The West Wing - In the Center of Power / Season 2

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Season 2 of The West Wing
The West Wing logo.png
Episodes 22nd
Country of production United StatesUnited States United States
First broadcast Oct 4, 2000 - May 15, 2001 on NBC
German-language
first broadcast		 Oct 20, 2008 - Mar 16 2009 on FOX
◀   Season 1 Season 3   ▶
► Episode list
main actor
supporting cast

The second season of the television series The West Wing first aired between October 2000 and May 2001. In Germany and Austria the first broadcast started in October 2008 on the pay-TV channel FOX .

action

The second season represents the period between the middle of the second and the middle of the third year. After the attack on the president's staff at the end of the first season, the president enjoys his new popularity among the people. This increases productivity when passing new laws. Overall, the season encompasses a broader range of legislation than the first season and deals with issues such as extremist hate groups and a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty . Towards the end of the season, the president confronts his staff and the public with the multiple sclerosis he had known before the presidency . The season ends with a reporter asking if he wants to run for a second term.

occupation

Main cast

Bradley Whitford plays Josh Lyman

Supporting and guest cast

Episodes

No.
( total ) 		No.
( St. ) 		German title Original title First broadcast in the USA German language first broadcast (D) Director script
23 1 The assassination - part 1 In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (Part I) Oct. 4, 2000 Oct 20, 2008 Thomas Schlamme Aaron Sorkin
While most of the staff are unharmed after the attack, the president was shot in the stomach. First Lady Abigail Bartlet therefore informs her husband's anesthetist about his MS . Shortly thereafter, Josh is admitted to the clinic with serious injuries. Faintly conscious, he remembers the time he worked for then Senator John Hoynes. At the time, he followed Leo's advice to listen to a speech by New Hampshire Governor Josiah Bartlet. Sam was working for a law firm at the time and was asked during a visit by Josh if he would like to work with him on the Hoynes election campaign. Meanwhile, the staff learns that the president will be fine, but Josh's condition remains critical. In the Situation Room , Leo and Vice President Hoynes are informed about global events. This is how they found out about a troop movement in Iraq . The Vice President follows Leo's advice to handle the situation with great caution. Meanwhile, reporter Danny Concannon wants to find out who is currently in charge and brings up the 25th Amendment . In an internal discussion it becomes clear that the president did not sign a letter before his operation that would transfer his power to a deputy. Toby therefore remembers the first days of the election campaign. After an honest speech by Bartlet, Leo fired a large part of the staff; only Toby kept his job. In a conversation, Bartlet therefore expressed his unease about this decision, since Toby was the only one he did not know. When asked why Leo wanted to make him president, he replied that he believed in a good man as president.
24 2 The assassination - part 2 In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (Part II) Oct. 4, 2000 Oct 27, 2008 Thomas Schlamme Aaron Sorkin
At a press conference, CJ announced the arrest of the signaler. Meanwhile, Sam remembers a meeting at his former law firm. Shortly thereafter, he quit his job to go to New Hampshire with Josh and work for Bartlet. CJ, who then lost her job at a Hollywood film studio , accepted a job offer that same day from Toby, who hired her as spokeswoman for the Bartlet election campaign. Meanwhile, in the clinic, Charlie learns that the assassins were members of a right-wing extremist group and actually wanted to kill him and not the president. In a flashback, the staff of presidential candidate Josiah Bartlet, which has only been in existence for weeks, discusses the future direction of the election campaign. While Toby, Sam and Josh pleaded for an intensified election campaign in the southern states , Bartlet was initially skeptical. The staff successfully countered, however, that one only had to finish second in the internal party primaries in South Carolina . Josh also became aware of Donna Moss, who had been answering his calls for a few days and is still allowed to work for him despite her unsuitable qualifications. After the assassination, Toby wants to find out why the president did not leave the event under a canopy. He reminds Ron Butterfield of a memo in which Toby explained the President's security preferences to the Secret Service . Butterfield rejects Toby's request to hand this memo over to the press. Another flashback highlights the evening of the Illinois primaries . After a news channel announced Bartlet's victory and the staff began the festivities, Josh learned of his father's death. While Josh later waited at the airport for his flight home, Bartlet sat with him and apologized for his behavior towards the new members of the staff. After Josh was called up for his flight, Bartlet accepted the Democratic Party presidential nomination . Finally Josh wakes up from the anesthetic at the president's side.
