This scene, and episode really, captures so many things that are what make this show so incredible. A bunch of people who are all in politics cause they honestly believe the policies and morals they push, but also remain capable of thinking in purely human standards. See; Tribbey's harping about the little umbrellas throughout the episode, in contrast to how he lets Sam righteously/furiously fire the two guys who outrageously disrespect Ainsley purely on the basis that she is both a woman and a Republican. And, of course, the cricket bat. Oh, man the cricket bat.
Thing about those two guys was that they were clearly defiant incompetents who perjured themselves while representing the White House. Then when a new legal aide tried to get them to fix the issue they caused, they responded by sending a threatening harrassing message to that aide, meaning that aide could sue the White House for it. Those guys were thorns in Tribbeys side, and Tribbey clearly wanted to fire them long ago.
Yeah I doubt they’d let him carry that in there. But then again maybe the White House council isn’t considered a security risk and he’s known to be a character.
@iansocawarrior Lionel Tribbey is supposed to be a famous lawyer who runs in esteemed social circles. The cricket bat comment was meant to illustrate that and Ainsley herself points out to him later he's obviously there because of duty since he left a six figure salary at his old law firm.
Can anyone else see the West Wing as a musical? I've heard Aaron Sorkin talking about how each voice is a musical instrument in an orchestra, this scene would just be perfect, it's all done in meter
She was a great foil for... well, pretty much the whole cast. She was intelligent and competent enough to argue her conservative perspective and even swayed other characters toward a more moderate position. If she couldn't, it meant her _argument_ had less merit, and not that they made her _character_ too stupid to argue effectively.
2:22 As long as Justice Dreyfort is intolerant towards gays, lesbians, blacks, unions, women, poor people, and the 1st, 4th, 5th, & 9th amendments, I will remain intolerant toward him! I can think of a few people this may apply to. And yes, I am also intolerant of the Dreyfort's of the world too.
You guys are wrong if you think this show is unfair to the right wing. This show paints right- wingers in a much better light than they actually are. I wish they would have shown real right- wingers in this show like Rick Sanitorium or Newtmare. Hell, they even had a right-wing president for a handful of episodes and showed him doing a wonderful job. That hasn't happened since Eisenhower.
You can really tell that Oliver babish's script was written for tribey. Too bad they couldn't get the same actor to come back. Babish was good but he can't smash that gavel like this guy wouldve
Agreed. Loved JL in that roll, but "Babbish" was the right character for the place they put him. Oliver Platt was amazing as WH Counsel for the "MS Years".
As a part time writer, I find the close of this scene interesting. Lionel spends the whole time yelling about something else, which raises the question, did Leo call him into his office or was he on his way anyway? The implication is that Leo called him in to meet Ainsley, but Lionel's behavior is like he just came there to yell at Leo - which is fine. Lionel had something on his mind and he said what was on his mind - cute scene, then we get into the "who's this" and "you're an idiot, the justice you clerked for is an idiot" - all very fast paced and entertaining. So as Lionel marches out of Leo's office. "She's working for you. The President asked me to hire her for your office." "The President of what?" He knows, he's just in a state of partial disbelief. "The United States" It sinks in for a moment, Lionel does a "this can't be real" laugh, but they have to close it with a line. Not on the laugh. And all the writers could think of was "excuse me" . . . which isn't bad. It works. If this had been on cable, it would probably have been "shit" or maybe "fuck".
Emily Proctor was so good in this role. She was okay in CSI, but just window dressing. Probably set her up for life, though. Someone once asked in the comments about her voice...nothing wrong with her voice, she's just from North Carolina. (me too, by the way)
I think he went "right big". People at that level have a certain ego that help propel them there. I know I've looked my boss in the face and said "if we did it the way I said a month ago we could have already been here, oh, month ago already, right?" and I'm just a junior researcher in a biology lab. True he never would have made it into the presence of the PotUS with a cricket bat in hand...but still, you have to love the imagery. *wry grin*
Its just supposed to be funny! They were probably just trying to think of a well known British person and the first person that popped into their head was the queen. Its a TV drama that is supposed to make you laugh...
