113 replies to this topic

[Baby Huey]

Hello All!

We've seen the numerous examples of the small, subtle things that make it "art". How about examples of the overtly Wellsian things that have put his own imprint on the show, for bad or for worse (or for good if you can think of anything). It's perfectly okay to include anything that might normally be considered the fault of the writer or director or pretty much anybody else, because after all, it happened on his watch.

[Shazza]

It's the random missing year that TPTB thought we wouldn't notice that makes it Wells.

[OldEllen]

It's Leo having a massive heart attack with no one around and still surviving after who-knows-how-many-hours that makes it Wells.

[mgoshawk]

It's never really explaining the circumstances of Zoey's kidnapping and her rescue that makes it Wells. I've seen Dogs of War twice and I still don't get it. That was very disappointing at the time. (but to be fair 7WAF was promising and other S5 eps were better)

Edited by mgoshawk, Jul 9, 2005 @ 5:00 PM.

[ViennaCC]

It's the fact that Josh and Donna haven't gotten together that makes it crap. I mean Wells.

[SeanG]

To be fair, the fact that Josh and Donna have not gotten together also made it Sorkin. :)

[Lil Chloe]

Sorkin wouldn't have waited this long...

Also, it's the fact that almost nothing is funny anymore, that makes it Wells.

[subwoofer26]

Remember Season 4 Will. He was a nice guy, funny and sweet with proper respect for the world around him. Turning Will Baily into a dick, that makes it Wells.

[ViennaCC]

Oooh!! I so agree with subwoofer26! I just finished watching some S4 eps with Will in them and was reminded of a time when he was...a good guy. Sigh. I've shaken my fist at Wells so many times now, that I'm thinking of getting a mechanical arm to do it for me. Seriously, I'm worried about my real arm's health...

Topic though - It's the absense of Bonnie and Ginger, Ed and Larry, FITZ, good Nancy McNally episodes etc that make it clear that Wells has creative control. Seriously, the man has some good ideas and there is evidence that he can write, but the nonsense in between? Therein lies his insanity. And my frustration.

I like this thread. It's a great outlet for my need to whinge about Wells. Apologies to you all though. :)

[Wrigley]

S5 Pod Leo? Wells.

[Baby Huey]

It's the high drama of a close-up of a telephone ringing that makes it Wells!

[sgittinger]

How can we be forgetting--it's the presence of a helicopter, in any scene, whether necessary or not, that makes it Wells.

[CrazyDiamond]

It's the need to insert multiple upon multiple time graphics into an episode in the mistaken belief that viewers aren't intelligent enough to follow a storyline that make it Wells.

[amycurl]

It's Josh and Toby physically coming to blows that makes it Wells...
(Because, to paraphrase Toby, "it's not like strong verbal communication skills are a requirement of the job!")


It's never really understanding or seeing the Ben/CJ thing that makes it Wells

And, that reminds me, it really is the lack of the "thing" thing that lets you know it's Wells.


This thread has made me laugh so hard, I've started to cry. I think we've all needed this release.

[celticann]

It's the "My little girl is a number" that makes it Wells.

[asometimes]

It's Rina and Swimtern that make it Wells.

[alexj]

And the pointless coming back of Amy and Cliff that makes it Wells.
Josh and Donna hardly being in the same room toghether that makes it Wells.
It's the compleate lack of humor that make it Wells.
It's the existance of superKate and her bangs that makes it Wells.

[Drkangel]

It's the screaming at the Capitol in the middle of the freaking night IN FRONT OF SWIMTERN that makes it Wells.

It's the lack of excitment as the Christmas season rolls around, beacause for three years it was GREAT, that makes it Wells. (I argue the Silent Night could have just been an off year.)

[ViennaCC]

Are we allowed to kick JW in the nuts for lighting? Cuz it's SUCKED. I hate the halfly lit episodes. Does budget cut mean NO light bulbs at all for the next season? Cuz don't they cost, like, a dollar? (I really don't know, I'm not all that...domestic.)

[Uppy]

It's thinking we watch this show because of the political theme and managing to make the West Wing so boring diehard fans give up on the show. Then, John Wells wins a $15,000 Humanitas Prize for what was one of the most tedious and painful story arcs on West Wing ever. I've had more fun at a two hour lecture in a 90 degree classroom while sweating like a pig and hoping I did not smell as bad as folks around me. Do we really want to encourage the writing of more crap just because it was a worthwhile topic?

Are we allowed to kick JW in the nuts for lighting?

I don't think we can really blame John Wells for the lighting. It predated him and if he doesn't kill the program it will most likely outlast him.

[bdsk]

This thread and its alter ego? Best. Threads. Ever.

[Rowing Goddess]

It's the viewers who haven't seen an epi since the 2nd week of S5 and kinda forgot the show's even on that make it Wells.

Edited by Rowing Goddess, Jul 11, 2005 @ 3:22 PM.

[celticann]

It's serving Maryland crabcakes at a conference with Jews and Muslims that makes it Wells.

[Wrigley]

Made no sense . . . thanks, please drive through . . .

Edited by Wrigley, Jul 12, 2005 @ 12:23 AM.

[Baby Huey]

Marina... a walking lawsuit.

[ViennaCC]

It's my impending admittance to a pyschiatric institution that makes it Wells. If he hadn't magically skipped a year, all the main characters would still be on the show and there'd be none of this hype about who's coming back for half a season etc. I don't want to watch TWW without Toby and CJ, Donna and Charlie, etc etc...I want my stolen year back!

[Elorie]

And, that reminds me, it really is the lack of the "thing" thing that lets you know it's Wells.

Amen, amycurl!

It's the apparent AWOL status of CJ's funny snark that makes it Wells. (The bit in S6's "A Good Day" (wherever that party was) really didn't cut it. )

It's the lack of episodes with so many things going on that you can't believe it's packed into only 42 minutes that makes it Wells.

[Wrigley]

Marina... a walking lawsuit.

At least Toby got to say something that sounded like Toby. So, in the spirit of the thread, my thought should probably be that it's the S5 Pod Toby that makes it Wells. Or even, it's the S5 Pod [fill in the character name here] that makes it Wells.

[Baby Huey]

Marina... a walking lawsuit.


At least Toby got to say something that sounded like Toby.

For clarification, it wasn't the statement "a walking lawsuit" that made it Wells, it was the existence of the character in the first place. Previous seasons of TWW could do, and did... better.

[My Fair Lady]

Like others have said...It's the CJ personality/snark-transplant that makes it Wells.

It's the blatant J/D shipper teasing that makes it Wells (Sorkin just let them 2 be and whatever magic happened, happened. Wellsian WW sticks them in a closet and plays Desire in the background).

It's the technology cop-out (cell, blackberry, etc) that makes it Wells.

And, that reminds me, it really is the lack of the "thing" thing that lets you know it's Wells. amycurl

heh. Awesome.