Jed Bartlet's Finest Hour: Part 1 | The West Wing
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
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Was one of the best shows on TV...wish our government had such integrity.
Martin Sheen is one of our best actors of the past 60 years. Somehow he flies under the radar when people have this conversation. But he played a great President and was completely believable. He played a closeted gay man who comes out in his 70’s, and was also completely believable and lovable. He can do comedy and tragedy and drama.
Thank you Martin Sheen!
"Somehow he flies under the radar..."
"That wasn't a crack about my height?"
"No....yeah it was..."
@@MonkeyAtTypewriter beautiful.
Don't forget he braved the river to kill Kurtz...
I loved this program. I wish we really had a President Bartlett.
We have a President Joe Biden and he's doing a phenomenal job. He's passed the baton to Karma-law Harris, so we will still be in great hands. Dump "trumpf."
Sadly characters like Barrllett rarely make it to the top
We ended up with President Shartlett. It's tragic.
you annd me both instead of who we got 23 days ago
There isn't a single moment of the entire seven seasons that aren't the pinnacle, the very zenith of absolutely outstanding television. The West Wing should be held as the benchmark of excellence in character-driven drama. It is 'lightning in a bottle' and highly unlikely to ever be surpassed. I'm so happy I was there to see it the first time around. But repeat viewings only cement its greatness in my mind.
I dunno about that. Literally everything after S4....
@@Shamino1 for a more subtle expansion on your point... Season 5 was choppy. But I thought they found their new voice in Seasons 6 and 7.
I agree.
But 'Six Feet Under' was pretty damn close.
Newsroom is pretty outstanding
@@Cynthiajay7 Six Feet Under was up and down, but the last episode lives in my soul and I've only ever seen it once.
This first scene is outstanding. Martin Sheen is such a presence, it feels like the President is actually walking through the scene and everyone is struck dumb instead of actors hitting their cues
I watched this series when it first aired, and I've watched the entire series more times than I can remember. When I watch it, I feel as if I'm actually in the White House watching policy being developed. Martin Sheen was brilliant, and the entire cast kept me glued to each word. The writing was incredible and intelligent. To say thank you for this show seems so inadequate, but thank you with all my heart!
I absoluting agree with ALL that you said, this is by far my Absolute favorite show ever, and no matter how many times I've watched it, I still go back and watch it again, I too felt as though I was a part of the staff.
I watched this after the last show & then binged on it with my wife. We loved it, the characters, the action & dialogue. Maybe it's time to re-binge on it.
The whole show sparkled!
@@hersheyknight6841 - The show is the single best example of character development in the history of television. There are a few other great shows (The Wire, Sopranos, etc) that come close but The West Wing made the characters so real, so deep, it is nothing but incredible.
The scene with the priest telling the story of the man by the river occurred to me when we were in the middle of covid. That is some amazing television.
It always brings me to the Leo speech about a man in a hole to Josh in Noel.
I'm an Atheist and love that story.
The man by the river thing... it's a rather popular joke. An old one, but a good one.
@@Mozart12201 Why?
Me, personally, I despise it. How was that man supposed to know that _any_ of the help was sent from this god - and not a deception from "satan", or simply other humans exercising their "free will" (which would mean that this god wouldn't have interfered in any way - afterall, that would have violated the "free will" of at least one human, something that god apparently doesn't even do to prevent gRape or mass murder)? Or that him drowning wasn't exactly what that god had planned? Afterall, that _flood_ would have been sent by that god as well.
I am a brit, and I would love the whole world to led by the Jed Bartlet of each nation. I feel the world would somehow leap forward a great distance, in peace.
As an American, I'd love that as well!
@@amandanilles8038 - 75 million Americans and a few Russian bots just voted for a guy who is about as far away from the merits and ideals of Jed Bartlet as the world will ever see.
The funny thing is you look at what Bartlett actually accomplished for a two term president, and it truly wasn't that impressive.
@@preachizzleAha, but the show didn't cover every minute of every day did it. The easy successes would have been boring tv.
Martin Sheen is fabulous. The whole cast is great. The script is fabulous. Especially in the Sorkin years. The production is extraordinary.
