Posted on: Wednesday, January 7, 2004
COMMENTARY
As 'West Wing' goes south, hail to 'O.C.'
By Karen Heller
Knight Ridder News Service
Breaking up is a wretched thing to do. The act can take years, after much pain, suffering, hand-wringing, labored conversations and, quite often, the substitution of a younger, more comely alternative.
After four years and a mere nine episodes this season, plus the jettisoning of creator Aaron Sorkin, NBC's "The West Wing" is, sadly, losing its appeal. It's jowly, saggy and darker — literally, as if it were lit with 40-watt bulbs.
We're thinking of voting it out of office, in favor of Fox's — yes, Fox's — delicious, delightful, California-sunny and Arnold-confident soap "The O.C.," which airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, the same time NBC's "West Wing" delivers gloom and doom on the Potomac.
That latter show now lacks its trademark smart banter. No series, except for Sorkin's marvelous, short-lived "Sports Night," did the walk-and-talk repartee better.
"The West Wing" is preachy and high-minded. Life is already preachy and high-minded. Besides, that's what we have public television for.
Saucy Stockard Channing, who did a delightful Nick and Nora turn with first hubby Martin Sheen, was banished to a New Hampshire farm.
Usually ebullient character Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) was politically punished. C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney), the tube's Rosalind Russell, is now a snippy, hand-wringing, proselytizing martyr. She lectures everyone, including the president of the United States.
Normally, I'm no quitter. Once started, books are finished. Movies end with the closing credits — with the exceptions of Sam Peckinpah's "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" and John Landis' "An American Werewolf in London." And television series are dutifully followed until the finale — even faltering series that don't deserve such loyalty, such as "Dallas" and "Melrose Place."
But "West Wing" has fierce competition this season: "The O.C." is a refreshing treat with an eye-pleasing cast, beginning with the improbably beautiful Mischa Barton.
"The O.C." is funny. It's smart. It's decidedly hip, directed by Doug Liman of "Swingers" and headed, in part, by McG of "Charlie's Angels."
It's one of the few shows to deal with class issues. Plus, parents played by Peter Gallagher and Kelly Rowan, who engage in the kind of witty banter once heard on "The West Wing," are as attractive and interesting as the teenagers. And there's love everywhere. The show is swimming in love.
"Bad boy" Ryan (cute Benjamin McKenzie) and "nerd boy" Seth (equally cute Adam Brody) are brothers by chance, after Seth's father takes Ryan in off the wicked streets of Chino. Instead of becoming rivals, which would happen on other soaps, the two are fast friends. The nerd has two popular girls fighting over him, and the "bad boy" may be the sweetest person in Newport Beach. Despite having almost no villains, "The O.C." is a soap that works.
"The West Wing" began the season with a terrific episode in which the Republican House speaker, played by John Goodman, assumed presidential powers, then it went straight downhill. After a seemingly endless five-week hiatus — that's right, five weeks — "The West Wing" returns tonight with an appearance by Goodman.
Meanwhile "The O.C." returns after the delightful Chrismukkah and New Year's episodes, and a three-week break.
A torn viewer could watch one and record the other, but that seems like cheating. And, yes, some of us still don't know how to program the VCR.
There's TiVo. But that assumes there's enough on television to justify TiVo. There isn't. Except on Wednesday nights.
There may be 50 ways to leave a lover, but a wilting TV show can be dumped with the flick of a clicker.
