"The West Wing" The Supremes (2004)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Director:

Jessica Yu

Writers:

Aaron Sorkin (creator) and
Debora Cahn (writer)
(more)

TV Series:

"The West Wing" (1999)

Original Air Date:

24 maaliskuu 2004 (Season 5, Episode 17)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A Supreme Court Justice dies, forcing the administration's hand on picking a desirable replacement who can be confirmed by a hostile Congress.

Plot Keywords:

Supreme Court Justice | President | Political | Secretary | White House

Cast

Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	...	Claudia Jean 'C.J.' Cregg
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jesse Bradford	...	Ryan Pierce
Glenn Close	...	Justice / Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Lang
William Fichtner	...	Justice Christopher Mulready
Melissa Fitzgerald	...	Carol Fitzpatrick
Michael Kozak	...	Tom
Deirdre Lovejoy	...	Lisa Wolfe
Melissa Marsala	...	Rina
Milo O'Shea	...	Chief Justice Roy Ashland
Saida Pagan	...	Anchor
Robert Picardo	...	E. Bradford Shelton
NiCole Robinson	...	Margaret Hooper
Mitch Ryan	...	Senator Roland Pierce (as Mitchell Ryan)
Lily Tomlin	...	Deborah Fiderer
Kathleen York	...	Andrea Wyatt

Directed by
Jessica Yu

Writing credits
Aaron Sorkin		(creator)
Debora Cahn		writer
Josh Singer		staff writer

Produced by
Neal Ahern Jr.	....	line producer
Eli Attie	....	producer
Carol Flint	....	supervising producer
Alex Graves	....	co-executive producer
Kristin Harms	....	producer
Alexa Junge	....	supervising producer
Mindy Kanaskie	....	co-producer
Chris Misiano	....	co-executive producer (as Christopher Misiano)
Peter Noah	....	supervising producer
Lawrence O'Donnell	....	consulting producer
Paul Redford	....	supervising producer
Andrew Stearn	....	producer
Patrick Ward	....	co-producer
John Wells	....	executive producer
John Sacret Young	....	supervising producer

Original Music by
W.G. Snuffy Walden

Casting by
Laura Schiff

Production Design by
Ken Hardy		(as Kenneth Hardy)

Set Decoration by
Ellen Totleben

Costume Design by
Lyn Paolo

Makeup Department
Jill Crosby	....	key hair stylist
John Damiani	....	key makeup artist
Greg LaCava	....	key makeup artist
Lisa Nash-Jones	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Dylan K. Massin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adam Ben Frank	....	second assistant director
Cary Jones	....	second assistant director
A.K. Pavri	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Scott De Shields	....	construction coordinator
Christopher S. Nushawg	....	set designer
Blanche Sindelar	....	property master

Sound Department
Nicholas R. Allen	....	boom operator
Kevin B. Barron	....	assistant sound editor (as Kevin Poor)
Casey J. Crabtree	....	foley artist
Michael Crabtree	....	foley artist
Jessica A. Dickson	....	dialogue editor
Patrick Hanson	....	sound mixer
Thomas A. Harris	....	supervising sound editor
Dan Hiland	....	sound re-recording mixer
Walter Newman	....	supervising sound editor
Gary D. Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Deron Street	....	assistant sound editor
Yervant Hagopian	....	utility sound (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Amy D'Alessandro	....	graphic artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chad Persons	....	Steadicam operator
Steve Randolph	....	camera operator
Rod Weaver	....	gaffer: second unit
Jake Avignone	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Nathan Crum	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Jacqueline J. Nivens	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Stephen Pazanti	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
John Frank Levey	....	original casting director (as John Levey)
Kevin Scott	....	original casting director
Tiffany Moon	....	extras casting director (uncredited)
Dalton Newsom	....	casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Debra Beebe	....	costume supervisor
Robert Cron	....	key costumer
Betty Edwards	....	set costumer
Philip Hayman	....	costume supervisor
Alyssa Kim	....	key costumer

Music Department
Troy Hardy	....	music editor
Ann Kline	....	music supervisor
Stacey Lee	....	music production supervisor

Transportation Department
Bart Johnson	....	transportation captain
Hobart Lundt	....	transportation coordinator
Mike Storc	....	transportation

Other crew
Nick Bohr	....	production assistant
Daniel T. Green	....	assistant to producer
Michelle Lankwarden	....	production coordinator
Melissa Myers	....	writing assistant
John Podhoretz	....	consultant
Bill Rinier	....	script coordinator
Thomas Schlamme	....	executive consultant
Matt G. Sheets	....	staff assistant
Kim Thio	....	set medic
Ingrid Urich-Sass	....	script supervisor
Darren Willner	....	assistant script coordinator
Amy D'Alessandro	....	titles (uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Aaron Sorkin		creator

