cellio | recent television

24: Jack Bauer is supposed to be smart; why aren't they writing him that way at the moment? Let's see: you're holed up in a building for several minutes, knowing that there are people outside waiting to kill you but you're probably safe until you walk outside, and you are in possession of (1) the only copy of a tape recording that is a matter of national security, and (2) a cell phone. I would think that even a person of average intelligence would attempt to use the latter to transmit a copy of the former somewhere safe, no?

West Wing: I had been hoping all season that they would have the guts to have Arnold Vinick win the election. If there would be another season, his would be the more interesting administration to follow, I think, as the new guy from the other party has to get up to speed while dealing with challenges left from the previous administration. He's extremely moderate politically (not as far to the right as Santos is to the left by a long shot), and Alan Alda portrays him very well. And then NBC announced that this would be the last season, meaning it's even safe to have Vinick win from a logistical perspective (actors' contracts, etc).

However, it's been pretty obvious to me all season that they've been planning a Santos win all along, despite claims that it was up in the air. The Santos story got the bulk of the screen time and the staff members on that team have better-developed characters. That's where the focus has been, so the election result did not surprise me. Ho hum, another Democrat who's not so different from the previous administration. Just as well they cancelled the show, then; that's not interesting on its own and Jimmy Smitts is no Martin Sheen. I do not believe the claims of the writers that it was going to be Vinick until John Spencer, the actor who played Leo McGarry, died and they decided to kill his character.

They still have one chance to be bold, but I'll bet they won't be. Santos has won the election without a VP candidate. That means Congress decides. The election was about as hotly-contested as it could have been, and Congress is also divided.

So... imagine what could happen if Congress elected Vinick as the VP, just like in the old days. That would get me to applaud the show on its way out.

recent television

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