mythmom

Lionel Tribbey is only in several episodes, actually episodes with Ainsley. He plays White House Senior Counsel and debates Gilbert and Sullivan with Sam.

He longs to go on vacation to a resort and have drinks "with little umbrellas."

Think "He is an Englishman."

Marian

Lionel Tribbey was the chief White House Counsel at one point in the Bartlet administration. I think that the character appeared in only one episode -- the one where Ainsley Hayes gets assigned to a dreadful office and Sam fires two staffers who play a nasty practical joke on her. Tribbey may be referred to in some other episodes, though.

John Larroquette played the part, and he was very funny.

There were other instances in later seasons where there was a White House Counsel involved, but the character had a different name and was played by a different actor. I think there was a mention in some episode about how there had been an awful lot of White House Counsels during the Bartlet administration, which suggests that the writers thought that we would all remember Lionel Tribbey and they had better explain his absence (something they often didn't do for characters who vanished).

Oops, I cross-posted with mythmom. Sorry.

mythmom

The cast said vanished characters were in Mandyland because they ever explained where Mandy went. I was happer to see her go.

The other White House Counsel was Oliver Babich played by Oliver Platt. He had the whole investigation/censure thing to deal with and dueled with the First Lady.

pesto

TD: In case you missed it, Ainsley (the character, not the actress) is a Smithie. She's even in Wikipedia!

Being one of those middle-aged women to whom you referred, however, I believe I felt more in tune with CJ. Especially in her new reincarnation as Juno's step-mom.

mythmom

Haha. It was meant to be. A meeting of the threads.

Well Stockard Channing actually graduated from Radcliffe.

kmaqMom

I have to show this thread to my D. She is a HUGE West Wing fan and bought all 7 seasons of DVDs with her own money. Her favorite character is Josh and she said her favorite episodes are "20 hours in America" and "Debate Camp" That life at the White House would be her dream.
I did not watch when it was on TV but have seen a few episodes with her. Excellent program. I love the fast paced and intelligent dialogue.

TheDad

Pesto: side note, but one of the four "regulars" on "Sex and the City" is also a Smithie. The character, not the actress. We gave S&tC almost two seasons on DVD. Interesting but annoying. And totally unrealistic in terms of jobs vs. standard of living in NYC. I wish I could write as little as Carrie Bradshaw and afford that lifestyle.

lefthandofdog

I was given the first season by a friend shortly before the series ended. D, a h.s. junior, "discovered" it last year, got two more seasons for Christmas, and spent a lot of her vacation watching it. She announced one day "I learned what a filibuster is".

I don't identify with any one member of the cast, but like to pretend that I work with those people and that JB is the REAL president - this stuff we read about in the papers is fiction (and badly written fiction at that).

It's supremely entertaining and I firmly believe that it has a positive effect on kids - they do learn about government, issues, and also what fun it can be to throw yourself into something with like minded people (an ideal working environment.) It's inspiring.

mythmom

Yes, but dark as well. Very little gets accomplished; Barlet is always bemoaning that. Monumental egos are involved -- considerations of his legacy often outweigh the public good, and Josh likes nothing more than vindictively punishing folks in Congress.

And the Godfather arc of the Sharif business.

Very powerful stuff going on underneath the witty banter and Bartlet bonhomie.

That just adds to its stature, IMO. Problem with last season is that Smits' character lacks these shadings.

HeliMomNYC

This is a great thread. S and I watched the Thanksgiving episode with CJ and the turkeys while he was home on break. He took the first two seasons back to school with him.

"Mandyland"....that's hysterical. I hated Mandy. I love CJ though.

I think the very little getting accomplished was pretty accurate given that the fictional President and Congress were of different parties. I learned a lot about government from the show.

pesto

Given the dearth of watchable TV right now (the writers' strike notwithstanding), I can't help but wonder what has happened to all the West Wing writers. I can't find any trace of WW's quality of writing -- its wit and occasional eloquence -- anywhere on TV now, with the possible exception of The Daily Show and the Colbert Report. (I love Grey's Anatomy but it's a very different sort of show.) Anybody know what kind of life there is for a writer after a show like WW? (This sounds like a question for TheDad.)

Chedva

Well, at least for a while the writers went to "Studio 60". (Problem with that show is that they acted as if putting on a live skit show - something that's already passe - was as important as running the White House.) Then the strike, so who knows? With any luck, Sorkin will develop another show with a topic weighty enough for the writing, or the writers will learn how to lighten up while still being intelligent, witty and eloquent.

alwaysamom

I had such hopes for Studio 60 but, as you pointed out, Chedva, they took themselves much too seriously. It's a shame because the show had such potential, especially with that great cast.

Many of the West Wing writers have gone on to write for shows like House and a few are in NYC writing for the various Law & Order shows. Aaron Sorkin, the brains behind (most seasons of) WW, and a fabulous writer, has been busy, as always, writing for film and stage. He wrote the screenplay for Charlie Wilson's War and his play, The Farnsworth Invention is currently running on Broadway. It's nice to see him return to his beginnings on stage.

mythmom

I avoided the show like poison because of the graphic bugs/blood stuff, but in desperation have been watching DVD's of CSI, Las Vegas. Some of it is surprisingly witty and nuanced, and the characters, particularly Grissom, are interesting.

House has gone off the rails a bit IMO.

I have to admit it (face red with shame) I do like Project Runway. Secret clothes addict, and D, the perfect Barbie doll. I have trained her to like only really well designed clothes, and now my wallet is crying.

She showed me a shirt she bought in London on Skype. What a riot.

alwaysamom

CSI: Las Vegas has improved with age. I've watched since it started and I agree, mythmom, Grissom is a very interesting character. I think the nuanced humor is what keeps the show alive, and is something which is lacking in both of its counterparts, Miami and NY, which take themselves much too seriously.

Just to get back to excellent writing, as epitomized in WW, for a minute. I think that, in addition to excellent writing, part of what made WW successful, and I believe it was a large part of its success, was terrific acting. Many of its regulars, as well as its guest stars, had their acting origins in theatre. It showed. Other successful shows which have used the same formula of excellent writing and excellent acting, with casting theatre actors, are the L&O series, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Oz, and more recently, Dexter. Interestingly, many actors have easily moved between two or more of those series.