Favorite West Wing Moment(s)

[CM-BlueButterfly]

Which is or are your favorite West Wing moment(s) and what is it that make it/them so good for you? (eg, the cast dynamic, the role it plays in the story, the delivery of the lines etc).

[Sarah 103]

Favorite moments:

Josh's disastrous press conference that has the secret plan to fight inflation.

CJ sitting next to Big Bird.

CJ doing the photoshoot with the turkeys to figure out which one to pardon

I love the above because they are funny.

I think Bartlett swearing/cursing God in Latin is an incredible performance.

 

[BAForever]

Flashback when Josh is shot. Leo saying to  candidate Jed something about being  tired of choosing mediocre presidential candidates (he said it better- ha).

Also, same epi when Josh goes to see Sam at the big law firm to convince him to join the campaign. Sam, in a meeting, looks at all his paperwork, and says "I'm not going to need any of this anymore" and leaves the meeting. 

[MMEButterfly]

There are many, but my favorite is when President Bartlet lets fly against "Dr. Jenna Jacobs" regarding homosexuality in the Bible. "Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?"

[Morrigan2575]

I could fill up an entire page with favorite moments.

Bartlett cussing out god in Latin

Josh's secret plan to fight inflation 

Bartlett giving Charlie the carving knife.

Charlie fighting past Secret Service to get to Bartlett after he heard shots were fired at the White House...basically any Bartlett/Charlie scene.

Stackhouse Filibuster when the Senator steps in to give Stackhouse a break. Also the scene where Donna raises her hand to answer the question in the Oval Office

The Josh/Donna scene..if you were in a accident I wouldn't stop for a beer; if you were in an accident I wouldn't stop for red lights. 

[ProudMary]

The opening exchange from the "Game On" debate between President Bartlet and Gov. Ritchie, with Bartlet asking "Can we have it back?" to CJ in the spin room saying to Toby, "This ain't gonna be Uncle Fluffy."

From the same episode: Abby cuts off the president's tie and then gives that laugh of insanity.

Josh:  "Toby, come quick. Sam's getting his ass kicked by a girl."

Toby:  "Ginger, get the popcorn."

[satrunrose]

Three words: The Butterball Hotline

[Calvada]

"I love her shoes!" and "Long as I got a job, you got a job."

 

 

[Bastet]

- Perpetually dismissed C.J., who'd been mocked for predicting they'd go up five points in the polls, walking into the Oval Office and announcing indeed she was wrong -- they went up nine points.  I had been so frustrated on her behalf, feeling it on a bone-deep level as a woman, that it went beyond cheering the character.

- Toby's wordless apology to C.J. in "The Women of Qumar".  The episode is all C.J.'s/Allison's, and godsdamn, did she deserve that Emmy (and the switch from Supporting to Lead), but I have to give a special shout-out to Toby/Richard for expressing so deeply in one simple gesture that Toby knew, appreciated, and regretted what that press conference cost her.

[Sarah 103]

I want to add the pre-credits scene of "In This White House." It has Ainsley destroying Sam on television and this exchange:

Sam: I hope my friends aren't watching this

(Cut to White House and Josh in the doorway of Toby's Office)

Josh: Toby, come quick. Sam's getting his ass kicked by a girl.

Toby: Ginger, grab the popcorn. 

[Good Queen Jane]

Kate Harper finds out that there is a contingency plan to invade Canada.

The Democrats pretend to leave town but hide in the Capitol to force a vote. I love this because it really happened and the real Congress members used the episode as a guide.

All of Gail the goldfish’s bowl decorations.

[Haleth]

On 9/22/2024 at 6:40 PM, MMEButterfly said:

There are many, but my favorite is when President Bartlet lets fly against "Dr. Jenna Jacobs" regarding homosexuality in the Bible. "Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?"

Is that the speech where he ends by reminding her that people stand when the Pres enters the room?  I loved how he used several examples of how the Bible is archaic.

The Little Drummer Boy playing during the funeral for the homeless vet. Toby flinching each time the guns performed a salute. Mrs Landingham, “I miss my boys.”  That whole episode killed me.

CJ with her “woot canow.”

And of course Jed arguing with God in Latin, arguably the best thing ever on tv.

So many stellar moments. My husband is currently on his 3rd (or is it 4th?) rewatch. I’m going to get him the book for Christmas. 

Edited September 24, 2024 by Haleth

[supposebly]

I'm in season 4 on my rewatch. Evidence of things not seen

I think some of my favorite moments are when Toby genuinely smiles. He doesn't do it often but often when C.J. does or says something funny.

[Bastet]

32 minutes ago, supposebly said:

I think some of my favorite moments are when Toby genuinely smiles. He doesn't do it often but often when C.J. does or says something funny.

Yes, she truly entertains him sometimes.  I like in the flashback to when they were on the campaign trail, so less stressed than they are on the job, and she accidentally throws the basketball through a window and he cracks up.

[Calvada]

"Never talk to me during The Jackal"

[Skooma]

Most of you mentioned my favorites.  The turkey one was great fun and the fun moments were so needed in this show.

I'd also add any scene with Mrs Landingham in it.  I live in NH and have met a few Mrs Landinghams' types in my day.  Old school Yankee women rock, ah'yup.  

(I was amazed they even named a for real car dealership in Concord she mentioned when reminiscing in her last episode so props for the writers for getting a little thing like that right).

[MMEButterfly]

On 9/23/2024 at 8:28 PM, Haleth said:

Is that the speech where he ends by reminding her that people stand when the Pres enters the room?  I loved how he used several examples of how the Bible is archaic.

It is.

 

[oceanblue]

Mrs Molly Morello:  I'm here because of you

[Orcinus orca]

The napkin:  "Bartlet for America".

And Bartlet kissing Leo as they were wheeling him off to surgery.

And Donna helping Josh on with his coat as she is taking him to the ER to get his hand fixed.

And, and, and....oh, geez, I can't pick one!

Edited September 26, 2024 by Orcinus orca

[Fool to cry]

Secret plan to fight inflation.

[buttersister]

Long as I got a job, you got a job.

But if you think we're right and you won't speak up because you can't be bothered, then God, Jed, I don't even want to know you.

You get Hoynes.

Watch this.

[Skooma]

9 hours ago, buttersister said:

Long as I got a job, you got a job.

But if you think we're right and you won't speak up because you can't be bothered, then God, Jed, I don't even want to know you.

You get Hoynes.

Watch this.

I loved the young Mrs Landingham in that flashback.  She would have made a great President in her own right.  I would have voted for her anyway.  But back then women could only find some decent enough man to coach up such were the times.  Sigh.