West Wing - Freedonia Episode

[@shanetaylor5403]

"The hard part's clearing your throat, really" I don't think that line gets enough credit. It so surely gets across the fact that he was A. Genuine B. That speaking comes naturally to him, in a clear and cohesive way it doesn't do for many people.

[@probitionate]

I love Josh's facial expressions as he reacts to what Santos says, in the same way he reacts to Santos' speech at the convention: he's in awe of 'his guy', and is rendered speechless. It's made all the more poignant when you consider that Josh had always gotten his words wholesale, a Yammer Machine of the highest order.

[@dominicmilan7324]

The same following the Intelligent Design answer.

[@graceskerp]

Farther back than that. Josh had that expression when he listened to Barlett explain the reason he voted in the House to lower the price of milk - poor kids needed milk. The next day he was telling Sam he'd found the one to fight for. As they say, the rest is history. Re TWW 2x01.

[@Joe-nb3fs]

So weird. He's constantly amazed by the guy he hand picked. Anyway, I am not so sure this was as amazing a speech/ad as they make it look with all the extras staring at him after the fact. Just a simple "I'm a straight shooter."

[@AdamS-mq3gn]

I just realised the fact that the news guy says "You'll have to forgive the staff, they're pretty jaded. They hardly look up when the first tier candidates come through." and then when Santos leaves they're all stood, staring in awe...

[@seanwebb605]

I work at a major TV station in Canada. We are actually instructed not to approach or speak to high level guests unless it is required by our jobs. Those who greet them and bring them into the studio or floor directors. A few years ago I did some of the prep work in the feeds room the day of the first federal leaders debate for our election. The building was locked down with the RCMP controlling movement in and around the building. The then prime minister and the soon to be prime minister were in the building. Not much of it phased me. Not my first rodeo. After work I left and went to the baseball game.

[@cineMADvocate]

@@seanwebb605 wow that's....that's an amazing story. Do you go to all movie moments and point out how it would happen in "real life"? You went to that baseball game alone didn't you?

[@seanwebb605]

@@cineMADvocate This is suppose to be an intelligent show for intelligent people. Yet they do the same old lazy portrayal of how a TV news room or studio operates. The writing was pretty lazy. This group isn't easily impressed. The staff is then very impressed. Wow what a super candidate.

[@gregfaber3417]

@@seanwebb605 youre fun at parties. Dont watch this show then.

[@OriginalRAB]

@@seanwebb605 To be fair it was done in a subtle enough fashion as to give me a wry smile.

[@quintoncompton4073]

That a Presidential candidate for President can't get any better than this. 👌

[@ktwashere5637]

I wish the producers had given the audience time to get use to the Santos presidency. I think they probably looked at early episodes when the fans were going "who is this guy, where's Bartlett?" and thought they may as well stop making the show. By the end of the season I wanted to see the Santos family in the White House.

[@hi00118]

“And call... call anyone else who you think you should call.”

[@KDReeves]

The parallel language pattern there is mirrored by Santos, unrelated: "I'll never say anything about my opponent, or say anything about anything..." This "Do... do this!" pattern of mirrored language is subtle, but underscores that Josh and Matt are absolutely on the same page. It's the thing that wins Josh over even beyond his loyalty to Leo: While Jed is principle, country, party; while Leo is principle, party, country; and while Sam is principle, principle, principle; Josh is principle, country, heart. Matt Santos is also principle, country, heart, and ultimately this synergy is what sets them on their collision course toward each other, and ultimately sees his departure from Leo and his growth beyond the President. Yes, of course, a huge function of this is the post Sorkin/Schlamme writing, but we have no choice as fans of this series to take it in retrospect. The most "principle, country, heart" people who are willing to throw party out the window are Josh, Matt, CJ, and Danny, and ultimately, that's who stands tall at the end of the series. I HATE what they did to Toby's character, because I think better written in the last few seasons, he'd be right there, even if the conflict (literal fight) had been over issues rather than principles. I also HATE what they did with Leo around the Camp David II Accords storyline, but I CAN see Leo as ultimately being a Jed-oriented principle, country, party man. I don't mean to say all of our beloved characters don't have heart; of course they do. It's why West Wing is the liberal porn that it is, and why those more left, more radical want more of all of these things, as if we Konami-coded our way toward giving 10/10 attribute points to all of principle, heart, country, ethic, genius, etc... But in the end the West Wing has an element of procedural drama to it because it must: It's about the American state, not just the American ideal. Matt Santos was the "reboot" of Jed's idealism, and Josh was absolutely the guy to stand by it, and throw a bit of a Molotov over his shoulder into the Bartlet administration as he did so, as that is what was called for: For the show, for the party, for the country, on principle, and ultimately, in his heart.