Produced by
Mike Fountain	....	producer: Washington, DC

Cinematography by
Rick Bota
Dean Cundey
Mike Fash
Bing Sokolsky

Art Direction by
Dan Bishop
Dean A. O'Dell

Set Decoration by
Kinnereth Ellentuck
Jay Klein		(2003-)
Tricia Schneider

Costume Design by
Molly Harris Campbell

Makeup Department
Andy Clement	....	special makeup effects artist
Deborah K. Dee	....	key makeup artist (as Deb Dee)
Mark Landon	....	makeup artist
Margie Latinopoulos	....	makeup artist
Rela Martine	....	makeup artist
Vivian Maxwell	....	additional makeup artist
Pam Milone McLaughlin	....	key hair stylist
Maria Randelman	....	hair stylist
Alicia M. Tripi	....	hair stylist: John Spencer

Production Management
Kathryn Lekan	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anya Adams	....	dga trainee
Neal Ahern Jr.	....	second unit director
Steve Apicella	....	first assistant director
Jeffrey T. Bernstein	....	first assistant director
Bryan Cox	....	second second assistant director
Stephen D'Amato Jr.	....	dga trainee (as Steve D'Amato)
Stephen P. Del Prete	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Peter Dress	....	dga trainee (2000)
Frank Ferro	....	first assistant director: Washington D.C.
Yor-El Francis	....	dga trainee
Deborah Greaney	....	dayplayer second second assistant director
Jeffrey Hunt	....	second assistant director: second unit
David Hyman	....	first assistant director (2005-2006)
Joe Incaprera	....	second second assistant director: Washington DC (2000)
Matthew Janssen	....	dga trainee
Stephanie Lovell	....	second second assistant director: Washington, DC
Joann Matsuo	....	dga trainee
Michael T. McNerney	....	dga trainee
Pazz Neglia	....	assistant director: second unit
Jenny Nolan	....	dga trainee
Yuko Ogata	....	day player second second assistant director
Yuko Ogata	....	dga trainee
Marek Posival	....	first assistant director: second unit
Ruben Flores Rios II	....	second second assistant director: Washington D.C.
Steven Rosenhaus	....	dga trainee
Scott Schaeffer	....	second assistant director: New York
Richard Peter Schroer	....	first assistant director
Eric Tignini	....	first assistant director
Xanthus Valan	....	second second assistant director: Washington DC
Rudy Van Zyl	....	second second assistant director
Michelle Vogler	....	second second assistant director
Jane Chase Wells	....	second assistant director
Robyn Linn Willey	....	dga trainee
Michele Ziegler	....	first assistant director: Washington DC

Sound Department
Gerald Beg	....	boom operator
Chuck Buch	....	sound mixer: second unit
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Grahame Davies	....	sound recordist
Jim Emswiller	....	sound mixer
Jeff Enden	....	boom operator
Jeff Erdmann	....	boom operator
George Flores	....	additional sound utility
Curt Frisk	....	sound mixer: Chicago
Gabrielle Gilbert Reeves	....	dialogue editor (2003-2004)
Eric Gotthelf	....	adr mixer
Jason Johnston	....	sound: Chicago
Matthew McFadden	....	boom operator
Marc Meyer	....	sound effects editor
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer: additional unit
Benjamin Patrick	....	sound mixer
Blair Scheller	....	boom operator: Chicago
Carolyn Tapp	....	adr recordist (2003-)
Scott Warren	....	boom operator
Bryan O. Watkins	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
David J. Barker	....	special effects technician (2002)
Ian O'Connor	....	special effects (multiple episodes)
Thomas Turnbull	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Rick Cortes	....	digital artist
Sean Fairburn	....	digital imaging engineer
Trey Freeman	....	digital artist: Encore Hollywood
Spence Fuller	....	digital compositor
Amy Hollywood Wixson	....	visual effects producer
Les G. Jones	....	visual effects producer
Frank Lawas	....	visual effects I/O supervisor
Margaux Mackay	....	visual effects producer
Gray Marshall	....	visual effects supervisor: Gray Matter
David Ridlen	....	digital video
Johnathan R. Banta	....	digital artist: Sassoon Film Design (uncredited)

Stunts
Johnny Becker	....	stunts
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts
Ned Corrigan	....	stunt coordinator
Wally Crowder	....	stunt coordinator
Keith Davis	....	stunts
Scott Leva	....	stunts
Nick Plantico	....	stunt rigger
Garrett Warren	....	stunt coordinator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda M. Boyland	....	set costumer
Deb Dalton	....	costume supervisor: Washington D.C.
Joan M. Lynch	....	set costumer
Philip Maldonado	....	costumer
Gina Marie Ome	....	set costumer: Chicago
Lin Sanders	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Mark Pitner	....	assistant editor (2004-)
Michael K. Reynolds	....	assistant editor
James D. Rohrig	....	assistant editor (2004-)

Music Department
Brad Dechter	....	music arranger: main theme
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator: main theme
Georg Brandl Egloff	....	composer: additional music
Max Helfman	....	music arranger: songs
Matt Kierscht	....	music manager
Avi Kipper	....	music scoring mixer
Joey Newman	....	orchestrator
Freddy Sheinfeld	....	orchestrator: Midi

Transportation Department
Michael Dawes	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Margo Hunt	....	driver
George A. Miki	....	driver
Kathryn Moll	....	driver