25th 3 Old enmity does not rust The midterms Oct 18, 2000 Nov 3, 2008 Alex Graves Aaron Sorkin
While Josh needs to recover even from his gunshot wound, the rest of the team starts on the mid-term elections in November to focus the midterms. However, CJ, who rejects press inquiries about the mood in the White House after the attempted assassination, knows that almost everyone has suffered psychological scars afterwards. This particularly affects Charlie, who learns more about the evening and then reacts coolly to the President and his daughter Zoey. Toby examines the president's increased popularity ratings and suggests a course against extremist groups. Meanwhile, after a MP dies, Sam tries to convince a friend to run for Congress. The president, meanwhile, is busy with a school board election in his home state of New Hampshire for personal reasons .
26th 4th In this White House In This White House Oct 25, 2000 Nov 10, 2008 Ken Olin Aaron Sorkin
storyline : Peter Parnell,
Allison Abner
On a television show, confident Sam is humiliated by young Republican adviser Ainsley Hayes. President Bartlet then offers her, despite her party affiliation, to become the legal advisor's assistant - a brave move that leaves his staff in shock. Toby and Josh, meanwhile, attend a meeting between pharmaceutical companies and the leaders of AIDS- ravaged African countries to discuss the high prices and availability of much-needed drugs. President Bartlet is also concerned about a participant in the meeting, President Nimbala, whose nation is ravaged by a bloody coup d'état while he is away .
27 5 The first order And It's Surely to Their Credit Nov 1, 2000 Nov 17, 2008 Christopher Misiano Aaron Sorkin
H : Kevin Falls,
Laura Glasser
Ainsley Hayes, the new assistant to the legal advisor, not only has to endure the anger of her manager and the chilled greeting of her new colleagues on her first day. She is also humiliated by two employees because of her political attitudes. Sam wants to convince Josh of a lawsuit against the Ku Klux Klan , because his health insurance does not want to cover the costs of his vital medical bills. CJ tries to shame a brash general who speaks out against the president.
28 6th The Congress of the Lame Ducks The Lame Duck Congress Nov 8, 2000 Nov 24, 2008 Jeremy Kagan Aaron Sorkin
H : Lawrence O'Donnell
Josh, Toby and Sam want to get the president to convene Congress after the mid-term election. You intend to ratify the international nuclear test ban treaty. CJ passes the news on to Danny, who originally initiated the plan. Meanwhile, Sam and Ainsley clear each other up while a Ukrainian reformer shows up drunk outside the White House to meet the President.
29 7th The long flight to Portland The Portland Trip Nov 15, 2000 Dec 1, 2008 Paris Barclay Aaron Sorkin
H : Paul Redford
The president will focus on Portland , where he will be giving a speech on education. Sam has to accompany him there because he has problems preparing the speech. Toby follows them to help Sam and CJ has to go with the President for making derogatory remarks about the President's former university. At the White House, Josh argues with a MP over a bill to address same-sex marriages . Meanwhile, Leo observes a minor crisis in the Persian Gulf .
30th 8th Shibboleth Shibboleth Nov 22, 2000 Dec 8, 2008 Laura Innes Aaron Sorkin
H : Patrick Caddell
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving , the White House's most pressing concern is to receive two live turkeys . Sam and Toby make sure that the animals are housed in CJ's office. Meanwhile, news reaches the president that a ship carrying illegal immigrants from China has been intercepted. Apparently they want to apply for asylum because they are persecuted as Christians in their homeland, as they themselves claim. The next morning, Toby urges the president to find Leo's sister an important position in the Department of Education . The possible appointment becomes explosive because she speaks out against school prayers.
31 9 Galileo 5 Galileo Nov 29, 2000 Dec 15, 2008 Alex Graves Aaron Sorkin,
Kevin Falls
