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The West Wing Season 2 Episode 5

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9.1

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AIRED: 11/1/00

Leo tries to make Ainsley's arrival as painless as possible, despite resistance from her new boss and several other White House staffers; Donna helps with the President's weekly radio address; C.J. tries to derail a retiring General's attempt to speak out against Bartlet; Sam gives Josh ideas on how to deal with his insurance company.moreless

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Fan Episode Reviews (4)

"One Take" Bartlet

9.0

By kickdoor, May 26, 2010

I loved Donna and Bartlet's scenes together, when Bartlet was trying to record his radio address. What the hell is leaf peeping? What it sounds like, sounds like it would be about as enjoyable as watching grass grow. Lionel Tribbey bursting in was hilarious.

Bartlet: "Well...Obviously Lionel Tribbey is a brilliant lawyer, whom we cannot live without. Or there would be very little reason not to put him in prison."

Larroquette was great in all his scenes actually(loved him on his recent appearance on Parks and Recreation as well).

Lionel: "KILL! I will kill people today, Leo! I will kill people with this cricket bat, which was given to me by her royal majesty Elizabeth Windsor, and then I will kill them again with my own hands!"

This episode was definitely heavier on the comedic side, what with Bartlet running around like a sailor on 24 hour shore leave, after he found out him and Abby could have sex again.

Bartlet: "Abbey, you have two minutes or, I swear to God, I'm gonna get Mrs. Landingham drunk."

Though there were a couple of dramatic moments. CJ, not only holding her own, but ripping apart General Berry, who was going to bad mouth the president as he retired, was incredible. I'm almost sorry Bartlet called CJ off and she wasn't able to make good on her threat. Seeing him explain how he had won a combat service medal on a boat that never saw combat, would have been interesting to see. Ainsley endeared herself a little more to me, I think it's safe to say I like her at this point. Sam was also great in his scene firing those two guys that managed to make two massive screw ups in one day. Plus I like Gilbert & Sullivan so that was a plus.

Great episode, maybe not quite up there with the first four, but still hilarious.moreless
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Ainsley first day.. and it is not easy to fit in....

8.5

By Parricida, Nov 29, 2007

Ainsley starts her first day and Leo tries to make it as easy and smooth as he can but it is not easy - first the man who she supposed to work - he looks angry and has a cricket or something like he would hit someone coming in with words: "I will kill someone"

Her first assignment does not look better either - the men she should talk to think about her as a weak thing they can hurt and mock but Sam stands up for her in the end and they all realise - they can do a little to make her feel better.

A beautiful episode that remind us that we can do a little to help other and that can matter for others.moreless
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Its Ainsley first day.

9.6

By amfarley84, Jun 09, 2007

I thought that this was a great episode, which is not a big surprise it is the West Wing after all. I thought that it was funny to see the President messed up when he was tapeing his radio address. It was really nice of Sam to fire the two guys that was rude to Ainsley. I so did not think that Sam would be able to fire someone. How funny was it that Mrs Bartlet had Charlie give the President that message. I thought that it was also funny that the President told CJ to let the General say whatever he wanted aabout him that he earned the right after she tried so hard to get the General to keep quite.moreless
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How much do I love this episode? A whole lot... it's just plain fantastic... "...which I guess makes me the Deputy Deputy Chief of Staff."

9.3

By cookaberry, Sep 12, 2006

*Ainsley is so awesome, especially in her season 2 episodes, I'm so sad she's not on as much... But I love her! She was so great talking to Brookline and that other guy... and Penzance... She's definently the coolest Republican I know. And then when Sam see's that flower thing and runs and fires them.. I LOVE IT! That was so awesome. "When I write something I sign me name. See, 'You're Fired! S. Seaborn.'"

*The Jed and Abbey thing was pretty funny. God, I hate Plutonium! *Donna and her keychains. Poor girl, but she's so funny. I laughed at your blacksmith joke, Donna! *Josh was cool, I still can't believe he was shot!! Who would want to shoot Josh! But I loved him and Sam trying to figure out the insurance thing. "You could try throwing out the Bill of Rights." "Toby did."