"I will kill people!!! ... The president of what?" ooooh how I miss waiting a whole week for new episodes to air... before RUclips and Netflix, how did I survive?
I want to be White House Counsel. Tribbey was just about to go off on holiday. Babish was just about to go off on holiday when the President and Leo went to his office. How much leave does the job get??
@UncleMikeNJ I'm going to regret asking, but what the hell does "Leo channeling his inner Batman" mean?!?! The only possible "bat" connection I can imagine is Tribbey's cricket bat, but that would be an idiotic pun, so...WTF?
@stupidjunk878 What do you mean Australian accent? Are you talking about Ainsley Hayes? Because the actress playing the character is not Australian, and that is not an Australian accent. It's a southern accent.
“ let’s….. and practice some tolerance for those who disagree with us” A great lesson for everyone on the political spectrum, Dem, Rep and everything in between and outside and of those groups. As kids were told “two wrong don’t make a right” but we never take it to heart. I sympathise with Tribby refusing to tolerate people he considers intolerant, but it’s never good practice to base your own moral decisions on the conduct and of your opponent. Why follow their bad example when you have the chance to set a higher one and show the public the real moral difference between you and your enemy? In other words “kill them with kindness” not only is it ethical, but it’s also highly effective.
Sadly, just about everything you said there was wrong. Taking the high road only works to a point, if you try to be tolerant towards intolerant views, all you're doing is reinforcing and supporting those views. Bigotry cannot be defeated with simple kindness and politeness, it needs to be shown to be unacceptable and unwelcome at every point. Now, the means by which you do so is a more difficult point. But if you try to tolerate hatred and bigotry, you're just letting it fester...
@@Wraithfighter “sunlight is the best disincention” People with horrible views about social issues should be ignored if they’re unreasonable but if not you should try and convince them why their wrong, but you need an audience, people to see what pathetic people these clowns with poison You most likely won’t change the mind of a bigot. But 3rd parties who are watching This debate…….probably. 1) think their morally superior, and know they’re right...ofcourse some can be saved and find redemption. There’s countless examples of racists that later became campaigners against racism. 2) when you refuse to engage with them an ignorant 3rd would think you were insecure in your beliefs and not willing to defend them and humiliated a racist. 3) ignoring them, banning them, making holocaust denial illegal etc just legitimises that. It look it look like your afraid of them. 4) when you ostracised from the group you condemn when and It reinforces the isolation that diminishes your confidence, damaging your mental health in turn 5) if there are 5-10% of racists in this country wouldnt you like know who they are…….Wouldn’t you like to know?! See Like sexual offenders etc
@@jimmy2k4o Except that what Leo's doing in this scene is telling the guy to show respect to a bigot who holds a position in the highest court of the land. You can engage with bigots by attacking their bigotry and shaming them for it, instead of trying to appease and show deference and be kind about it all. The fact of the matter is that a bigoted supreme court justice is deserving of no respect, and shouldn't be granted any, especially because he's in a position to spread that hatred and bigotry to others, and enshrine that hate into law. West Wing had a very lackadaisical attitude towards the "Near Right" sorts, that they could be respected and worked with, they're not bad people at their core, they just believe different things... ...and American History since the West Wing went off the air showed that, no, sorry, they can't. We tried playing nice, they used that acceptance to entrench themselves into power further. If you're going to engage at all with bigots? You do it to shame them, attack their beliefs, show them the exact amount of respect that they show the people they hate, which is usually none at all. That's the only thing that they deserve.
Honestly, why in the name of holy hell would the Queen give a cricket bat to the White House Counsel? I cringe, I weep inside, every time I watch this scene because it's totally ridiculous, and shows The West Wing's ever-present unfamiliarity with how the world works beyond its borders.
This gets funnier every time I watch it. The look on Leo's face as he takes a second look at the cricket bat is hysterical.
"I'm a politician, of course I lied".....hilarious!
