Who is your favorite "West Wing" character?

I sorta like Ainsley Hayes. She cracks me up. I thought it was brilliant to incorporate a Republican in that manner. I like how Leo told her "The president likes smart people who disagree with him." I felt it was neat how they made her an intelligent, insecure woman who, regardless of ideology, was civic minded and did her job well.

However, President Bartlett is the shit. Martin Sheen is great in this role. All the more better is that he wouldn't be too bad of a politician himself. I think I saw a poll one time in which people felt Martin Sheen would be a better president than the Chimp. Which is a loaded poll anyway, because a brain dead gopher could make a better president than that guy. Bartlett is an absolute genius who seems like he knows everything about everything. I love how he tells stories on and on and on. That's great.

But, then again. I think Leo McGarry is my favorite character. Recovering alcoholic. Divorced. Unfailingly loyal. He's the hub of all action as Bartlett's Chief of Staff. Everything runs through him. He's an old warrior who commands respect. A political master, but a flawed human being. He's at once sympathetic and strong. Everybody looks to him in a crisis, such as when Bartlett was shot at the end of the first season. Leo called the shots in the situation room. I love that character, at once a vulnerable older man, small and fragile, but still one of the most powerful men on the planet.

But I've only seen one episode; the one where his secratary dies, and he's going into the church while "Brothers In Arms" is playing. I liked it alot, but I was never around at home or was doing something else when it was on..

I caught it on the WB a few times. Then the Blockbuster I go to has seasons one and three, don't ask me why they don't have season two, so I ended up renting both. After watching seasons one and three I was driven so crazy about the stuff I missed from season two that I broke down and but it about two weeks ago. It had to be done. I was going crazy. I never watch it on tv, but I hope season four comes out soon so I can rent that too.

But make sure you see it in order and definately see seasons 1-5. Aaron Sorkin left after that and to me it hasn't had the same wonderful writing since. It will make you yearn for good government and it is one of the reasons I am here at DU. Very educational and inspiring without being shmaltzy.

and has a realistic element to it. You could really imagine an administration like that. Like say for example, another great show I like, 24. That's a cool show, but absolutely unrealistic. West Wing is so rich with characters and events and vulnerability. It is very educational in many ways. I'd love to see a Republican administration done this well too. I would find it interesting. It isn't a partisan show either. It's just good intelligent entertainment.

It's one of those shows I know I should watch; I will eventually..

That was the season where Fitzwallace dies, and Donna gets injured by the car-bomb, and all that stuff?

By all means.. the writers have developed her character beautifully, and she gets some of the best lines..

edit: That, and I love Allison Janney!

I love how she gets so exasperated and will bust out some wry comment. She's super tall. Wow. I can't believe how short she makes all the men look. :)

I have not watched the show enough, but man, those two need to get down and do the nasty together...there is so much chemistry between them.

Donna is her name. They have some great back and forth.

Great minds think alike, eh?

:pals:

I want some Josh/Donna action. :(

Followed closely by Donna Moss

:)

I'm a huge CJ/Allison Janney fan as well. ;)

being patronised by Bartlett's possee, who subsequently got fired for being amatuers, to bringing in CJ, to finding out that he wasn't the first choice, to using the White House to give a homeless man a military funeral, and standing, as it seems, as the guy who will be there to turn the lights off and close the door when Bartlett leaves the White House, Toby.

He's a good grouchy character. I like how he was just hammered thinking he was going to lose his job then Leo fired everybody else and kept him on. Toby always looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I love how he is always bouncing that ball around, lol.

idealism. He expected it from Josh, and Sam, but Toby is the rock that he kept stubbing his political expediency toe on.

He's definitely Sam's anchor. He cracks me up, he's so gruff. But he seems detached, yet he has great emotion and idealism. Such as when he gave that speech to the IMF protestors. You don't see it, but Josh was calling him "old school" afterwards. You get the impression that Toby just went out, acted like an activist, spoke like one, and rocked the house. It makes it more powerful that you never see it.

