MONDO EXTRAS

Rose says, "At least we think this is in tomorrow's night show," as they go to a clip of Sheen in the National Cathedral, tearing God a new one. I can't believe they showed even the first part of this scene as a preview; it's pretty major and such a spoiler. I'm really glad I didn't watch this show until after "Two Cathedrals" aired. Rose says, "Pretty powerful stuff." Sorkin says that there's more. Schiff makes a joke about (I think) his song being cut. Hee! Unfortunately the sound quality is pretty crappy; I don't know if that's the fault of my tape, my VCR, or the poor underfunded PBS. Rose says, "We like a President that quotes Graham Greene, don't we?" Sure; I'd like him even better if he quoted The Simpsons, but that's really neither here nor there. Sorkin cites some of Bartlet's various qualities and abilities, as Whitford interjects, "One of the best lines you ever wrote was a line where it said, 'When did it become a virtue for a President to be stupid?'" You can tell Brad is probably still bitter about the whole Dubya thing, not that I blame him. Sorkin says, "I think that there is, uh...we have gotten into the habit lately with Presidents and any number of leaders, they're 'plain-spoken' and they're 'just plain folk' and it seems to be other words for 'happy to be stupid.'" Sheen explodes in sputtering laughter and leans forward, as Whitford leans back and crosses his arms. Both of them are killing themselves laughing.

Rose asks what, if anything, given all the critical and popular acclaim the show has received, they would change about the show. He more or less addresses this to Schiff, who affably says, "You're looking at me...as if I have a complaint." He says he doesn't know whether he would change anything; he's very happy with his character: "I'd change a lot of the editing. I'd go back and change a lot of that. I'd change how much time we have to unearth and discover certain moments, you know. But given the nature of the beast, I think we do pretty well. And I don't think I'd change a whole lot except take-home pay." Schiff smiles that smile where it's a real smile, broad, eye crinkles, the whole deal, but there's still a real undercurrent to the expression on his face. Whitford's off in gales of laughter again. Janney more or less chimes in her agreement. Rose asks about the "sheer brutality" of the schedule. She mentions that they usually start around 6 AM on a Monday and can be at it until 4 AM on Saturday. The hours are incredibly long and she expresses that sometimes you just wish you had a more regular schedule so you could also have your life outside of work. Schiff says, "If we would make this a sitcom, we'd have much better hours." Yes, but...God forbid.