John Spencer was brilliant in this show
wjmcd703 Agreed!! So many fine performances from the leads AND from the bit parts as well....one of "those shows" that stay with you!! Cheers
"I thought it went pretty well." The three of them must have had a lot of fun with that scene.
“The President of what asked you to hire her?” A great line
John Larroquette is one of the most underrated actors in the entertainment industry......
+Downhomesunset The guy has won five Emmy awards and thus is not underrated at all.
Yep. From this character alone.
And night court, I guess.
His episode of House was great, too.
Chuck and the narrator from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre as well.
This scene, and episode really, captures so many things that are what make this show so incredible.
A bunch of people who are all in politics cause they honestly believe the policies and morals they push, but also remain capable of thinking in purely human standards. See; Tribbey's harping about the little umbrellas throughout the episode, in contrast to how he lets Sam righteously/furiously fire the two guys who outrageously disrespect Ainsley purely on the basis that she is both a woman and a Republican.
And, of course, the cricket bat.
Oh, man the cricket bat.
ISchulz SHISKABAB!!!
@@potterpotty01 I can report that you made me laugh on the basis that I read that in Tribbey’s voice
Thing about those two guys was that they were clearly defiant incompetents who perjured themselves while representing the White House. Then when a new legal aide tried to get them to fix the issue they caused, they responded by sending a threatening harrassing message to that aide, meaning that aide could sue the White House for it. Those guys were thorns in Tribbeys side, and Tribbey clearly wanted to fire them long ago.
John Larroquette was so awesome in this. The same passion, and fervor he gave the role of Dan Fielding, on Night Court, another great show.
Shame that his character in the new Night Court is totally neutered and lame.
"Holding it in my hand, Leo!"
@SebaJB82 I love when Leo says "Of the United States" Lionel is all dejected, as if to say, "Oh...*that* president...damn... I can't get out of this!"
You've got to love Leo's optimism in this scene.
"I just want to die"
"That's The White House. You get used to that feeling."
Now this is more relevant than ever.
I just love Leo's look at the bat when he comes in XD
It’s a shame we didn’t get more scenes between those two!
Tribby with the cricket bat and Babbish with the gavel. I wish there were more scenes with both of them!
I don't remember the next scene, but Tribbey going to see the President while carrying a cricket bat must have just thrilled the Secret Service detail
I never really thought about it.
Honestly, I thought he was going to put the cricket bat through some drywall.
Yes always wondered why he wasn’t tackled to the ground
Yeah I doubt they’d let him carry that in there.
But then again maybe the White House council isn’t considered a security risk and he’s known to be a character.
2:50 watching his hopes and dreams, along with a piece of his soul ......shattering all over the floor!!!
I loved Emily Proctor in this role.
Man this show is a masterclass in writing, delivery, and comedic timing.
That look of defeat on Lionel's face at 2:53 is priceless. LOL!!!
defeat? did you watch the episode?
"in real life, when the cameras are off--"
*BANG*
"LEO!!"
I rewatch this clip just to see 2:11 again. The way he says it, after a short pause, it's just brilliant.
"Somebody bringing me drinks with little umbrellas in them!"
Imagine how Tribbey would've reacted had Bartlett told him about having MS
Oh, my gosh this scene is so memorable! Especially "little UM-brellas"
"...the White House couldn't produce the Rocklin memo because the White House didn't HAVE the Rocklin memo."
"Do we?"
"Holding it in my hand, Leo!"
I love how he encapsulated the Paradox of Tolerance. I need this show back...
That bowed/drooped head near the end... priceless.
@iansocawarrior Lionel Tribbey is supposed to be a famous lawyer who runs in esteemed social circles. The cricket bat comment was meant to illustrate that and Ainsley herself points out to him later he's obviously there because of duty since he left a six figure salary at his old law firm.
He was a great character, it's a shame they only used him for a few episodes.
LOL The laugh and the bat...oh god, perfect..
