The West Wing:

The West Wing: Twenty Five

« prev episode next » episode

When Bartlet learns that Zoey's kidnapping is the work of Qumari terrorists, he invokes the 25th amendment to diminish their leverage and eliminate any conflict of interest; since there's no Vice President, the power of the Presidency passes to Bartlet's chief political rival and the most powerful Republican in the country, the Speaker of the House, who immediately takes a very hard line; now that twins Huck and Molly have arrived, Toby wonders if he's capable of loving them enough. Add a recap »

YOUR SCORE

RESET

N/A n/a

Writers:: Aaron Sorkin

Director:: Christopher Misiano

Stars:: Joshua Malina (Will Bailey (Episodes 78-, recurring previously)); Stockard Channing (Abbey Bartlet (Episodes 45-, recurring previously)); Janel Moloney (Donna Moss (Episodes 23-, recurring previously)); Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman); John Spencer (Leo McGarry); Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler); Allison Janney (Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg); Dul� Hill (Charlie Young); Martin Sheen (President Jed Bartlet)

Recurring Role:: Kris Murphy (Katie Witt); Clark Gregg (Mike Casper); Devika Parikh (Bonnie); John Amos (Percy Fitzwallace); Anna Deavere Smith (Nancy McNally); Timothy Davis-Reed (Mark); Trent Ford (Jean Paul); Nicole Robinson (Margaret); Michael O'Neill (Ron Butterfield); Mary-Louise Parker (Amy Gardner); Ivan Allen (Roger Salier); Kim Webster (Ginger); Charles Noland (Steve); Randy Brooks (Arthur Leeds); Melissa Fitzgerald (Carol Fitzpatrick)

Guest Star:: John Antonini (Jamie Reed); Harry Groener (Roger Tribbey); Alan Dale (Mitch Bryce); Vernee Watson-Johnson (Nurse); Laura Gardner (Gwen); Kathryn Klavana (FBI Agent # 2); Weston Blakesley (Dr. Wellman); Brady Rubin (Sharon Day); John Goodman (Glenallen Walken (uncredited)); Haskell Vaughn Anderson III (Interior Secretary); Estuardo Rodriguez Minano (Paramedic); Gary Telles (FBI Agent # 1); Taye Diggs (Wesley Davis); Shannon Marshall (Randy Weathers); Keely Jones (TV Reporter); Diane Badger (Cabinet Member); Dan Manning (Banks); Jon Van Ness (Andrew); Milt Tarver (Jerry); J. Patrick McCormack (Jimmy Wendall); Susanne Filkins (Geri); Jim Gabriel (Cabinet Member); Sha Bennett (Peggy); Lucy Butler (Jill); Lance E. Nichols (Jay)

The 25th amendment says that the acting president does not need to be sworn into office but that he will have the powers and duties of the office. In this episode, Acting President Walken does take an oath of office transfering the powers of the Presidency. edit »
Bartlet: What is it they�re gonna want? Bahji prisoners freed? We get out of Qumar? We get out of Kuhndu?

The countries Qumar and Kuhndu and the Bahji terrorist cell are all made up. edit »
This is the last episode that Aaron Sorkin wrote. edit »
Bartlet says the 25th Amendment allows him to hand power to the next in the "constitutional line of succession." But there is no "constitutional line of succession" other than the vice president. All succession issues are dealt with in the 1947 succession act.
Interestingly enough, the question raised about Walken needing to resign is a moot point, since the 1947 act specifically requires the Speaker to resign if he is to resume the presidency, although since there is no constitutional requirement that the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives be an elected member of Congress, he could keep his title after stepping down from the presidency and resigning from Congress. edit »

Music Featured In This Episode: - "Angel" by Massive Attack edit »
When Toby is talking to the twins in the hospital room and the camera is on him it is quite clear that Huck has a pacifier in his mouth. When the camera changes to look at Huck the pacifier is gone. edit »
Martin Sheen's son, actor Emilio Estevez, made an uncredited appearance as young Jed Bartlet in the home movies segment. edit »
Alan Dale, who plays Secretary of Commerce Mitch Bryce in this episode, is the only actor to play roles in both the Bartlet and Palmer ("24") Cabinets. On "24", he played the Vice President. On both shows he had occasion to enact the 25th Amendment and remove the President from office. edit »
Awards and Nominations:
Episode won the 2003 Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Christopher Misiano)

Episode was nominated for the 2003 Emy for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Series (Janet Ashikaga, A.C.E.)

Martin Sheen was nominated for the 2003 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode

John Spencer was nominated for the 2003 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode and in "The Red Mass"

Stockard Channing was nominated for the 2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in this episode and in "Privateers"

This episode won the 2003 Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Drama Series along with many other episodes from the season (Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, John Wells, Kevin Falls, Alex Graves, Christopher Misiano, Paul Redford, Kristin Harms, Llewellyn Wells, Neal Ahern, Jr.)

Episode was nominated for the 2003 Emmy for Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series (Gary D. Rogers, Dan Hiland, Patrick Hanson, C.A.S.)

Episode was nominated for the 2003 Emmy in Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Aaron Sorkin)

Episode won the 2003 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night (Christopher Misiano)

Episode was nominated for the 2004 Eddie Award in the category of Best Edited One-Hour Series for Television (Janet Ashikaga A.C.E.) edit »

Wes: Listen to me. You're gonna be fine. You are the key witness to the end of the world. edit »
Leo: The babies are okay?
Toby: Yeah. They're great. And if somebody was hurting them, I'd drop napalm on Yellowstone to get them to stop, letting some prisoners out of jail wouldn't be nothing, and I've known my kids for about 45 minutes. edit »
Bartlet: Huck?
Toby: And Molly.
Bartlet: Nice. So what do you know now that you didn't know before?
Toby: Babies come with hats.
Bartlet: Yeah, they also come with those little theft protection devices, those little LoJacks on their ankles so they can't be boosted from the hospital. Man, don't ever let them take it off. edit »
Toby (to the twins): I didn't realize babies come with hats. You guys crack me up. You don't have jobs, you can't walk or speak the language. You don't have a dollar in your pockets, but you got yourselves a hat, so everything's fine. I don't want to alarm you or anything, but I'm Dad. And for you, son, for you, this will be the last time I pass the buck, but I think it should be clear from the get-go that it was Mom who named you Huckleberry. I guess she was feeling like life doesn't present enough challenges to overcome on its own. edit »

There is currently no allusions. Add allusions!

8.5
11
Ummagnumma
member since: Jan 26, 2006
Twenty Five
The Bottom Line: "Pivotal"
Aaron Sorkin's swan song. ...Continue »
05/21/06 03:45pm | report abuse
10
00
ginadecai
member since: Jun 16, 2005
Twenty Five
The Bottom Line: "Revealing"
Jed Batler walks out of the Oval Office as Aaron Sorking walks out of The West Wing. Coincidence? ...Continue »
05/13/06 02:29pm | report abuse
9.5
00
tennpro4
member since: Jan 11, 2006
Twenty Five
The Bottom Line: "Pivotal"
Great! ...Continue »
01/11/06 10:32am | report abuse