It makes me think I'm going to watch the whole thing all over again. Best tv show EVER !
Jed Bartlett's introduction in this series still sits in my brain nearly 30 years after I first saw the pilot episode. I hit 35 next month, so that says something.
It debuted 25 yrs ago
😊9999😊99😊9😊😅9😅😅9😊😊9😊@@charlesrussek7118
@@charlesrussek7118 hence the word NEARLY
I got Jimmy Carter at roughly the same age. Having a decent man of genuine (and therefore flawed and human) faith modeling advanced citizenship can dig a deep groove in a kid's brain. For the first time in a long time I have hope to see one decent human pass the baton to another decent human. 🤞🙏🕯️
Thanks for spelling the President’s name correctly… 🙂 … I think I read somewhere that Sorkin used the name Bartlet in a tip of the hat to Joshua Bartlett, the first signer of Declaration of Independence after John Hancock’s, who wrote (transcribed) the first (and only) copy of the Declaration. I believe I’m right about this.. I could be wrong. That’s worth $.02 as far as I know.
Always loved President Bartlet's 'disproportional response' dialogue. Every inch of you screams to agree with him, but deep down you know it's the wrong thing to do. Such tremendous acting.
His anger was palpable. It made for a very emotional scene.
only thing that grates on me is his completely different reaction to a British passenger plane getting shot down
@LordInter "why is a British life worth less to me than an American life"
"I don't know sir, but it is"
It struck me as amusing that they went here, when you put it in the context of this scene from The American President - where Martin Sheen's AJ is advising a retaliatory strike is a proportional response to Michael Douglas' Andrew Shepard: ua-cam.com/video/9De2fNw3Q-w/v-deo.html
@@LordInter it's not about it being that. It's about calming down and having 6 years of experience leading as commander and chief and Admiral Fitz. Helped with calming him down over the years.
I have lost count of the number of times I have watched that first scene and yet Bartlett's last 2/3 lines still give me goosebumps.
That first scene, which was literally Sheen's first scene in the series, was the scene setter for his character. Guess I'll watch West Wing again for the eighth time.
Bartlett is the absolute best President we never had.
Beat me to it!
I dream of one like him in office.
@@siddmic It's basically why I don't want to vote right now. There is no Bartlett on the 2024 ticket. Or 2020. Or 2016.
And Alan Alda made some good points, against Jimmy Smitts. I think the bottom line is, at least in our country, the two party system works, when the the norms are adhered to.
@@elizabethnobody6591
The two party system doesn’t work. They know they’re the only two real options so they continue to put up worse and worse options for us to pick from because they know they don’t have to worry about anyone else. Even the Primaries, were given a bunch of losers and the person they really want in office.
my catholic high school debate teacher, headmaster, religion teacher, and priest gave me a signed photo of Martin Sheen as the President for graduation. he honestly might've been my best friend. we fought like hell over everything. always makes me think of the "do you have a best friend? is he smarter than you? that's your chief of staff" speech Jed gives Sam. he died at 50 a few years ago. rest in peace.
And wouldn't it be great if the West Wing got a reboot with Sam Seaborn as President, fulfilling Bartlett's faith in him.
"... so I'm going to say to the 17 global intellligence agencies listening in that he was kidding just now."
Little bits of humorous banter worked into the dialogue is a big part of what makes this show so awesome.
Love this line
@@segoleneginibre859 18 if you count the another kind of space shuttle.
It amazes me how watching the West Wing always calms me 😊
It makes me sad for a time that never was.
Me too, but it also breaks my heart.
I expect to be watching and re-watching it for the next 4 years to try to save my sanity.
It does calm me, but when I come back to the real world, I am stressed more than before. I am still going to watch it when I need calming. West Wing presents a division between the parties that is bad but not nearly as bad as today.
Easily the best written, acted and well rounded show there ever will be
WoW !!! I thought I was the only one who thought that ;0)
@@hersheyknight6841You thought you were the ONLY one? You think you're unique in your thinking?🤯
I put it alongside MASH.
