The West Wing Weekly

Jan 16

We've got a bonus installment of the Film Fest—with special guest Adam Scott! In addition to his work on Severance , Parks & Recreation, Party Down , and so much more, he's just a genuinely thoughtful and kind person, so we are thrilled to have him back on the podcast. We're discussing the 1992 film Bob Roberts, a satirical mockumentary by Tim Robbins. Tim Robbins on SNL - October 3, 1992 ( via Peacock ) Tim Robbins 2017 interview in Entertainment Weekly Tim Robbins post on X - July 14, 2024 You can find The West Wing Weekly lapel pin, t-shirts, and more at thewestwingweekly.com/merch . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 3, 2024

We're trying to savor the Capra-esque quality of this experience by wrapping up with Mr. Smith. Supplemental materials: James Taylor - You've Got a Friend Mr Deeds Goes to Town trailer Sokovia Accords debate from Captain America: Civil War Thank you so much for joining us again for this series! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Nov 26, 2024

Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, and Kevin Kline. This one was a Patreon subscriber pick! Additional materials: an article about the making of Dave Kevin Kline plays Mr. Fischoeder in Bob's Burgers "clever" as an insult in Fight Club Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Nov 19, 2024

Is The Candidate, in fact, the anti- West Wing ? A political story that ends not with a bang, but with a question of existential dread. Interview with screenwriter Jeremy Larner in Brooklyn Magazine The trailer for Downhill Racer (1969) Jerry Seinfeld on Letterman: "You're rooting for clothes." Let us know what you thought of the film! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Nov 12, 2024

Did this movie predict Trump back in 1957? We discuss the film debut of Andy Griffith in a role so dark, anyone who knows the Andy Griffith show might experience some uncomfortable dissonance. Some goodies that came up in our conversation: The dance of joy from "Perfect Strangers" This essay about the film on the Criterion website Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter in a great scene from Broadcast News The 'ten-word-answer' scene from The West Wing What did you think of the film, on a scale of 1–10 grains of inert matter? Let us know! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Nov 5, 2024

This week, we dive deeper into the role of the fourth estate, as we discuss Network , the Oscar-winning film that was meant to be a wild satire at the time it was released, but ended up uncannily predicting the future. Some additional reading material: Mad As Hell , Dave Itzkoff's book about Network Directors' Guild of America post about Sidney Lumet at a 2003 screening of Network Vanity Fair article on the legacy of Network (which includes thoughts from Aaron Sorkin) Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Oct 29, 2024

This week, we're discussing the 1998 film Bulworth, which features a rapping Warren Beatty, a young Josh Malina, a few problematic moments, and some wonderful and strange ones, too. For a real treat, watch the music video for Ghetto Supastar , which also features a young Josh Malina! What did you think of Bulworth? Join the conversation over on our Patreon and let us know on a scale of 1–10 forced calls! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Oct 22, 2024

What's more terrifying in Martin Sheen's depiction of J. Edgar Hoover—the racism, or the makeup?! We discuss ALL the important aspects of this cat-and-mouse thriller, which was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Daniel Kaluuya. For additional viewing: The Lucas Brothers William O'Neal's full interview for Eyes on the Prize II Hoover and Sheen-as-Hoover, side by side: What did you think of Judas and the Black Messiah? Let us know on a scale of 1–10 simultaneously played saxophones over on our Patreon page, patreon.com/thewestwingweekly . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices