The West Wing: Charlie busted by the President

Charlie Young gets busted by the president for sneaking out of Zoes room. Season 6 episode 21.

[@theprinceofpain]

"Evening, Charlie." Bartlett is everywhere, and he is nowhere.

[@paulzammataro7185]

😆

[@paterpatriae645]

Schrödingers Bartlett

[@yankeehawk04]

YESSSS!!!!

[@avatarmikephantom153]

He haunts Ainsley’s nightmares. She can never dance and drink again after he snuck up on her.

[@angelrios5897]

“To his credit, if he had sauntered, there may have been a row!”

[@SpartanFighter1973]

I don't know if it's been said, but when Charlie walks in to the Oval, and President Bartlet initiates the conversation, Charlie puts his hands in his pockets. Exactly the way Jed does, when he's made his mind up.

[@ArtemisScribe]

this is why i love the comment section on West Wing videos, I always learn something I've never noticed about the show before even though it's been 20 years!

[@czarspan3057]

Just want you to know that 5 years later you made someone in Indiana gasp out loud

[@mikemesser4326]

@@czarspan3057 Two people.

[@Turbo3032]

And Bartlet already had his free hand in his pocket, his mind was already made up before Charlie came into the room!

[@michaelscott6022]

"I've taken a bullet for that kid because he was only her boyfriend at the time; those two getting married may actually cause the end of the world." -Bartlett, at some point.

[@samsonguy10k]

Both Jed and Josh took bullets for Charlie and Zoe. I think both Jed and Josh are both required to get blessings from for Charlie and Zoe to get married.

[@cljacobson27]

worst caught by the Dad moment ever in history!

[@therealneal3034]

cljacobson27 I take it you haven’t seen any step sibling porn. 😂😂😂 I haven’t but it probably exists. 😂

[@nrkgalt]

In the movie Armageddon the dad went after the guy with a shotgun.

[@akashchoudhary8162]

@@therealneal3034 oh, sure you haven't. We totally believe you.

[@jasonsauls3583]

These types of scenes between them were always so good because it was clear that Bartlett loved Charlie like a son but, of course, had protective instincts for his daughter. It was gold.

[@Bayougirl78]

Poor Charlie... dealing with your girlfriend's father is tricky enough.... Imagine your girlfriend's father is the one man in the country who can actually answer the question "Oh, yeah? You and what Army?" lol

[@jamesharper6575]

Bayougirl 78

[@Tuneman1984]

Bartlet actually alludes to that when Charlie first wanted to go out with Zoe in Season 1 "Just remember these two things: she's 19 years old and the 82nd Airborne works for me."

[@drew23ish]

Hopefully Jed doesn't have a shotgun

[@Legba85]

Andrew Cribbin he’s got the Secret Service and all he has to say is “make it look like he was smuggling.”

[@adamthebulldog2738]

Rudy Juarez it doesn’t need to look like anything he would just disappear of the face of the earth

[@stevenrichardbarnett]

“Well, I just know how you abhor the cliché.” Damn, but Dr. Abby Bartlet knew how to handle her genius, Nobel Laureate, presidential husband. Just a brilliant example of her own skills.

[@aigtrader2984]

Charlie: would I have your blessing? Bartlett: "That depends. What are you planning on doing with your life after the White House? As long as you don't do something stupid like open up a psychic detective agency in Santa Barbara." :)

[@JosefFerguson]

Underrated comment, right there.

[@lemmiwinks09]

Poor guy had to enter the Witness Protection Program under Lavender Gooms

[@nrkgalt]

They broke up, and she tried her hand at advertising in NYC.

[@syreetayoung8238]

Lol good one

[@robinmcdaniel5881]

Omg. Spit my drink out laughing 😃

[@darrylsmith2084]

One of my favorite moments was when Charlie first told the president Zoe asked him out and the president gave his ok then said remember the 82nd Airborne works for me.

