Tomorrow
American television lost a jewel tonight. The West Wing wasn't a common fake diamond or an old throwaway gem. It was a priceless treasure, burnished, beautiful, and rare. Aaron Sorkin unearthed it and gave it sparkle. Lesser writers will be hard-pressed to find another like it again. In an endless sea of worthless reality shows and unintelligent sitcoms, The West Wing stood out and shined.
Now, it is finished, and I am an incoherent mess.
What an absolutely beautiful ending! John Wells, you have exceeded my expectations by a mile. Christopher Misiano, your directing has always been outstanding, but tonight it was truly sensational. Stockard Channing, Kristin Chenoweth, Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina, Mary McCormack, Janel Moloney, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen (oh, Martin. Martin, Martin), thank you. You have defined the calibre and standards of acting.
Funnily enough, I could never do much more than tear up during the Leo episodes, but tonight I was outright sobbing in several places. During the first commercial break, I brought down a notebook so I could record my thoughts as the episode was playing out. Here are the haphazard little jottings:
-Oh G-d. Teaser and I'm already tearing up. That was powerful. Santos... Josh... with Donna (!)... C.J. (possibly in Danny's apartment? Looked like the same set)... Will (and Toby's pink rubber ball)... Jed and Abbey..
- Helen is tying Matt's tie a la Josh and Donna. (grin)
- Is Bram the new Charlie? (speak of the devil [he shows up])
- Margaret!
- Mallory?!
- Removal of things? It's really ending, isn't it?
- Annabeth! Welcome back, dear.
- "Not a problem, I walked today." Hee, C.J. rules.
- Pedestrian nirvana = L.A.? Margaret, bringing the funny.
- Debbie!
- "How are you feeling this morning?" "Unemployed."
- Kate. Um. Okay.
- Bartlet's bribing the stuck-up governors. Heh.
- Now we get to Toby's pardon. The suspense sets in just in time for commercials. Oh, joy.
- See this is why my DVDs are scratched up. Commercials are the root of evil. And now they're at the flimsy local ads. Le sigh.
- Mallory has a baby? When did I miss this?
- That is so the Bartlet for America napkin.
- "Make sure no one's making off with the cutlery." Heh.
- Josh is in the house! The White House, that is.
- Gail's bowl, with Gail being the orange blob in the corner. Of course she's going to California with C.J. (Did anyone catch what was inside? Palm trees and/or sunscreen would have been great.)
- WWLD. Geez, C.J. And I thought I was done (temporarily) with the crying.
- Carol! Ed-and-Larry! Nancy's mother! (Ha!)
- Charlie and Jed get to talk, yay.
- Aww. And I have another thing in my eye. *sniff*
- Matt and Helen are fun.
- Toby's pardon is still lying on the desk.
- Napkin, but now Jed has to open it on the plane.
- "It's been a pleasure, Claudia Jean." Sniff.
- Oh my goodness. Bartlet signed Toby's pardon.
- Great, now I'm crying again. This wouldn't be so hard if I didn't already have a bad cold. Curses, West Wing ensemble, for being such good actors.
- I can't wait for the episode to be over so I can watch it again without commercials. Fast-forwarding is my friend.
- STUDIO 60 PROMO! I take back everything I ever said about commercials!
- Ron Butterfield!
- Jed and Abbey are even more fun.
- Ginger!
- "I'm wearing long underwear." Heh.
- "Guess what?" - "You win."
- Did the announcer just say "Santos" two different ways?
- AARON SORKIN!!! (!!!)
- Silly movers, making me cry again.
- Josh and Donna were sitting together. Now I'm a little less tearful.
- How come we get a one hour finale when Law and Order gets two? It makes no sense whatsoever.
- Sam! Sam, Sam, the sunshine man.
- Debbie makes me laugh.
- Oh, Ronna. Hard to imagine she's the new Mrs. Landingham / Debbie Fiderer.
- Ronna Beckman, Bram Howard. Last name overload.
- C.J. in the press room = brilliance
- Hey, it's Mark the reporter guy!
- Donna Moss, FLOTUS CoS. Such a beautiful office (and much nicer than Amy's, I might add).
