'The West Wing' Goes Right Wing

IMDb.com ^ | 9-19-03

[Paul Atreides]

Confronting sagging ratings, the producers of The West Wing plan to take a more bipartisan approach next season, focusing in initial episodes on the character portrayed by John Goodman, a conservative speaker of the House, who takes over as the country's leader. (In the season finale, which was repeated on Wednesday, the president, portrayed by Martin Sheen, temporarily steps down during an international crisis in which his daughter is kidnapped. Speaking to reporters during a conference call on Thursday, exec producer John Wells, who is taking over from creator/writer Aaron Sorkin, said that the views of a conservative Congress will receive a greater airing than they have in the past. (Sheen's President Bartlet is a liberal Democrat.) Wells said that the program will attempt to convey the complexity of political issues. He said that he has brought on board as a script adviser former Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein and conservative columnist John Podhoretz, who has been critical of the show.

[Monty22]

I hope he isn't portrayed like the Republican in The Contender.

[Hildy]

Sorkin probably left because the network said that more people would watch if the show reflected THE REAL WORLD.

[Paul Atreides]

I'm sure the Republican will be portrayed in the worst light possible.

[truthandlife]

What do the producers consider conservative? It will be middle of the road and the show will keep getting run over. If it truly showed the conservative side in a good light then it probably would be one of the best rated shows. Fat chance of this happening.

[John Robertson]

It won't work. For one, Goodman is a lib, and libs cannot help but portray conservative characters as deeply flawed, if not inherently evil. And the producers, libs all, still enter this arena with several lib beliefs: conservatives are evil. Remember what Rush said was one of the biggest differences between them and us? Conservatives think liberals are misguided, and need educated...and changed. Liberals think conservatives are...EVIL.

[NeonKnight]

I've never watched a whole episode. Everytime I try watching something in PrimeTime, I always end up surfing over to see who is on Hannity and the other guy, and end up staying there.

[Young Rhino]

Put Charlton Heston in the role as Prez and then I might watch it.

[BonnieJ]

Are you sure John Goodman is a liberal? What has he said or done politically?

[Pubbie]

The Republican President on the "West Wing" will be played by this man:

[dead]

Look for the "even though they are racist war mongerers who hate the poor, every once in a while, they have a minor point" stories.

I'm sure we'll tune in in droves.

[jmstein7]

No clue. I don't know anything about his political views. Anybody?

PS Did anyone see Dana Carvey on Leno last night? He's supposedly close with Dennis Miller, so I wonder where he stands?

[CFC__VRWC]

Are you sure John Goodman is a liberal? What has he said or done politically?

I've never heard of him saying or doing anything political, but when dealing with Hollyweird people it's always safe to assume they're liberal until they've proven themselves otherwise.

[Republicus2001]

lololol - can't wait for BIG TEE-VEE's version of conservatism -

[Congressman Billybob]

I don't watch the West Wing because I already take medicine to keep my blood pressure down. The article doesn't deal with the situation provided for in the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, that a President can declare himself unable to function in office (Barlett, apparently). But in that case, the Vice President becomes Acting President until the President declares himself able to resume his office.

So, how come the Speaker of the House, who is third in line for the Presidency, winds up in the White House. Huh?

Or, did the Show play as fast and lose with the Constitution as it usually does with national politics? Anybody know? Or doesn't anybody here watch that Show?

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "An Open Letter to Howard Dean," discussion thread on FR. Article is also on ChronWatch.

[nutmeg]

It won't work. For one, Goodman is a lib, and libs cannot help but portray conservative characters as deeply flawed, if not inherently evil. And the producers, libs all, still enter this arena with several lib beliefs: conservatives are evil.

True. I'll never watch West Wing until an ACTUAL conservative plays a conservative on the show!

[nutmeg]

Are you sure John Goodman is a liberal? What has he said or done politically?

I've never heard of him saying or doing anything political, but when dealing with Hollyweird people it's always safe to assume they're liberal until they've proven themselves otherwise.

This doesn't prove that Goodman is a liberal, but do you remember his beyond-insulting portrayal of Linda Tripp on Saturday Night Live? *GAG*

[aculeus]

He said that he has brought on board as a script adviser former Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein and conservative columnist John Podhoretz, who has been critical of the show.

I'll believe it when I see read that FR'ers are convinced.

[Dutchgirl]

The "West Wing" death knell was sounded with the firing of Peggy Noonan.

[CFC__VRWC]

Or doesn't anybody here watch that Show?

I have never watched it - if I want a dose of liberal propaganda, all I have to do is watch one of the network news shows (CNN is also banned from my watch list).

This little stunt won't make me watch, either - I already know that the Republican will be portrayed as a mentally unstable bigot with a well below average IQ.