The laugh smile and, "Excuse me" sums up a lot of my emotional depth
John Larroquette is such an under-rated actor
Leo: "I'm a politician, Ainsley. Of course I lied to you......"
LOL
"Mr. President, have you completely lost your mind!?"
"I can't possibly work like this!"
"I thought it wan't pretty well."
Oh, Leo...
Can anyone else see the West Wing as a musical? I've heard Aaron Sorkin talking about how each voice is a musical instrument in an orchestra, this scene would just be perfect, it's all done in meter
Haha that would have been a sight.
Lionel's laugh as he leaves says one thing: Oh Mr President, would you like to see my cricket bat?
I loved the character of Ainsley Hayes. Wish she could have stayed on the show.
She was a great foil for... well, pretty much the whole cast. She was intelligent and competent enough to argue her conservative perspective and even swayed other characters toward a more moderate position. If she couldn't, it meant her _argument_ had less merit, and not that they made her _character_ too stupid to argue effectively.
"You're an idiot."
"She's not an idiot! She clerked for Dreyford!"
"Well Dreyford's an idiot." XD
11 people got beat up by the cricket bat
2:22
As long as Justice Dreyfort is intolerant towards gays, lesbians, blacks, unions, women, poor people, and the 1st, 4th, 5th, & 9th amendments, I will remain intolerant toward him!
I can think of a few people this may apply to. And yes, I am also intolerant of the Dreyfort's of the world too.
You guys are wrong if you think this show is unfair to the right wing. This show paints right- wingers in a much better light than they actually are. I wish they would have shown real right- wingers in this show like Rick Sanitorium or Newtmare. Hell, they even had a right-wing president for a handful of episodes and showed him doing a wonderful job. That hasn't happened since Eisenhower.
When people are being particularly trying at work I often find myself muttering "I will kill people today, Leo" to myself.
You can tell that Lionel was very seriously considering using the cricket bat on the President.
While I love this whole scene, I particularly love the "duh" in his voice when he says the SC justice is an idiot.
I love Ainsley, I wish she'd stuck around. I really do.
You can really tell that Oliver babish's script was written for tribey. Too bad they couldn't get the same actor to come back. Babish was good but he can't smash that gavel like this guy wouldve
That's John Laroquet. He played the prosecutor in NIGHT COURT, and the bumbling Captain in STRIPES.
Babish did a good job smashing the gavel on the tape recorder when the President and Leo went to his office.
Perfect thoughts now that Scalia is gone.
Agreed. Loved JL in that roll, but "Babbish" was the right character for the place they put him. Oliver Platt was amazing as WH Counsel for the "MS Years".
I don't think so. To me, his laughing without saying anything at the end is MUCH stronger than the line you proposed.
It's the white house you get used to that feeling.
As a part time writer, I find the close of this scene interesting.
Lionel spends the whole time yelling about something else, which raises the question, did Leo call him into his office or was he on his way anyway? The implication is that Leo called him in to meet Ainsley, but Lionel's behavior is like he just came there to yell at Leo - which is fine. Lionel had something on his mind and he said what was on his mind - cute scene, then we get into the "who's this" and "you're an idiot, the justice you clerked for is an idiot" - all very fast paced and entertaining.
So as Lionel marches out of Leo's office.
"She's working for you. The President asked me to hire her for your office."
"The President of what?" He knows, he's just in a state of partial disbelief.
"The United States"
It sinks in for a moment, Lionel does a "this can't be real" laugh, but they have to close it with a line. Not on the laugh.
And all the writers could think of was "excuse me" . . . which isn't bad. It works. If this had been on cable, it would probably have been "shit" or maybe "fuck".
"Uhh...the girl who's been writing the columns?" "Yeah..." "....You're an idiot."
Well, Dryfert's an idiot.
To be fair he does defend her rather severely when she is herased
"Contempt of Congress..."
Lol!
I wish John Larroquette was in more episodes!
Emily Proctor is one beautiful woman.
Not anymore. Look at her now.
@@nath-wp7xp hit the wall
The Mooch obviously took a page from Tribbey's book.
