17 People

Last updated
"17 People"
The West Wing episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 18
Directed by Alex Graves
Written by Aaron Sorkin
Production code226218
Original air dateApril 4, 2001 (2001-04-04)
Guest appearances
  • Emily Procter as Ainsley Hayes
  • William James Smith as Larry
  • Peter Duffy as Ed
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Stackhouse Filibuster"		Next →
"Bad Moon Rising"
The West Wing season 2
List of episodes

"17 People" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of American serial political drama The West Wing . The episode aired on April 4, 2001 on NBC. The episode depicts Josiah Bartlet, the President of the United States, informing his aide Toby Ziegler of startling news about the President's condition, as well as other members of the cast trying to rewrite a humorous speech the President is to give. The episode was generally praised for its intensity, as well as its complexity and stark contrast between plotlines.

Contents

Plot

In the previous episode, entitled "The Stackhouse Filibuster", the group learns that Vice President John Hoynes ran an opinion poll on his own favourability after publicly denouncing oil companies, which he had previously been known for being close with. In the beginning of "17 People", Toby is shown to be confused by these actions, spending late nights in his office pondering the question while tossing a pink rubber ball at his office wall. Toby eventually comes to the conclusion that Hoynes thinks that President Bartlet is not going to run for re-election, which is true—Bartlet had made a deal with his wife Abbey, restricting him to one term due to his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis that they had kept from the public. Leo McGarry and the President resolve to inform Toby of Bartlet's illness. When Toby is informed, the conversation devolves into a fight in the Oval Office, where Toby excoriates the President for concealing his illness and making irresponsible decisions because of it.

Toby highlights an example from a previous episode, "He Shall, from Time to Time..."—a few nights before the President was to give his State of the Union address, he had an "attack" that rendered him unconscious while several national security crises were playing out, causing confusion and a lack of clarity in the chain of command. "For ninety minutes that night, there was a coup d'état in this country", concludes Toby. The President responds equally angrily, accusing Toby of arguing in bad faith and only being angry because there were fifteen other people who knew about the President's diagnosis first—his wife, his brother, his three daughters, the six doctors and radiologists who were involved in the initial diagnosis, Leo McGarry, the Vice President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the anesthesiologist at George Washington University Hospital who helped operate on the President after he was shot in "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen". Bartlet argues that he had a right to keep his illness private, to which Toby responds that the voters have a right to make an informed decision when electing their leader. Bartlet apologizes to Toby, remarking "I don't know, it may have been unbelievably stupid".

Meanwhile, Sam Seaborn, Josh Lyman, Donna Moss, and Ainsley Hayes, as well as Ed and Larry, attempt to rewrite a draft of the President's speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner when they learn that the lower-level speechwriters, as Josh put it, "forgot to bring the funny". The characters attempt to write better jokes, but stall out as well. In the midst of this, Sam and Ainsley debate the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA, after he learns that she is going to Smith College to participate in a panel on the amendment. The two address a number of topics, but Ainsley wins the debate when she argues that she does not need a constitutional amendment to declare her equal to a man, saying that "I am mortified to discover there's reason to believe that I wasn't before". After Ainsley makes her exit to find food, Sam comments that he "could've responded", but that he'd "already moved on to other things".

Meanwhile, Josh and Donna argue after he buys her a bouquet of flowers, as Donna interprets the flowers as passive aggressive. Josh explains that it was their "anniversary", as Donna began working for him in April. Donna replies that she began working for him in February, but Josh counters that she left him after beginning work in February to go back to her boyfriend, who had dumped her, and only returned in April after the two broke up again. The two spar until Donna reveals that she had broken up with her boyfriend the second time, and not the other way around, because when Donna had gotten into a car accident, the boyfriend stopped on his way to the hospital to meet some friends for a beer. Josh comments that "if you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for a beer", to which Donna responds "if you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for red lights". The episode ends with Toby finally joining the others to work on the speech, but he is brooding and distracted due to what he has learned.

