Quick question: Why isn’t NBC taking a page from Bravo’s playbook and rerunning The West Wing? Wouldn’t you think that in a time when we the people are consumed by the internecine workings of a presidential election, when America is mindful of both the issues that face our country and the people who make those decisions, when we’re on the verge of having a real Commander in Chief who feels like a kindred spirit to the fictional Jed Bartlet—and if you haven’t read Aaron Sorkin’s imagined meeting between Barack Obama and Bartlet, do so now—wouldn’t now be a perfect time for NBC to dip into their library and remind people how good that show was (and maybe prompt some people to pick up the DVDs)? Because, lest we forget, those first four seasons when Sorkin was running the show were among the best seasons of television ever.
I’m not suggesting that NBC shelve any of their current lineup in favor of reruns of a nine-year-old show, but why not give us West Wing Saturdays from here until the election?I can’t be the only one who wants to watch more of this:
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I will second the WW love, Marc. I have been pulling out the DVD’s for the past month and have really been enjoying it. I think they could go farther and actually run from the season 6 finale through Season 7. There are a LOT of parallels with this year’s race.
Also, either NBC or Bravo should run marathons of the holiday episodes around the holidays. I know there was at least one awesome Thanksgiving ep (CJ pardons a turkey), and there were several Christmas eps that are incredible viewing!
I’ve been Tivoing all the West Wing episodes since I found out Bravo was re-airing them. I only have two seasons on DVD, and exhausted those discs a while ago. The show still amazes me. Articulate, challenging, funny, heart-breaking. What a fantastic show.
you are not alone! I have also been recently watching it on Bravo, and I am dying for more. Bravo is now airing the later episodes of the serious, but I want early episodes!!
I completely agree with you! I remember when they used to show The West Wing every evening on Bravo and I keep questioning why they don’t do that again. It is prevalent to our current political situation and if they don’t to run the show on NBC, BRAVO works just fine. One reason they may not want to is because Martin Sheen’s President Bartlett makes everyone else look like an amateur contender. When I watch President Bartlett all I can think of is why are you a fictional character?!?!
I actually thought the last season that Sorkin worked on the show was the weakest, and the first season after he left was pretty good. And perhaps the worst episode ever was “Isaac and Ishamel,” the post 9/11 episode that Sorkin wrote. It was so painfully condescending.
Thank You!!!!!
I have all 7 seasons on dvd and have been watching them all year, as a background to the current election. However, even with the striking parallels, this contry will never have a Jed Batlett as president, and that is a sad thing…
So true. Personally, I loved ALL seven years. And given the similiarity to the current real life campaign that was evident in the last two seasons, especially the last one between Santos and Vinnick. I missed the whole show. I loved that show so much and I am not even an American. It showed the way of politics in the US. Amazing show. NBC should bring it back, in reruns.
My fiance and I have already started Netflixing it. We’re on season two. SO GOOD!
I dream of the West Wing coming back every day. I’ve been watching season seven over and over to psych myself up for the election, not like I need it. I think they could jump back in…Jimmy Smits as Pres, Sam and Josh etc…
To answer your question, because they’re still bitter about the way Studio 60 went down?
Haven’t you heard? Reruns are unprofitable, look how much TV ratings have gone up since networks started filling empty spots intheir schedule with reality TV instead of reruns. Oh wait… All the networks have lower ratings and NBC has the lowest. Ironically CBS, which has continued to air reruns of it’s highest rated (and most boring) shows like CSI and NCIS and Cold Case have barely seen drops in their ratings.
Network heads can’t see beyond tomorrow, they see an easy profit now by getting rid of reruns, but then they are puzzled when people stop watching their shows.
Outrageous.
- izi
Yes, yes, yes, yes!
Well, since Pesident Jed Bartlett is a fictional character, I guess that leaves us with this rallying cry… AARON SORKIN FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!
