It was a bold experiment and a remarkable television event. Only 23 days after the tragic events of Sept. 11, a prime-time drama addressed the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., Wednesday night.
But was The West Wing's special episode--set several weeks after an unspecified terrorist attack by Islamic extremists--a success? That depends on whom you ask.
NBC is certainly whistling the show's theme, after the episode scooped up an 18.0 rating and a 26 share nationwide, capturing the evening's biggest audience.
The media's reactions, on the other hand, were mixed. Some claimed the episode was nothing more than West Wing creator and writer Aaron Sorkin standing on a soapbox, letting his characters give unmoving and idealistic liberal lectures to a group of too-smart high school seniors during a White House lockdown. Others applauded Sorkin's quick turn-around of a topic still hitting deep at the hearts of Americans.
Personally, this West Wing diehard was completely satisfied. The main goal was to put everyone's fears into perspective, and the mission was accomplished. Did we learn that much new about the terrorists? Probably not. Did we know from the beginning that the connection to the Islamic staffer (and the reason for the White House lockdown) was unfounded? Probably.
If there is a valid criticism, it's that there wasn't much emotional punch to the episode. However, watching television this past month has been gut-wrenching enough, and an optimistic outlook on our national tragedy--especially one so skillfully executed--is certainly a welcome relief.
--By Alex Garinger
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