TVSquad

Not knowing his face by sight, I completely missed Aaron Sorkin's cameo. Where was he in the episode?

Also I was disappointed not to see any Toby in the finale, he was such a big part of the show. The contrasting style between the pilot and finale was impressive. The actors still did a good job though. And Mrs. Santos got some great lines in.

Reply

I'm so bummed that this show is over!

I was also surprised that Toby wasn't in the final episode...

I don't know what Aaron Sorkin looks like so I didn't recognize him in his cameo -- what was his role?

Reply

I felt there was way too much time spent on musical montage in this episode. After all these years of The West Wing I felt like it ended with a half-episode worth of dialogue.

Reply

The whole cast was on Ellen last week and talked about different things. Allison did mention that when they get their call sheets each day that she noticed it said at the top of hers the other day "Note to Allison, this is your last scene to be shot in the series." (something like that) so they knew it was the end. I got the impression they just finished up last month because I know they shot Leo's funeral in Baltimore and that wasn't that long ago.

This episode did satisfy alot of what I wanted to see and know about the ending of this series. I have read a few articles talking about how this series almost didn't get made and how worried they were that it would do well or that we as viewers wouldn't enjoy it or understand it etc. I wonder how many more shows don't make it that could be as good as this one.

The little tease for Studio 60 was good too.

Reply

I have adored this show for 7 years (save the 5th season), and I was truly sad to see it go. There were many points that brought tears to my eyes. I am going to miss these people who have graced our televisions for the past 7 years.

Reply

They finished filming around March 31st so they definitely knew. I don't think Sorkin had a hand in this one, it didn't feel like one of his episodes.

And I agree, they could have spent less time on Santos and more time on the original characters. I know Toby was mentioned over and over again, but I really missed him in this episode.

In reality, no matter what they would have produced would have made us all happy because it still meant the show came to an end. At least we have DVDs. And we can look forward to the Fall and Studio 60, when we know NBC will have at least one must-see show.

Reply

On the inauguration dais, they showed closeups of several characters: President Bartlet, Annabeth, Josh, Donna, etc.

That one guy with the longish hair that you had no idea who he was? That was Aaron Sorkin.

Reply

It seems like many of the things you appreciated from this episode were throwbacks to the series of old (aka. seasons 1-3,4?), and many of your criticisms concerned the opposites.

I couldn't agree more though...thankfully, "the True West Wing" will always live on in DVD marathons. I think it was a good time to put the show to rest, though I admit I'll miss it. But I loved Sports Night almost as much as I did the Sorkin penned West Wing eps, so I can't wait for Studio 60. Out with the old...

Reply

SOO BUMMED THAT ITS OVER!! This show started when I was in college either first or second year, I graduated moved away and returned to DC.. and now it's ending.

I still have the George Magazine where the west wing cast is on the cover.

smart television is over people..

Reply

Who was the steel guitar player singing America?

Reply

Like many of you, I have truly loved this show for seven years. It was moving, it was funny, it was poignant. More than anything, though, it showed us a better part of what we could be.

I loved the whole episode, but surprisingly enough, I didn't cry for most of it. The part that got me, though, was when President Bartlet opened up Leo's last gift. Oh boy, the tears flowed from then on through the last moment.

Thanks to the cast, the writers, and the producers for creating a marvelous piece of intellectual entertainment.

Reply

Will Studio 60 have any continuity with West Wing?

Reply

I have to say, it was not what I expected. What happened to what should have been the end shot at Bartlett's Presidential Library dedication? That was the intent I got when they aired the first show of season 7. Yeah, Sam should have had some air-time with the Prez. Josh too for that matter. The trailer for Studio 60 does look interesting. We'll have to wait til fall to see if there is any sort of tie in.

Reply

Re: Studio 60... Doubt it, unless you want to believe that Danny Concannon can direct live TV and Josh Lyman could write it.

Reply

The guitar player was Keb 'Mo. No Gloria Estefan, however. And also? No Matt Santos inagural speech.

As an aspiring politico youth, I absolutely ate up every moment of The West Wing. I probably owe one of my (hopefully) future jobs on Capitol Hill to Aaron Sorkin. I am truly saddened to see this series end. I do have one specific kudos, and that goes to set design/props department. Especially after the scene tonight with President & Mrs. Bartlett standing alone in the ballroom. That's a heck of a job on those chandeliers. It almost seemed real, but I have no idea how they would've passed through all the red tape to do such a shot.

Reply

The best part was Sheen talking to his real life daughter when he was walking around the hallway outside Josh's office saying goodbye to everyone... he said... "I look forward to seeing a little more of your mother very soon", or something like that. It was clever, and a joy to those of us who know that Renee Estevez (Sheen's Daughter) has had the bit part of White House Staffer "Nancy" for some time. Check the opening credits.

Reply

Mostly I'm sad that it's over, but I'm also pretty upset at the way they went out.

First & foremost, where was Richard Schiff? Regardless of where his character's story was, how do you do a series finale & not have an actor who's been a key player since day one? Schiff has been all but absent all season, and I really have to wonder about some kind of bad blood between him & John Wells and the other powers-that-be. Regardless, it's a no class move to ace him out of the last show.

As others have mentioned, this focused way too much on the actual inauguration. I mean, do we really need to hear the convocation, and see Santos & his wife banter back and forth? Couldn't all that time have been spent showing us a bit more of the character's we love so much? Some great ideas above, like a scene between Bartlett & Seaborn, or a few more minutes of Josh & Donna. The whole middle 20 minutes of this ep felt like a huge missed opportunity.

But, as I say, mostly I'm sorry that it's over. Once the greatest show on TV fell into mediocrity, but I'm going to miss the characters, the humor, and the impossibly honorable politicians.

Reply

Did I miss something or was there no resolution as to who Toby is protecting?

Reply

Don't be silly, of course there was a lot of Sorkin this season.

Reply