TVSquad

Jon Bon Jovi being on the show is great synergy for NBC-Universal. Bon Jovi records for a Universal-owned label and the West Wing is on NBC.

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the episode was boring as hell, it no purpose whatsoever other than the fact that you get see Jon Bon Jovi.

no story; no point.

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It was reported John Spencer had filmed 2 episodes which have already aired. Next episode will have "Leo"'s death in it.

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I really wish all of us faithful West Wing fans
could vote online for President. I know they have already picked him but I would like to see our results.
Waht do all of you think??
A Faithful but sad, fan. I'm really going to miss this show !!!! I really miss Sam and Leo !!!!
lana

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I'm sorry, but...

What the hell? Jackie, did you and I watch the same episode? The story I watched tonight was about a canidate that's too tired to think right, too tired to get through the day right, too tired to interact with people right, but he continues on becuase, hey, this is the big leagues, and there's no crying in baseball.

Or I watched a story about a man torn between doing what is right or doing what is right for his party and for his wife and for his friends and for his children.

I think if I watched hard enough, I saw a story hinted at about a woman falling in love with a man she'll never be able to be with (either because of age, or the inevitable last seconds of next week's episode).

What do you want from television? Does everything have to be so linear? A + B = C, and now that we have C, we can get to D, E, and F?

I apolgize if I come of harsh, but I thought tonight was pretty darn good. Obviously not a linear plot, but hey, if I need that, I can watch the 95 incarnations of Law and Order (Except Conviction. I like Conviction).

So, now that I've embarassed myself (again, sorry, but I was just taken back by your comment, Jackie), let me get to what was good.

Toby, Tobias, Toby... I don't know what hurts more, not having any friends, or seeing your children in Baltimore gear (I'm not a Yankees fan myself, but if I had kids, and they were wearing Cowboy's jersies instead of Redskins, I'd be a bit miffed). Bob, I think you're wrong, Toby said that the leak wasn't his brother, it wasn't CJ, and it wasn't Leo... The most ironic bit (and you've gotta know this was done on purpose, either to be misleading, or to be a big hint), is that Toby did that entire scene including the above paraphrased quotes, with a slightly out of focus picture of Jed Bartlet over his right sholder. Hmmmm... I mean, we still got the scene from earlier this season where Bartlet tells Toby that he wasn't a hero (Was anyone else in the room?), but still.

Something else that was good, albeit incredibly bittersweet, was Anna Beth. First, the singing in the teaser (I just bought a CD from one of her Broadway shows, she's so good it hurts), to the winks and nods from all of the women on the campaign. I know that there was a head fake to this relationship earlier in the season, but I really think that they've pushed it a bit because of Spencer's passing. I will hate Leo's death as much for her sake as I will for Josh's, and those who know me know that I live and die by Josh (well, you know, not so much that I'm a LemonLymon.com'er but still).

Lou falling over Jon Bon Jovi was cute, but I agree with Jackie, what was his point in being here? I mean, I didn't know he was that political. For myriad reasons, but mainly because I know he's interested in politics, I'd have rather actually seen Ben Affleck than hear his mention. The guest spot was wasted, IMHO.

Speaking of mentions, not only did we get McNally, Bingo Bob (who's coming back, I'd assume for funeral), Ben Affleck, and also Stevie Wonder, but we also got a mention of Louis Berryhill, whom I still think would be the best VP prospect of the bunch. I know Bill Devane is coming back to do some work on 24 before his pilot for next season but I still think he would be good here. But, after Josh mentioned McNally as a SecState, I think she'd make a hell of a VP as well. Balances Santos' lack of foriegn policy experience quite well, me thinks.

I also loved watching the breakdown of a candiate in the last hours of a campaign. Remember when then Govenor (at least I think it was the '92 election) Clinton's hair turned completely grey in the course of like, three days? These folks KILL themselves to get elected. Their staff does the same to get them elected.

I loved seeing Josh being calm in the storm. What I hate is that next week we'll see a completely different side. I don't mind it so much because it gets Josh and Donna together (YES!) finally, but still. It seems odd that he'd be the anchor this week and failing in the wind the next.

