opening from 1x05, The Crackpots and These Women, with President Bartlet and staffers playing basketball...and the President cheating with a familiar looking ringer
I wish they had like 50 more cold opens like this or the poker game, showing how the President spends his spare time AND that he'll spend it with the staff.
The thing is when Sorkin left the show it became more serious and political but I think the show was going to get there as we moved further into his term. The frustration of not getting stuff done was what brought this change. Plus in reality, presidents don't really have that much free time.
@@HarshManohar Shame that we never got to see Santos and his staff having moments like this. But all we ever got to see was the election and transition time with Santos so no time to have any non serious like this.
@@joec9693 Ages ago, I played on a city league basketball team. We were lousy, but at least we were having fun. In one game, the team decided that 6'2" me was going to guard the 6'10" center on the other team. I din't have much luck until fairly late in the game. He took a shot, but got lazy and shot flat footed. I gave it what little vertical leap I had, and when I blocked the shot, it got all the way back past half-court before they could pick it up. That's why you don't give up.
This scene always makes me laugh because most of the actors on the show are like 5' 6" and the two players acting most competitive (Toby and Bartlett) are by far the most out of shape. I get the feeling Sam, Charlie and Josh are just playing at 30% effort and having a nice relaxing goof off while Toby and Bartlett are killing themselves fighting tooth and nail like it's the NBA finals. 🤣
Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff and Dule Hill are all about 5'10"-5'11" with Martin Sheen about 5'7", but definitely no is over 6'0" in this pickup game. Juwan Howard is 6'9", so he has at least 10" on everyone in this scene.
Just in case some people didn't know, that's Juwan Howard. Member of the unrivalled "Fab Five" one of the greatest college recruiting classes of all time, he also won two NBA championships with the Miami Heat. (One of the Fab Fives biggest rivals was Duke so nice inside joke West Wing writers room).
Tigerman1138 That’s NBA player Juwan Howard. That’s the funny part. Part of the Michigan Fab Five. I believe now an assistant coach for the Miami Heat.
My sister played basketball at CCNY and won CUNY championship her senior year, passed away 8 years ago, west wing my favorite show, everytime I see this scene reminds me of things I love, miss you sissy
Juwan Howard! One of my favorite players. Haha, wonder if they had to pay him extra to say he played for Duke. Guy was one of the Fab Five, which means he HATED Duke.
Just thinking the same thing. I watched this years ago and never connected who it was. It would have been better if when asked who his friends are he said the Fab Five.
@UncleMikeNJ Bartlet didn't go to Duke. He went to Notre Dame. And as he so brilliantly pointed out "I didn't go to law school. I got a PhD in economics, and all the happened is I won a Nobel Prize and got elected President. Should I go get my Nobel Prize?"
I love how this is only episode 5 of the first season (Charlie's 4th episode I think) and they already establish, that Charlie don't run from a challenge and he has the confidence to go up against anyone. Makes me think on him getting through the secret service just to make sure the president is okay while they were on lock down.
I love that by naming Juwan Howard's character, Grant, the writers are tipping their hat to Grant Hill. Grant Hill, who led Duke to a regular season and an NCAA final victory over Michigan's Fab Five including Juwan. Toby's team should have countered by bringing in Christian Laettner as a sub.
Not just you lol. For a guy who worked frequent heart burn burps INTO the character, gotta admit, Bradley Whitford was in pretty good shape at the time 😂
President Bartlett did not cheat it was merely that his interpretation of the rules of the game were at variance with the standard understanding of the spirit and intent of how the game should be played.
I love this scene so much, but I've always been distracted by the music in the background. It sounds like a basic track was filled with random office phones ringing in the background.
+MikeyMike2500 In one of the interviews the guy who played Charlie said that Martin Sheen tought him the handshake he himself learned from Laurence Fishburne while they both played in Apocalypse Now. I think it might be it.
President Bartlet's way of cheating him into the game was the excuse that Mr. Rodney Grant worked for the federal government. Can't really make that argument if it's a pro ball player with no ties to the White House. It's all about the joke and if they made him play himself, the entire scene would be pointless because there would literally be no joke. It'd be "Here's Juwan Howard, a guy you definitely recognize as he's one of the more well-known college players of the 1990s". It's supposed to detail the president's cunningness and ability to skirt around the "rules" just to win, as Toby mentioned in the clip. Having Juwan Howard wouldn't be very cunning. And to top it all off, Duke is a top notch school, so it seems pretty reasonable that a grad of Duke who didn't make it pro, or at least not for long, could be a part of a council for physical fitness. Plus, it makes for a great inside joke knowing Juwan Howard's well-known and understandable dislike for Duke. It was necessary to make a character for him. When it comes to screenwriting, Trust in Sorkin.