- Mom... I know it's Mothers' Day and all, but did you really have to call me from the car right as Jed was opening the napkin? I was supposed to burst into tears at exactly the right moment and I missed it.
- "Tomorrow."
Anything to add, Sorkinettes?
Now, it is finished, and I am an incoherent mess.
What an absolutely beautiful ending! John Wells, you have exceeded my expectations by a mile. Christopher Misiano, your directing has always been outstanding, but tonight it was truly sensational. Stockard Channing, Kristin Chenoweth, Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina, Mary McCormack, Janel Moloney, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen (oh, Martin. Martin, Martin), thank you. You have defined the calibre and standards of acting.
Funnily enough, I could never do much more than tear up during the Leo episodes, but tonight I was outright sobbing in several places. During the first commercial break, I brought down a notebook so I could record my thoughts as the episode was playing out. Here are the haphazard little jottings:
-Oh G-d. Teaser and I'm already tearing up. That was powerful. Santos... Josh... with Donna (!)... C.J. (possibly in Danny's apartment? Looked like the same set)... Will (and Toby's pink rubber ball)... Jed and Abbey..
- Helen is tying Matt's tie a la Josh and Donna. (grin)
- Is Bram the new Charlie? (speak of the devil [he shows up])
- Margaret!
- Mallory?!
- Removal of things? It's really ending, isn't it?
- Annabeth! Welcome back, dear.
- "Not a problem, I walked today." Hee, C.J. rules.
- Pedestrian nirvana = L.A.? Margaret, bringing the funny.
- Debbie!
- "How are you feeling this morning?" "Unemployed."
- Kate. Um. Okay.
- Bartlet's bribing the stuck-up governors. Heh.
- Now we get to Toby's pardon. The suspense sets in just in time for commercials. Oh, joy.
- See this is why my DVDs are scratched up. Commercials are the root of evil. And now they're at the flimsy local ads. Le sigh.
- Mallory has a baby? When did I miss this?
- That is so the Bartlet for America napkin.
- "Make sure no one's making off with the cutlery." Heh.
- Josh is in the house! The White House, that is.
- Gail's bowl, with Gail being the orange blob in the corner. Of course she's going to California with C.J. (Did anyone catch what was inside? Palm trees and/or sunscreen would have been great.)
- WWLD. Geez, C.J. And I thought I was done (temporarily) with the crying.
- Carol! Ed-and-Larry! Nancy's mother! (Ha!)
- Charlie and Jed get to talk, yay.
- Aww. And I have another thing in my eye. *sniff*
- Matt and Helen are fun.
- Toby's pardon is still lying on the desk.
- Napkin, but now Jed has to open it on the plane.
- "It's been a pleasure, Claudia Jean." Sniff.
- Oh my goodness. Bartlet signed Toby's pardon.
- Great, now I'm crying again. This wouldn't be so hard if I didn't already have a bad cold. Curses, West Wing ensemble, for being such good actors.
- I can't wait for the episode to be over so I can watch it again without commercials. Fast-forwarding is my friend.
- STUDIO 60 PROMO! I take back everything I ever said about commercials!
- Ron Butterfield!
- Jed and Abbey are even more fun.
- Ginger!
- "I'm wearing long underwear." Heh.
- "Guess what?" - "You win."
- Did the announcer just say "Santos" two different ways?
- AARON SORKIN!!! (!!!)
- Silly movers, making me cry again.
- Josh and Donna were sitting together. Now I'm a little less tearful.
- How come we get a one hour finale when Law and Order gets two? It makes no sense whatsoever.
- Sam! Sam, Sam, the sunshine man.
- Debbie makes me laugh.
- Oh, Ronna. Hard to imagine she's the new Mrs. Landingham / Debbie Fiderer.
- Ronna Beckman, Bram Howard. Last name overload.
- C.J. in the press room = brilliance
- Hey, it's Mark the reporter guy!
- Donna Moss, FLOTUS CoS. Such a beautiful office (and much nicer than Amy's, I might add).
- Mom... I know it's Mothers' Day and all, but did you really have to call me from the car right as Jed was opening the napkin? I was supposed to burst into tears at exactly the right moment and I missed it.
- "Tomorrow."
Anything to add, Sorkinettes?