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The West Wing - The Complete Fourth Season

starring: Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford
directed by: Thomas Schlamme, Chris Misiano

: The West Wing - The Complete Fourth Season
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List Price: $59.98
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Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 9780790787503
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0790787504
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 6
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: April 05, 2005
Running Time: 1000 minutes
Sales Rank: 3061
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 2002-09



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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
Follow the re-election of President Bartlet to his second term and witness the gripping personal crisis that forces him to chose between the best interests of the country and those of his family. Compelling and clever storylines reveal the inner workings of the White House in this innovative multiple Emmy-Award-winning drama series from producers John Wells ('ER' 'China Beach') Aaron Sorkin ('Sports Night') and Thomas Schlamme ('Sports Night'). The West Wing's fourth season received 15 Emmy nominations and 2 wins including Best Drama Series and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 085393162320

Amazon.com:
The winning streak for this veritable show continues through its fourth year. As with many long-running series, The West Wing faces the inevitable--a cast member chooses to leave. But this show handles Rob Lowe's exit with such well-executed grace, a could-be-harmful experience (or at least sudden) is turned into an asset. The season begins with three staff members marooned in the heartland (played mostly for laughs) and ends with a dramatic cliffhanger even more powerful than the initial season's shooting. In between are 20 excellent episodes packed with the series' trademark wit and pace, and an uncannily ability to create excellent moments for the entire cast. The election nears and West Wingers brace for the final onslaught including a make-or-break debate. There's a horrible genocide in Africa changing the course of the Bartlett administration and a covert assassination with effects lingering throughout the season. There's also the now-annual flashback episode, this time to the first days at the White House (with another comforting appearance by Kathryn Joosten as Mrs. Landingham). The series also has its first episode set mostly outside the West Wing when C.J. (Alison Janney) goes back to Ohio for a high school reunion and visits her father (Donald Moffat) who is starting to feel the effects of Alzheimer's.

Lowe's Sam Seaborn picks a new fate at the spur of the moment and is eventually replaced by the very person whose verve he was swept up by--a harried, vastly intelligent campaign manager, Will Bailey (Josh Malina, best known for his work in creator Aaron Sorkin's previous show, Sports Night). He's an excellent fit for the West Wing, both fictionally and for the series. Part of the show's success belongs to the continuity, helped immensely by high-caliber guest stars continuing long runs on the show, including Mary-Louise Parker, John Amos, Marlee Matlin, Tim Matheson, Timothy Busfield, Lily Tomlin, Anna Deavere Smith, and Ron Silver (hey, that's a pretty good cast for their own show). One-time guest stars are also used to the fullest. Notice how a single-episoe appearance by Christian Slater (as a naval attaché who strikes Donna's fancy) turns into a three-episode arc. Matthew Perry delivers an Emmy-nominated performance in a key role in the season's final arc. This fourth season was capped by the departure of creator-writer Sorkin and producer-director Thomas Schlamme, plus another Emmy win for Best Drama, its fourth straight. Many were surprised or even angered that the series kept up the winning streak. Perhaps the series was not as relevant to the times as four years earlier, but the proof is in the pudding--the series was still in rarefied air by the end of this season.

Luckily, Sorkin and Schlamme were invited to air the commentaries for the DVDs, here on three episodes. It allows them to talk about their departure, a subject barely mentioned in the two making-of featurettes. One deals with speechwriters and other with Stockard Channing's role on the show. Note: the documentaries and deleted scenes are hard to find. Look for the pointer (>) at the bottom right of the special features menu of the sixth disc. --Doug Thomas



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - IT'S ONLY ME, BUT:
CONTINUES TO BE A GREAT SHOW, BUT TOO MUCH NEGATIVE ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF MS AND THE PRESIDENCY. JM


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - West Wing
This is a fantastic, intellectually stimulating series. A good buy! Delivery was prompt and on time.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Excellent Television
Four seasons in and I haven't been disappointed yet. I bought the 1st season for my girlfriend who is ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - West Wing is amazing
There never has, and never will be, another show quite like West Wing. I will dearly miss this show.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - WW Comments
Season 4 was the last year of sharp, incisive writing and dialogue. It also was the last year of Rob ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.