USATODAY.com - Once-powerful 'West Wing' falls from grace
OK, it wasn't dreadful, but I didn't need any Kleenex to watch that overemoted tripe, either. I'm talking, of course, about tonight's season premiere of The West Wing .
Nothing happened. Really. John Goodman brought a dog into the Oval Office and it yipped and yapped and got hair on CJ's skirt. Bartlet's kids showed up, and Charlie showed his loyalty. And, finally, the world knows the truth about Qumar and the killing that ol' Jed approved in the finale of season three--16 months ago!
The show leaves all the cliffhanger elements from the finale for season four in place. Will Zoey be found alive? (Of course she will.) Will Walken (Goodman) take control of the government and shut out the Democrats, as Josh fears? (Doubtful, since Martin Sheen and the rest are under contract.) Will Donna ever acknowledge her feelings for Josh? (I'm betting Wells bails on this hint planted in the finale, when Amy asked Donna if she's in love with Josh--though Wells is known for turning shows into soap operas, so he could create a protracted Amy vs. Donna plot.)
At least the preview for next week appears to foretell actual plot advancement. Nevertheless, this episode marks a low point for me. Toby actually said that if they close the stock market, "the terrorists will have won." Remember that cliche?
By the way, didn't the show used to have a two-hour premiere? Perhaps that would have allowed the advancement viewers deserve after a summer of waiting. Tomorrow: did Will sleep with Jack? How many episodes until Joey and Rachel break up and she begins her steady progress toward her destiny with Ross? Could I be any more obsessed with television lately? And finally, will I ace my interview and get a job?
48 hours to St. Louis!
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