I don’t mind that you named Juwan Howard- Grant. I have no problem that you brought in a Washington Wizard to be in your scene. But couldn’t we make him from his actual school- Michigan? I mean what would’ve been the problem? Overall- a fantastic scene.
I love how the president is peeking out from behind.Grant's arm.
Wendy's World yep one of my favorite scenes
Yes, that sheepish look is priceless.
That is the best part!
He's spectacular in this show. At every single moment.
I wish they had like 50 more cold opens like this or the poker game, showing how the President spends his spare time AND that he'll spend it with the staff.
I think the whole point is though that it didn’t happen too often. Hence why they didn’t do this a lot more.
The thing is when Sorkin left the show it became more serious and political but I think the show was going to get there as we moved further into his term. The frustration of not getting stuff done was what brought this change.
Plus in reality, presidents don't really have that much free time.
@@HarshManohar Shame that we never got to see Santos and his staff having moments like this. But all we ever got to see was the election and transition time with Santos so no time to have any non serious like this.
"It was Steffi Graf, you crazy lunatic!"
Lmao 😂
"Charlie guard the new guy". LMBO!!!
Charlie's gonna give it all he's got. Determination.
It's not gonna be enough ...
I like how Charlie actually chests up like he actually is gonna be able to. I like his spirit lol
@@joec9693 Charlie's head doesn't even come up to Juwan's shoulders.
@@joec9693 Ages ago, I played on a city league basketball team. We were lousy, but at least we were having fun.
In one game, the team decided that 6'2" me was going to guard the 6'10" center on the other team. I din't have much luck until fairly late in the game. He took a shot, but got lazy and shot flat footed. I gave it what little vertical leap I had, and when I blocked the shot, it got all the way back past half-court before they could pick it up.
That's why you don't give up.
This scene always makes me laugh because most of the actors on the show are like 5' 6" and the two players acting most competitive (Toby and Bartlett) are by far the most out of shape. I get the feeling Sam, Charlie and Josh are just playing at 30% effort and having a nice relaxing goof off while Toby and Bartlett are killing themselves fighting tooth and nail like it's the NBA finals. 🤣
CJ should have been point guard, she's the tallest member of the main cast.
@@NiceTryLaoChe Hahaha. That would have been AWESOME! 😁 I would LOVE to see CJ dunk on President Bartlett! 🤣
Toby and Bartlett are the OLDEST people on the court, and they're the ones jawjacking and trash talking at each other like teenagers.
Everyone in this scene except for Sheen and the player are 5’11….
Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff and Dule Hill are all about 5'10"-5'11" with Martin Sheen about 5'7", but definitely no is over 6'0" in this pickup game. Juwan Howard is 6'9", so he has at least 10" on everyone in this scene.
"You think I'm not gonna recognize Steffi Graf when she's serving a tennis ball *at* me?" 😂
Just in case some people didn't know, that's Juwan Howard. Member of the unrivalled "Fab Five" one of the greatest college recruiting classes of all time, he also won two NBA championships with the Miami Heat. (One of the Fab Fives biggest rivals was Duke so nice inside joke West Wing writers room).
Love how Charlie gets in his face...or tries to. LOL
That made the scene.
kamwrites Well, he did get in his chest...
+kamwrites Got under his face, yep.
kamwrites yeah I legit lol’d at that... Charlie was the body man for real this day.
"It was Steffi Graf you lunatic!!" Oh I love how the president surprises his friends!!
Little organized ball...at Duke.
I miss this show.
Tigerman1138 That’s NBA player Juwan Howard. That’s the funny part. Part of the Michigan Fab Five. I believe now an assistant coach for the Miami Heat.
@@therealneal3034 He's actually the Head basketball coach at the University of Michigan now
@@therealneal3034 And now he's the head coach at Michigan.
