West Wing

After years of watching the West Wing win Emmy after Emmy for best drama series, beating out my favorite show The Sopranos, I decided a couple of years ago to give it a try. What is all the hubbub about? Obviously, I quickly figured it out. It actually reminded me of an older show prematurely canceled that I really enjoyed, Sports Night. It was later that I learned that the person who created both shows was Aaron Sorkin, so that answered that question.

Tonight was the season finale, and it was great. Like a great show, it left me hanging, wondering what would happen next year. I am dying to see what happens when Alan Alda (who I think is one of the best, although often overlooked, actors out there) and Jimmy Smits goes at in for the Presidency of the United States.

The funny thing is, I like both characters. The Republican character Alda plays is not a present-day Republican, nor is the Democratic Smits a typical Democrat. On the show, they embody the best of each parties’ ethics and ethos, far removed from the actual political parties currently running the United States of America.

West Wing has completed a spectacular season, even if every episode was not a home run. Still and all, looking ahead with new political people in place and what promises to be a fun Presidential race, I can easily see West Wing continuing for at least a few more years. Most shows tend to “jump the shark” at some point, usually around the seventh season or so. West Wing, if anything, appears ready to remake television history with the best yet to come.