Review of 20 Hours in L.A.
Written by Toniann
review written in Jan. 2002
I always think of this as the Hollywood episode, but I just noticed that the only two celebrities you see are David Hasselhoff and Jay Leno.
I thought they balanced the L.A. trip with the vote over the ethanol tax credit back in D.C. rather well. Even though Margaret was upset over not getting to go, at least she didn't have to join CJ and Donna in their concern regarding their sensitive alabaster skin.
Quick note: in the beginning of the episode, Leo is walking in the hallway with Ed and Larry. They really are the Bert & Ernie of the West Wing!
The neat thing about the ethanol tax storyline is that we got to see Bartlet's administration be proven wrong about something, which doesn't happen very often. And Hoynes was right: they can be arrogant. On the other hand, I thought Bartlet's phone call to him at the end was more than decent. There really was a lot of bad blood between these two men, when gestures like that didn't really do much to fix things.
I loved the president's glee over being the guy who gets to tell Air Force One when to take off, and over having guacamole made right in front of him. That was really the only hint of glee in the whole episode, though. For the rest, he was rather downtrodden. That scene at the end, where he closes his eyes but can't sleep, that was gut-wrenching. Great job by Martin Sheen.
Did you ever notice that Josh always makes Donna carry the bags? Chivalry is dead.
Josh and Donna were overall kind of a hoot this episode. I liked him dragging her off of David Hasselhoff ("Matt Perry, right there. Goodbye!"), and them hanging out in his room together after the party. And Donna egging him on about Joey Lucas. This was all back in the day before it occurred to me that Josh and Donna deep down have a thing for each other, so it seemed harmless. Actually, I rephrase that. It was fun and harmless and cute.
I liked Ted Marcus. He was a jerk for slapping Josh around, but he's got a valid beef, and he was completely reasonable when Bartlet explained the mechanics of handling this kind of situation to him. And Bartlet likes him too, I think, because he confided in him rather easily. Or it could be that Bartlet's too tired not to admit it.
You know, I think I'd dream up ways to kill myself, or at least chew my leg off, to get out of that town hall meeting thing on flag burning. Yikes.
As always, Toby's dry humor at the party was a pleasure. I liked CJ constantly using Sam as an excuse to get out of conversations, as well.
I don't blame Toby for not liking Al Kiefer; he's obnoxious, and not that smart, as Joey Lucas proves in a later episode when she talks to Josh about how a leader needs to lead his people in the right direction, not just where they want to go. But I do love the actor playing Kiefer, John De Lancie. Too bad his character is a schmuck.
So why the heck was Joey Lucas sleeping with the guy? I guess he's okay to look at, but yuck, personality wise. She strikes me as a woman with better taste. I'm assuming he has hidden talents.
Could that Jay Leno moment have been any cheesier?
"I'll be over at the bar, drinking a lot, if anyone wants me."
Back to episode info