A masterpiece
Charlie’s D up with confidence and attitude at the very end is priceless
My sister played basketball at CCNY and won CUNY championship her senior year, passed away 8 years ago, west wing my favorite show, everytime I see this scene reminds me of things I love, miss you sissy
RIP to her
That's a precious story. CCNY also won the men's NCAA title in 1950. Can't be a throw-away to have Toby wearing that jersey.
"Let the poets write about that there, Byron!"
IT WAS STEFFI GRAF, SIR!
Well, I will admit that the woman bore a striking resemblance ...
Do you think I'm not going recognize Steffi Graff when she is serving a tennis ball at me? :)
I came here for this comment alone
It's wonderful scenes like this that made this show down in history as one of the best TV shows ever.
Juwan Howard! One of my favorite players. Haha, wonder if they had to pay him extra to say he played for Duke. Guy was one of the Fab Five, which means he HATED Duke.
Christian P Schneider LOL, exactly.
Just thinking the same thing. I watched this years ago and never connected who it was. It would have been better if when asked who his friends are he said the Fab Five.
Noy sure why they didn't just have him play himself. Isn't this about the time when Juwan Howard was playing for the Washington Wiards?
Christian P Schneider yes! I was like this dude looks a lot like Coach Howard
@UncleMikeNJ Bartlet didn't go to Duke. He went to Notre Dame. And as he so brilliantly pointed out "I didn't go to law school. I got a PhD in economics, and all the happened is I won a Nobel Prize and got elected President. Should I go get my Nobel Prize?"
I've always wondered how much it hurt Juwan to say that he went to Duke.
Aaron Sorkin is a GENIUS! The best writter, and the best show ever!
I Love how Bartlet is peaking out from behind the new guy!
I just forget how much I loved this show. Gotto rewatch it.
Toby may be smarter. But the president always got an ace up his sleeve.
I love how this is only episode 5 of the first season (Charlie's 4th episode I think) and they already establish, that Charlie don't run from a challenge and he has the confidence to go up against anyone. Makes me think on him getting through the secret service just to make sure the president is okay while they were on lock down.
I would've loved to have seen that mixed doubles match haha.
I love that by naming Juwan Howard's character, Grant, the writers are tipping their hat to Grant Hill. Grant Hill, who led Duke to a regular season and an NCAA final victory over Michigan's Fab Five including Juwan. Toby's team should have countered by bringing in Christian Laettner as a sub.
"THIS GUY WAS IN THE FINAL FOUR!!!
Oh yeah that reminds me I gotta get my bracket finished
This opening scene gave me chills. It's cool, funny and smart. Just like the characters.
I loved this show. Sorkin should do one more like that.
Mike Gill he did. He wrote many episodes for the News Room.
Watch the Trial of the Chicago 7. That was pure Sorkin magic.
This never stops being funny.
It's a variation on the walk-and-talk, the hoops-and-talk.
It was this scene from the first season that made me fall in love with The West Wing❤️
1:55 that's the cutest thing I've seen today....
How much must it have hurt Jawan Howard to say that he went to Duke
He did struggle saying it
Should have said Georgetown!!
I like the CCNY on Toby’s outfit, proud of his school.
CCNY!!! The poor man's Columbia!!! Damn good, and free school back in the day.
He(Richard Schiff) went to school there
1:54 killed me. Bartlet aint got time fo dat.
+shihoblade That's honestly one of the weirdest shots of Martin Sheen in this entire series :)
Grant looking at Charlie, "How's the weather down there, Shorty?"
Is it me or are Josh's arms really toned
Not just you lol. For a guy who worked frequent heart burn burps INTO the character, gotta admit, Bradley Whitford was in pretty good shape at the time 😂
Just you.
He was in fabulous shape -- czcams.com/video/1Sumy-BHynU/video.html
Charlie at the end stepping up to Grant like “I got this!”
President Bartlett did not cheat it was merely that his interpretation of the rules of the game were at variance with the standard understanding of the spirit and intent of how the game should be played.
IT WAS STEFFI GRAFF, SIR.
Mr Humphrey wouldnt express it better
Riiight 😂😂😂😂
Dude, you should be a politician. Perfect doublespeak.
@flyboy 152 I know, right? I almost fell for it! 😆
You wanna play or write my eulogy?
Can I be honest sir?
To me, the best tv show ever.
For a whole lot of people as well.
Ok lets take a moment to realize that josh is fit af..
Charlie just mean muggin that guy hard.
