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Score: 9.3 Superb 101 votes

The Stackhouse Filibuster

Episode Number: 39    Season Num: 2    First Aired: Wednesday March 14, 2001    Prod Code: 226217
The staff is blindsided when an elderly senator stages a Friday night filibuster to block their Family Wellness bill; Toby is confused when VP Hoynes, a strong supporter of the oil industry, volunteers to give a speech attacking the energy sector; CJ tries to locate a valuable Egyptian cat goddess statue given to the President.

Cast and Crew

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Writer: Aaron Sorkin
Story: Pete McCabe
Director: Bryan Gordon
Star: Martin Sheen (President Jed Bartlet),  Dulé 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),  Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman),  Janel Moloney (Donna Moss (Episodes 23-, recurring previously))
Recurring Role: Melissa Fitzgerald (Carol Fitzpatrick),  Randy Brooks (Arthur Leeds),  Charles Noland (Steve),  Mindy Seeger (Chris),  Jana Lee Hamblin (Bobbi),  Peter James Smith (Ed),  Timothy Davis-Reed (Mark),  Tim Matheson (John Hoynes),  William Duffy (Larry)
Guest Star: Cara DeLizia (Winifred Hooper),  Robyn Pedretti (Candy),  Darren Foreman (Hoynes Aide #2),  Andy Milder (Mark),  Jessica Pennington (Sally),  Shishir Kurup (Zach),  Harrison Young (Tom Grissom),  Dilva Henry (News Anchor),  Ron Harper (Chairman),  David Katz (Staffer #3),  Lisa Croisette (Staffer #2),  Larry Stahoviak (Staffer #1),  George Coe (Howard Stackhouse),  Pete Leal (Stewart)

Notes

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Quotes

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Bartlet: Charlie, I want to call senators. We'll start with our friends. When we're done with those two, we'll go on to the other ninety-eight. (edit)
(all in voiceovers)
C.J.: There are so many days where you can't imagine anything good will happen.
Josh: You're buried under a black fog of partisanship and self-promotion and stupidity...
Sam: ...and a brand of politics that's just plain mean.
C.J.: Yes, Hoynes had us nervous with his admonishment of big oil and, yes, the president was making us nervous too. But that's for tomorrow. Tonight, I've seen a man with no legs stay standing, Dad, and a guy with no voice keep shouting. And if politics brings out the worst in people, maybe people bring out the best. Because I'm looking at the TV right now, and damn if 28 U.S. senators haven't just walked onto the floor to help. (edit)
Grissom (via television): Point of order, Mr. Chairman!
Chairman (via television): Mr. Grissom?
Grissom: Will the senator yield for a question?
Sam: Come on.
Chairman: Mr. Stackhouse?
Josh: Come on.
(As Stackhouse continues to hesitate)
President Bartlet: Trust me just this once you grouchy, old son of a bitch.
Stackhouse (via television): Mr. Chairman... I yield to the senator from Washington for a question.
Grissom: My question is in 22 parts and might take quite a while. Perhaps you might like to sit and have some water while I ask it.
(cheering starts in the White House communications room) (edit)
Bartlet: We'll just pretend that there's no candlelight.
Leo: And that we're not paranoid homophobes. (edit)
Sam: Hey, I'm senior staff.
Winifred: Gee, genuflect when you say that, fella. (edit)

Trivia

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Senator Stackhouse appears to be a left-leaning Democrat in this episode, but previous mentions show him leaning to the right in opposition to the President. "In This White House" mentions Stackhouse as one of the men Capital Beat tried to get to speak on the right in opposition to Sam, before they went with Ainsley Hayes. "Mandatory Minimums" also shows him on the right of the issue. (edit)
In the scene where Josh is writing his e-mail to his mother (and thanks her for the shoes), you can see the text of his e-mail jump rapidly to include new paragraphs much faster than he types. When he turns from his conversation with Donna to begin seriously writing the e-mail, the text has shrunk to only one paragraph. (edit)

Allusions

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Community Reviews (3)

 
10.0
Perfect
The Stackhouse Filibuster
"Cleverly plotted"
The staff deals with a filbuster in the senate.
Continue » Posted May 20, 2007 8:45 pm PST
9.0
Superb
The Stackhouse Filibuster
"Character development"
Different is good.
Continue » Posted Aug 25, 2006 2:21 pm PST
9.5
Superb
The Stackhouse Filibuster
"Another great installment"
At first glance, this episode looked like this episode would be a real snoozer, but in fact, this was one of the key insightful episodes into the background, and personal relationships of the characters.
Continue » Posted Jan 9, 2006 9:16 pm PST
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Episode: The Stackhouse Filibuster
Season Number: 2
Episode Reviews: 3
Episode
Score:
9.3 Superb 101 votes
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