I also thought his reaction to finding out Bartlett had MS was great. He was so pissed. Wrought with emotion. He's another great character. The whole cast is awesome.

I especially love watching his loyalty to those he loves: Bartlett, his ex-wife, his kids....

Was anything funnier than Toby insinuating to the press that the secret service was going to investigate Bertram Coles for threatening Bartlett's life? "Hey, you don't suppose that's how she got that story is it?"

Toby is so.... human.

"quixotic".

My favorite line from the entire series:

Bartlet: "Don't you think this" (using the President's name to get a homeless veteran a burial at Arlington with full military honors)"will bring EVERY homeless vet out of the woodwork?"

Toby Ziegler: "I can only hope."

Amazing character. Unsurpassed writing.

"Babies come with hats!"

For me, it's a toss-up between Toby and CJ (in terms of characters). Debbie Fiderer is also pretty good, and deserves way more screen time (especially when she crosses sword with Bartlet).

If I had to choose an actual actor from the series -- Bradley Whitford (the man has made so many donations to the Dems, it must be his entire pay from the show!) and Martin Sheen (see below).

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/globaltribe/voices/voi_sheen.html

avid viewer...wednesday night is my night to have dinner with my dad and watch this show...we tivo this show...

president bartlett because he's the president we should have

leo mcgarry because he's so loyal and knows what is what

margaret because she has some great lines (i can sign the presidenst signature)

josh because can put the smack down and take a beating (also, that episode with mary maitlin...shit...it was awesome, him all sleeping off the bachelor party)

donna because she is so loyal and then grows a set

toby because he's the he reminds me of my dad (jewish, btw) and has that fabulous dry wit

sam...let's not forget rob lowe...he was so sweet

ainsley...strong woman...fuck yeah, no matter the political affiliation

fitz...'are we getting some hookers?'

nancy mcnally...black woman in a position of authority...takes names and nukes some asses (not like kindasleezy)

i could rave about this show all night

i've had a few tequilas...

I have to be up at 7 so I can't. :)

Oh yeah, you made some great points. Welcome to DU btw.

Leo probably being my second favourite.

I too loved Ainsley Hayes - for exactly the same reasons that you give, plus I go weak at the knees when I hear a southern accent (especially from such a stunningly gorgeous person).

Smart and dedicated to the job that she chose to do. Maybe I liked her because she was the anti-coulter. Or maybe because she was an old time republican from a time when common sense, and humanity ruled.

All the characters were marvelous, especially in the first four years. The main cast needs no more praise, so I'll further the Ainsley Hayes love. It was a wonderful, "Sorkins-ized" version of Ann Coulter, except she had a soul and wasn't a cocaine addict.

I also like Amy Gardner, just because she reminds me of every woman I've ever dated. On second thought, maybe I don't like her that much.

One of the characters that gets overlooked a lot but I feel is the sweetest and maybe the most down to earth is Charlie. His relationship with Bartlet is one of my favorite things about the early show. Dule Hill doesn't get enough credit for the mostly subtle work he does.

had such special relationships with Bartlett. You could really feel the love and respect there. Dule Hill is very good in his role. Completely understated.

If we had had a girl, her name was to be Ainsley Elizabeth....

and Emily Procter is very cute, besides.

I also liked Sam a great deal. He was the uber-intelligent super lawyer, who everyone turned to for legal advice. A part of the show died when Lowe left.

really a smart guy. Looks up to Toby and Leo a lot. I like how he's sorta arrogant, but Ainsley hands it to him in a television debate and then the one young intern sticks it to him in an episode too. Both times he ended up being good to the two women afterward. He's another very human character.

caught it once or twice, but I ended up renting the the dvds at Blockbuster. It's great. You'd like it.

I'll probably go with Toby slightly over Josh because Toby is so funny. Mary Louise Parker's semi-regular character is my favorite not among the members of the Bartlett Administration or family.

The West Wing has been moved to Sunday at 8 and starts on the 25th for those who may not know.

