Why The West Wing? (UPDATED)
A quick follow-up to the last post (and subsequent comment): Why do British people love The West Wing so much?
The thing I forgot to mention previously is that pretty much every person who has said The West Wing is his favorite show is a Brit. Few Americans feel such ardor for Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe. I personally choked on all the saccharine, rah-rah, "THIS is the America we want" baloney, so I would have thought that two of the Nairobi press corps' most wisecracking and Amero-skeptical Brits would surely have despised it.
Yet it is these very gents who love it so! Are they so disappointed with the U.S. in real life that they can't help but be hypnotized by such an absurd fantasy? Fish and chips for thought, I guess.
UPDATE: It turns out I'm not the only one to notice this. See this from The Washington Post in 2006.
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I'm American and I can't stand The West Wing. I think it's incredibly hyperbolic and annoying. However, everyone in my group of close friends LOVES it (all Americans). When I was living in Tanzania, I hoped that I had finally escaped the show, but no. My friends tracked down a bootleg version and happily watched for hours.
It's so interesting to me that British people seem to love it. WW has quite a following though. Judging from my friends, you don't have to be an ardent patriot to enjoy the drama.
Posted by: Amani | May 09, 2008 at 03:30 AM
Now then my good chap, steady on. If memory serves, you began by saying how much you liked 24 - so there's no need to disparage our taste.
Two, might I point out that West Wing improves immeasurably once you realise that Josh exists only to screw up the main policy plot of the episode. His only other role is then to crack a series of cracks. Toby is the star of this show allowing all us cantankerous, miserable sods to feel slightly better about themselves.
But the most amazing thing for us Brits is their teeth. Beautiful
Posted by: Rob | May 09, 2008 at 10:43 AM
It looks like I need to get me some West Wing.
On offer I have House (Season 2 & 3), Twin Peaks and Everybody Loves Raymond (All Seasons), all in stolen format. Plus some Brit stuff too.
Posted by: William Deed | May 10, 2008 at 09:03 AM