I've got more to say, but I guess I should let the flaming begin first :)

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Dorv: yeah, I did notice the pic of Bartlet over Toby's shoulder. But he can't be the leak, can he? Weren't there eps where the Bartlet wanted to know how Toby found out, and didn't Bartlet have a bad last meeting with Toby, firing him? (No one else was in the room, they were alone)

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Bob... You're right, but at the same time, could we be wrong? I only ask because of the conversation Bartlet had with Toby right before Toby confessed to the leak. I really don't know... I might have to go watch those episodes over again, because I'm really confused. I wonder if we'll ever figure out what/who the leaker was.

I've seen some spoilers regarding Toby and the last couple of episodes, but none that answer that specific question.

I just thought it was too uncanny to see that picture of the President over his sholder. Bob, I did just go back and rewatched the pertinent sections, and he strongly hinted to Andie that his brother was not the leak, and he basically told the guy that neither Leo nor CJ was the leak.

I have seen speculation that the Bartlet was the leak, just uninentionally.

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Dosen't anyone want to vote ??????
I do. I'm on west coast time so I havent seen tonights show yet....

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When Toby denied his brother's involvement with Andi the first time, I too thought he was saying someone else gave him the information. Later (I believe in the same scene) he said his brother "had done nothing wrong" and I took that to mean that his brother hadn't broken the law; Toby had.

Intentionally obscure, or the beginning of a twist?

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How can the election be next week and no funeral yet for leo?

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Because Leo dies election night.

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Thanks Jamie...
Sad night !!!!

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Bob -- Bartlet and Toby weren't alone when Toby was dismissed; a lawyer (Babish?) was also in the room. The Prez tore Toby a new one in that scene, but it's possible that was only a performance for the lawyer to witness. According to some speculationers, anyways.

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Conrad. I couldn't remember if Babish was in the room, but now that you say that, I believe you're right (God, has it been so long that I forgot my own speculation?). I guess I should stop my S2-4 marathon that I've been involving myself in during a fit of nostalgia (sp?). It would be starting at Season 1, but I lent an ex-girlfriend that set, and I don't think I'll ever get it back. I have a feeling, however, that I'll be rushing out to get Seasons 5 and 6 as soon as I finish with 4 :)

I digress. If Babish was in the room (and I'm pretty sure now that he was), and knowing what we learned tonight (Brother wasn't the leak, CJ wasn't the leak, Leo wasn't the leak) I think that its a fairly easy jump that the President was the leak. We'll see how it all factors out in the end though.

SPOILERS:

I've heard about scenes where Andie goes to CJ about a pardon for Toby... There's no doubt in my mind that the President will sign a midnight pardon for Toby.

(Watching all of the stuff in 20 Hours in America about Margaret watching over Leo's health kinda sucks to watch... I'm really, on some levels, not looking forward to the next three episodes)

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This episode was filled immediately after the holiday break and was the first one filled after John Spenser's death. Kritsin Chenowyth did an interview about the shooting of this episode. She said it felft so strange to be singing about Leo while knowing that John was dead. It made the scene all that more sad.

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This was the first episode flimed after the death of John Spencer. I'm sure they had to re-write fast to cut him out of it. Hense the strangeness.

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The "reason" for having Jon Bon Jovi along was that he was playing at the rallies--much like he did on the Kerry campaign.

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The episode was interesting in that it pretty accurately portrayed the mayhem and exhaustion of the last week of a campaign. Not my favorite, but it moved the story along a bit.

And NO, that was not Atrios [Duncan Black]. He's paunchier [sorry buddy], has more hair, younger, and doesn't wear glasses. There's a picture of him on site if you click around.

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Re: comments about Santos looking as if he will collapse: I ran three very close challenger elections for state representative and I can tell you honestly it is a killer. I lost 20 pounds each time, suffered from no sleep, bad food and headaches. Now, imagine that times 100 and you get an approximation of what a presidential candidate goes through.
And God yes, I miss Leo.

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First of all let me say I love this forum. My first reaction to the episode was well, ho hum. I was eager to see what others thought and after reading a few comments I went back and watched the episode again. I really enjoyed it the second time around. The Bartlet picture behind Toby was something I had not noticed before but I really like where this may be going.

Richard Schiff is probably my favourite character along with Bradley (Josh). My disappointment with this episode was with the no addressing the somewhat loose ends from the previous episode especially the Santos cheques to a former secretary. I tend to believe Santos as Josh addressed this early on but I would liked to have seen that put to bed.

Now let the fireworks begin. I can't wait for Sunday. Is it just me or are they cramming in more commercials?

And this is coming from a Conservative (Republican) Canadian who also loved all hockey references...

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