Cast

Reaction

Reception for the episode was generally positive. Steve Heisler, writing for The A.V. Club , gave the episode a grade of "A−" below the text of his review and a "B" in the sidebar of the article, commenting that the show highlights how The West Wing is "about people who love each other but have issues with one another, and the drama is heightened because it's POTUS." [1] Heisler weighs in on the argument between Bartlet and Toby, commenting that while he is split between the two sides, he agrees more with Toby and argues that being President entails surrendering some privacy to the voters. Heisler then points out the contrast between the Bartlet/Toby storyline and the other subplot. He comments that when the plots intertwine with Toby walking into the Roosevelt room, where the other members of the group are testing jokes on him, while his mind is on the news he has just learned, it "broke my heart". [1] The article ended by criticizing Josh and Donna's storyline in the episode, with Heisler quipping that "I thought Sorkin learned his lesson." [1]

The Ringer included the episode on its list of the 20 best bottle episodes in television history, ranking the episode at seventh. The article complimented the range of the episode, writing that "the episode runs the gamut in terms of tone and stakes." [2] The Ringer called the script's lines from Aaron Sorkin "classic", and ended the article by commenting that the episode "captures the complexities of the bonds between exhausted, impassioned, and stressed-out characters who more or less live at the office." [2]

The Guardian included the episode in its list of the ten best episodes of The West Wing, commenting that episode was "unbearably tense" and noting its focus. [3]

One "superfan" of The West Wing, named Jon White, made a website at "seventeenpeople.com" laying out the plot and intricacies of the episode, and how the various plotlines intertwine. [4] The Guardian, in a separate article, noted the site's quality illustrations and depth of analysis. When asked why White chose to illustrate "17 People", instead of a more popular episode such as "Two Cathedrals", White explained that one could essentially capture the feel of the episode by reading the script, whereas "Two Cathedrals" could only be enjoyed by watching the episode. [4] [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>The West Wing</i> American political drama television series (1999–2006)

The West Wing is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 14, 2006. The series is set primarily in the West Wing of the White House, where the Oval Office and offices of presidential senior personnel are located, during the fictitious Democratic administration of President Josiah Bartlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jed Bartlet</span> Fictional character

Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character from the American television serial drama The West Wing created by Aaron Sorkin and portrayed by actor Martin Sheen. The role earned Sheen a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2001, as well as two SAG Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo McGarry</span> American TV character, created 1999

Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character of the NBC political drama series The West Wing, portrayed by American actor John Spencer.

Samuel Norman Seaborn is a fictional character played by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. From the beginning of the series in 1999 until the middle of the fourth season in 2003, he is deputy White House Communications Director in the administration of President Josiah Bartlet played by Martin Sheen. The character departed from subsequent seasons after Lowe decided to leave the series, although he returned for several episodes in the final season when he became Deputy Chief of Staff to the new president portrayed by Jimmy Smits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Lyman</span> American TV character, created 1999

Joshua Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama series The West Wing. The role earned Whitford the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2001. For most of the series, he is White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Political Advisor in the Josiah Bartlet administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Gardner</span> American television character, created 2001

Amelia Gardner is a fictional character portrayed by Mary-Louise Parker on The West Wing, an American serial political drama. Created in the show's third season after a voicemail from Parker to the show's creator, Amy serves as both a feminist viewpoint on the show and a love interest for Josh Lyman. While critics generally approved of her feminist ideals, they were split on whether her romance with Josh was better or worse than his relationship with his former assistant, Donna Moss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ainsley Hayes</span> American television character, created 2000

Ainsley Hayes is a fictional character played by Emily Procter on The West Wing, an American serial political drama. Primarily appearing in the second and third seasons for a total of twelve episodes, Ainsley served as the Associate White House Counsel under the show's president, Josiah Bartlet. Reception for Ainsley has ranged from mixed to positive; she is characterized as smart and flirtatious, but also vulnerable to sexism from other characters and the show's writing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Excelsis Deo</span> 10th episode of the 1st season of The West Wing

"In Excelsis Deo" is the tenth episode of the first season of The West Wing. It originally aired on NBC on December 15, 1999, as the show's Christmas special. Events circle around Toby Ziegler getting involved in the fate of a dead Korean War veteran, reactions to a severe hate crime, and the ongoing controversy surrounding Leo's past alcohol and prescription drug abuse. Written by Aaron Sorkin and Rick Cleveland and directed by Alex Graves, the episode contains guest appearances by Paul Austin and Raynor Scheine. It earned Sorkin and Cleveland the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, as well as one for Richard Schiff.