[@chabrastamepues]

Dule Hill does such a great job with emotions of confusion in his acting. He manages to channel it perfectly here in this scene in a slightly dramatic, yet also comedic and believable way. And, then there is his over the top, yet also enjoyable performance in Psych a few years later. Fantastic job in both shows!

[@mchjsosde]

Oh my gosh I love this show so much I totally forgot that when I first started watching it all I could see in Dule Hill was Gus. Now all I see is good hearted Charlie

[@Funkcoma]

Yes, Dule Hill is such an underrated actor.

[@stanklepoot]

Short answer is yes. Yes Charlie would have the President's blessing to marry his daughter. So far, he's got a guy who cheated on his daughter and a nice but excessively nerdy guy as his sons-in-law. Then there's Charlie, a guy who the president already loves as the son he never had. Let's be honest, having Charlie as his son-in-law is President Bartlett's version of living the dream.

[@axsdeny]

Plus he'd get to keep that Paul Revere knife in the family!

[@gerardmeadows8418]

I was rewatching the episode where someone shoots at the White House. President Barlett knew that Charlie would come to his side no matter what. Then Charlie breaks thru secret service to get to president. The love between them is mutual.

[@gemmel3197]

@@gerardmeadows8418 That is one of my all time favorite scenes.

[@MotorCityPhoenix313]

And nobody would ever love Zoey like Charlie does. I would love for him to be my son in law.

[@sfranc01]

Michael Moretti you are an idiot and completely missed the entire nature of this relationship. But hey go back to your white sheets and Fox news. You’re living the dream.

[@cshubs]

One thing I love about this scene is how Charlie is speechless when he's caught. Even the smartest man would be speechless at that moment.

[@TitoQuintana1]

In his heart of hearts Potus wanted him with Zoe, but married. Charlie has always been the son he always wanted.

[@davidcarter2720]

The series was rife with great acting. Watching these two ... over and over ... they were so subtle yet so expressive - you could see the wheels turning as father and respected aide worked their ways through this scenario. No cliches ... strong characters ... and their scramble for appropriate nuance. So fun to watch.

[@wilakt4fud]

Charlie would absolutely have the President's blessing. The issue wasn't Charlie and Zoey, it was the *way* Jed discovered it.

[@BlackDiamond2718]

President: upset Charlie: i can fix that President: calls secret service

[@rebekahremp886]

Underrated comment

[@Bayougirl78]

After all these years, I still feel cheated... Charlie and Zoey getting married should have been part of the series finale, dammit!!

[@SpydeyDan]

They were supposed to get married instead of Ellie, but Dule Hill and Elizabeth Moss's schedules on Psych and Mad Men wouldn't allow it.

[@shihoblade]

@@SpydeyDan Wait west wing lasted up until Psych and mad men? I thought it was older than that.

[@ralphjackson2518]

@OriginalYithian while it didn't premire until 2006, psych was well into production when filming on season 7 of Psych started. Mad Men also had production overlap with West wing, because making TV shows takes time and unless you're fox you film most of the season before you start airing shit.

[@waynehanley72]

@@SpydeyDan Ah . . . that sucks. Didn't the producers of those shows know that the president was involved ?! :) It would have been so nice.

[@IceRanger41]

Fax

[@KamsPoliticalPredictions]

0:27 it was at this moment that Charlie knew...he fucked up.

[@darrylsowerby7973]

Stockard Channing is brilliant as Jeds wife. Smart , witty, tough and can quickly put the President on the back foot. Which no one else can, but should be expected, after all she is his wife.

[@ethel1690cardew]

Stockard Channing was perfect for the role of Abby she played her to a T

[@jeffharder8706]

I was just about to say that. I loved her in this role!

[@robinjackson7882]

I really enjoyed Channing in Practical Magic.

[@byrdman50010]

She was perfect in every role I have seen her in. She is perfect.

[@matthewcox7946]

"Golly. One wonders." Totally deadpan. 10/10.

[@dorkmax7073]

To his credit, if he'd been sauntering, there might have been a row.

[@purpleness64]

😂😂😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅

[@Comicsluvr]

Dule Hill is a treasure. His role was well-written and wonderfully acted.