[@scmang3]

I love at the end how the entire TV staff has stopped working to look at him, this is after the news director said they "hardly look up for the first tier candidates."

[@kohatenclave]

It's when they all realised, "He's the one"

[@RevBoose]

“He’s starting to believe...!”

[@SamaritanPrime]

Matthew Santos really woke up that morning and set that 20-sided die face up on 20 because rolling is for suckers.

[@sidp8031]

Again Josh is just barely holding on to this wild ride he started up! LoLoL!

[@SamaritanPrime]

Josh realized real quick that he’d found the ONE guy who could out-swagger him.

[@mobiz711]

When this show first aired, that was a would have been a fresh, new and even stirring take from a real candidate. Truth be told now, it would just be part of the noise. We've become inured by politicians that even attempts to sound genuine, just sound like more news. It's been so long since we've seen genuine that it's become safe to assume that it's just a performance. I would have to be one hell of a communicator to get that message through to me, and I don't think it's just me. EDIT: I HAD JUST HAD A STROKE when I wrote this, I don't actually remember doing it and I'm really struck by how incoherent it is. I'm a professional writer, so it's jarring to see this, I had no idea the stroke had impacted me that much. Thank the lord I work with a dear friend who must have been carrying me at the time. I'll have to thank her again.

[@LennyCole96]

Hope you're recovering well

[@mobiz711]

@@LennyCole96 Thanks, that's very nice of you to say. Very long process, pretty sure I'll never be the same, but then sometimes, even years later, I'll notice something's improved, the brain is pretty miraculous.

[@markbailey1970]

Hope you’re ok

[@mobiz711]

@@markbailey1970 Thanks Mark, much better now, appreciate the well wishes.

[@marcoperez6952]

That's how a President acts....like a leader.

[@DroneConflict]

HAIL HAIL FREEDONIA LAND OF THE BRAAAVE AND FREEEEE

[@bigbrowntau]

I hope their tense border dispute with Elbonia is settled peacefully.

[@MrGruffteddybear]

I wish the West Wing would have continued with a Santos administration.

[@fayesouthall6604]

At least one year.

[@joemckim1183]

And you had better believe I support this video.

[@jessecarliner7733]

News Director: Is he going to talk about Pakistan? Hard for a house member to make much of that. Josh Lyman: I don't want to spoil the surprise.

[@chiefryback7906]

They could have ran this show another 4 years. Great television.

[@philliptoole6439]

Initially they had planned to continue. The original ending was to have Vinick win so they could look at it from the other side, but ratings continued to decline and NBC kept switching nights. They eventually decided to end it with Santos winning - in part due to John Spencer's death.

[@ashwinoashwin]

I am from india! I have watched the west wing some 5 times end to end and i really wanted vinnick to win! He was the jed bartlet on the other side of aisle!

[@kylepiccoli4762]

Although this show was fictional, in reality what Matt Santos did here was absolutely brilliant. WMUR (which is an ABC affiliate) is the only tv station in the state of New Hampshire that has a network affiliation (depending on where you live in the state you have to rely on the affiliates in Boston, Portland Maine, or Burlington Vermont for the other networks), so he knows everyone in New Hampshire is going to be tuning in to WMUR for the news happening locally in-state. And, unlike what the fictional news director said of his staff, WMUR actually has a very good news department even though they may get overshadowed at times by the stations in the neighboring markets. The news staff at WMUR is so legit that back in the day Peter Jennings would actually join WMUR’s anchors in-studio and be part of their primary night coverage. Therefore, Santos knew he had a legit local TV station that everyone in the state would be tuned into that could easily distribute his ad nationally as public exposure. I’d say that’s spending your money wisely.

[@ericmiller93]

That’s first tier candidate diss.

[@stevensutton4677]

Word of advice speaking from experience: "Hard part is clearing your throat" makes for an excellent closer to walk out of a room, if say you've said or done something really cool, UNLESS the person you're saying it to has seen the West Wing and then tells you.

