Be Excellent To Each Other

Yes, this is probably in the US TV thread, but fuck off.

So, Mrs T and I have started re-watching this, right from the pilot, after seeing that I could get hold of 720p versions. Last time we went through it I bought all the dvd box sets, but they have since been sold (apart from a couple that are still piled under the projector to get it to the right height, before I fix it permanently in place... 2 years ago I did that... whoops )

Only two episodes in so far, but I forgot quite how good this show is. The characters are all well rounded and likeable from the off, Martin Sheen is perfect in the role as president. It is so well written and intelligent, and time flies when you watch it.

If, for any reason, you haven't watched it. Stop what you are doing right now and go and watch the first episode.

Go on. I'll wait.

I've owned the box set for about a year and a half. I haven't watched a single episode. We're starting it once we're done with Angel, though.

I think it's also in the West Wing thread, but I concur with the sentiments you express.

+1. West Wing is excellent from start to finish.

Should've just used the helpful search function.

There is absolutely nothing about his show which makes me want to watch it other than the amount of bummage it has received. But then you lot rate Buffy, Red Dwarf and other assorted codswallop. Hmmm.

Are you the Nirejehgengenegege of TV?

Nah I think I was just a bit too old for kids TV when those shows were on.

Reasons for watching The West Wing:

First rate cast
First rate writing
Unbelievable research and attention to detail - if you ever thought "I want to know more about the US political system", this is a great place to start
Incredibly deft blending of real comedy with deep drama

And for that reason, markg is oot. He doesn't like anything good.

Buffy has an attempted rape scene and BDSM sex. I'm surprised at your definition of "kids TV".

We'll start pickup those £50 notes over there, once we have done picking up these pennies...

Hush you. We also watched The Sopranos and The Wire this year.

Also, I reiterate my instructions for anyone watching the West Wing. When you've watched the whole thing, start to finish, then go out and 'get hold of' The Good Guys. Don't research The Good Guys, don't find out anything about it, just watch ep 1 (and then all the others). That is all.

Kids/teen, whatever. It was on at tea time in the Hollyoaks slot wasn't it? And it was also available as a pencil case.

Oh, I see, you're confusing what Joss Whedon actually made with the dumbass marketing it received by British TV channels that had no idea what to do with it. Angel used to air on Channel 4 at 6pm; in order to do so, one episode early in series one had to have more than 8 minutes cut from its 44 minute runtime. There was no narrative left. I think it's pretty clear we can't put much stock in what the BBC and Ch4 did.

Update -- The BBFC gave a number of episodes of Angel an 18 rating on their VHS release, incidentally. There's more history here.

You don't generally set something in a high school and have the main protagonists as teenagers if that isn't who you are targeting. Are you seriously trying to suggest that the main target audience for Buffy were not teenagers? I thought Angel was quite deliberately meant to be "darker" and aimed at a slightly older audience (or at least to keep the original audience interested even after they had grown some pubes).

I can think of films that disagree

Roger. S1 ("on order from Amazon" - Ed)

I also refer mlud to Glee, Curio and MaliA.

Mrs Bamba and I recently completed our fourth watching of the entire seven seasons of The West Wing from start to finish; it seems to be pretty much annually that the WW itch needs scratched. I had no interest in it when it first started showing ("A show about American politics? Hah, no, I don't think I'll be watching that!") and I can't even remember what finally convinced me to give it a try but I was completely hooked from about half way through the first episode.

It is absolutely, genuinely, 100%, honestly, hands-down the best fucking thing ever shown on TV. If you've never seen it, even if you're not slightly interested in the idea of it, do yourself a favour and just watch the first two episodes before finally making up your mind; even if only so you can come back here and tell me I'm wrong. But every single person I've nagged into watching it over the years has been utterly hooked and gone on to devour the full thing in one orgiastic run. I literally cannot recommend it enough.

Is it as good as Bones?

Is anything?

ANTM!?

Started at fair old clip and almost sustained it for the full seven series, but there were bum notes in the first series certainly. Such as the super annoying, super curly-haired, super bubblegum-popping PR missy.

Can't fault Sorkin's writing, but I did find I became depressed watching it. 1) partly because of the untouchable quality of the writing and the shade it puts anything I churn out in; 2) mainly because I was sat in my flat, in my pants, hungover, watching all those incredibly intelligent people trying to make things better, each and every day. And being funny too. Apart from Always Earnest Charlie. He can fuck off.

Anyway. Possibly the only show to have coaxed an existential crisis out of me.

This 'The Good Guys' business... where can I find it? Looking on Amazon all I get is Operation Good Guys, which I enjoyed at the time but my brother bought me the DVD boxset last Christmas and, like so much revisited comedy, I realised it was shit. And nothing like the West Wing.

The only bad thing about The West Wing is Mandy. Everything else is pretty much perfect.

You edited your post as I wrote mine and made me look foolish, damn you!

Ah sorry! I'd failed to copy and paste that part of the post across so had to do a ninja-edit.

I think the fact you wrote the exact same regarding Mandy deserves a:

o/

\o

It was never released on DVD over here - download is your only option, I think. Also note that it is nothing, nothing like the West Wing. But it is....relevant.

Up to episode 8 on the rewatch now. So so good. If you haven't started watching it after reading this thread, then you are a fool.

Watch Bedtime for Bonzo and Hercules in New York.

QED

Halfway through season one. Stand-out moments do far include Josh arranging the funeral for the homeless veteran and (my favourite):

That entire episode ("Celestial Navigation") almost made me fall off my chair from laughing so hard.

Just finished season 4 of the re-watch, which reminds me, I need to download-a-tron the next few series in 720p...

p.s. it was Toby who arranged the funeral

Toby?

Also, Six Meetings Before Lunch is just coming up.

Uhh, yeah, Toby.

All just Jewish people, right? Racist.

Oh, I forgot: "I had woot canal. I can't do the pwess bwiefing." And: "I went to Harvard and Princeon. I'm sure my debating skills are well up to dealing with a room full of the press." / "OK!" (In that amazing sing-song way that reporter guy (Bill?) says "OK!")

"A what?"
"WOOT CANAL!"

Six meetings before lunch is great
But you have the whole of season 2 to look forward, which is just fantastic throughout

"Why awe they in Fwoggy Bottom?"
"They aren't. I just wanted you to say Foggy Bottom."

Danny?

I wish I was rewatching The West Wing again now.

Three episodes from the end of West Wing season 1. In the darkest hour when polls slump and morale has gone to hell, Leo steps up to the plate with a most awesome wake-up call and inspiratinoal speech. Exciting music plays. Time to step up!

Can the West Wing staff hang out with me please? I promise I'll be cool enough. I'll smile at your awesome quips and everything.

Finished re-watching all seven series a month or so ago, still most awesome.

Want Donna.

Fine I'm convinced, I shall check out my regular '24 hour rental locations' immediately.

Hmmm hang on, only £60 for the entire boxset - http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDet ... sku=981890

Will it just become another boxset I never watch though? I'd hate to have another fucking X-Files Complete Collection knocking around the place, never got past Series 1 on that.

I'll meet it halfway and see if my local HMV has a boxset in stock.

I don't know anyone that has started watching The West Wing and gotten bored and stopped watching before the end, the script is so well written, incredibly witty. Any anone that 'wants Donna' is welcome to her imo, just not my type. Although the way she got her job with Josh was pretty epic