Thursday, April 06, 2006
West Wing still strong up 'til finish
As the TV season begins to wind down, some old favorites are about to take their final bows, while some other long-running shows are proving that it's still possible to eke out compelling television in your "later years." Here are a few of my picks for this installment of the "TV Tome." So let's talk TV!
THE WEST WING
As this long-running (and still excellent) show winds down its sixth and final season, a lot of great stuff has been going on. This week's episode featured the long-awaited (and inevitable) consumation of the sexual chemistry between Josh (the ever-adorable Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney), and boy, was it worth the wait. The awkwardness that followed their night of passion -- exaccerbated by the opening of the polls that will decide who succeeds Martin Sheen as the President -- was classic, as were some of the other comedic twists. (Apparently, all kinds of people on Congressman Santos' election committee were "getting busy" on their off hours. Who knew there was such opportunity to get laid in politics!) And Kate (Mary McCormack) revealing to Democratic boyfriend Will (Josh Malina) that she'd voted--gasp!--Republican was a great way to show that opposites really do attract.
So, can we talk TV? The writing on the show this season has been excellent, and the performances of the stellar cast among the best of the show's run. With Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits adding charm and charisma to the show as the dueling presidential wanna-bes, it's been one helluva year. Commercials for the remainder of the season reveal that a few old faces -- namely Mary Louise Parker's Amy Gardner and Rob Lowe's Sam Seaborn -- are about to resurface. And I can't wait. How much do you wanna bet that Amy wants Josh back? (I'm so torn between her and Donna.) Next week the show will be dealing with the death of Leo (the late John Spencer), and you just know it's going to be a serious tear-jerker. All in all, The West Wing is going out on a high note, and for this long-time fan of the show, I couldn't have asked for anything more!
THE WEST WING
As this long-running (and still excellent) show winds down its sixth and final season, a lot of great stuff has been going on. This week's episode featured the long-awaited (and inevitable) consumation of the sexual chemistry between Josh (the ever-adorable Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney), and boy, was it worth the wait. The awkwardness that followed their night of passion -- exaccerbated by the opening of the polls that will decide who succeeds Martin Sheen as the President -- was classic, as were some of the other comedic twists. (Apparently, all kinds of people on Congressman Santos' election committee were "getting busy" on their off hours. Who knew there was such opportunity to get laid in politics!) And Kate (Mary McCormack) revealing to Democratic boyfriend Will (Josh Malina) that she'd voted--gasp!--Republican was a great way to show that opposites really do attract. So, can we talk TV? The writing on the show this season has been excellent, and the performances of the stellar cast among the best of the show's run. With Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits adding charm and charisma to the show as the dueling presidential wanna-bes, it's been one helluva year. Commercials for the remainder of the season reveal that a few old faces -- namely Mary Louise Parker's Amy Gardner and Rob Lowe's Sam Seaborn -- are about to resurface. And I can't wait. How much do you wanna bet that Amy wants Josh back? (I'm so torn between her and Donna.) Next week the show will be dealing with the death of Leo (the late John Spencer), and you just know it's going to be a serious tear-jerker. All in all, The West Wing is going out on a high note, and for this long-time fan of the show, I couldn't have asked for anything more!