Have the entire series on dvd watched twice. Not going to lie want to watch it a 3rd time
I played a little organized ball at duke this guy was in the final four
I love this scene so much, but I've always been distracted by the music in the background. It sounds like a basic track was filled with random office phones ringing in the background.
Imagine playing basketball, and then having to stop to have a conversation...like every other scene in this show.
Charlie just steps to him like, "i dont care who you are," lol
Toby wearing my alma mater’s sweatshirt 👍🏽
Imagine just playing some 3 on 3 with the president of the United States.
1:00
Presidential Handshake
+MikeyMike2500 In one of the interviews the guy who played Charlie said that Martin Sheen tought him the handshake he himself learned from Laurence Fishburne while they both played in Apocalypse Now. I think it might be it.
MikeyMike2500 that would be Dule Hill. And yes, Martin Sheen did learn the handshake from Lawrence Fishburn
I don't think Donald owns a sweatshirt.
Because he bought his way through school. He’s dumb as a lump of shit.
"And she DID!"
02:18
"You got it!"
You *don't* got it.
Charlie, guard the new guy.
Too Funny!
"Charlie, guard the new guy!""
Toby talks a lot of trash for a guy with a bad dribble haha
+johnmamariI you only have to be better than the other guy
Juwan Howard saying he played at Duke is beyond hilarious considering he's part of the Fab Five of Michigan and they HATED Duke lol.
1:16 can’t believe Toby of all people said Me and CJ😮
Martin and Charlie Sheen really played basketball together with Michael Jordan ...
"It was Steffi Graf" 😂
Is Toby even allowed to call POTUS a crazy lunatic? LOL
YOU GOT IT!... ohh
"Toby your the superior athlete" and slink off the court
Charlie, guard the new guy. Yeah..cuz fuckin string bean Charlie is gunna have a better shot lmao.
When President Obama got elected (knowing that he played basketball for Occidental University) this scene just kept running through my mind.
Best show ever..
Bartlet for President 2024!
Now Juwan Howard is Michigan basketball coach
University of Michigan Basketball Head Coach!
Go Blue 🔵
Only someone who isn’t really into tennis would refer to Grand Slams as championships
The Championships, Wimbledon.
They could have at least written that “Grant” went to Michigan.
I hadn't really noticed this before, but if toby had just played the game instead of monologued mr. Grant wouldn't have come in.
Assuming they won that game point
Oh Toby-just!
You wanna play or write my eulogy
That was Juwan Howard from the Fab Five of Michigan, why not just have him play himself instead of making up a fake person of Rodney Grant?
President Bartlet's way of cheating him into the game was the excuse that Mr. Rodney Grant worked for the federal government. Can't really make that argument if it's a pro ball player with no ties to the White House. It's all about the joke and if they made him play himself, the entire scene would be pointless because there would literally be no joke. It'd be "Here's Juwan Howard, a guy you definitely recognize as he's one of the more well-known college players of the 1990s". It's supposed to detail the president's cunningness and ability to skirt around the "rules" just to win, as Toby mentioned in the clip. Having Juwan Howard wouldn't be very cunning. And to top it all off, Duke is a top notch school, so it seems pretty reasonable that a grad of Duke who didn't make it pro, or at least not for long, could be a part of a council for physical fitness. Plus, it makes for a great inside joke knowing Juwan Howard's well-known and understandable dislike for Duke. It was necessary to make a character for him. When it comes to screenwriting, Trust in Sorkin.
Juwan Howard was still active at the time, too.
more likely licensing issue w/ NCAA
Truly cruel to make Juwan Howard say that he played for Duke
Bartlett's homie handshake at 1:00. You're welcome
I don’t mind that you named Juwan Howard- Grant. I have no problem that you brought in a Washington Wizard to be in your scene. But couldn’t we make him from his actual school- Michigan? I mean what would’ve been the problem? Overall- a fantastic scene.
Playing doubles partner with Steffi was too unfair
Duke? Well I guess it's better than saying Ohio State.
Or Sparty.
Shit. If this show was on today and they played football, Bartlet would bring in that cheating rat Tom Brady.
Rudy Juarez well Bartlet is from New England...
Michigan graduate Tom Brady? No way, he'd bring in Joe Montana or something.
Montana can't play anymore without blowing out his knees again.
Additionally, something tells me Trump supporter Tom Brady would have a difficult time loving someone like President Bartlet
Only if he played for Norte Dame
😆😆😆😆😆