-10-03T17:24:20Z")
I am psyched! I just started watching West Wing at the last season and I was looking forward to the season premier. This is like an added bonus. Should be interesting. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/3 "2001-10-03T19:12:20Z")
Where did you read that the episode is about the WTC situation? I was under the impression that the episode was already about a terrorist action, but got pushed back to this week (it was supposed to be on last week) due to both scheduling bumps as well as the need to reshoot a few scenes due to possible sensitivity to some terrorist scenes. Regardless, I can’t wait either! ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/4 "2001-10-03T19:24:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Late Friday, NBC announced that Aaron Sorkin, the creator of the high-rated, Emmy-winning White House drama, has hammered out a script for an episode “dealing with some of the questions and issues currently facing the world in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States.” > The episode, titled “Isaac and Ishmael,” will preempt the season premiere and will be broadcast on October 3. > **[Breaking Celebrity News, Entertainment News and Celeb Gossip - E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/news)** > > Get the latest news on celebrity scandals, engagements, and divorces! Check out our breaking stories on Hollywood's hottest stars! ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/5 "2001-10-03T19:24:41Z")
No. This was a special episode written a week after the 9/11 attacks.(I’m not sure it will SPECIFICALLY be the WTC, but it will be a major terrorist attack of this magnitude.) The first episode was supposed to be about Bartlett’s re-election plans (and illness). That episode has been pushed back until NEXT week. Thisone is entirely in response to the tragedy. CNN just reported that there will be a scene with the Security Counsel. briefing the Prez. ---
**Author:** ![king\_of\_spain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@king\_of\_spain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/king_of_spain)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/6 "2001-10-03T23:04:46Z")
There’s another episode, done before the attacks, dealing with trouble in the Middle East. It’s not airing for a month or so, and was never supposed to. “Isaac and Ishmael” is completely different. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/7 "2001-10-03T23:57:00Z")
It is my understanding the Sorkin wrote this as a situation similar to the attacks, e.g., in which America and the White House is under siege, but not specifically about the real attacks. This is fiction after all. I have just recently been introduced to this series since I was living overseas when it began. I am already amazed at the writing and acting. Can’t wait for 9 pm. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/8 "2001-10-04T00:49:46Z")
My Digital Cable TV Guide says that it will be an attack “not unlike those of Spetember 11th.” 10 More minutes. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/9 "2001-10-04T02:01:30Z")
that was rather interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/10 "2001-10-04T02:02:25Z")
Damn. I liked that a lot. Way to be evenhanded, educational, and moving. …Damn. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/11 "2001-10-04T02:23:06Z")
It was good. I got distracted for a few seconds. When it said “Crash” on the phone, it didn’t literally mean a crash did it? Wasn’t that just a security breach code word? I had to answer a question from my wife and didn’t hear that part. From then on, they were talking about terrorism, but we heard no more mention of a specific act (short of the questioning of the guy in what I suppose to be the Old Executive building. Did a great job of fairly portraying every view point. I thought by having his characters giving even unpopular viewpoints, he made it easier to deal with. Question: What did you think of the opening montage? I like how they specifically addressed the continuity of the episode. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/12 "2001-10-04T02:26:10Z")
It was exposed that “Crash” is the security code-word for “lock up the White House and don’t let anyone leave or enter.” The “Crash” was purely the result of the dude in the Old Executive Office Building having the same name as the suspected terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/13 "2001-10-04T02:52:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*It was exposed that “Crash” is the security code-word for “lock up the White House and don’t let anyone leave or enter.” > > The “Crash” was purely the result of the dude in the Old Executive Office Building having the same name as the suspected terrorist. \*\* That was pretty much what I had thought. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/14 "2001-10-04T03:19:42Z")
And Donna’s getting a boyfriend! Good episode, I liked what Sorkin chose to focus on. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/15 "2001-10-04T03:39:58Z")
It was too preachy, even for me who generally agreed with the sentiments expressed in the show. I almost invoked Godwin’s Law halfway through. I can just see the screenwriters sitting down and trying to cook up an idea they could write quickly with hardly any change of sets. The “class lecture” in the kitchen was just too staged. Hey, let’s trot in all our regular characters one by one, in front of our ignorant HS kids who represent the ignorant public! Come on, give the audience some credit. Or maybe I’m wrong, the unwashed massers ARE that stupid and need a blackboard lecture. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/16 "2001-10-04T03:40:24Z")
I thought the scenes with the students were a bit heavy handed. But the scences with the “suspect” were very good… the way both characters kept nearly losing their tempers but held it together, the way the interviewer (sorry - don’t watch this much) went too far and then was able to apologize. It’s nice that they’re donating their proceeds, too. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/17 "2001-10-04T03:42:54Z")
Hmmm. A simulpost in which I agree with ChasE. It was sort of predictable that the president would eventually come in. I did like his “what the fuck is this, where are my apples” reaction. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/18 "2001-10-04T03:43:23Z")
I agree with **vix**. The interrogation scenes with Leo were par for the course; the high school kids scenes were insulting, to say the least. Then again, this is television we’re talking about here. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/19 "2001-10-04T03:44:49Z")
**Chas.E:** > [@](#): > > screenwriters [nitpick] One. One screenwriter. [/nitpick] And given the time constraints and the subject matter, I’d say this is about as well as it could have been handled–unless he’d chosen not to write about it at all. I agree with **watsonwil** –it articulated a multiplicity of viewpoints very well. “Isn’t pinochle a card game?” “…I’ve changed my mind; kill 'em all.” (btw–hi, **vix**!) ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180/20 "2001-10-04T03:55:57Z")
Gadarene, speaking as a former Hollywood script doctor, I can tell you from personal experience, there ain’t no such thing as just ONE screenwriter on any project with this size of a budget. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wings-september-11th-terrorist-episode/85180.md?page=2)