The Russian government tries to hide a burning missile silo while a US fighter jet goes missing. In addition, the press is making the rounds that the president does not like green beans . On the other hand, he is looking forward to a Q&A session with schoolchildren who want to examine images of a mission to Mars . But first he asks CJ to find a broader topic for the event.
32 10 Christmas Noël Dec 20, 2000 Dec 22, 2008 Thomas Schlamme Aaron Sorkin
H : Peter Parnell
Despite the Christmas spirit in the White House, Josh is far from happy. On the one hand, he expresses himself disparagingly about the Christmas music resounding through the corridors, which he thinks is more appropriate for a shopping center. Josh continues to be rude to his colleagues and even the president. So Leo instructs him to talk to a therapist . Meanwhile, CJ has to deal with an older woman who loses her composure when she sees a picture during a tour. The president decides that he would like to personally sign any Christmas cards , which may amount to an approximate number of 100,000.
33 11 The New Year's breakfast The Leadership Breakfast Jan. 10, 2001 Dec 29, 2008 Scott Winant Aaron Sorkin
H : Paul Redford
The White House is planning a breakfast for both parties' leaders to attend to strengthen collaboration. Toby must first meet with the new chief of staff of the majority leader to go through the details of the upcoming conversations. It also turns out that the majority leader might consider running for president. Meanwhile, Sam is planning to relocate the press department to another building.
34 12 The intermediate remark The Drop In Jan. 24, 2001 Jan. 5, 2009 Lou Antonio Aaron Sorkin
H : Lawrence O'Donnell
Lord John Marbury is appointed British Ambassador to the United States. Toby and Sam argue about a speech the president is supposed to give to a conservation organization . Leo tries unsuccessfully to convince the president of a missile defense system . Meanwhile, CJ is set to talk to a controversial comedian about a declined invitation.
35 13 Bartlet's third State of the Union address Bartlet's Third State of the Union Feb 7, 2001 Jan. 12, 2009 Christopher Misiano Aaron Sorkin
H : Allison Abner,
Dee Dee Myers
On the evening of the State of the Union speech , the advisory staff bask in the glow of the speech. The first lady, however, has serious problems with their mood. Partisans who picked up five agents of the DEA drug agency in Colombia are an unwelcome distraction . It is also revealed that a police officer who was praised in the president's speech was once accused of brutalizing a black suspect. Meanwhile, data researcher Joey Lucas gave Josh no poll results, even though she was instructed to do so by the White House.
36 14th A lost battle The War at Home Feb 14, 2001 Jan. 19, 2009 Christopher Misiano Aaron Sorkin
The crisis over missing DEA agents in Colombia is worsening, while the impact of the State of the Union speech is not too positive either. One liberal senator is pissed off about the social security proposals . The accused police officer still has to fight off the excitement over his person. The polls from Joey Lucas meanwhile create a discouraging mood. Meanwhile, the first lady does not like the mood in the White House.
37 15th Ellie Ellie Feb 21, 2001 Jan. 26, 2009 Michael Engler Aaron Sorkin
H : Kevin Falls,
Laura Glasser
The president returns from Japan and finds that statements by the medical inspector regarding marijuana are causing some problems. Ellie, a medical student and daughter of the President, then spoke to Danny Concannon about the controversial issue. Charlie's selection of films for a movie evening also proves to be problematic. Meanwhile, Toby tries to win over his ex-wife, a member of parliament, for his own cause. He wants to bring about peace in the dispute over social security.
38 16 Modern geography Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail Feb 28, 2001 Feb 2, 2009 Jessica Yu Paul Redford,
Aaron Sorkin
On Big Block of Cheese Day , Leo organizes meetings between high-ranking employees and organizations that are typically not heard in the White House. Toby, for example, has to meet with World Bank demonstrators, while CJ attends a meeting with cartographers who advocate social equality. Meanwhile, Sam is asked by a friend of Donna's to arrange a pardon for her dead grandfather, formerly an alleged spy .
39 17th The Stackhouse Filibuster The Stackhouse Filibuster 14 Mar 2001 Feb 9, 2009 Bryan Gordon Aaron Sorkin
H : Pete McCabe
The advisory staff is taken unprepared when an elderly senator initiates a filibuster on a Friday evening and thus tries to prevent a vote believed to have been won. Meanwhile, Toby wonders why the vice president, usually a friend of the oil industry, attacks it of his own free will. CJ fears that she has been cursed for accidentally dropping a statue of the cat goddess Bastet that was given to the president while visiting Cairo .
