Take This Sabbath Day

Season 1, Episode 14, Aired
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Episode Summary

After the Supreme Court refuses to stay the execution of a convicted murderer, Bartlet has forty-eight hours to decide whether or not to commute the sentence; Josh faces off with Joey Lucas about his staff's not backing her candidate as vigorously as she'd like.
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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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  • The West Wing is working on the weekend and has to make a difficult decision.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By kickdoor, May 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    I swear Marlee Matlin has a lifetime contract with NBC, dating back to Reasonable Doubts. I liked her scene with Bartlet.

    "I don't like guys who run for congress because they think it's a great gig. Find yourself a live one and I'll get interested. In the mean time; the devil you know beats the devil you don't, and I like the devil I got."

    The scene between Toby and his rabbi was one of my favorites, thus far. The music was beautiful as well(liked that they used it again later in the episode).

    "Society has a right to protect itself, but it doesn't have a right to be vengeful. It has a right to punish, but it doesn't have a right to kill."

    "You know what I think? I think you knew I was coming back here and I think you put her up there on purpose."

    "She's our communications director."

    CJ is really starting to give Josh a run for his spot as my favorite character. She was brilliant in her scene with Mandy.

    "That's my job tonight. I have to go in and tell the President that Simon Cruise is dead and we're the ones who killed him. So, I just wish I didn't know his mother's name was Sophia."

    I felt bad for Sam, if only because he put in all that time and energy and didn't even get a chance to make a pitch to the president.

    One of the better episodes so far.moreless

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  • Review.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By CTUBauer24, Sep 11, 2008 Report Abuse
    In the 14th episode of the hit TV show The West Wing. Titled Take This Sabbath Day. The Supreme Court of The United States of America denies a death penalty appeal one of the attorneys for the defense ask a West Wing Staffer to ask The President to commute the sentence meanwhile Josh has a run-in with Joey Lucas who is mad about not receiving any champion money. Over all I thought this was a good episode of the series I thought The Supreme Court storyline was well done and liked it a lot. Josh storyline of the episode is the better one it was very funny when Joey Lucas and Josh first meet. In this episode we meet Joey Lucas who becomes one of my favorite recurring charters of the series. My overall rating for this episode is 10 out of 10.moreless

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  • Beautiful episode with very deep meaning and lot to think off

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Parricida, Nov 19, 2007 Report Abuse
    Weekend is starting but instead of that they have much to worry - an execution of criminal is planned and many try to convince president that they should not let that happened. But there are too many pros and cons and majority of people are in favor of capital punishment, so president have to let it go - but it is not easy for him or anyone else..

    I adored the dilemma they had, they way everyone tried to find their way out - Sam, Toby and President... a deep meaning episode.. and needed much time to follow it and think along. It does not happen to often.

    The other little storyline concentrates in Josh, his bad night before the day and Joey Lucas. I have seen Marlee Matlin in some other films and series and she did impressed me here too - there is something special in every character she plays.moreless

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  • Josh meets Joey Lucas.

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By amfarley84, Jun 06, 2007 Report Abuse
    What a great episode of the West Wing. They never seem to have a disappointing episode of the show so far in the seires. I thought that it was really funny that Donna was telling Josh not to drink that much because he can not handle liquor but he had to much to drink any way. It was hilarous to see Josh meet Joey Lucas wearing rain gear because his cloths were dirty. Who knew that Joey was a girl they made it out to be a guy. I thought that it was wrong that their was so much pressure on the President to stay the excution of a murder.moreless

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  • One of the best of the series!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By redgarlic68, Feb 02, 2007 Report Abuse
    President Bartlett is put in trouble by Sam's, who is following a friend's petition to ask the president to get to indult a death condemned criminal. The president then turns to everyone he meets (Leo, Toby, the survey-woman) about it, and all of them, each from their own point of view (something curious since each of them professes a different religion) suggest him to indult the criminal. The president, anyways, keeps waiting for a definite signal from God to show him the right way to follow, not realizing the mistake he does not indulting until his confessor arrives and tells him a story that clearly ressembles his. This episode was sooo great. President Bartlett is shown to doubt where the good lies, and seek help and others. Also the side stories (Toby's as example) are good. Definetly recomendable!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Bartlet: Why is [the execution] my problem at all? Leo: As opposed to who? Bartlet: The Governor of Michigan. Leo: Oh, you mean why isn't it a state crime? It was prosecuted by the US Attorney under the Drug Kingpin Law... It's a good thing the Federal statutes on executions are being argued in this episode--because in Michigan (the state in which Simon Cruz was apparently tried) the death penalty is not an option. The strongest term one can serve in Michigan is life imprisonment. Edit
    • The small pocket bible Father Cavanaugh uses is the same one Karl Malden used in the movie, On the Waterfront, in which he also portrayed a priest. Edit
    • This wasn't the first time Martin Sheen and Karl Malden had worked together. They previously had worked together on the TV series The Streets of San Francisco in the episode "Betrayed" in 1973. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Awards: Martin Sheen was nominated for a 2000 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode in conjunction with "Five Votes Down" 2000 Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series in conjunction with many other episodes from the season 2001 Christopher Award Won the 2000 Humanitas Prize (Lawrence O'Donnell Jr., Paul Redford, Aaron Sorkin) Nominated for 2001 WGA Award for Episodic Drama (Aaron Sorkin, Lawrence O'Donnell Jr., Paul Redford) Won 2000 Wilbur Award for Television Drama Edit
    • Music: The piece the cantor sings in the synagogue, which is repeated at the end of the episode, is a prayer for peace called "Hashkiveinu" (Cause Us to Lie Down in Peace). This particular version is by Max Helfman, and is available on the CD Sacred Chants of the Contemporary Synagogue. Edit
    • Marlee Matlin starts a recurring role as pollster Joey Lucas and Bill O'Brien starts his recurring role as her interpreter Kenny Thurman. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Joey Lucas: (barges in and beings signing while Kenny translates) Are you the unmitigated jackass who has the DNC choking off funding for O'Dwyer campaign in the California 47th? Josh: What in God's name is happening right now? Edit
    • Josh: I can hold my liquor. Donna: No, you can't. Josh: I can drink with the best of 'em, Donna. Donna: You can't drink with any of 'em, Josh. Josh: I'm a politician, okay? I can drink. Donna: You have a very sensitive system. Josh: I wish you'd stop telling people that. It makes me sound like an idiot. Donna: You're gonna have two drinks and spend the rest of the weekend sleeping it off. Edit
    • Bartlet: We can not execute some people and not others, depending on the mood of the Oval Office. It's cruel and unusual. Leo: If that's the only thing stopping you, I'll say for the first time in your presidency, let that be the next guy's problem. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Sam: The United States is one of five countries that puts to death people under 18. The other 4 are: Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Edit

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