Eppur Si Muove (The West Wing)
"Eppur Si Muove" | |
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The West Wing episode | |
Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 16 |
Directed by | Llewellyn Wells |
Written by | Alexa Junge |
Production code | 176066 |
Original air date | March 3, 2004 |
Guest appearances | |
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"Eppur Si Muove" is the
Plot
Meanwhile, President Bartlet tries to persuade Ellie to speak to the press to contain the incidence, but Ellie insists she is not as comfortable with the spotlight as the other members of the family. She later watches her mother make an airy appearance on Sesame Street to defend her right to practice medicine even after voluntarily giving up her license. This inspires her to follow her father's advice, and give a passionate public statement about the necessity of a politically independent scientific community.
In parallel storylines, Josh tries to end a deadlock on the appointment of a Sixth Circuit judge. His old friend Eric Hayden (Gaston) has been waiting for a year for confirmation from the Republican-led Congress, and is offered the position of dean of Georgetown's law school. But Josh suggests making a temporary recess appointment that will at least put the issue on the agenda and Hayden agrees. When Josh goes to suggest this to Leo he is told that the issue will have to wait, as one of the Supreme Court justices has died. Having assumed the ailing Chief Justice, Roy Ashland, was the fatality, Josh is surprised to learn that the dead Justice is 52-year-old Owen Brady, who suffered a heart attack. C. J., meanwhile, tries to reconcile with her boyfriend from college, Ben, whom she has been forced to ignore due to her workload. Based on Ben's reaction at the end of their very brief conversation, C. J. regrets her approach and fears that she may have caused things with Ben to end before they could even begin. Upon voicing this concern to Toby, he advises her to go to Ben and fix it. Ryan Pierce, the intern working for Josh, uncharacteristically fails to show up for work. Josh has failed to notice until Donna voices her concern as she tries, unsuccessfully, to contact Ryan.[1][2][3]
Social and cultural references
The title of the episode refers to the president quoting
The advocacy group "Traditional Values Alliance" is a thinly veiled version of the real-life "Traditional Values Coalition" (TVC). TVC sent a letter of protest to NBC producers, reacting to their portrayal on the show. In particular it was the association with a group stating that "The Lord Hates Homosexuals" that provoked the coalition, reading in this an allusion to the controversial anti-gay pastor Fred Phelps. TVC, the group pointed out in its letter, had clearly distanced itself from Phelps and his methods.[2][5]
The restaurant, "1789", that Ben and C.J. planned lunch at is a real restaurant in Washington.
References
- ^ a b "Eppur Si Muove". NBC.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
- ^ a b c "Eppur Si Muove". The West Wing Episode Guide. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
- ^ "Eppur Si Muove". Television Without Pity. Archived from the original on 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
- ISBN 0-486-49542-6.
- ^ "Liberal Program Ties TVC To "God Hates Fags" Extremist". The Traditional Values Coalition. Archived from the original on 2005-09-04. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
External links
- "Eppur Si Muove" at NBC.com
- "Eppur Si Muove" at The West Wing Episode Guide
- "Eppur Si Muove" at The West Wing Continuity Guide
- "Eppur Si Muove" at IMDb