Live West Wing
 

Yeah, it's a gimmick, but damn if it won't be interesting.

it will be decidedly less live when I see it via Tivo.

what else is on?

work

That show sucks!

Philosophical but ultimately bloodless. Both candidates being fictitious, neither had a record or warts for the other to highlight and pick on. Alda (the Republican) pretty much summed it up about the difference in the two being philosophy of government, and in real life its always about so much more beginning with personal ambition for power.

This show has always been pretty much hit or miss with me, but the other week when Bartlett fired Tobey was the best I've seen. Sheen deserves an Emmy for the cold fury he displayed in tossing his old friend out into the street.

I was making dinner so I only really listened to and didn't watch, but I think this is the kind of stunt that works live. On tape, it's too easy for the actors to look perfect and less real. The live nature of this show allowed the actors to make mistakes and made it more real.

That said, other than that it was largely just a stunt. The script was created so that neither candidate won, and no significant plot developments emerged. But it should make for a great Emmy Award entry for Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits.

I see NBC is running a who-won-the-debate poll. It would be interesting if they used fan voting to determine the election ... kind of first for viewers to impact a TV show's plot lines.

This I agree with. Sheen was fantastic. The show has been pretty lacking since Sorkin departed, but that episode was just about as good as the show has ever been.

I haven't seen the debate episode(Pacific Time Zone here), but I'll watch or record it for certain.

I'm interested to get a copy of the Pacific live version to see the differences. There were a few moments for each candidate that would turn into huge tv spots for the other guy in a regular election, I think.

I'm fully expecting a third party candidate to start making waves - both guys are off enough from their party platforms that it wouldn't surprise me.

Remember when that TV show Rock or Rok or whatever it was called did a bunch of episodes like this? It was that show about the garbage man. I forget the exact name, early 90s.

It was Roc... but you were close. ;)

anyone know if this will reair or can record it and mail it to me. Please or send me a vid link. I was desperate to see it all week and blew it!!! I cant believe it anyone, I will pay for the shipping or whatever.

torrentspy or mininova. check tomorrow

Didn't ER do this a few years back?

i hate to sound like an idiot but I dont know how to do that. Ive tried but the interface killed me, i think...but Im an idiot. Any help would be awesomely appreciated.

Yep, back in 1997 (a damned good episode as I recall)
http://journal.media-culture.org.au/9807/er.php

ER was the first major show to bring back the live broadcast concept. Since then, it's been a sweeps stunt for a number of show. Once Will & Grace runs something into a ground a few times, it becomes somewhat passe.

What I like about it is the presentation - it's not a live episode like W&G and ER (although it is), but it was produced and shown much like an actual debate would be. More/easier suspension of disbelief.

Yeah I was thinking of when Roc did it too. It was not a bad show overall. Charles Dutton who played Roc is really underrated I think as a character actor.