@@elimb6071It was a positive figure of speech.
@ vastly different shows but yes mash was a great show. Still is.
Please reboot The West Wing, America needs it!
I fear the moment has passed.
Although I would have loved to see Matt Santos for eight years. With Arnie Vinick heading up Foggy Bottom.
Without this cast it would be something else..... but not this good. 💙🇺🇸💙
Barlet's finest hours, even the ones here, are great because he has so many great characters advising him--when Leo tells him to choose restraint because, as Leo says, "It's what fathers taught us"; or when Toby pushes Barlet to be brave in the face of all the pressures and fight to do the right moral thing; when CJ brings him down to earth or encourages him to be better. Or the subtle but powerful performance of a psychiatrist that Adam Arkin gives. I love this show and have seen the entire series many times.
I teared up during the Joe Quincy scene. RIP Matthew Perry.
That boy could act.
Best first entrance of a character EVER! "I am the Lord your God."
Sheen was contracted for only 5-6 episodes in the 22 episode season. [They thought Rob Lowe would be the big star.) When he knocked the pilot scene out of the park, he was moved to top status.
Wow had no idea
@@paige7093yup. It was supposed to be about the back of the White House and not the President. Sheen was so amazing that he became the main man and I am glad they did.
And this excellent writing is far too substantive for Rob Lowe to even think about carrying.
Bartlett is not perfect, has a temper, has doubts (e.g. "feckless thug"); all this makes him and the whole thing so credible and relatable. Loved it the first time, loving the UA-cam algorithm throwing more my way. I guess like many here I wish there were more world leaders with the depth and intelligence given to this character. Brilliiant.
This show hits so many topics that are going on at this very moment. 1999-06 was 25 year ago and yet we are living the themes right here and right now.
I loved this show. Aaron Sorkin is so brilliant and the actors are too.
why cant we live in a world where Jed Barlet is POTUS
I would vote for him. In addition to being a great actor, Martin Sheen is a person who lives his convictions. He is a pacifist (against all war) active in countless nonviolent acts of civil disobedience. He has been arrested 66 times as he stood up against America's aggressive wars and against nuclear power, nuclear weapons testing, our dangerous arms buildup, abuse of farmworkers, Canadian sealclubbing and other causes. He has been asked repeatedly to run for president, but he knows his nonviolence and history of activism would disqualify him
From your lips to GODS ears
Because in real life men like him make no successful careers in politics, where you have to be a rascal to ascend and get elected. It is a job requirement because of the way States work.
You mean a fictional world
I do. 😂
I literally burst out laughing when Tim Matheson said he had “a few experiences in college.” Animal House anyone?
Best tv series ever written!!
"To the 7 different intelligence agencies that are listening; he was kidding!"
LOL. Classic Leo. RIP!
It's a great bit of writing and dialogue delivery when Sheen is telling Tomlin it's a cash poker game and they don't play for matchsticks. She whips out a formidable clip of cash and in the middle of a sentence he changes subject and hits her up for a loan, while his facial features show his shock at what his secretary had in her pocket. That's well done.
The fact that Jed Bartlett was just as fallible, as the rest of us, made him such a compelling leader. His armor was the moral compass that would never break.
So much for making my bedtime tonight! 😆
Saves me digging in to my complete DVD set for a bit. 👍
From @5:00 thru 9:56 is an amazing piece of writing and acting. I was glued to my chair when I saw that air on TV. Sometimes I wish we had THAT president in office.
"sometimes "??????
Michael Douglais said it when Martin was his chief of staff... "This job is all about character".
I felt this show was the one series that reminded people of just how good the entire cast is.
Wish I could watch this moments for the first time again.. Martin sheen. ❤
One of the best damn shows ever made. Illuminating, fascinating; easy to forget this is fiction.
There is NOTHING on television, network or cable, that is like this program.
That is a shame.
There is nothing like this program in Washington either. That's the real shame.
Aaron Sorkin is a genius, and I do not believe I will ever see another political drama as good as this show.
Whenever we watch this show, I always feel a strong urge to stand up as the theme music begins.
