"Want Me To Kick His Ass?"
May 2, 2013 7:06 AM Subscribe
"Mr. Sheen is my son"
I somehow dobut that he says that very much any more...
posted by schmod at 8:36 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I somehow dobut that he says that very much any more...
posted by schmod at 8:36 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've devoured every West Wing scrap I can get my hands on (at least every scrap before the fifth season), and I'd not seen this before. Thanks!
posted by BevosAngryGhost at 9:01 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by BevosAngryGhost at 9:01 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
I, too, have consumed a whole lot of West Wing in my life and had not seen this before. Thanks for posting it.
I like the conceit of this video that The West Wing actors have the same personalities as the characters they play and that they talk, in "real life" like a Sorkin script. It's been a few years since I've watched a Sorkin show, and it's funny to me how jarring his dialogue can be. I think it's heightened by the spoofing they're doing in this video, but the repetitions, the stock phrases and the way the characters complete each other's thoughts and sentences is really... well, noticeable.
A bunch of years ago, some colleagues and I intentionally agreed to talk like we were reading from a Sorkin script for a few hours at a meeting. After a few minutes, it was really apparent how inefficient it is to communicate like that. It doesn't bother me when the actors on The West Wing or Sports Night or Studio 60 (I haven't seen The Newsroom yet) do it, but even when we were joking around, I was thinking, "get to the point already! I don't know what you mean by 'a thing!' Let her finish her sentence! When you trail off like that, I don't know what you're thinking! That stock phrase sounds super corny when you use it!"
Also, it's crazy to me how many people of my age who work in (or aspire to work in) politics and policy think they're bit players or major characters in The West Wing. There's a goofy self-importance and weird rhetorical style I see in people that automatically makes me think, "hey, that person got involved in politics because they watched The West Wing!" I wonder if people in sports broadcasting or news media notice the same things. A "Sorkin Effect" or something.
Finally, I really miss John Spencer. I think he is, for me, what I imagined a father figure to be. Even though I mainly "knew" him through his work on TWW, his passing sticks with me.
posted by elmer benson at 9:47 AM on May 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
I like the conceit of this video that The West Wing actors have the same personalities as the characters they play and that they talk, in "real life" like a Sorkin script. It's been a few years since I've watched a Sorkin show, and it's funny to me how jarring his dialogue can be. I think it's heightened by the spoofing they're doing in this video, but the repetitions, the stock phrases and the way the characters complete each other's thoughts and sentences is really... well, noticeable.
A bunch of years ago, some colleagues and I intentionally agreed to talk like we were reading from a Sorkin script for a few hours at a meeting. After a few minutes, it was really apparent how inefficient it is to communicate like that. It doesn't bother me when the actors on The West Wing or Sports Night or Studio 60 (I haven't seen The Newsroom yet) do it, but even when we were joking around, I was thinking, "get to the point already! I don't know what you mean by 'a thing!' Let her finish her sentence! When you trail off like that, I don't know what you're thinking! That stock phrase sounds super corny when you use it!"
Also, it's crazy to me how many people of my age who work in (or aspire to work in) politics and policy think they're bit players or major characters in The West Wing. There's a goofy self-importance and weird rhetorical style I see in people that automatically makes me think, "hey, that person got involved in politics because they watched The West Wing!" I wonder if people in sports broadcasting or news media notice the same things. A "Sorkin Effect" or something.
Finally, I really miss John Spencer. I think he is, for me, what I imagined a father figure to be. Even though I mainly "knew" him through his work on TWW, his passing sticks with me.
posted by elmer benson at 9:47 AM on May 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
Related: if you haven't heard it, Joe Lockhart had a hilarious The Moth story about his early days as Press Secretary that involves getting left behind by Air Force One in Russia, making fun of his new boss, meeting Bono while hungover, and then stick handling Clinton's impeachment while also displaying bi-partisan unity over bombing Iraq. Highly recommended.
This American Life link
posted by dry white toast at 10:00 AM on May 2, 2013
This American Life link
posted by dry white toast at 10:00 AM on May 2, 2013
This is great.
posted by brundlefly at 10:27 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by brundlefly at 10:27 AM on May 2, 2013
In case folks haven't seen this either, some of the West Wing stars teamed up to make a campaign video for Bridget McCormack, whose sister Mary was on the show for a while.
posted by rmd1023 at 10:41 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by rmd1023 at 10:41 AM on May 2, 2013
Triumph: It's fair to say, I think, one of the great Democratic spinners, Joe Lockhart.
Lockhart: That's very good, I like that.
Triumph:Can you spin a woman into thinking you don't look gross in the shower?
posted by saladin at 11:31 AM on May 2, 2013
Lockhart: That's very good, I like that.
Triumph:Can you spin a woman into thinking you don't look gross in the shower?
posted by saladin at 11:31 AM on May 2, 2013
Vice President Gore. Man, early 2000 seems like a golden age now.
posted by Kevin Street at 12:43 PM on May 2, 2013
posted by Kevin Street at 12:43 PM on May 2, 2013
I liked the way spencer reinforces hill's 'kick his ass' line. and i loved that spencer was watching old videos of himself while he ate lunch.
also, i'm knocking myself out trying to remember where the bit about people moving stuff around on the desk comes from....
posted by lodurr at 1:38 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
also, i'm knocking myself out trying to remember where the bit about people moving stuff around on the desk comes from....
posted by lodurr at 1:38 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Finally, I really miss John Spencer.
Bellbottoms! Bellbottoms! Bellbottoms! Bellbottoms!
posted by NedKoppel at 2:27 PM on May 2, 2013
Bellbottoms! Bellbottoms! Bellbottoms! Bellbottoms!
posted by NedKoppel at 2:27 PM on May 2, 2013
also, i'm knocking myself out trying to remember where the bit about people moving stuff around on the desk comes from....
That's a Howard Hughes reference, no?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:14 PM on May 2, 2013
That's a Howard Hughes reference, no?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:14 PM on May 2, 2013
I miss John Spencer too. Sigh. I loved that he wasn't just watching a video of himself while eating--but he was watching a video of himself eating while he was eating. It's like...it's John Spencer eating, all the way down.
posted by theatro at 6:22 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by theatro at 6:22 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
@teartro?
You know you were watching it too. Please tell me you were eating a sandwich watching LA Law.
posted by timsteil at 9:37 PM on May 3, 2013
You know you were watching it too. Please tell me you were eating a sandwich watching LA Law.
posted by timsteil at 9:37 PM on May 3, 2013
Vice President Gore. Man, early 2000 seems like a golden age now.
Man, I know I can't possibly be objective about this at all, because I was a little kid in the '90s, but I'll second that.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:54 PM on May 3, 2013
Man, I know I can't possibly be objective about this at all, because I was a little kid in the '90s, but I'll second that.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:54 PM on May 3, 2013
THIS
is Leo McGarry
This clip means so to me I cant find the words the describe it.
I have six books on Amazon.
posted by timsteil at 10:58 PM on May 3, 2013
is Leo McGarry
This clip means so to me I cant find the words the describe it.
I have six books on Amazon.
posted by timsteil at 10:58 PM on May 3, 2013
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posted by zamboni at 7:38 AM on May 2, 2013