OTH: The West Wing- "The Indians in the Lobby" / "The Women of Qumar"
Yes, Butterball has a hotline.
Season 3, Episode 7
Aired November 21, 2001
Directed by Paris Barclay
Story by Allison Abner, Teleplay by Allison Abner & Kevin Falls and Aaron Sorkin
Synopsis: It’s the day before Thanksgiving and President Bartlet is reluctantly going to spend it at Camp David, per his family’s request. While he tries to figure out why, C.J. is asked to meet with a couple of Native Americans from the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe who are waiting out in the middle of the White House lobby, and refuse to leave until they meet with someone. She meets with the two Natives, who discuss their plight and their hope for some kind of restitution. Unfortunately, C.J.’s hands are tied, but their plea that their tribe will be wiped out within two generations does not fall on deaf ears. She tries to find someone who will talk to them, but her options are slim as it’s holiday time, and Leo refuses to meet with people who camp out at the lobby. When she learns that security is coming to escort them, C.J. offers the Natives to come into her office to set up a meeting for Monday, with the White House willing to pay their expenses, which they agree. Meanwhile, Bartlet discovers that Bruno conducted the poll to ask where the First Family should have Thanksgiving, and back in New Hampshire lost, while also discovering that it was a family decision to take the family to Camp David, which Jed realized came down to his wife. The two talk it over and he reluctantly agrees.
Josh learns of a high schooler in Georgia who shot his teacher and was sent to Rome (yes, in Italy) by his parents. The child is stuck with Interpol, who refuse to send him back where he will be forced to accept the death penalty. On the one hand, this is a child, but on the other, this is Georgia we’re talking about. The Italian ambassador tells Josh the same thing, which makes him realize that the only way to ensure the child surviving is to meet with someone from Georgia, particularly where the teenager is from. While Josh spent part of the episode trying to avoid layover at the Atlanta airport before stopping over at his mother’s in Florida, he decides to take his initial flight and meets with Mark Farragut, DeKalb County’s DA, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress at the airport. Josh offers Farragut a couple of names who will help him for his next run if he agrees to not seek the death penalty.
Toby and Sam, meanwhile, meet with Bernice Collette from the Office of Management and Budget, who is intending to raise the income level for the poverty line, which will make more people be considered poor but will raise benefits. It’s a mixed bag, but one they eventually agree on after mulling it over.
It makes sense to focus on Native Americans for a Thanksgiving-themed episode, but it’s kind of surprising that it took The West Wing three years to get there, given its nature. It’s unfortunate that the term “Indians” was used regularly to describe the two characters, but that’s par for the course more often than not… I say, although their website gladly uses the term front and center.
What I think The West Wing does best, or one of its best qualities at least, is its desire for empathy. Virtually any kind of group can come into the lobby of the White House hoping to hear from someone with power, even if isn’t the President, and they’ll seldom fall on deaf ears. This works best for Big Block of Cheese Day, but there’s enough cheese to go around all year.
It does seem like meeting with C.J. is what will give a group a greater chance of winning the jackpot, as it’s easier to appeal to her empathy than most of her peers. I can’t help but wonder if this is because she’s the one woman of the senior staff, an unfortunate bit of gender bias, but it does give the character a necessary tinge of personality, while it’s worth remembering that Claudia Jean isn’t always the biggest softy, and will laugh at your face if your presentation isn’t good enough.
Still, it’s hard to argue with a Native tribe who may not make it to another century asking for at least some of the land that once belonged to them, especially on a day that has controversial meaning for Native Americans. To the show’s credit, it takes the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe’s request and plea for humanity seriously, allowing the rest of the episode to be fun,
Although I wouldn’t necessarily call Josh’s story, where he tries to fight for a teenager possibly facing the death penalty, fun. I can respect his desire to avoid Hartsfield-Jackson (I’ll take it over MCO, but that’s about it), but this is a heavy subject to have to tackle before Thanksgiving, albeit an important one. Fortunately, being a man of connections allows Josh to find a way to save a child’s life, but he does so cautiously, as we’re reminded that this child isn’t innocent by any stretch- he’s a murderer. A minor but still a murderer.
For fun stuff, we have President Bartlet as he attempts to cook a perfect turkey, although even he has a bit of serious conflict when the First Lady comes in to give Stockard Channing her credit this week. I’m personally ready to see the White House proceed with more hearings so we can advance this storyline, but I understand why they’re taking their time. This is mostly to build the show as we get to that point, but it’s not like a serious trial will happen this close to the end of the year, when multiple recesses will be expected to occur. While I appreciate Abbey’s argument that she’s the one who has to keep appearances going, I’d rather see Jed deal with the Butterball hotline.
But whatever, at least this is quality material. The West Wing seems to have a knack for memorable Thanksgiving episodes, nearly to the extent that fellow NBC icon Friends does. While this isn’t the most charming episode, “The Indians in the Lobby” is a sensational outing that continues the tradition while remaining as entertaining as the season can be thus far.