[@switchboard98]

I absolutely HOWLED when this scene aired...all i could think was "dead Charlie walking!!!" 🤣🤣🤣

[@MotorCityPhoenix313]

I'm so proud of Charlie. Clapping cheeks in the White House. Well done my man!

[@Xdohls]

THE MUSTACHE CHARLIE. HIDEOUS.

[@milesconerly5818]

That was when Dulé Hill was transitioning to Psych

[@shanetaylor5403]

"You might want to quit while you're ahead" Precisely what I was thinking. I actually cringed when Charlie said what he did

[@AndreAFirenze]

Still the best tv show ever

[@aarontelander]

“Be sure to bring protection.” - Leo

[@stopthemadness99]

Charlie, what did Bartlett tell you when you first asked to date his daughter? I believe it was something along the lines of "The 87th Airborne works for me." You should really be more careful.

[@eastwestcoastkid]

stopthemadness99 82nd..82nd Airborne But point well taken 😀👍

[@tartanbasketball]

This is where the show dropped the ball I think. Charlie should have proposed. There was never any further mention of this moment.

[@Bayougirl78]

I agree... they never resolved the Charlie and Zoe storyline, left us hanging with that one. I would have really liked to see confirmation that they ended up together, after everything they went through

[@Tigerman1138]

Bayougirl78 I was about to say pretty much the same thing. The actors felt the same way, saddened it wasn’t resolved, but they both feel they would have gotten back together.

[@ZachsMind]

Not every relationship needs to live happily ever after. Granted my unwarranted speculation is that this storyline was dropped for political network reasons and not because the writers didn't know where to go with it. The writing staff probably knew exactly where they wanted to go and somebody somewhere along the network chain of command at the time dropped the ball or ran off with it or just sat on it like an egg. Not everyone watching the show was open minded and woke. Then as well as now, some people would still take offense to an interracial relationship. I like how it's just left hanging. I had relationships like that. I rather imagine it happens to everyone now and then. Complications intervene. People's lives drift apart. Others intentionally or unintentionally C-block the lovebirds. Bottom line: Charlie's intentions were made clear in the latter scene: he wanted to see Zoe more, but marriage was an afterthought, and that didn't set well in the Bartlett household. Well. For everyone but Zoe, who would have said no to marriage had Charlie asked. "Did my father put you up to this?" "Well. Uh. No. Your mother-" "Charlie!"

[@zoeoneill6658]

Apparently they had actually planned to continue the storyline and have them get married but both of the actors had other commitments and so they married Ellie instead.

[@Lonetress]

David Pietras what I read is that they received a lot of hate mail for that storyline so they just dropped it.

[@stevenelson3515]

These two (among others) had just wonderful chemistry together in their scenes.

[@Kaizou626]

One, she's nineteen. Two, the 82nd works for me. That really underscored the power of the Father-in-Chief!

[@TacComControl]

The best part about this is that the president wasn't having to confront charlie, he was having to confront his own presuppositions, and his own willingness to be a little bit too much like his own father. The seen caused him so much discomfort not because he saw his daughter fooling around with his employee, but because it forced him to hold a mirror to himself, and I think because of that, it for the solidified the relationship between him and charlie, and his willingness to treat Charlie as a son, regardless of how things went with his daughter.

[@godemperorofhumanity4603]

"Would you believe I was trying to assassinate you, sir?"

[@Legba85]

I thought Jed was going to call Secret Service to beat the shit out of Charlie in the back of the White House. LOL.

[@mikeb.2925]

The greatest part of Sorkin's writing is the way he can humble absolute giants of powerful men with fierce and direct women who keep them grounded.

[@wallacerose8663]

This episode is actually from after Sorkin had left the show. Though the showrunners who followed him did their best to continue his style.

[@jbfarley]

Yeah, nice try

[@TheMalf1978]

Too bad sorkin didn't write the later seasons.

