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The White House staff springs into action when they learn that President Bartlet was injured in a bicycle accident. During the President’s absence, chief of staff Leo McGarry must handle several crises including Cuban refugees trying to escape into Florida and the conservative Christians’ reaction to a comment made by deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman. Meanwhile, Sam learns that the woman he picked up at a bar was actually a call girl and Toby gets into an argument over the Ten Commandments.
Episode Info
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Episode number: 1x1 Production Number: 475151 Airdate: Wednesday September 22nd, 1999 Alternate Airdates:
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FR (
Co-Guest Stars
Main Cast
Episode Notes
This episode won numerous awards including the 2000 ACE Eddie Award for Best Edited One-Hour Series for Television, the 2000 Shine Award for Scene Stealing, and the 2000 Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting in Drama.
Some of the exterior shots of the White House were filmed at the South Portico of the Headquarters of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution which is located at 1776 D Street in Washington, D.C.
Martin Sheen (President Bartlet) was originally only set to appear in four episodes during season one. However, after the pilot was filmed, it was decided to make him a regular cast member instead.
Show Development:
- Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman) was originally offered the part of Sam Seaborn.
- Janel Maloney (Donna Moss) originally auditioned for the part of C.J. Cregg.
- Alan Alda, Sidney Poitier and Jason Robards were all considered for the part of President Jed Bartlet
- Eugene Levy was considered for the part of Toby Ziegler.
- Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman) was originally offered the part of Sam Seaborn.
- Janel Maloney (Donna Moss) originally auditioned for the part of C.J. Cregg.
- Alan Alda, Sidney Poitier and Jason Robards were all considered for the part of President Jed Bartlet
- Eugene Levy was considered for the part of Toby Ziegler.
Episode Quotes
Leo: He was swerving to avoid a tree.
Donna: What happened?
Leo: He was unsuccessful.
Donna: What happened?
Leo: He was unsuccessful.
Leo: Margaret, please call the editor of "The New York Times" crossword and tell him that "Khaddafi" is spelled with an "h" and two "d"s, and isn't a seven letter word for anything.
Margaret: Is this for real, or is this just funny?
Leo: Apparently, it's neither.
Margaret: Is this for real, or is this just funny?
Leo: Apparently, it's neither.
Van Dyke: Show the average American teenage male a condom and his mind will turn to thoughts of lust.
Toby: Show the average American teenage male a lug wrench and his mind’ll turn.
Toby: Show the average American teenage male a lug wrench and his mind’ll turn.
Laurie: Tell your friend POTUS he's got a funny name, and he should learn how to ride a bicycle.
Sam: I would, but he's not my friend, he's my boss. And it's not his name, it's his title.
Laurie: POTUS?
Sam: President of the United States.
Sam: I would, but he's not my friend, he's my boss. And it's not his name, it's his title.
Laurie: POTUS?
Sam: President of the United States.
Leo: True or false, if I were to stand on high ground in Key West with a good pair of binoculars, I'd be as informed as I am right now.
Josh: That's true.
Leo: The intelligence budget's money's well spent, isn't it?
Josh: That's true.
Leo: The intelligence budget's money's well spent, isn't it?
Sam: Is that the same suit you wore yesterday?
Josh: Is that the same suit you wore yesterday?
Sam: Yeah.
Josh: Yeah.
Josh: Is that the same suit you wore yesterday?
Sam: Yeah.
Josh: Yeah.
Toby: You think the United States is under attack from 12,000 Cubans in rowboats.
Sam: I'm not saying I don't like our chances.
Toby: Mind-boggling to me that we ever won an election.
Sam: I'm not saying I don't like our chances.
Toby: Mind-boggling to me that we ever won an election.
Episode Goofs
Sam mispronounces Toby's last name while he is talking to the fourth graders.
While talking to the kids, Sam tells the class that the Roosevelt Room is named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Mallory corrects him that it was named for Theodore Roosevelt. However, the room is named in honor of both men -- President Richard Nixon named the room in 1969 to honor Theodore Roosevelt for his work in building the West Wing and for Franklin Roosevelt for expanding it.
Cultural References
Sam: Alger Hiss just walked in with my secret pumpkin.
Alger Hiss is a man that was jailed for spying on America on behalf of the USSR. He kept the pages of notes he gathered while spying in a hollowed out pumpkin.
Alger Hiss is a man that was jailed for spying on America on behalf of the USSR. He kept the pages of notes he gathered while spying in a hollowed out pumpkin.
Character Name: Josh Lyman
The character of Josh Lyman comes from a character from the comic strip Doonsbury. The character in the strip also works at the White House and the strip can be seen in Josh's office.
The character of Josh Lyman comes from a character from the comic strip Doonsbury. The character in the strip also works at the White House and the strip can be seen in Josh's office.
Character Name: Toby Ziegler
The character of Toby Ziegler is a reference to Ronald L. Ziegler, President Nixon's press secretary.
The character of Toby Ziegler is a reference to Ronald L. Ziegler, President Nixon's press secretary.
Visual: Bartlet leaning on a desk with his head bowed during the opening credits
This shot of Bartlet is a reference to a famous portrait of John F. Kennedy taken during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
This shot of Bartlet is a reference to a famous portrait of John F. Kennedy taken during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Other Episode Crew
| • Creator | Aaron Sorkin |
| • Executive Producer | John Wells | Thomas Schlamme | Aaron Sorkin |
| • Producer | Kristin Harms | Llewellyn Wells |
| • Co-Producer | Michael Hissrich |
| • Production Designer | Jon Hutman |
| • Editor | Christopher Nelson (1) |
| • Casting | Barbara Miller (1) | John Levey (1) | Kevin Scott (1) |
| • Unit Production Manager | Jean Higgins |
| • First Assistant Director | Tony Alder |
| • Second Assistant Director | Brian Bettwy |
| • Music | W. G. 'Snuffy' Walden |
| • Director of Photography | Thomas Del Ruth |
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