[@amanchabra8947]

I know this show is a Utopian view of what politics should look like, but I am contemplating writing in Matt Santos in 2024. :)

[@katiewillison2730]

I'm with you!

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Santos or Vinick either would be a vast improvement t on the two clown cars presented in November.

[@Joe-nb3fs]

@@MrFrikkenfrakken Not anymore =)

[@lancer525]

So you're a supporter of the Orange felon?

[@ingridmoran]

Fredonia was also one of the proposed names for the US in the early 1800s.

[@theauthorofoz164]

I grew up near Fredonia NY...

[@cineMADvocate]

Cool then you know it's not a country.

[@paulhenderson3415]

The remark in NJ about Freedonia. Did that actually occur, and if so, which debate/politicians were involved? Anybody know?

[@spokospokospokospoko]

Kind of. It was a prank by Spy Magazine (a satirical mag, along the lines of Mad). In 1993 (during the crisis in Bosnia) they called up congresspeople to give statements about America's response to the "ethnic cleansing in Freedonia." Every congressperson they called gave a statement on the record; not one of them got the joke or questioned the premise. www.nytimes.com/1993/01/13/us/isn-t-freedonia-next-to-oz.html

[@BobP68]

@@spokospokospokospoko Someone should ask the current Idiot-in-Chief that question. Oh wait, he's too busy shutting down the USPS

[@BobP68]

@Jared Baker Question to all, suppose covid didn't exist and you were sick with something that your doctors office believes to be viral. You visit your primary doctor and he says he'll refer you to two associates of your choice. An epidemiologist specializing in viral infections, and a radiologist. Which one do you pick ??? If the Idiot-in-chief and his Neuro-radiologist continue on there un-official, not formally announced(YET) path down the Herd- Immunity road, potentially 6,000,000 Americans could die. THAT'S 6 M I L L I O N. Those are the kind of numbers that another notorious figure in history accumulated about 80 years ago. Think about that as you vote in the next 7 weeks.

[@BobP68]

@Jared Baker So true Jared, so true. All we can do is pray and vote like our lives depend on it, because they do. Look at the callousness of Adolph Tweetler and his enablers. Ruth Bader Ginsburg isn't even cold yet and all any of them can do is talk about replacing her ASAP. A real president would have asked for a period of mourning until at least after her funeral before even beginning to discuss replacing her. Would they be doing anything illegal or un-constitutional? No. But several of them are on record 4 years ago stating they would not do this, citing this exact scenario. Ethics seems to be something they have no concept of however.

[@Dirk-van-den-Berg]

The fact that a candidate for political office didn't know Freedonia doesn't exist, is pretty condemning. Anyone with a general education would know that.

[@1tishhead]

as far as i know, no. but in the 90s, someone, impersonating a radio host, called some members of congress and asked them questions about freedonia and got at least a few of them to give straight answers. according to wikipedia, the victims were nick smith, james talent and jay inslee.

[@johnthebravesareworldchamp9597]

Jay Inslee is now the governor of Washington damn

[@vpaturi]

@SuperJackmehoffer Sorkin didn't write this episode nor this season. He stopped after season 4.

[@TheUltimateTroll9]

I was wondering why they were stunned

[@rblanco666]

@withalittlehelpfrom Santos was loosely based on Obama, the writers of the show interviewed him for research.

[@prospero4183]

A nice face that doesn't have to do anything. Shame real life u want the president to do something

[@gregfaber3417]

@@prospero4183 hows Trump working for ya?

[@imcallingjapan2178]

@@prospero4183 How can you be a Trump fan with a username named for a character from William Shakespeare?

[@stanbrown1151]

@@gregfaber3417 LOL beware of what you say.... how's ole Slow Joe doing for ya with $5 gas and rising inflation and your party telling you that you have privilege and are an oppressor??

[@RedBear535]

There are several Fredonia's but no Freedonia's.

[@theolamp5312]

Hail, Hail Fredonia. Let Santos be Santos. Also, he was doing a bit of Bartlett here. I wish he put on his coat as Sheen/Bartlett did. It would have been a nice touch. Was Sorkin still writing this episode ???

[@kathrynsmith38]

+Theo Lamp --No. Sorkin had been gone a couple of years when this was made.

