What Kind of Day Has It Been

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"What Kind of Day Has It Been"
The West Wing episode
President Bartlet is rushed into his limo by Secret Service agents after shots ring out
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 22
Directed byThomas Schlamme
Written byAaron Sorkin
Production code225921
Original air dateMay 17, 2000 (2000-05-17)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"In the Shadow of Two Gunmen"
The West Wing season 1
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"What Kind of Day Has It Been" is the 22nd episode of

Commencement" in the situation room.[2] Sorkin claimed that he took the phrase from Robert Whitehead, lead producer of Sorkin's A Few Good Men, who used to start meetings at the end of rehearsal days by asking this question.[3]

Plot

"What Kind of Day Has it Been" begins with the president attending a

White Supremacist groups. In addition to this, the military are performing a delicate rescue mission of an American pilot, stranded in Iraq
, with Iraqi security forces trying to find him.

C.J.
has to lie to the press to keep the Iraqi rescue mission covert, but doing so she incurs the anger of reporter Danny Concannon.

Returning to the town hall meeting, the evening is turning into a great success for the whole Bartlet administration. The pilot was saved without any bloodshed and while Bartlet is answering questions, the news comes through that the shuttle carrying Toby's brother is safe. As the senior staff come out of the building laughing and joking, Gina tells Zoey to get in the car, made nervous by the sight of a young man who doesn't seem to fit with the crowd. Suddenly, the man looks up to a window and removes his hat, before disappearing. As Gina turns around, she spots two more men aiming guns out of said window, and yells a warning, screaming "GUN!". Suddenly shots ring out. Scenes show each member of the senior staff being thrown to the ground by agents and chaos erupting. As the scene pans out to show the carnage, a Secret Service agent can be heard on the radio, asking "Who's been hit?! Who's been hit?!"[1][4][5]

Real-life connections

Seal of the president of the United States

While waiting with Bartlet in the Oval office for news on the missing pilot, Admiral Fitzwallace makes an observation on the

Executive Order 9646, in 1945, that the eagle should always face right, towards the olive branch.[6]

President Bartlet's supposed ancestor

Governor of the state.[7]

The leg of actress Jorja Fox, playing Agent Gina Toscano, was accidentally run over during the final scene. She was rushed to the emergency room but was fine and came away with only bruises.[8] According to Aaron Sorkin, Fox later apologized, saying it was her fault for missing her mark.[9]

Reception

The West Wing's first season finale was nominated for an

The White House Pro-Am," and "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet."[12]

In spite of the positive reception, there were those who believed the cliffhanger ending to the season was a cliché; that it was a cheap dramatic trick simply intended to maintain high ratings.[4] The creators and cast members rejected this, and claimed that it was never intended as a traditional cliffhanger, but rather as a narrative device for exploring new story lines:

It's not about who's coming back and who's not... but a kind of convention that he's [Aaron Sorkin] interested in exploring.

— John Spencer (Leo McGarry)[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "What Kind of Day Has It Been". NBC.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  2. ^ "Commencement". NBC.com. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  3. ^ "5 Questions with Aaro Sorkin". HBO Connect.
  4. ^ a b c "What Kind of Day Has It Been". The West Wing Episode Guide. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  5. ^ "What Kind of Day Has It Been". Television Without Pity. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  6. ^ "A Turn of the Head". Snopes. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
  7. ^ "Government Documents". The West Wing Continuity Guide. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
  8. ^ Rob Owen (2000-07-25). "Giving Her All". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
  9. ^ ""Jorja Fox Shines On TV's Hottest Show" (interview)". jorjafox.net. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Awards for "The West Wing"". IMDb. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
  11. ^ "Awards for "ER"". IMDb. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
  12. ^ "What Kind of Day Has It Been". TV.com. Retrieved 2007-05-28.

External links

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