It is so apt the Sheen's first line on the show was "I am the Lord your God; thou shalt worship no other god before me". Priceless!
"Find it NOW." Man, if that glare were weaponized, Mary Marsh would be a smudge on the couch.
I have loved this series since it was first on tv. But it breaks my heart now. I want America to be great, we in the world need a measured sane America with sane, measured people in the driving seat. If you don’t blow it in November, then maybe I can watch this series again be greatful that there is good in America and that for once, good triumphed. How would Jed Bartlett had dealt with MTG, Matt Gaetz and the other barking mad individuals that are making America small and ordinary. Step up and be Jed Bartlett.
Looks like Jed Bartlet is going to be my President for another 4 years…time to get the boxed set. Just in case we get down to generators & dvd players. I’ll keep it with the MASH collection. 😅
Babish smashing the tape recorder makes me laugh every time without fail
The score for this series is just ❤
I watched the series on TV and as a birthday gift my wife bought me the complete series on DVD, one of the material things I wish I'd brought with me rather than put it in storage when we were evicted. This lack is made worse when none of the TV companies I can afford have the series available.
I only wish our next president was half as good as this man.
The finest tv drama series ever.
👍👍👍
Jed Bartlett was the president we still imagined was realistic.
Now we shudder at the truth and mourn
Decency, intellect and education, moral strength and moral courage.
Now it's bonespurs and lawsuits to hide his grades to prevent realisations of unteachable stupidity.
"Bartlett for America" "MAGA -Make America Good Again"
the proportional response speech is some of the best writing (and acting) to ever grace a TV screen, bar nothing.
Best show. Best President.
Amazing actors, acting, stories and writing!
How I miss this show.
I recollect the first time I saw This West Wing, as a serial on television with commercial interruption, fabulous...then I borrowed the series from the public library and it was a completely different show... stupendous... the peterman...
Loved the show.
The moment i saw Trumpy running, i knew he wasnt able to do the job and i thought he was a thief. Sadly an terrible understatement.
I don't think I could pick a better actor for Fitzwallace.
watching the day after we all found out he's been gone since August 😞
"He has a better office than I do."
"That matters less to me."
All these years later, 00:25:43 at the end still cracks me up. Just beautifully played. Especially if you know the whole scene.
part 2 is presumably only 1 minute and 2 seconds long
The hour was so fine it wasn’t even an hour
Well said, sir. Well said. @@batters5110
😂 ok, that was funny!
But one hell of a minute!
Lmao
You can so easily see a President Bartlet for real!
As you could expect with political savvy of the US, years ago a survey (forget detail) shows about 20 percent of US believed Bartlett was the actual President
I just noticed that Bartlet starts and ends the series using a cane.
Brilliant series, everyone in it was fantastic 😊
Love Jed Bartlet! 👍🏾
Fitzwallace was a real one.
God, I love West Wing. There’s no denying that it is porn for us liberals. I mean, an intelligent, deliberative and empathetic person in charge; I get tears every time.
Especially when the real president was Clinton when he was at his most contemptible.
I, a Republican, also loved The West Wing, President Bartlet, and Leo McGarry. Aaron Sorkin started out a great writer, even of characters with whom he disagreed.
From the time that this show started until it went off the air I enjoyed EVERY minute of it ! This is without a doubt My favorite tv show of ALL time.Followed by MASH and All in the Family,not necessarily in that order !
"and half of it you don't even get"
Boy was that true
season 1 was something special man
Yes it was!! I was the Sound Mixer for the pilot and 1st season. Not a day went by that we weren't in awe of what we were apart of.
This was when it was rare for A list actors like Sheen to star on weekly TV shows but actors kill for an entrance like Bartlet's on the pilot.
If only we had Jed Bartlett as our President
I could hear General Smith struggling with the Bradley project for a moment . 😅😅😅
Any one comes here on a boat seeking a better life will get shipped back by Double Down Donny
The entire piece is a nocturnal emission from Aaron Sorkin's imagination, reflecting his perception of the whole world.
5:04 “we’re there.” is honestly a chilling sentence.