"Celestial Navigation" is the fifteenth episode of the first season of the American serial political drama The West Wing. The episode aired on February 16, 2000 on NBC. The episode depicts Josh Lyman narrating a story from the past few days to a collegiate audience, as well as the President's nominee to the Supreme Court being arrested for drunk driving. The episode was widely regarded as lighter and more humorous than other episodes of The West Wing.

"Ways and Means" is the 47th The West Wing episode and 3rd of the third season. It originally aired on NBC on October 24, 2001. The episode sees the beginnings of President Bartlet's Congressional hearings, as well as negotiations over the estate tax. Written by Aaron Sorkin, Eli Attie and Gene Sperling, and directed by Alex Graves, the episode contains the first appearances by Mark Feuerstein as Clifford "Cliff" Calley. There are also guest appearances by Thom Barry, Nicholas Pryor and Miguel Sandoval.

"Bartlet for America" is the tenth episode of the third season of American serial political drama The West Wing. The episode aired on December 12, 2001 on NBC. The episode features Leo McGarry, the White House Chief of Staff, testifying before a congressional committee after it is revealed that the administration has been covering up the President's multiple sclerosis. Reception of the episode was mostly positive, and the slogan of "Bartlet for America" has been reprised in popular culture and real-life American politics.

"Hartsfield's Landing" is the fifteenth episode of the third season of The West Wing, an American serial political drama. The episode aired on February 27, 2002, on NBC. The episode takes its title from the fictional bellwether town that is central to the episode, which is holding an election that Josh Lyman wants to win for the president. "Hartsfield's Landing" also includes Toby Ziegler and Sam Seaborn playing chess matches against President Jed Bartlet, and C. J. Cregg involving herself in a prank war against Charlie Young. Allison Janney, who portrayed C. J., described the episode as one of her favorites. In 2020, the episode was reprised by the original cast in A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20 Hours in America</span> 1st and 2nd episodes of the 4th season of The West Wing

"20 Hours in America" is the two-part fourth season premiere of The West Wing. The episode aired on September 25, 2002 on NBC. In the episodes, President Josiah Bartlet deals with multiple crises, including a cover-up of the assassination of a foreign dignitary, while Josh Lyman, Toby Ziegler, and Donna Moss attempt to return to the White House after they are accidentally left behind in Indiana.

"Game On" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of The West Wing. The episode aired on October 30, 2002, on NBC. The episode features Josiah Bartlet, the President of the United States, debating against his opponent in the upcoming presidential election, as well as Sam Seaborn meeting the new character of Will Bailey and Leo McGarry attempting to stop the shipment of arms to a terrorist group. Reception for the episode was mixed, with differing viewpoints on how the show portrayed the dueling ideologies of liberalism and conservatism in the United States.

"The Supremes" is the seventeenth episode of the fifth season of American serial political drama television series The West Wing. It originally aired on NBC on March 24, 2004. In "The Supremes", the White House senior staff, under Democratic President Josiah Bartlet, looks to nominate a judge to the Supreme Court of the United States when Josh comes up with a plan to, instead of nominating a centrist to the seat, nominate one liberal and one conservative candidate to two seats on the Court. The episode was met with mixed reception, although it was later noted the show bore similarities to the 2016 death and replacement of real-life Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

<i>The West Wing</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 17, 2000, and consisted of 22 episodes.

<i>The West Wing</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from October 4, 2000 to May 16, 2001 and consisted of 22 episodes.

<i>The West Wing</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from September 25, 2002 to May 14, 2003 and consisted of 23 episodes.

"A Proportional Response" is the third episode of the first season of The West Wing, an American serial television drama. The episode aired on October 6, 1999 on NBC. The episode centers around the continuation of a storyline introduced in the previous episode, in which a plane carrying a new friend of President Bartlet was attacked by the Syrian government. The episode also sees the introduction of Dulé Hill as Charlie Young, and an argument between C. J. Cregg and Sam Seaborn over Sam's decision to befriend a call girl.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Heisler, Steve (August 9, 2010). "The West Wing: "The Stackhouse Filibuster"/"17 People"". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "The 20 Best Bottle Episodes, Ranked". The Ringer . September 2, 2020. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  3. ↑ Heritage, Stuart (October 21, 2020). "Vote Bartlet: The 10 best episodes of The West Wing". The Guardian . Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  4. 1 2 McCann, Erin (May 23, 2014). "The ultimate TV recap: a superfan's tribute to The West Wing". The Guardian . Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.