[@davidcarter2720]

Surprisingly, upon viewing the entire series for the fourth time, there ARE some scenes that grate upon my sensibilities. But they are few and these are certainly not among them. Wonderful writing and acting - but most of all, just a joy to watch. ... and watch ... and watch ...

[@joekraynak5531]

As a father of daughters, if I ever found myself in such a situation, I hope I handle that situation as elegantly as the president.

[@AcunaR531]

That moment when he's asking about engagement and the kid puts his foot in it even if he was honest.

[@sunnchilde]

Awkward! "Excuse me, sir, I'm just walking down this hallway because I just finished giving it to your youngest daughter."

[@blackcat4859]

He dodged Charlie's last question beautifully "I'm not the member of the family you should be concerned about at the moment" 😂😂😂

[@BlackBarney]

This is the main reason I didn’t try to date Ivanka

[@fhfs]

0:27 It was at this moment Charlie knew....He f^&(ed up

[@moimeself1088]

r/TIFU

[@DWolf2k2]

True, the dialogue could have been SOOO much better, but we all saw something like this happening since day one, and it was still hilarious to see it all go down.

[@AndreAFirenze]

The Best Show Ever Seen on TV. period.

[@Antebios]

Perfect excuse for seppuku.

[@joshuawiener820]

Why does it sound like the writers took a normal conversation and put it in a blender mixed in with a thesaurus

[@firstnamelastname7473]

Cause they’re trying to recreate Sorkin dialogue.

[@anoneemous406]

That's Aaron Sorkin for you lol.

[@jbfarley]

@@anoneemous406 he didn't write this season, genius

[@felipepineda1585]

Evening Charlie! The look on charlies face like oh now i know who is going to end my life! 😅😅😅

[@chazz30000]

Bartlet: "Son, the least you can do when you are courting my daughter in the middle of the night is to loose that ridiculous hippy hear you have growing around your mouth"

[@wallacebell4311]

chazz30000 *hair

[@sbains560]

The president is everywhere and nowhere

[@chevin0]

The only time Charlie was NOT happy to hear the President's voice. every other time it filled him with hope or love or something, that once was 'oh crap!'

[@twokingz04]

Abby was cracking up. Lol " Caught?"

[@surfk9836]

Come on. The guy works in the white house and he thinks he could sneak around at night and nobody would notice? This ain't a 4 bed 3 bath home in the suburbs.

[@flyboy152]

SurfK9 The butlers and Secret Service would know, but he didn’t expect the president to be wandering around at 1am.

[@jgvillan01]

Had really forgotten about this. "Charlie busted by the President" I was just thinking....what did he do?!?!?! Oh.......🤣

[@narutodream12]

This is the absolute worst nightmare scenario for a guy. Not only was he caught by his lover's father, but that father is also the president of the US, and can order the secret service to shoot him.

[@marcboss6]

If he were sauntering there may have been a row

[@andrewgundy3045]

I love the president dipping into the dictionary at every turn in this

[@dorkmax7073]

"To his credit, if he'd been sauntering, there might have been a row"

[@lizabth247]

Did you see Psych and them referencing Dule's time on this show? I loved it!

[@fe5018]

lizabth247 how'd they do it?

[@ramvee123]

@@fe5018 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYWtdGuNmruUnK8

[@captprime9446]

And that’s when Charlie realized that the presidents personal sniper always waits for his order

[@charleslennonbaker]

If you listen very carefully, you can hear a little trickle 'of water' running down Charlie's leg.

[@charlesbrooks94]

Honestly, I can see Charlie as President in a spin-off of this show.

[@nonsensicalcompound]

I like that step one in pretending it never happened is talking about it.

[@bulldawgs2002]

That was his, “Oh shyt” moment

[@daveinstlouis]

The one guy on the planet you don't want to be busted by.

[@DP-8964]

"oh, are you ...." brilliant

[@googoo-gjoob]

the *GREATEST* show in the _HISTORY_ of tv.

[@TheOlga121]

Oh God NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Damn it! Poor Charlie.