Leo in front of Congress is such a baller move scenario!
Karl Malden as the priest was powerful 😢
Pretty sure it was his last acting role as well
What's in YOUR wallet? Sorry, every time i hear that name, that's what my brain flashes to.
Small role brilliantly acted
@@xaenon You've possibly watched a kajillion more tv commercials than quality programming. THAT is one ANCIENT commercial!
@@janetkriegl6720 Don't get me wrong, I know who Karl Malden is and I've seen him in a lot - it's just that for some reason, that's what comes to mind.
And of COURSE I've seen more commericals. So have you.
Commercials outnumber the programs they sponsor, and they're flung in your face every 10-15 minutes, the very same ads over and over. If you watch teevee today, you'll see the same ad five or six times per one-hour program. It's pretty much why I don't watch a lot of teevee any more.
Excuse me if someone has already pointed this out.
That one scene where the White House counsel smashes his tape recorder is missing the set up to the joke. Before the President got there, the White House counsel told his assistant that his tape recorder wasn't working. So his assistant gave the counselor her tape recorder and told him to use it until she got his fixed. This is why, when the President shows up and begins to confess that he may have done something wrong, the counsel's first thought was that it might not be a good idea to have this forth coming conversation tape recorded by accident. So he looked over at the tape recorder... and smashed it. LOL
Martin Sheen is of course brilliant in this - as are all the cast. But Matt Perry was really great - I so so wish his character could have stayed.
The mad cow discussion...to tell the people or not...hits a little differently post COVID.
They certainly had fudged that one, Mr.T or not… everyone drown from the inadequacy. There ain't no Churchill or Mother Theresa during that.
It's ridiculous to think that beef wouldn't bounce back. The ag industries would suffer, and maybe some restaurants would close. Once Americans were convinced that the crisis was over, they would go back to eating beef. It would be bad, but not as bad as Bartlett and Leo paint it out to be.
@@bsb1975 Beef is that big of a deal in the US, especially for exports
John, despite this recent revelation that you drank beer in college.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
A Jew, out of respect for his President's religion, lectures his counterparts on the names of the Ten Commandments. Brilliant script writing. Never loved a series more than this one.
The contents of the Ten Commandments. The names, and even the numbers, are different in Judaism and Catholicism (subtly). And in Judaism, they are called The Ten Words.
Only in fiction do we get a President like Jed Bartlet. In reality, we get Donald Trump.
LOVED AND LOVE THIS SHOW!!! PERIOD!! Don't care about their real life politics NOW, but while they were actors in THIS show... THEY ALL ROCKED!
Now THAT ladies and gents is called a President!!!!
Bartlett and Fitz were a great team.
“Josh walking in the door wasn’t even close.”
I never knew that the great Karl Malden was on "The West Wing"!
The Bible he used in the scene was the same one from On the Waterfront!
Fantastic show
53:05 Donna is Fckn gold...and realizes she F'd up 53:40 😂 - The Awesomeness of This Show!
I loved these smart driven, loyal, patriotic characters...and the I watch the incoming CLOWN POSSE, THAT ARE UNPATRIOTIC, UNQUALIFIED, STUPID, DISLOYAL, NEPOBABIES. BASICALLY THE PPPOSITE OF WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD/MUST DEMAND AND DESERVE WITHOUT QUESTION.
Nice compilation but it's too bad you left out the "Okay" that Oliver Babish says right after smashing the dictaphone. It's such a brilliant, understated and perfectly-delivered line!
28:26 what I heard is that 7 bowls of pumpkin soup with cheese gnocchi a chef brioche are going spare.
Funny how Tim Matheson had a wild time in college 😂
Damn we could use a leader like this now.
Remember when we could go to bed not worrying about what a narcissistic madman would say or do while we were sleeping?
Certainly before William Jefferson Clinton was inaugurated.
@@Egilhelmson I was talking about trump. Clinton was a great president.
If only more men had the integrity of Jed Bartlet...
Hardly a finest hour with such self-righteousness on BOTH sides.
There's something to be said for that. Thanks for saying it.
The West Wing wasa terrific show