Everyone else is excellent and the dialogue crackles. It is so well written that it could be done as a stage play. Most TV programs don't stand-up to that test.
Sam...because there's so much of myself and my own reactions in the character,from day 1.
:shrug:

I've been doing this masochistic rerun marathon and well, he's a conservative, but at least he understood the meaning of the word: LOYALTY. Also, all he ever did was do everything the Bartlet folks asked of him, and was never thanked for any of his contributions to the WH. Poor guy.

I love the character...smart, assertive, hilarious, caring woman. But I simply adore Allison Janney. Soooo talented.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I read that on DU.

I'd amend it slightly - it's porn for folk with brains.

Seriously. We watched the labor day marathon and I saw tears more than once. He longs for a better president and staff. Someone who understands history and truely cares about the people and where we and the world are going. Oh, how he loved Clinton.

I think one of his favorite moments was when Bartlett gave Charlie the carving knife. :cry:

This man is all I ever wanted to be.

Some scenes of note, when the press room was fired upon and the ss tell POTUS that the room is secure, POTUS says, you don't understand, if Charlie thinks something happened to me he will overpower whatever force... then bam Charlie runs into the room.

His love for Zoie reminds me of mine for my wife when we were young.

His sitting outside the Bartlets' door the entire time Zoe was kidnapped.

He is loyalty and respect.

But the banter between the Prez and the First Lady are priceless. I don't know. This question is too damn hard. I love them all so much.

I like their sly/playfulness with each other - plus I love CJ and Toby just wants to melt my heart with his tough character but always going for the good in stuff.

I like Josh too he is great.

time character. John Laroquette as Lionel Trebbi...walking into the oval w/ the cricket bat...priceless!

But my true love and admiration belong to Josh "Lemon" Lyman. I adore Bradley Whitford. He's also an amazing person (I hear), married to Jane Kazmarek (sp?). They're on my fantasy "dinner party" list.

"I will KILL people today, Leo. I will KILL people with this cricket bat, which was given to me by Her Royal Majesty Elizabeth Windsor, and then I will kill them again WITH MY OWN HANDS."

And, It's Surely To Their Credit

He is absolutely wonderful!

that's the rules. :) Don't make me enforce them!

But, seriously, Lord John is a hoot. I love how he never gets Leo's name right, and Leo and Toby think he's a deranged nut, haha. Plus, all the ladies swoon over him. Great character. :)

so at least I like them one at a time!!!

Yes I love Lord John Marbury when he tells Leo: Oh I thought you were the butler.

... may I touch your magnificent breasts?"

My neighbors probably wonder about me sometimes

I caught on to West Wing late
so I've bought seasons 1-4 but haven't seen season 5 or 6 yet.

I need to buy season 4. Haven't seen 5 or 6 either.

yeah that is a great line! It's so funny and Leo is so powerful too. He's like the second most powerful man on earth and this crazy, quirky Brit is always giving him hell. I love that. :)

offhand. I've been trying to recall it but it's just not coming to me. It's something very funny though. I'll see if I can find it later. I just bought the second season so it's on there somewhere.

:D

:)

THE WHITE HOUSE LEAK INVESTIGATION PICKS UP SPEED - Josh (Brad
Whitford) is caught off guard when political commentators are critical
of Leo (John Spencer) as a running mate for Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits).
White House Counsel Babbish (Oliver Platt) sits with CJ (Allison
Janney) about the leak investigation. Donna (Janel Moloney) approaches
Josh for a job. Also starring Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff, Mary
McCormack, Dule Hill.

the neurotic workaholic wonk. check out "Celestial Navigation" or the ep with "lemonlyman.com"

with Toby a close second. Sooo many great characters in WW. I didn't watch it much last season. I'll have to hope I can catch up on Bravo if they still show the re-runs.

Loved the episode in which Toby gave his jacket to a vet and all that followed.

CJ (except when she was lip syncing The Jackel....that was weird!) or Toby.

they are all great 3 dimensional characters complete with their own personal flaws. I like them all for different reasons...but if I had to pick, I'd say Leo. Which is the main reason why I really...really want Santos to win next year.