Other crew
Gerry Alfonso	....	payroll accountant: Canada
Emidio Antonio	....	stand-in: Martin Sheen
Charley Armstrong	....	location manager (1999-2001)
Angela Athayde	....	additional production assistant
Aeden Babish	....	assistant to writer
Alex Baik	....	executive assistant: Rob Lowe
Emma Baksi	....	assistant: Bradley Whitford
Ned Barbee	....	assistant to writer
Ran Barker	....	special projects
Jared Bentley	....	production assistant
Rozzanna Bonesso	....	production assistant
Jessica Bouz	....	set production assistant (as Jessica Hart)
Dan Burks	....	set production assistant
Patrina Chin	....	production assistant
Rupert Cole	....	production assistant
Kim Crabb	....	key assistant location manager
Guin Dill	....	animal trainer (as Guin Noland)
Katherine Dorrer	....	location scout: Washington D.C.
Ken Duberstein	....	consultant (2003-)
Jason S. Edwards	....	production assistant
Johnny Egan	....	production assistant
Sara Ellingen	....	production secretary: Chicago (2002)
Fred Fein	....	stand-in
Jeremy Folster	....	assistant production coordinator
Scott Foster	....	production assistant: Washington D.C. (2003-2006)
Danielle Faith Friedman	....	assistant to co-executive producer
Mark Goffman	....	story editor (2003)
Liz Graham	....	script supervisor: second unit (2005)
Jane E. Graves	....	key assistant location manager
Sheree Greco	....	set production assistant (2002)
Shaun Greenspan	....	production assistant
Hilary Griffiths	....	dialogue coach
Tuba Guvelioglu	....	production supervisor: Washington D.C.
Lisa Hagenmeyer	....	location coordinator: Washington D.C.
Seth William Hansen	....	additional set production assistant
Georgette Hayden	....	production office coordinator
Kelly Hayes	....	production assistant
Rick Heath	....	production assistant
Danny Ho	....	computer playback graphic artist
Jean Hodges	....	food stylist
David Honaker	....	key set production assistant
Patrick G. Ingram	....	medic on-location
Jeff Johnson	....	set medic: Washington D.C.
Mark Johnston	....	title designer
Diana Kania	....	assistant: Christopher Misiano
Christopher Kazarian	....	intern
Michael Leon	....	location manager
BeBe Lerner	....	publicist (2004)
Stephanie Lovell	....	set production assistant: Washington, DC
Jeff Lovely	....	location coordinator
Joseph Martin	....	location manager: Washington D.C. (1999-)
Frank Molloy	....	craft service (2004-)
Patrick Muldoon	....	assistant location manager
Terri Ann Myers	....	production secretary: Toronto
Monica Ochoa	....	script supervisor (2002-)
William Ostroff	....	production assistant
Eric Persons	....	assistant location manager (1 episode)
Billy Pittard	....	creative director
Jess Place	....	production assistant
Stefan Rand	....	production assistant
Errol Reichow	....	location manager
Kenneth Requa	....	additional production assistant
Joseph Ruggieri	....	production assistant
Melisa Sánchez	....	script supervisor
Christopher Scott	....	set production assistant: Washington D.C.
Andrew Shulkind	....	remote head technician
Lynn Sisco	....	additional script supervisor
Anthony Steinhart	....	set production assistant: additional photography (2005)
Paula Stier	....	production assistant: Chicago
Kristi Strupinsky	....	publicist (2003)
Jason Sweet	....	double: Dule Hill
Mary Tallman	....	script supervisor
Billy Taylor	....	production assistant: second unit
Vanessa Thiem	....	assistant: Neal Ahern Jr.
Bridgetta Tomarchio	....	production assistant
Katharine Trask	....	production assistant
Beth Troutman	....	assistant: Alex Graves
Beth Troutman	....	production assistant
John Trujillo	....	layout board
Stephanie Tull	....	production assistant
Adam T. Weisinger	....	production assistant
Nicole Widmyer	....	production assistant
Dave Willis	....	production assistant
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr loop group
Ian Zander	....	set production assistant
Robert Zorella	....	set production assistant: Washington D.C.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Final scene in the W.H. press room when President Bartlett is at the podium introducing his two new Supreme Court nominations, he incorrectly introduces Glenn Close's character, Judge Evelyn Baker Lang, as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. While she will be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the correct title should be "Chief Justice of the United States."

Movie Connections:

References Casablanca (1942)

Soundtrack:

American Pie

Brilliant episode

This episode leaves me with a good feeling. I have to admit that I had misty eyes all through the last half hour. And its difficult to claim that "West Wing" usually does that to the viewers.

The reason for my joy for this episode is two-folded. First of all there is Glenn Close, perfectly casted as a liberal judge. Second there is the message, that the gloomy impression of a Left and Right in USA, unable to communicate, is not true.

The beauty lies in the compromise that does not look like the usual compromise. Instead of victory for the mediocre, we see a victory of the genius.

This episode is also the last high peak before the series finally loses its momentum.