Sheen & Co. fill executive void in new 'Wing' season

By Melissa Gollob

Daily Arts Writer

If this year's presidential election has taught us anything, it's that life is always better on television. Case in point with "The West Wing," which happens to be the only sane representation of politics on television to date.

With nine Emmy wins under its belt, the critically acclaimed "The West Wing" entered its second season with a bang. Coming back from an explosive season finale, the season premiere found our favorite President shot while walking out of a town hall meeting because a white-supremacist group decided that the First Daughter should not date the President's black personal aide Charlie (Dule Hill). While the stunned presidential staff worked through the emotional overload, viewers were taken on a trip back in time using innovative flashback sequences to explain how the cast came together and united under Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen). After the mesmerizing premiere, "The West Wing" dispelled any notion of a sophomore jinx.

President Bartlet is the kind of man we wish would run for the job. Although he is a Notre Dame diehard, Bartlet loves being president and takes great pride in the fact that he leads the most powerful nation in the world. He is the backbone of the show and Martin Sheen does a sensational job at presenting Bartlet as a man as well as a president.

Jed also relies on his quirky staff (including two Emmy winners), to provide the bulk of humor and drama within each storyline. The White House staffers returning for another year of political maneuvering include Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) and Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) who run White House communications, which ranges from securing appointments to the Supreme Court to writing the President's everyday speeches. Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer) is the patriarch of the stafff keeps everything running smoothly while his deputy Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) makes a full recovery from the shooting to battle Capital Hill once again. The independent Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) completes this inner circle of confidantes to the President.

This season also finds fan favorite Donna Moss (Janel Moloney), Josh's "guru of unknown facts" secretary, as a full-fledged cast member. Her addition means much more bantering between the two, as their odd couple relationship begins to slowly brew into romance.

An integral part of the success of "The West Wing" has been its wide use of various big name guest stars. Marlee Matlin made brief appearances last season bantering with Josh while Stockard Channing brightened up a handful of episodes as first lady Abby Bartlet, M.D. She also returns throughout this season to monitor the president's health and give him advice.

John Larroquette visited "The West Wing" as Chief White House Counsel to help introduce the new Republican staffer Ainsley Hayes (Emily Proctor). Can we say bi-partisan?

"The West Wing" takes viewers to the most famous office in America, the Oval Office. This fictional office does a pretty fine job of portraying the system at work. The outcome is never perfect for either side and that's precisely the point. Even when they lose, they always come back the next day to fight for their cause in the next new battle.

"God Bless America" resonates from every episode provoking debate on issues that confront us on the news every night. Presidential pardons, English as the official language and bi-partisan spirit are only a few of the conflicting issues that "The West Wing" faces.

Yet, the staff continues to be an inspiration for even the most apolitical person. "The West Wing" is putting a new face on politics, as well as upping the gripping television ante.

Tonight's episode titled, "Shibboleth" brings everyone into the Thanksgiving spirit when C.J. must decide between two turkeys, and one will take part in the annual Presidential Pardon Ceremony and the other will be led to the Thanksgiving guillotine.

President Bartlet must also decide what to do about a boatload of Chinese evangelical Christians in California seeking asylum for religious persecution. Forget the real political coverage and tune into a president worth watching.

Courtesy of NBC

Martin Sheen and Richard Schiff star in NBC's hit, "The West Wing."