The West Wing

[Phony Moderate]

I only have the Season 7 DVD so far, and it's a good show. Maybe a bit unrealistic though. For example, Vinick never made a concession speech on election night 2006, South Carolina went for Santos, Vermont went for Vinick.

[phk]

No

[7,052,770]

Great show.  Never watched it when it was on, but got the DVD's later.  I'm currently watching season 7.

[Sensei]

I have the whole series box set. Best show ever.

[Keystone Phil]

Yes but I only started watching regularly towards the final two seasons.

Maybe a bit unrealistic though. For example, Vinick never made a concession speech on election night 2006, South Carolina went for Santos, Vermont went for Vinick.

Yeah, tell me about it. I think the writers always said the show took place in a very different political climate but they go on to make very striking comparisons to the real world. Whatever the case, the show could be really silly at times.

I love how they won re-election in a landslide (taking the Dakotas, Nebraska, etc.) but they were worried about losing Jed's home state of New Hampshire...and still lose Florida just because it was Richie's home state. Give me a break.

[7,052,770]

Yes but I only started watching regularly towards the final two seasons.

Maybe a bit unrealistic though. For example, Vinick never made a concession speech on election night 2006, South Carolina went for Santos, Vermont went for Vinick.

Yeah, tell me about it. I think the writers always said the show took place in a very different political climate but they go on to make very striking comparisons to the real world. Whatever the case, the show could be really silly at times.

I love how they won re-election in a landslide (taking the Dakotas, Nebraska, etc.) but they were worried about losing Jed's home state of New Hampshire...and still lose Florida just because it was Richie's home state. Give me a break.

Yeah..that New Hampshire thing really bothered me.  Even if for some reason his own state really hated him, he was obviously winning in a landslide anyway.

[Phony Moderate]

Other unrealistic things about it include there being only one Presidential debate in the 2006 campaign, unrealistic counting on election night 2006, an unknown Latino Congressman winning the Democratic nomination, and a pro-choice Republican nominee.

[Meeker]

Best show ever created for television. Indisputably.

Yes but I only started watching regularly towards the final two seasons.

Maybe a bit unrealistic though. For example, Vinick never made a concession speech on election night 2006, South Carolina went for Santos, Vermont went for Vinick.

Yeah, tell me about it. I think the writers always said the show took place in a very different political climate but they go on to make very striking comparisons to the real world. Whatever the case, the show could be really silly at times.

I love how they won re-election in a landslide (taking the Dakotas, Nebraska, etc.) but they were worried about losing Jed's home state of New Hampshire...and still lose Florida just because it was Richie's home state. Give me a break.

Yeah..that New Hampshire thing really bothered me.  Even if for some reason his own state really hated him, he was obviously winning in a landslide anyway.

IIRC the whole concern about New Hampshire was in the summer or early fall when the election was still competitive. It didn't turn into the landslide we saw on election night until after the debate when Bartlet slaughtered Ritchie.

[Magic 8-Ball]

The show went noticeably downhill after Sorkin left.  Very few writers can write dialogue like him.

The elections were absurd.  They mentioned in passing that Bartlet won Georgia in his first election, but could barely carry Oregon, and lost Maine.  Vinnick being able to carry Maine and Vermont - while losing New Hampshire, South Carolina, and the election - was odd.  It's almost like The West Wing's universe treated every state like a swing state.

[Keystone Phil]

Other unrealistic things about it include there being only one Presidential debate in the 2006 campaign, unrealistic counting on election night 2006, an unknown Latino Congressman winning the Democratic nomination, and a pro-choice Republican nominee.

Yeah and they acted as if there wasn't even going to be a debate until Vinick and Santos had that confrontation at the Al Smith Dinner.

[Purple State]

Not when it was on TV, but last semester I watched all seven seasons over a few months. Great stuff.

[7,052,770]

Here's something else that's really weird to me...WHY would Santos choose Leo as his running mate?  Leo's specialty was running campaigns, not being a candidate.  Surely some governor (Baker?) or congressman could have added more to the ticket.

Imagine McCain choosing Karl Rove as his running mate...

[Purple State]

Here's something else that's really weird to me...WHY would Santos choose Leo as his running mate?  Leo's specialty was running campaigns, not being a candidate.  Surely some governor (Baker?) or congressman could have added more to the ticket.

Imagine McCain choosing Karl Rove as his running mate...

Karl Rove was deputy CoS and was never Labor Secretary or in Vietnam... He added national security experience and heft on Capitol Hill. Granted of course Santos could have picked someone better. But Josh obviously pressed it.

[Јas]

Seasons 1-4 are outstanding.
After that it rarely hit the same heights (except those written by Deborah Cahn, e.g. The Supremes).

[Joe Republic]

Here's something else that's really weird to me...WHY would Santos choose Leo as his running mate?  Leo's specialty was running campaigns, not being a candidate.  Surely some governor (Baker?) or congressman could have added more to the ticket.

Imagine McCain choosing Karl Rove as his running mate...

Also, don't forget that Leo had already suffered one major heart attack, and his alcoholism and drug addiction were public knowledge.  Even with his political experience, he would have been an awful choice of running mate in the real world.

[pogo stick]

No