Product Description West Wing: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD)Experience the inner workings of the White House in this innovative, multi-award-winning drama series created by Emmy® winner Aaron Sorkin (Sports Night). Martin Sheen, as President Bartlet, continues to leads an acclaimed ensemble cast.Entering its fifth season with a total of 24 Emmys®, The West Wing begins as the President -- and the nation -- faces the traumatic kidnapping of his youngest daughter, and that it may be the result of his controversial political actions. As the President steps down temporarily, handing executive powers to the Speaker of the House (John Goodman), the White House is overrun with rivals. This season features the 100th episode, written by acclaimed novelist John Sacret Young; a killer tornado in Oklahoma; and a visit to the Gaza Strip. Notable recurring guest stars this season include Timothy Busfield, Lily Tomlin, Mary-Louise Parker, Matthew Perry, Marlee Matlin, Mary McCormack, Jesse Bradford, William Devane, Annabeth Gish and Anna Deveare Smith.]]> .com Two administrative changes rocked The West Wing's fifth season. Offscreen, the ship of state steered a tad off-course with the departure of series creator Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schalmme. Onscreen, President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) relinquished the power of his office to Speaker of the House Glenallen Walken (John Goodman) in the wake of his daughter's kidnapping. In the season opener, "7a WF 83429," Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) wonders if this wasn't a mistake. What if the citizenry prefer Walken to Bartlet, he ponders. What if Walken comes off more presidential? Is he kidding? Sheen's Bartlet is the president of Hollywood's dreams, and the stuff of Rush Limbaugh's nightmares. (In a character profile included as one of the bonus features on this six-disc set, Bartlet is described as an amalgam of John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton!). Not to worry, though, Bartlet is back in the Oval Office by the end of the season's second episode, "The Dogs of War." The next order of business: choosing a vice president to replace the disgraced John Hoynes. Enter Gary Cole as "Bongo Bob" Russell, who, as the season unfolds, will confound misperceptions of him. Hoynes himself (Tim Matheson) returns in "Full Disclosure," in which the former vice president dishes dirt on Bartlet and chief of staff Leo McGrarry (the late John Spencer) in advance of a tell-all book. Formidable and usually unflappable press secretary C. J. has an intensely personal reason to spearhead damage control and thwart Hoynes' publishing plans. Allison Janney, as C. J. earned The West Wing's sole Emmy this season. One of her showcase hours is "Access," a format-breaking episode presented as a Frontline-type "day-in-the-life" documentary. Other memorable episodes that helped to right The West Wing's course include "The Supremes," featuring Glenn Close as a Supreme Court nominee; the battle-of-wills episode, "Shutdown"; "Gaza," in which Donna (Janel Moloney) is severely wounded during a fact-finding mission to the Middle East; and "Memorial Day," a flashback episode that echoes "Bartlet for America" from season 3, and which ends the season on a strong note, and almost make viewers forget the Sesame Street Muppet cameos in the episode, "Eppu Si Muove." Almost. --Donald Liebenson
P**R
Excellent Series
Never got the chance to watch when it was on TV. Decided to order it as I enjoy other White House shows. Decided to spring for the $30 per season. Expensive but worth it. The characters are loveable, the dialogue is smart and witty, the plot lines are varied and interesting.
J**E
Very good show
Calm program to sleep with.
J**.
Worth every penny.
Many hours of topflight entertainment.
K**T
Better than expected
I am always leary when buying used dvd's but I am pleasantly surprised! Used condition was like new! No skips or scratches and they played perfectly! I would definitely recommend and will buy from this seller again.
S**S
Five Seasons and going Strong
This show should be required viewing for all Americans, whether Democrat or Republican, elephant or ass, this is the story and script of the American political experience. Not since Mash has there been a better vehicle for the small screen to make such a poignant use of the video airwaves, raising the bar for both sides, giving us a long look at what our government is supposed to be, and how it is supposed to be run. Caring, honest, intelligent people governing for the basic good of the whole population.As a writer want-to-be, I am amazed at the accuracy and overall knowledge that went in to the script-writing. Bringing real life storylines right from the front page headlines to our television sets, as if we were a "fly-on-the-wall" in the Oval Office. Not covering up and hiding, but facing "head-on" the scandals that have corrupted and brought down countless Presidencies and high level politicos. In a time when our country is in peril of darkness and our government can't come together to agree on turning on the lights, we have been given an owners manual, "American Government For Dummies" a/k/a "The West Wing" seasons I to VII. These actors, playing their roles with a sincerity and believability that would make you write in their names on a ballot and vote for them in real life, deliver the government back to the American People, where it belongs. If our real Politicians were as caring and as honest as these characters have been written to be, there would be no close elections. To borrow a line from an earlier West Wing episode,"The people are fed up with having to vote for the candidate that they dislike the least".Once upon a time, being a politician was a "Call to Duty", much the same as joining the military or becoming a teacher. You wern't in it for the money or the fame. You put in long hours and scrificed time with friends and family for very low pay, you were doing your duty to God and Country for your fellow Countrymen. The West Wing Series reiterates that "Call To Duty", as the actors demonstrate the long hours and lack of personal time, in the day to day running of our country.I urge you to buy and watch the entire 7 seasons in order, the knowledge and entertainment are without compare.
Q**7
Still great, but...
I've long admired the work of producer John Wells, and in the fifth season of The West Wing, Wells takes over from creator/producer/writer Aaron Sorkin... and as usual for Well's work, things get intense. Something about Wells makes me think he's got a dark side: every show he takes over takes a dark turn, and West Wing was no exception.The work remains great, the stories grow more intense, with darker, more negative slanting undertones, but the work is great. Actors often love such things - awards often follow suit - but it can be a little... to intense sometimes.The fifth season of The West Wing we resolve the Zoe situation, but not before the other party leaves it's juju all over things, staff infighting grows, there is a presidential death, the assassination is still a hot topic, and the world seems at the brink... but it also produced one of their best episodes, a personal favorite, and a look at the possibilities of what COULD BE... if we ever dared to try again: The Supremes allows Bartlett to place not one, but 2 justices to the bench.Season five reminds me of what intelligent, thoughtful writing is all about; albeit a bit dark and depressing.Oh, and did I mention another season of amazing acting work, and direction.
D**R
Excellent product.
Excellent item, support and service :)!!!
D**N
Liked it
Liked it
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