Paris Barclay was nominated for Outstanding Directing for “The Indians in the Lobby”, losing (IMO fairly) to Alan Ball for Six Feet Under’s pilot. And if nothing else, we can at least take pride in stating that “The Indians in the Lobby” is a more sensitive episode than Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s “Pangs”.
Season 3, Episode 8
Aired November 28, 2001
Directed by Alex Graves
Story by Felicia Wilson & Laura Glasser & Julia Dahl, Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin
Synopsis: Yet another busy day at the White House. C.J. ends a briefing when she hears about the President being sued, which she has no knowledge of. Apparently, President Bartlet is under hot water over a discussion point in a recent speech debating the use of seatbelts, as a family recently didn’t use theirs and died in a crash. But this seems silly after President Bartlet is asked to make a deal with Qumar, offering them military equipment in exchange for a ten year lease for a base in the country. When C.J. is briefed about this, as well as a rise in mad cow disease across the nation’s farms, she’s furious, as she brings up Qumar’s inhumane treatment of women. First comes the mad cow issue, as they’re worried about crippling the beef industry, a big faction that is already critical of the left. While it’s suggested to wait for further testing before coming clean, C.J. argues that it will make the White House look dishonest if they keep what they know from their current tests away from the public, recalling the President’s MS, which is a sound enough argument that he agrees with her. But C.J.’s lingering resentment over the White House working with Qumar, a nation infamous for abusing their women, continues to linger throughout the day as she makes her opinion known, even during the middle of a meeting Toby has with WWII veterans who oppose a Smithsonian exhibit about Pearl Harbor. She eventually confides to Nancy at the end of the episode, a surprisingly sympathetic ear, given her position.
Josh is called up by the First Lady after receiving a request for a meeting by Amy Gardner from the Women’s Leadership Council, wanting him to see what this is about as the two have a history. Josh meets up with Amy, and while sparks fly, she cuts to the chase as she’s against not just trafficking, but sex work as a whole. Josh promises to do what he can, but he deflects when Amy asks about Donna and Joey Lucas, not recognizing that she’s into him. He’s still confused after leaving her office, when she playfully throws a water balloon at him.
It’s easy to read Josh as Sorkin’s fill-in for the show, given the amount of desirable women who gravitate towards him. Between how smitten Donna clearly is, to Bradley Whitford’s playful chemistry with Marlee Matlin’s Joey Lucas, and now a pre-Weeds Mary-Louise Parker being added into the mix.
Supposedly the character of Amy Gardner was made after Parker made a call to Aaron Sorkin, stating that “Josh Lyman needs to get laid, and [she’s] the one to do it.” To be fair, as much as I like Janel Molony and Matlin’s chemistry with Whitford, Parker is nearly as good as the other two and confidentially holds her own with him. Having previous experience with Josh helps, as there’s unspoken tension between the two, although it becomes one-sided to a certain extent. When Josh can’t recognize what Amy is doing when she asks about Donna and Joey, hopefully he takes the hint when she throws a water balloon at him by the end of their meeting.
I’m not crazy about the rest of their story, however, as the frequent talk of sex work, compounded with the unnecessary use of the word “prostitute” when they could have meant anything else, seems almost like a non-issue created just to give the crew a reason to use Parker. Her claim to discredit sex work is barely defended and goes basically nowhere by the end, which makes the ordeal pointless besides, as Parker handsomely put it, to potentially get Josh laid. And that doesn’t even happen.
While I think “The Indians in the Lobby” is largely effective, I’m a little less hot on “The Women of Qumar”, which is a little more on the nose as an attempt to (I presume successfully, as she will win that year) Allison Janney yet another Emmy as she bemoans the way women are treated in Qumar. Not that she’s necessarily wrong- not that she can be, as Qumar is a fake country made up for the series- but her frustration comes off randomly, as their treatment of women isn’t mentioned elsewhere during the episode, nor is there someone from the country to argue or agree with her. This just feels like a lazy way to recall C.J.’s repeated gift for empathy and to remind audiences of how “brutal” “third-world countries” can be to women, like we’re all that much better in the supposed “Free world”.
While rewatching and reviewing The West Wing, I’m often reminded of what works and why it’s one of the most beloved shows from its time, and almost just as often reminded of why it’s also pretty far from perfect. Finger-pointing, no matter the intention, is never fun, whether you’re doing the wagging or being wagged at, and while I understand why it’s sometimes necessary, I prefer a more subtle approach.
I do think the mad cow disease storyline works a little bit better, recalling a similar event in the late 90s. The decision to be as upfront as possible to avoid comparisons to how the White House handled President Bartlet’s MS diagnosis, is a tasteful reminder of what has to be the main story coming out from the White House, whether everyone else is focusing on it or not. Let’s get back to that, maybe?
Presidential Records:
In case you’re wondering, Ana Gasteyer from Saturday Night Live and Mean Girls was the voice of the Butterball hotline receptionist, which was only revealed in 2019 when she tweeted it and was confirmed by casting director Tony Sepulveda.
President Bartlet speaks four languages, but none of them is French- he called Abby his little cheese.
Next Week(ish): We get another flashback episode, this time to Bartlet’s early campaign days, and the Oversight Committee’s run may finally end.