*CJ and the general were cool. I love seeing CJ go at something she really is passionate about. *Finally, I love the end scene. They are so cool. I love seeing them all singing. That was so great. I love this episode!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Martin Sheen	President Jed Bartlet
Dule Hill	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg
Rob Lowe	Sam Seaborn (Episodes 1-84)
Richard Schiff	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	Leo McGarry

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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John Larroquette	Lionel Tribbey	Guest Star
Tom Bower	Ed Barrie	Guest Star
Daniel Roebuck	Lt. Buckley	Guest Star
Nicole Robinson	Margaret	Recurring Role
Bradley James	Donnie	Recurring Role
Kim Webster	Ginger	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- This is the second episode of "The West Wing" to have a character named Tribbey - in the first season episode "He Shall From Time to Time", Tribbey was the name of the minister of agriculture who was picked to sit out the State of the Union.
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QUOTES (8)
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- Tribbey: KILL! I will kill people today, Leo! I will kill people with this cricket bat, which was given to me by her royal majesty Elizabeth Windsor, and then I will kill them again with my own hands!
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- Ainsley: Mr. Tribbey? I'd like to well on this, my first assignment. Any advice you could give me that might point me the way of success would be, by me, appreciated.
  Lionel: Well not speaking in iambic pentameter might be a step in the right direction.
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- Leo: This is Ainsley Hayes. She's scared of meeting you, so be nice.
  Lionel Tribbey: The girl who's been writing the columns?
  Leo: Yeah.
  Tribbey: (to Ainsley) You're an idiot.
  Ainsley: Oh God.
  Leo: She's not an idiot, Lionel, she clerked for Dreifort!
  Tribbey: Well, Dreifort's an idiot.
  Leo: Dreifort's a Supreme Court Justice, Lionel, so lets speak of him with respect and practice some tolerance for those who disagree with us.
  Tribbey: I believe, as long as Justice Dreifort is intolerant toward gays, lesbians, blacks, unions, women, poor people, and the first, fourth, fifth, and ninth amendments, I will remain intolerant toward him!
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- Bartlet: Lionel Tribbey is a brilliant lawyer whom we can not live without. Or else there would be very little reason not to put him in prison.
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- Ainsley: I just want to die.
  Leo: Oh, it's the White House. You'll get used to that feeling.
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- Bartlet (attempting to record the radio address): Sorry everybody, this is gonna be it. Four is my lucky number.
  Donna: This is take five, sir.
  Bartlet: Five is my lucky number. Fifth-take-Bartlet, that's what Jack Warner used to call me.
  Donna: Did you really know Jack Warner, Mr. President?
  Bartlet: Yeah, because I used to be a contract player in Hollywood and I'm 97 years old.
  Donna: Okay.
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- Abbey (about where they can have sex): How about our bedroom?
  Bartlet: New Hampshire is an hour and a half by plane, Abbey. I don't have that kind of time.
  Abbey: How about our bedroom in the residence?
  Bartlet: YES! We have a bedroom right here in the building! That was so smart!
  Abbey: Yes.
  Bartlet: Let's go!
  Abbey: Jed! Korea, plutonium?
  Bartlet: Oh God, I HATE plutonium!
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- Bartlet: (about Nellie Bly's 72-day world tour): She sounds like an incredible woman, Abbey. I'm particularly impressed that she beat a fictional record. If she goes twenty-one thousand leagues under the sea, I'll name a damn school after her. Let's have sex.
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NOTES (3)
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- Music: In the basement the senior staff sings "He Is an Englishman" which was composed by Gilbert & Sullivan and performed by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from H.M.S. Pinafore.
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- The title of this episode is a line from Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore.
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- When Donna and Josh are eating lunch, a can of Coke and a can of Pepsi are both on the desk, which seems to rule out either company paying for product placement.
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ALLUSIONS (4)
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- Donna: I'm gonna bring in a new audience. Like the old Carson show.
  
  The old Carson show that she is referring to is the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, a late-night talk show that Carson hosted from 1962-1992; filmed in front of a live audience (thus the reference). Ed McMahon was one of the show regulars. Carson took over the show from Jack Paar, and the current host is now Jay Leno.
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- Bartlet: I'm sorry. Leaf peeping? Is that something we do now?
  
  Leaf peeping is an activity that one might partake in during autumn in areas where the foliage changes colors. It is the act of admiring autumn foliage for its beauty. A person who leaf peeps is called a leaf peeper. Leaf peepers are often tourists and are known for driving slowly on public roads.
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- Bartlet: One-take Bartlet. That's what old Jack Warner used to call me.
  
  Jack Warner was born John Leonard Eichelbaum on August 2, 1892 in London, Ontario, Canada. He was the driving force behind the creation on Warner Brothers Studios and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died on September 9, 1978.
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- Abbey: You don't know who Nellie Bly is, do you?
  
  Nellie Bly (1864-1922) was one of the first female investigative journalists.
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