(Seriously, this is one of the top 3 best shows in the history of television – and most people wouldn’t think I was old enough to appreciate it the first time around! My DVDs are going to wear out!)
I’d be surprised if someone hasn’t pitched a show centered on a political consultant/campaign manager as he guides a senate/governor/Presidential campaign over a year. If successful, they could have a new “candidate” every year, like Murder One, but some of the central characters, the staffers, the press, the donors, the pundits, the party officials could stay the same. Of course, it would be difficult to write stuff better than this year’s election.
Awesome idea!!! My sister thinks they should wait 5 years and have a new version about the Seaborn years, because Bartlett commented that Sam would run for president someday.
It would totally work, and I would be there every week
My husband and I just finished the last disk of the 7th season this past week, so I give you a Yay vote for re-running. It’s still very pertinent and almost scary in some parallels.
I’m another who owns all seasons (except 5 a.k.a. the crap season) and have been rewatching them with relish since the summer. Good times.
Great idea, Marc!
This was one the best shows ever! I love good dialogue and nobody writes it better than Sorkin. I too have recently begun watching my dvds again. When I watch them, I know Bartlett is the type of president that this country needs and deserves! Of course, this may be the reason they don’t rerun them – it will make people realize how bad things really are.
I just pulled out my West Wing DVDs today. It’s a great escape from all the election coverage.
Great idea. Please, please, please bring it back. There are plenty of people who didn’t watch it the first time around (some because they were not old enough) who would love to see it now. They could do what Sci Fi is doing with Lost; have a West Wing night and play 4 in a row.
What is Jimmy Smits doing any way? I bet Aaron Sorkin would love to write a TV movie looking at the new administration and Bartlets in retirement, How about an expansion of that Season Seven opener at the dedication of the Bartlet library? Cmon, Sorkin should even do it for free, residuals of the Studio 60 contract…..an earnest script referring back to the first/second seasons…..
Yes!! Please!!!! NBC, please put WW on Saturdays. I miss that warm fuzzy feeling I used to get about politics after watching it.
You’re correct. The first four seasons of The West wing are absolutely brilliant. Those four years will go down in history as some of the finest television ever made
Absolutely – bring WW back! I’ve been tivo’ing the reruns on Bravo everday. It makes you actually believe that politics can be more than just politices – what an AWESOME show.
Here in the UK, they’re in the middle of a full set of reruns. We’ve just started S6. Unfortunately for anyone who is actually trying to watch it, after showing S1-4 at 8pm Sunday or 9pm Saturday, they moved S5 to midnight on Saturday nights and show back to back cooking programmes all weekend. More4 launched as the channel for intelligent programmes, but have shot themselves in the foot over this. What better time to be showing the S6-7 campaigns than right now?
I suppose the reason they are not is because season 6/7 is playing out on their night news every night… lets face it, change mccain for alda, obama for smits, substitute Russian/Chinese mess for global economic crisis and you have the whole of season 7.
Lets just hope everyone tickers are up to scratch!
No, you’re not the only one who wants to watch more and more of the West Wing. I love the fact that Bravo is showing it it every morning between 8am and 10am on weekdays. It’s the best show I have ever seen and I’ve been hooked on it for years. And no matter how many times I see the episodes, I don’t get tired of them. I love the cast, and I’m inspired by the stories. I love my president Bartlett. I have a question. Does anyone get teary-eyed during some of the episodes? Remember Excelsis Deo?
I love the West Wing. I agree it should be brought back. I would however like to see a change. Since it has been some time since the show aired, I would like to see a Republican President. Not at all based on Bush. It would have a new main cast, but should incorporate the old cast sometimes as guests. It would be awesome.
I’ve just finished watching all 7 seasons on DVD. I’ve barely watched anything else since I started.
This show is by far the best show I have ever watched. Everything else pales in comparison and my whole family agree with this. If someone brought back the west wing it would be the best thing ever. It’s what Leo would do!!!