The only episode I've seen of "The West Wing" is Pilot (we watched it in my film story class in college). It was even nominated for Outstanding Writing at the Emmys. What particularly do you think makes it more outstanding, story-wise, than other pilot episodes of other shows?
I don't know if I'd call this particular pilot more outstanding than others, although I do think that it does a fine job of introducing the audience to the characters and into the show's world. Like many pilots, plenty of elements and themes that will make it into the series are present, but it does feel like a trial run for things that won't last, like the President looming in the shadows instead of being front and center like in later episodes.
In terms of pilots that I would show in a classroom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show's comes to mind. Gets everything right off the bat.
The only episode I've seen of "The West Wing" is Pilot (we watched it in my film story class in college). It was even nominated for Outstanding Writing at the Emmys. What particularly do you think makes it more outstanding, story-wise, than other pilot episodes of other shows?
I don't know if I'd call this particular pilot more outstanding than others, although I do think that it does a fine job of introducing the audience to the characters and into the show's world. Like many pilots, plenty of elements and themes that will make it into the series are present, but it does feel like a trial run for things that won't last, like the President looming in the shadows instead of being front and center like in later episodes.
In terms of pilots that I would show in a classroom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show's comes to mind. Gets everything right off the bat.