This week on THE LEFT ... er ... WEST WING

AMERICA GETS IT, PRESIDENT BARTLET, WHY CAN'T YOU?
(from THE BELTWAY)

So, while President Sheen is bitching that he has a first amendment right to a hit television show, SHOWBIZDATA.COM has a headline which says it all: VIEWERS DEMAND MORE "PATRIOTIC" COVERAGE



On the Emmy Front, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER states that NBC's White House drama "The West Wing" has won 22 Emmys and received 58 nominations during its three seasons of eligibility. But few pundits expect the show to win big for a fourth year in a row. Nominations will be unveiled Thursday morning.

Gee, seems like the Academy is starting to get the message as well. We'll see.

posted by James @ 7:58 AM 0 comments

SORKIN-FREE WEST WING DETAILS BEGIN TO EMERGE

Ain't It Cool News has a story that describes casting for the first batch of what they call "Sorkin-free West Wing.”

Highlights of the 2-hour opener is acting president, Walken (John Goodman), wanting a Vice President (“In case you boys haven’t noticed,” explains the mammoth Walken, “I’m one prime rib dinner away from sudden cardiac arrest.”), driving the West Wing staff crazy by surrounding himself with surrounds himself with a "mean little dog and several mean little aides" (damn those evil Republicans!) .

Zoey’s kidnapping also brings about a family reunion of sorts.

I can't wait to see the dog. I bet it's a Lasa Opso or something! Lots of annoying barking makes for great comedy!

posted by James @ 8:14 AM 0 comments

PRESIDENT BARTLETT'S PARANOIA GETS THE BETTER OF HIM
(He seems to think he has a first amendment right to good ratings)

Martin Sheen's interview in the Progressive is typical Larry King Softball fluff. They give The West Wing chief executive a chance to take pot shots at Bush, this country, and the true freedoms we enjoy.

He complains that people want him off NBC because of his anti-war views. He even comes right out and says that it is down right "criminal to express yourself in this country."

Oh really? A victim of expressing your own political views are we? Well I'm sorry, Mr. Sheen, but you do not have a constitutional right to star in a one-hour dramatic series on network television (especially one that amounts to a 60 minute campaign commercial for the DNC).

You want to talk REAL oppression for expressing one's political views in this country? Come talk to me and others I know who haven't worked in YOUR industry for years because the word got out we're CONSERVATIVE.

Oh, yeah, I forgot, silly me, the rules don't apply.

posted by James @ 7:41 AM 0 comments

BRAVO GOES LIBERAL!
(must be eager to see the ratings plunge)
bewarne of "The West Wing" Continuity Guide reports that BRAVO is going liberal! (not surprising considering that they're owned by NBC):

"THE WEST WING" MARATHON AND A NEW EPISODE OF INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO FEATURING MARTIN SHEEN AIRS SUNDAY, AUGUST 10

BURBANK, Calif. -- July 9, 2003 -- This August, Bravo will present the inaugural season of "The West Wing," one of television¹s most-acclaimed dram as, it was announced today by Jeff Gaspin, President of Bravo and Executive Vice President, Alternative Series, Specials, Longform and Program Strategy, NBC Entertainment. The series airs Monday-Thursday (7:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET and 11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. ET) beginning Monday, August 11.

"The West Wing" on Bravo, enhanced with special interstitials featuring interesting factoids about former and current Presidents, kicks off with a week of Presidential-themed programming including the premiere of the original three-part special, "All the Presidents¹ Movies² airing in sequence Thursday, August 7 (7:00-10 p.m. ET).

Bravo will also air Presidential-themed films including ³Absolute Power² starring Clint Eastwood on Friday, August 8 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET) and Sorkin¹s ³The American President² on Saturday, August 9 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET).

A marathon of the first six episodes of "The West Wing" will air Sunday, August 10 (11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET) leading into the premiere of "Inside the Actors Studio: Martin Sheen" on that night (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET). This special "Inside the Actors Studio" celebrates the career and craft of the actor who has played an integral part of the film and television world for more than four decades. He has earned an Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his work, including the role of President Bartlett on "The West Wing."

In its landmark first season, "The West Wing" garnered 13 Emmy awards, including Best Drama, and became the most honored single season series in television history. Now Bravo brings you every episode of this remarkable debut season. Beginning where "The West Wing" originally commenced on NBC, Bravo will start with the first episode of the series and continue with all episodes produced through 2009.

Narrated by Martin Sheen (NBC¹s "The West Wing"), this documentary reveals the movie-viewing habits and preferences of the Nation¹s former Presidents. For the first time, Americans will see the secret screening logs of the White House screening room, and hear from Paul Fischer, the man who kept them as well as the Presidents themselves, family members, friends, world leaders and Hollywood stars. See separate release for more details.

"The West Wing" depicts the dedicated men and women who work at The White House, serving their country through times and crises that mirror our own, and providing a fascinating inner glimpse of life inside the world¹s most powerful office. Each episode brims with the brilliant writing of creator Aaron Sorkin, the acclaimed performances of the ensemble cast and a brisk dramatic pace that galvanizes the viewer. The series stars Martin Sheen, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Rob Lowe, Richard Schiff, Allison Janney, Dule Hill, Janel Moloney and Stockard Channing.

Bravo, an NBC Cable Network since December 2002, is currently seen in more than 70 million homes and was the first service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. Today, Bravo offers innovative arts and entertainment programming with a unique point of view featuring original series, feature films (both independent and mainstream), theater, dance, music and documentaries. Bravo boasts critically acclaimed original programming -- including "Inside the Actors Studio" hosted by James Lipton, "Cirque du Soleil Fire Within" and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" (launching July 2003).

"West Wing Weekend
Aug 7 - Aug 10
To kick off the premiere of the West Wing, Bravo has a special weekend lined up, featuring the best of the best films and specials highlighting life inside the White House and the West Wing."

Full schedule for the weekend.
Sunday, August 10 - Mini Marathon (The actual "West Wing" episodes for the Weekend)
Eastern Times
11 am - The West Wing pilot
noon - "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc"
1 pm - "A Proportional Response"
2 pm - "Five Votes Down"
3 pm - "The Crackpots and These Women"
4 pm - "Mr Willis of Ohio"
5 pm - The West Wing Special Episode

"Episodes are then scheduled to run Monday through Thursday (the same episode three times a day - 11:00/10:00c a.m., 7:00/6:00c p.m. and 11:00/10:00c p.m.) beginning Monday, August 11. A mini-marathon of that week's four episodes will then air every Sunday from noon-4 p.m. eastern."

For more information or where to log complaints/requests for equal time on bahalf of the RNC .... visit www.bravotv.com.

posted by James @ 3:51 PM 0 comments