West/Left Wing

[Timber Loftis]

Last night's episode of West Wing was superb. It was a live presidential debate, with Jimmy Smits playing the Dem and Alan Alda playing the Repug. I believe the writers did a superb job giving both liberals and conservative positions on key issues a good representation. Of course, you have to accept that Alda's conservative character is a "smaller government/ don't trust government" conservative of eons gone by, not the "give my friends money and hate non-christians" conservative we seem to keep seeing too much of in the real world. In other words, Alda play my kind of conservative, which many call "libertarians." Regardless, he did a much better job live acting than Jimmy Smits, who dropped a line or 3. All in all, an impressive episode. This season is trying real hard to get the props of previous seasons, before inevitable cancellation occurs.

Sadly, my stupid American peers seem to prefer that crappy Commander in Chief show -- for god knows what reason.

Check it out while you still can. Just 2 weeks ago, the episode dealt with a leak, and how the White House SHOULD handle one. A very good season. Check it out, and enjoy.

[krunchyfrogg]

They prefer "Commander in Chief" because it's prepping the country for Hillary.

Alan Alda played a Republican? I don't think he's a good enough actor to stray that far off of himself.

[Timber Loftis]

You follow Alan Alda's politics? Please, enlighten me. Or is it a presumption based on the fact he's an actor?

[krunchyfrogg]

I can't think of specifics, but he's come out and said a lot of extreme left stuff in the past. I know he said some stuff when he was on "E.R." for a short time, and I was told, but never heard myself, stuff from when he was on "M.A.S.H."

[krunchyfrogg]

Well, best source I could find in a short amount of time:

Alan Alda Fansite

A renowned liberal, he often supported social causes, and was a fervent feminist advocate, repeatedly using his celebrity status to promote the Equal Right’s Amendment. Alda’s political views began to influence his creative contributions to M*A*S*H. The show became less of a comedy and more of a social satire. As M*A*S*H celebrated its 11th year, Alda announced that it would be the show’s last season. On February 28, 1983, America watched the two and one-half hour emotional finale, titled “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” which was directed and cowritten by Alda. One hundred twenty-five million people watched the last episode, marking the highest rating in television history.

BTW, is he any good on that show? I'd expect Alda to be, I've always thought he was a good actor.

[Stratos]

Alan Alda has always struck me as a bit leftwing as well. Not that it's something wrong with that, just noting it.

Anyway, I've heard he's active in the struggle for equal rights for women, if that can be regarded as "leftwing".

[Larry_OHF]

<font color=skyblue>I hear that some of the executives of NBC are very angry that the producer of the show decided to put an NBC logo at the bottom-right side of the screen. They say that it blurred the line between real news coverage and a fictional news story. I did not see the show, but I think that this producer will get a lot of heat for making such a stupid move against the executives' feelings. I have heard of a lot of producers getting canned by making goofs like that. however, I cannot remember even one example, so...um...</font>

[ 11-08-2005, 09:59 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Timber Loftis]

Well, had you not known ahead of time, it looked like a real live debate. And, it was live. And Alda rocked the show -- he's awesome live. Jimmy Smits did okay, quite passable, but nearly dropped a line or 3.

And, I didn't know Alda was such a leftie, but thanks for the researchificaiton.

I believe the writers did conservatism proud on this episode, as they have done w/ Alda's character all through. But, you have to accept the fact that they are presenting a PALEO-Con, not a NEO-Con, a small government conservative as opposed to a religious pro-war conservative.

[Stratos]

Paleo-Cons? Isn't that an extinct species?

[krunchyfrogg]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: researchificaiton.

Now who sounds like Dubya? ;p