[@frankdonovan5598]

Secret Service Agent should have warned Charlie :)

[@andrewnibbi]

Watching this after spending the night watching season 3 episodes really sticks in my ear. Everything just feels wrong about it. The writing took such a turn after Sorkin left.

[@tomshea8382]

I'm just sort of over the "protective Dad" trope/stereotype they felt the need to examine.

[@rico6969cool]

To his credit if he’d be sauntering there might have been a row 😂

[@intrestedinallthings]

Bartlett looks good in a three-peice suit.

[@larryduncan4071]

That Jungle Fever is *_STRONG!_*

[@NeuroDeviant421]

He should have felt endless shame and embarrassment over that choice of facial hair.

[@snidelywhiplash]

As the father of a girl, I can totally feel Jed here. But at the same time, I would absolutely fucking love to have my daughter marry a guy like Charlie.

[@dansmodacct]

I think the president feels the same way, but he has paternal ego that is hard to shake - not to mention presidential ego

[@narutodream12]

3rd rule. DO NOT GET CAUGHT

[@Frostblaze207]

If it had been anyone besides Charlie, Bartlet would’ve had 2 assassinations carried out during his presidency instead of 1.

[@TheRyman25]

@basten2 Season 6 Episode 21 as is in the description. This was the second last season with season 7 being the last.

[@laurenlanterns4376]

0:26 I believe we call that “the fear of God”

[@Nonaggress]

Sneaking into the President's Daughter's room. Heavy risk...but the priiize...

[@michaeloconnor5904]

Every man's worst nightmare. And if you need to ask who I'm talking about, I've made my point.

[@tstanley01]

This is the one storyline I wish they had concluded.

[@supermanoftheoc]

anyone know where I can find the scene of Charlie and The President doing Charlie's taxes?

[@tommytimp]

The default "paternal resistance" is a little silly, concerning how the relationship has existed on and off since Year 1 of the show, but I do like the fact that the confrontation in the Oval Office happens at high noon.

[@a-a-ron1155]

Imagine if the actor who played Charlie didn't have other shows to shoot his storyline with Zoey would have turned out so much better

[@switchboard98]

true...

[@SapphireCrusader1988]

"Charlie?" "Yes, Mr. President?" "The answer is you have it." "Thank you, sir." "Don't mention it. Now get off your ass and get a ring."

[@mcoleman6834]

Charlie got caught walking out of Zoey's room. Two words: GOOD LORD! If Charlie didn't love and respect the President as he does, it would have gotten messy.🤯

[@andrew_4747]

I really don't understand WHY Zoe couldn't move in with Charlie. Obviously the Secret Service would have to make arraignments but there's nothing that prevents a daughter (or son) from moving in with there boyfriend/girlfriend.

[@firefighterchick]

No, not at all. I think it's just when The President wasn't confronted point blank he just choose not to think about his youngest having sex. So when it was so obvious he was reacting as I am certain many fathers do.

[@KarlBonner1982]

...Let's hear it for the dads who raise their daughters with the expectation that they WILL have happy, safe, fulfilling sexual relationships as young women!

[@alexius23]

So well written & acted!

[@mariob.5565]

Still want a sequel where Charlie becomes President

[@jeromebuck1153]

Perhaps there should be a movie or four part series like Gilmore girls to tie up all lose end to this wonderful series

[@royw-g3120]

You might consider quitting while you are ahead! Great writing.

[@joshuamoore4537]

Nothing more awkward than when the father of the woman you are dating; is literally the President Of The United States & he sees you leaving his daughters bedroom.

[@jcs1025]

Of course he would have his blessing. Bartlett saw Charlie as the son he never had.

[@narutodream12]

Mass effect quote plus West Wing equals pure win.

[@crazehcakes]

Is this how Economics Professors and Doctors actually talk?

[@michaelsinclair8733]

He had that "Oh shit" look come across his face @ 0:27

[@Elthenar]

If you listen closely, you can hear Charlie pucker. Mrs Bartlett wasn't always as well written but Stockard Channing always delivered. She played off and against the rest of the cast like a savant.