ProudMary

i want one of Michael's Bourbon Sours. They looked yummy! Shep looks like hell.

For anyone without access to HBO Max at the time it was released, A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote is now available free-to-all until the end of 2020 at this link: https://www.hbomax.com/votebecause

There's a YouTube video up of The West Wing Cast Trivia Event fundraiser for the Biden/Harris campaign from last week. (48:14) Fun!

Official announcement from Bravo about Top Chef: Amateurs. https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/top-chef-amateurs-greenlit-bravo-cast?cid=soc_fb_Dish

I just finished watching this on its premiere night on HBO. Genius doesn't age; it only ripens. David Byrne + Spike Lee = Genius × 2. This was brilliant. I only wish I'd have gotten to see it live. My favorite music performance documentary has always been Jonathan Demme's "Stop Making Sense", which featured Talking Heads. It has to slide over just a little on that top shelf and allow "American Utopia" to accompany it. David Byrne is just as interesting in the 2020s as he was in 1980s.

I did see Sorkin in one of the B&W behind-the-scenes clips that ran between acts.

I was just coming to post about the film. Big week for Aaron Sorkin! I thought it was excellent. The cast is amazing; they all give great performances. I remember that there's already a dedicated thread in the Movies forum for the film. I'll try to find it and link it here.

I started smiling right off the bat when I saw Emily Procter as the scene setter. Great way to bring her back, even though Ainsley wasn't in this episode. We knew that the actors playing all the major characters would be in the production, excepting John Spencer of course, but it was GREAT to see so many of the supporting players: Carol, members of the WH press corps, the Asst. Secretary of State, Ed and Larry, and the magnificent Anna Deavere Smith as Nancy McNally. 💖 I did miss the great James Hong from his guest role as the Chinese Ambassador. His absence was felt in that scene. I liked the set design, with the offices set apart on stage and the characters walking out the office door and into the "hallway" over to the other office. The hallway was so important to the show. That theater was gorgeous! While I admit that overall I haven't seen him in too many different things since the show ended, I am an avid watcher of Grace and Frankie, and I have to say that I'm rarely impressed with Martin Sheen's performance there, with one notable exception: He shines when he's in scenes with only Lily Tomlin. Those two have a comfort level that's apparent. So, I was a bit concerned going in to this production, if he could still bring it as Jed Bartlet. The answer is a resounding YES. To me, so much so, that I wonder if there's a way Martin Sheen could FINALLY get an Emmy for playing Jed Bartlet? I'm not sure where this production might fit though. It's not a television movie; It's a dramatic special but while there are writing and directing categories for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special, the acting category only seems to cover the first two of those. 🤔 The breaks between acts were fantastic. First, seeing some of the behind the scenes footage was wonderful. I loved the use of black and white for them. Then we had the guest spots or spots with cast members giving valuable voting information: Bradley Whitford and Marlee Matlin still have great chemistry together! I thought the appeal to young voters with Elizabeth Moss and Dule Hill together was excellent. Samuel L. Jackson! Loved his spot, although I fully expected him to end by saying, "Get out there and vote, mother f***ers!" Hey, it's HBO. 😄 The bit with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Janel Maloney was a bit too cutesy, but I did like that LMM began an anecdote about James Madison, only to be rebuffed by Janel's "No, no." I immediately thought of "You should read the James Madison. It'll help you." I'm assuming that was the intent. And, Michelle Obama. During her speech the DNC in August, I said that I wish she could speak to Americans every night. She was great. That woman can do no wrong in my book. ❤️ I am definitely a fan of Sterling K. Brown having seen and been impressed by him in many different films and shows and although he did a good job, I was taken out of each scene just a bit, each time he made an appearance. What seemed wrong to me was that in light of how much the major characters have aged since the show ended, SKB just seemed too young for the Chief of Staff role in comparison. Hell, even Dule Hill's a bit older than SKB is! He's a great actor at the top of his game and it's not as if I have anyone else in mind. I guess seeing anyone but John Spencer as Leo was going to be tough on all of us who loved him so. 😢 The Avett Brothers! I will most definitely be watching this again. Loved it!

Jed Bartlet didn't tell Leo. Abby told Leo, after Leo realized something was very wrong and pushed her for an answer.

Great find. Glad you shared it!

A $25 donation gets you in the room. Virtual Trivia Night with The Cast of the West Wing

That list disappoints me. They're in Portland. I expected to see Doug Adams. 😕

Season 18 location announced! https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/top-chef-season-18-location?cid=soc_fb_Dish

I'm really looking forward to seeing this film. Truthfully, they had me at Aaron Sorkin, but that is an exceptional collection of actors! Official Trailer:

If we had a full forum for The West Wing, I'd put this in the Small Talk thread, but... The initial reviews have come out for the Trial of the Chicago 7, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. It's a Netflix film, "opening in select theaters Sept. 25 ahead of its Oct. 16 bow on the streaming platform." Here is the fairly glowing review from The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney. 'The Trial of the Chicago 7': Film Review A snippet: I'd want to see it just based on Aaron Sorkin's involvement but the cast is a truly amazing collection of standout actors: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, Noah Robbins, Danny Flaherty, Ben Shenkman, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Caitlin Fitzgerald, Alice Kremelberg, John Doman, J.C. MacKenzie, Damien Young, Wayne Duvall, C.J. Wilson

I laughed harder at that article than I did at anything on the actual Emmys' telecast.

I'm always interested in fashion moments from the Emmys, even now that they're virtual. This is from The Hollywood Reporter. How Rachel Brosnahan's Custom Pajamas' Look Came Together

You're right. I hadn't thought of that! And yes on the Succession trio. Were I a voter, I wouldn't have been able to decide among them.

It's outstanding; but your perception isn't wrong. Let's just say that the Roy family puts the "fun" in dysfunctional!

Yay! The Succession season finale was terrific.

I only watched the first couple of episodes of Euphoria, too heavy for me, but Zendaya was outstanding. I'm very happy for her.

OMG, Zendaya won!!!

I really thought Cox and Strong would split the vote and Bateman would win. As a Strong fan, I'm glad that didn't happen.

Yes!!! After Regina King, I wanted Jeremy Strong to win so much!