40 18th 17 confidants 17 people Apr 4, 2001 Feb 16, 2009 Alex Graves Aaron Sorkin
Toby adds one and one and learns about the president's multiple sclerosis . While he is the seventeenth person to have this level of knowledge, he is the first to forcefully question the president's potentially irresponsible actions. The president's ability to act is also challenged by a threat from a terrorist , so that he has to decide on security precautions at airports. Josh and Donna argue about their anniversary , while Sam and Ainsley have a discussion about the Equal Rights Amendment . It is difficult for the rest of the advisory staff to fill the speech for the annual correspondents' dinner with good jokes.
41 19th Bad moon rising Bad moon rising Apr 25, 2001 Feb 23, 2009 Bill Johnson Aaron Sorkin
H : Felicia Wilson
The President is consulting with White House Legal Adviser Oliver Babish whether hiding his illness is part of a criminal conspiracy. Meanwhile, Sam is confronted with his past when an oil spill struck the Delaware coast . Josh has to deal with the economic crisis in Mexico . Meanwhile, Toby rages over an information leak that reveals the president's possible change of mind regarding education vouchers .
42 20th Risk of falling The Fall's Gonna Kill You May 2, 2001 2nd Mar 2009 Christopher Misiano Aaron Sorkin
H : Patrick Caddell
Legal Adviser Oliver Babish questions CJ and the First Lady about hiding the President's illness. Josh instructs Joey Lucas to start a short-term opinion poll about the president's chances in the next presidential election. New estimates that predict a lower budget balance are cheering people up. Meanwhile, a Chinese satellite has left its orbit and, to Donna's concern, is heading towards Earth at high speed.
43 21st misfortunes never come singly 18th and Potomac May 9, 2001 9 Mar 2009 Robert Berlinger Aaron Sorkin
H : Lawrence O'Donnell
The polls taken by Joey Lucas paint a disastrous picture of the chances of re-election. Sam and Oliver Babish question the First Lady about their intentions to make the disease public. Meanwhile, a crisis rages in Haiti and Josh has to deal with two Democratic senators who are not enthusiastic about the government's complaint against the tobacco industry. Charlie advises Mrs. Landingham on a planned car purchase.
44 22nd Two cathedrals Two Cathedrals May 15, 2001 16. Mar. 2009 Thomas Schlamme Aaron Sorkin
Before information about the president's illness becomes public, many Democrats in Congress fear an election campaign that will focus on the illness. At an emergency meeting, the President recalls his first meeting with Mrs. Landingham, who worked for his father when he was young. As a result, he orders the dispatch of Admiral Fitzwallace to Haiti so that he can negotiate a peace resolution. In later meetings with Mrs. Landingham, she challenged him to work for equal pay for women. After the service for his late secretary held at the National Cathedral , he has the building sealed. In both English and Latin, the President lets out his anger over her death; he also lights a cigarette, which he finally crushes with his feet on the floor. Meanwhile, the staff ponders an appropriate answer to the question of whether the president wants to run again. Toby gets a job offer from the media industry and realizes that Leo was the initiator for it. Josh receives a call and learns from Leo that the President does not want to run. To avoid this question, CJ recommends that he first call a medical reporter at the upcoming press conference. In the Oval Office, the President has another conversation with Mrs. Landingham about facts and figures before standing outside in the pouring rain. At the beginning of the press conference, he ignores CJ's advice; He is asked by a reporter if he would like to run for a term.

reception

Awards

Just like a year before, the second season was nominated 18 times at the 2001 Primetime Emmy Awards . The relay won the award in eight categories. As in the previous year, Allison Janney was recognized as best supporting actress and the series in the category of best drama series . Bradley also won Whitford for Best Supporting Actor and Thomas Schlamme for directing the double episode Das Assentat . There were further awards for camera work, editing, cast and sound mix. Furthermore, were Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe as best lead actor, John Spencer and Richard Schiff as Best Supporting Actor and Stockard Channing nominated for best supporting actress. Oliver Platt received a nomination for best guest actor.

Web links