What's Next?: S2e18- 17 People (They forgot the funny.)

Ah, "17 People."

The composer Igor Stravinsky felt strongly that the greatest creativity could be found by establishing very strict parameters to work in; that the limiting of options emboldened the mind to explore new options. "17 People" features the most limited cast in the series: only Emily Proctor (Ainsley Hayes), William Duffy (Larry or Ed) and Peter James Smith (Ed or Larry) serve as co-stars. This episode is the only one that Allison Janney isn't in (she had to fly to London to reshoot scenes for "The Hours), and the show is shot entirely on already built sets. Warner Brothers asked Sorkin to shoot a no frills (inexpensive) episode- and the result is one of the best episodes in the series.

Toby's Pink Rubber Ball plays a major role (I told you it was important), because Toby can't figure something out, and when Toby can't figure something out, he bounces his Notorious PRB.

And so, Toby thinks a little, bounces a little, asks Leo a few questions, and repeats. For 6 nights and 23 minutes- until he figures it out.

Why did John Hoynes admonish the Oil Industry? Why did he put a poll in the field? Why is he taking a break from a camping trip to give a speech in New Hampshire?

Why does John Hoynes think President Bartlet won't run for reelection?

All this leads to Toby becoming the first member of the Senior Staff to learn that the President has Multiple Sclerosis.

As you're watching to this episode, the PRB becomes the soundtrack of impending doom- it's brought back when Toby asks Leo what's going on before the theme song rolls, and closes the episode right before the credits start to roll.

Of course, Toby doesn't take any of this well. Shock, disbelief, anger, confusion; and the conflict that always simmers between the President and Toby- a natural conflict of character and personality, boils over and leads to the President throwing papers of his desk with such violence that this was as close as I could get to capturing a photo of it:

So, I wouldn't say that the conversation goes extremely well, except that after telling Toby that he's not going to apologize for not telling him about the MS, he apologizes to Toby.

So, what plotlines are steamrolled by this confrontation between Bartlet, Toby and the truth?

Josh bought Donna flowers to be a jerk, but it turns out the real jerk was Donna's ex-boyfriend, who stopped for a beer before picking her up from the hospital after getting into a car accident. Josh/Donna fans exalt in the following line of dialogue:

JOSH- I’m just sayin’ if you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for a beer.
DONNA- If you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for red lights.

Ainsley is going back to her Alma Mater in order to receive an award and will speak out against the Equal Rights Ammendment, and she and Sam get into a fantastic debate over it.

Most prominently, Bartlet has the White House Correspondent's Dinner coming up, and looking over his speech, it's clear that the writers forgot the funny- so it's up to Sam, Josh, Donna, Ainsley, Ed and Larry to punch up the jokes. The juxtaposition of the search for humor along with the discovery of a somber truth creates wonderful tension and the release of that tension, in typical Sorkin form. Watching this so soon after President Obama's final Correspondent's Dinner was nice- although in fairness, most of President Obama's humor was found by simply telling the truth with regard to the current state of affairs- which is slightly depressing.

One last thing- I'd really like to know what the joke was that involved a John Wayne impression and a sock puppet.

West Winging It Blog Out.