Product Description
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West Wing: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
Follow the re-election of President Bartlet to his second term
and witness the gripping personal crisis that forces him to chose
between the best interests of the country and those of his
family. Compelling and clever storylines reveal the inner
workings of the White House in this innovative, multiple
Emmy-Award-winning drama series from producers John Wells ("ER,"
"China Beach"), Aaron Sorkin ("Sports Night") and Thomas Schlamme
("Sports Night"). The West Wing's fourth season received 15 Emmy
nominations and 2 wins including, Best Drama Series and
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.
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The winning streak for this veritable show continues through its
fourth year. As with many long-running series, The West Wing
faces the inevitable--a cast member chooses to leave. But this
show handles Rob Lowe's exit with such well-executed grace, a
could-be-harmful experience (or at least sudden) is turned into
an asset. The season begins with three staff members marooned in
the heartland (played mostly for laughs) and ends with a dramatic
cliffhanger even more powerful than the initial season's
shooting. In between are 20 excellent episodes packed with the
series' trademark wit and pace, and an uncannily ability to
create excellent moments for the entire cast. The election nears
and West Wingers brace for the final onslaught including a
make-or-break debate. There's a horrible genocide in Africa
changing the course of the Bartlett administration and a covert
assassination with effects lingering throughout the season.
There's also the now-annual flashback episode, this time to the
first days at the White House (with another comforting appearance
by Kathryn Joosten as Mrs. Landingham). The series also has its
first episode set mostly outside the West Wing when C.J. (Alison
Janney) goes back to Ohio for a high school reunion and visits
her her (Donald Mof) who is starting to feel the effects of
Alzheimer's.
Lowe's Sam Seaborn picks a new e at the spur of the moment
and is eventually replaced by the very person whose verve he was
swept up by--a harried, vastly intelligent campaign manager, Will
Bailey (Josh Malina, best known for his work in creator Aaron
Sorkin's previous show, Sports Night). He's an excellent fit for
the West Wing, both fictionally and for the series. Part of the
show's success belongs to the continuity, helped immensely by
high-caliber guest stars continuing long runs on the show,
including Mary-Louise Parker, John Amos, Marlee Matlin, Tim
Matheson, Timothy Busfield, Lily Tomlin, Anna Deavere Smith, and
Ron Silver (hey, that's a pretty good cast for their own show).
One-time guest stars are also used to the fullest. Notice how a
single-episoe appearance by Christian Slater (as a naval attaché
who strikes Donna's fancy) turns into a three-episode arc.
Matthew Perry delivers an Emmy-nominated performance in a key
role in the season's final arc. This fourth season was capped by
the departure of creator-writer Sorkin and producer-director
Thomas Schlamme, plus another Emmy win for Best Drama, its fourth
straight. Many were surprised or even angered that the series
kept up the winning streak. Perhaps the series was not as
relevant to the times as four years earlier, but the proof is in
the pudding--the series was still in rarefied air by the end of
this season.
Luckily, Sorkin and Schlamme were invited to air the
commentaries for the DVDs, here on three episodes. It allows them
to talk about their departure, a subject barely mentioned in the
two making-of featurettes. One deals with speechwriters and other
with Stockard Channing's role on the show. Note: the
documentaries and deleted scenes are hard to find. Look for the
pointer (>) at the bottom right of the special features menu of
the sixth disc. --Doug Thomas