The Mommy Problem

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As a Grand Jury is convened to investigate the miliatry shuttle leak from the White House, the campaign's focus changes to national security. Vinick deftly handles the issue while Santos is bound by his party loyalty to align himself with the Bartlet administration.

Contents 1 Summary 2 Cast 2.1 Starring 2.2 Special Guest Stars 2.3 Guest Starring 2.4 Co-Starring 3 Trivia 4 Goofs 5 Quotes 6 References

[edit] Summary

[edit] Cast

[edit] Starring

• Alan Alda as Senator Arnold Vinick
• Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg
• Richard Schiff as Toby Ziegler
• Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman
• with Jimmy Smits as Matthew Santos

[edit] Special Guest Stars

• Janeane Garofalo as Louise Thornton
• and Marlee Matlin as Joey Lucas

[edit] Guest Starring

• Sam Robards as Greg Brock
• NiCole Robinson as Margaret Hooper
• Renée Estevez as Nancy
• Matthew Del Negro as Bram Howard
• Karis Campbell as Ronna Beckman
• Evan Arnold as Ned Carlson
• Diana-Maria Riva as Edie Ortega
• Ramón De Ocampo as Otto
• Bill O'Brien as Kenny Thurman

[edit] Co-Starring

• Melissa Fitzgerald as Carol Fitzpatrick
• Ivan Allen as Roger Salier
• John Bobek as Bill
• Ken Meseroll as Pundit #1
• Liann Pattison as Consultant #1
• Michael McCafferty as Consultant #2
• William Charlton as Consultant #3
• Vivianne Collins as Pebble Beach Reporter
• Broocks Willich as Naval Base Reporter
• Rebecca Avery as Anna
• Tom W. Chick as Gordon
• David Brownstein as Reporter #3
• Joyce Guy as Charlayne
• Ron Ostrow as John

[edit] Trivia

This is Janeane Garofalo's first appearance as media consultant Louise "Lou" Thornton.[1]

An allusion to the President Kennedy address given to a group of Nobel Prize winners who were honored with a dinner at the White House. President Kennedy said, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." In the episode, Josh Lyman says to a group of media consultants: "This is probably the greatest assemblage of Democratic talent since the last time Jed Bartlet dined alone." [2]

[edit] Goofs

At the end of the episode, when Matt Santos is approaching his fighter jet, the number "15" is on the left part of the jet's nose. Later, when the jet is taxiing towards take-off, the number changes to "01". [3]

[edit] Quotes

Josh Lyman: People think campaigns are about two competing answers to the same question. They're not. They're a fight over the question itself.

Congressman Matt Santos: Tell the Secret Service if they put 40 electoral votes on the table I'll do whatever they want.

Josh Lyman: Oh, let me introduce myself. I'm the problem.

[edit] References

"The West Wing" The Mommy Problem (2005)
The West Wing: The Mommy Problem
Movie Mistakes

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