Oh, I have missed that Soirkin-penned Bartlett so very desperately….

It’s just fabulous, and very cathartic when you’ve seen nothing but that toxic bitch on the TV.

I find it hugely uplifting to see how Sorkin can still write Bartlet so bloody brilliantly!

‘He’s promised to eradicate evil and that was always on my “to do” list.’

Masturbatory fanfiction is still masturbatory fanfiction, even if it’s based on your own show, and published in the NYT.

Sorkin should be a little embarrassed…albeit no more so than for the last couple episodes of Studio 60.

If all fanfic made that many good points that well that quickly and include a few good gags…well, I’d encourage everyone to wank away! :-)

“The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it.”

> Masturbatory fanfiction is still masturbatory fanfiction, even if it’s based on your own show

No. Fuck off.

> No. Fuck off.

In fact, to expand a little, how is this any more ‘masturbatory fan fiction’ than, say ‘Isaac and Ishmael’ - the out of continuity episode written in response to 9/11? Was that an embarrassment? They’re his bloody characters, and anything he writes with them in can’t be referred to, sneeringly or otherwise, as ‘fan fiction’. Obviously.

> Was that an embarrassment?

You need to watch it there - a lot of people thought is was!

STUPID people, you understand. But people nonetheless.

> You need to watch it there - a lot of people thought is was!

I suddenly feel incredibly relieved I’ve not gone and sought out old West Wing forum threads. It’d probably make me weep.

> I suddenly feel incredibly relieved I’ve not gone and sought out old West Wing forum threads. It’d probably make me weep.

The main issue - and this was the mainstream press coverage at the time as much as anywhere - was that it talked down to people, told them what they already knew. Which missed the how The West Wing’s a bright show, but NOT exclusive, the smarter comparisons and reflections within the the script…and about a hundred other excellent things.

But yeah, it took a lotta flack.

Yes, I simply refuse to believe that the majority of Americans were considering all the points that episode makes in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

Bloody excellent little script, that. What are the chances of this being filmed and screened at Obama’s inauguration?

By the way, I’m currently working my way through the seven boxsets, after having never watched any West Wing at all before July this year. We finished Season Four last night, and while I’m concerned about how the last three seasons are going to survive without Sorkin, I’m certain that this show is one of the best dramas of all time.

> We finished Season Four last night

Hurrah! It’s odd how what could easily have been 5.01 is tagged on to the end of the season, though, but understandable since Sorkin was leaving and he’d obviously want to get everything done that he wanted, which he couldn’t have done if it ended on the cliff hanger.

My opinion of the last three seasons is this: 5 is a bit shakey but perfectly good where as 6 and 7 are brilliant in their own way as they are allowed to be different, rather than imitations of Sorkin.

“Bloody excellent little script, that. What are the chances of this being filmed and screened at Obama’s inauguration?”

Thank you for proving my point about “masturbatory fanfiction.”

Step back for a second and imagine McCain supporters musing (even in jest) about producing an episode of 24 where his platform is endorsed by Jack Bauer. It’d be just as revealing. Wanting the emotional validation of your favourite fictional character saying that Yes, in fact, they do like and dislike all the exact same things you do, is more than a little juvenile.

The problem with your argument is that this sketch doesn’t exactly fall at the feet of Obama. Despite the obvious portrayal as the Republicans being A Bad Thing, it’s quite critical of the way he’s been conducting his campaign. I don’t get what’s masturbatory about and I certainly don’t get why it should be classes as fan fiction. You’re not explaining yourself properly. More than anything, it seems to be an exercise in Sorkin finding out what it is his character would say to Bartlet, while at the same time getting some of his own opinions across.

And Jack Bauer would *totally* vote democrat. Every republican president on that show has screwed him over big time and he’s been the lap-dog for pretty much every democratic president.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=moMuWdmwpfk

Thank you for proving my point about “masturbatory fanfiction.”

I don’t give a fuck what I’ve proven, you smug little shit.

> Hurrah! It’s odd how what could easily have been 5.01 is tagged on to the end of the season, though,

There’s a reasonable little theory that what he essentially did was leave the fictional White House in the same way he left the actual show: The president leaves the White House to a Republican oaf, the writer leaves his show in the hands of the exec producer.

6 and 7 are the muddle for me. Will Bailey, especially, gets dreadful treatment as a character whose belief in his values once made it rain. But with loads of great stuff it’s still an above-par drama with wonderful performances (Alda’s amazing). And I thought the debate episode was pretty strong.

5 I prefer over the latter two BECAUSE of the Sorkin impersonation (though the classical references get very wobbly). It misses a fair bit, but sometimes gets so close I can taste it. I think part of that was the input of, of all people, Friends writer Alexa Junge, who’s on the staff for the series and credited with two of the best eps. Plus the staff from Sorkin’s seasons, of course - he didn’t work 100% alone…