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The West Wing Season 2 Episode 7

The Portland Trip

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8.5

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AIRED: 11/15/00

After ridiculing Notre Dame, C.J. is forced to accompany the President on a trip to Oregon; Toby and Sam struggle to write Jed's education speech for the following day; back at the White House, Josh tries to dissuade a gay Congressman who supports legislation banning same-sex marriages and Leo gets divorce papers, which causes Margaret to worry that he may fall off the wagon.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

You know why late flights are good?

7.5

By kickdoor, May 27, 2010

Josh's meeting with Matt Skinner, the gay republican congressman, on the marriage bill, was interesting. I know as a republican he values each state's right to decide on gay marriage, but it's still hard to imagine him supporting it. His answer to Josh about why he is a republican was great though.

Matt: "You know I never understood why you gun control people don't all join the NRA. They've got two million members, you bring three million to the next meeting, call a vote; 'All those in favor of tossing guns?'" (snaps fingers) "Bam. Move on."

Sounds like a plan to me.

Donna would've made a blind man take notice in that dress. I loved her scene with Ainsley, where Donna was thinking of taking up the trombone in the hopes of meeting interesting men. I also enjoyed Margaret's concern for Leo after he received his divorce papers. I think that was the first time they've had a non-comedic moment together, it was nice.

While the scenes on Air Force One were good(I love that they can still squeeze in a few "walk & talks" even while on an airplane), they didn't really grab me. CJ getting punishment for bad mouthing Notre Dame was funny(though I was hoping to actually see her sing the fight song) and I liked Bartlet's description of flying at night, but the main plot with the oil tanker and Sam tanking on the policy memo just didn't hold my attention, so to speak. This was the first episode of the season that wasn't an absolute hit with me. Still well written and performed, just not on par with the previous ones, IMO.moreless
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Lot of things happening... lot of movement... dynamic episode but...

7.8

By Parricida, Nov 30, 2007

It defenetly had the movement and dynamic and some great things to think about but I somehow feel it was not as good as I would expect. To be honest, every episode cannot be very good so maybe it could be said it was filler but it was not - it had great storyline but it did not worked for me. The calling and switching places - why not. It added excitement. But the storyline on the plain - Sam not being happy with his writing and Danny not going back the draft to CJ. Why he had to do that? Good but not the bestmoreless
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This episode just doesn't do anything for me. Definently not up to WW standard.

7.5

By cookaberry, Aug 29, 2006

First off on the bad list, and there's never a bad list for West Wing:

*The whole Congressmen Skinner thing was... And the marriage recognition act, was just... How could that ever happen??? Bartlet can't let that pass!!! Ugh! He just can't...

*Then the tanker thing was just stupid I thought. I like how Sorkin has all kinds of episode stories going on at once but this one was just bleh.

*I liked the education thing, but I didn't feel like it had been done right... or that it had been done too many times. Things I liked:

*Sam's permanent revolution! Great line.

*Donna and her dress, and Josh noticing.

*Bartlet's night flight. I happen to totally agree, and whenever I have a choice I always fly at night.

*CJ and Notre Dame

*Danny not giving back the speech.

And the thing is, I liked the little things, not the big things in the story line. But still it's WW so I can't not like it. But this is probably the lowest rating I've ever given a WW 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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David Graf	Mark Chase	Guest Star
Richard Hoyt Miller	Air Force One Stewart	Guest Star
Timothy Dale Agee	Air Force One Stewart	Guest Star
Melissa Fitzgerald	Carol Fitzpatrick	Recurring Role
Nicole Robinson	Margaret	Recurring Role
Jana Lee Hamblin	Bobbi	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (5)
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- When Charlie hands C.J. the lyrics of the "Notre Dame fight song", Jed tells C.J. she will lead the press corps in singing all five verses. The Notre Dame Victory March has only two verses and a chorus. The two verses are sung together, though they are often omitted and the chorus is sung alone. Jed is likely having a joke at C.J.'s expense, and the lyric sheet contains the two verses.
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- Although the episode occurs after the midterm elections in November (heavy coats worn by characters and comments by Leo confirm the season), an upcoming Notre Dame-Michigan football game is a recurring topic of the episode. Since the renewal of the rivalry in the late '70s, the Notre Dame-Michigan game has always been played in mid-September and is usually either the first or second home game for each school.
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- The gay Republican Congressman may be an acknowledgement of the real organization called the Log Cabin Republicans. It is for gay Republicans to lobby for gay rights within the party.
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- At the beginning of this episosde, White House Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) is wearing an Ohio State "Block O" pin on her coat's lapel. This is a connection to her character's fictional and Janney's actual birthplace of Dayton, Ohio. In addition, the President's alma mater Notre Dame is playing Michigan in football that week, and Michigan is Ohio State's arch-rival.
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- While briefing Leo on the tanker that the Navy plans to board, Col. Chase says that they'll use a "CH-47 Seahawk". The CH-47 is the tandem rotor Chinook, and the Seahawk is the SH-60. The Navy doesn't use Chinooks, at least not from warships, because of their size -- they'd use the CH-46 Sea Knight instead.
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QUOTES (4)
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- Matt Skinner: You know I never understood why you gun control people don't all join the NRA. They've got two million members, you bring three million to the next meeting, call a vote; 'All those in favor of tossing guns?' (snaps fingers) Bam. Move on.
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- Sam: Oratory should raise your heart rate. Oratory should blow the doors off the place. We should be talking about not being satisfied with past solutions, we should be talking about a permanent revolution.
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- C.J.: Excuse me, I have to go look like an idiot.
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- C.J.: Oh, kill me now!
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NOTES (1)
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- Awards and Nominations:
  This episode was a 2000 DGA Award Nominee for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night.
  
  Also received a commendation at the 2001 Prism Awards in the category of TV Prime Time Drama Series Episode.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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