[@theolamp5312]

+Kathryn Smith - Hi Kathryn - Thanks for the info. I really loved the WEST WING. The great ensemble cast, and of course, Aaron Sorkin's writing. I know Aaron Sorkin had some problems. But, the man can really write. Other examples being NEWSROOM and THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT. Best wishes, Ted

[@seanwebb605]

You would never submit any kind of advertisement to a TV station on VHS. It has simply never been the standard for broadcast.

[@seanwebb605]

@Justlookinnotbuyin That's not nerd. Anyone who knows anything about TV broadcasting knows that it has never been a broadcast standard. Not even a good consumer standard.

[@marcopl17]

It was for effect. Its just a tv show. Number one rule: suspend your disbelief. Then you can enjoy the ride.

[@seanwebb605]

@@marcopl17 Bull. Effect? They easily could have used an industry standard tape as the prop. Suspend disbelief? What the hell are you talking about? A clever show with clever writing and fantastic performances. The prop master go sloppy or the producer assumed viewers who were encouraged to embrace knowledge and intelligence or stupid or easily fooled.

[@stephenkehl7158]

VHS was definitely not the standard, but I worked ops at the local CBS affiliate and we did occasionally get a spot on VHS. We’d dub it up to at least a 3/4 inch cassette, and we strongly discouraged the practice, but it did occasionally happen. If the difference was selling some air time and not selling some air time, the money won.

[@seanwebb605]

@@stephenkehl7158 It would have to be a really shitty channel in a crap market to allow a VHS quality advertisement to air.

[@pdeforest]

At least he became Senator from Alderaan.

[@declinescore]

1:00

[@rblanco666]

@typodaemon Well after, Sorkin left after season 4.

[@DavidCodyPeppers.]

This. \o/

[@theguyfromwhereiam.3715]

Um ... a history major, which surely would have involved some (probably a lot of) geography, and Ned (there's nothing wrong with his head, btw,) doesn't know Freedonia isn't real? Who knows, maybe he did his thesis on the shifting geopolitical history of Equatorial Kunduu during the Bartlet Administration and got distracted...

[@o25skars]

Right?? I feel like this whole scene is a nice idea (low on cash, goes to a local tv station and just talks into the camera with a powerful message, finding his voice) but the writing is just not up to par

[@pauldockree9915]

I believe in The Sanity Clause.

[@catfishcave379]

All hail Freedonia...

[@luke68stevens]

:There aint no Sanity Clause"

[@dylanhaymore608]

#Yang2020! Get 'em Andrew!

[@maven21]

@Karthos1000 sad but very true!

[@zacharyerickson6302]

too bad all campaigns arent limited to the spending amount of the poorest person running

[@prospero4183]

OK nice speech, shame that's what leaders are voted in for. Talk is not even at the level of cheap.

[@prospero4183]

Great speech, but isn't that all it is.

[@handsanitizer2457]

Yang 2020

[@2011blueman]

BERNIE 2016!!!!!

[@VTX00128]

BERNIE 2020 Freedom & Justice for all.

[@DomClancy]

Apartment smells of shoes. Weird. Reminds me that my hard drive appears to be missing from where I last put it. Alas, what are you gonna do? If you don't take medicine because it kills your body, you get punished for it. Keep goin' Ed, couldn't have done this without your strategic accidents, @Snowden

[@prospero4183]

I love the speech but it's so much blah blah blah. All he basically said is I'm running for president

[@spokospokospokospoko]

Then why do you love it?

[@imcallingjapan2178]

He said more than that, he voiced his disappointment with the lack of focus and the pettiness and superficiality of US politics and the race to be president, and stated his intention to avoid that and focus on what matters, his original and real reasons for running in the first place. He also was modest and honest in describing the circumstances of him making the live ad.

[@mariomguy]

The tape was an attack ad that would've destroyed his opponent, but it wasn't about the issues. He chucked it. Attack ads had already been running against him. He was locked out of the debate for not getting enough votes in polls. He actually stood for issues, even issues that weren't popular, like extending school days, and he had town hall meetings and met and spoke with people. But they were all small, untelevised events. This was the first ad where he could actually speak on national television. It started a massive swing of momentum in his favor.

[@CMOT101]

You missed the point completely

[@CorsetGrace]

He touched a woman on her shoulder as he was leaving. That's an HR violation!!