Leo 😭😭❤️
Emily Proctor was so good in this role. She was okay in CSI, but just window dressing. Probably set her up for life, though.
Someone once asked in the comments about her voice...nothing wrong with her voice, she's just from North Carolina. (me too, by the way)
"Its the white house get used to that feeling"
oh that is sad...
The President of...what?
+BlueIvories "The United States" .... "grrrr..."
kpol1000 ha ‘cuse me....
Hard to believe this is the guy in Night Court!!!!!
That was a great series!
I think he went "right big". People at that level have a certain ego that help propel them there. I know I've looked my boss in the face and said "if we did it the way I said a month ago we could have already been here, oh, month ago already, right?" and I'm just a junior researcher in a biology lab.
True he never would have made it into the presence of the PotUS with a cricket bat in hand...but still, you have to love the imagery. *wry grin*
In general, I think larroquette goes a little too big, but jesus does he nail the line, "The President of... what? asked you to hire her?"
"Let's speak of him with respect and practice some tolerance for those who disagree with us."
This almost sounds like an alien language nowadays.
man i miss the west wing
i so love him
Arent there Marine Sentries and Secret Service in the White House? How do they let him walk around with what could be considered a weapon?
I also thought it went pretty well.
the president of ... what ???
lol
DAN FIELDING IS THE WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL!!!! Let that sink in!!!
Ainsley Hayes and Lionel Tribbey, two of the best side characters on the entire show?
Its just supposed to be funny! They were probably just trying to think of a well known British person and the first person that popped into their head was the queen. Its a TV drama that is supposed to make you laugh...
"I will kill people!!! ... The president of what?" ooooh how I miss waiting a whole week for new episodes to air... before RUclips and Netflix, how did I survive?
Ainsley is such a good character too. She's so likable even though she's opposite politically to the white house.
I want to be White House Counsel. Tribbey was just about to go off on holiday. Babish was just about to go off on holiday when the President and Leo went to his office. How much leave does the job get??
I liked Emily in WW far better than in CSI: Miami
The clip seems as though its been slowed down. The pace seems slower than i remember from the Region 1 DVD.
"I thought it went pretty well." LOL
He forgot the 8th amendment, almost all conservatives justices don't use the 8th amendment.
@UncleMikeNJ I'm going to regret asking, but what the hell does "Leo channeling his inner Batman" mean?!?! The only possible "bat" connection I can imagine is Tribbey's cricket bat, but that would be an idiotic pun, so...WTF?
I am a politician Ainsley of course I lied to just then
Never thought id see a cricket bat on an american political show 🤣
It reminds me of a certain broccoli-hating Supreme Court Justice.
How can 4 people dislike this clip?
I think Sorkin conflated this guy with the other guy (who had a hammer)
2:52 LMFAO
2:55. Hahahahahaha!!!!
@stupidjunk878 What do you mean Australian accent? Are you talking about Ainsley Hayes? Because the actress playing the character is not Australian, and that is not an Australian accent. It's a southern accent.
"Your an idiot" lol
“ let’s….. and practice some tolerance for those who disagree with us”
A great lesson for everyone on the political spectrum, Dem, Rep and everything in between and outside and of those groups.
As kids were told “two wrong don’t make a right” but we never take it to heart.
I sympathise with Tribby refusing to tolerate people he considers intolerant, but it’s never good practice to base your own moral decisions on the conduct and of your opponent.
Why follow their bad example when you have the chance to set a higher one and show the public the real moral difference between you and your enemy?
In other words “kill them with kindness” not only is it ethical, but it’s also highly effective.
Sadly, just about everything you said there was wrong. Taking the high road only works to a point, if you try to be tolerant towards intolerant views, all you're doing is reinforcing and supporting those views. Bigotry cannot be defeated with simple kindness and politeness, it needs to be shown to be unacceptable and unwelcome at every point.
Now, the means by which you do so is a more difficult point. But if you try to tolerate hatred and bigotry, you're just letting it fester...
@@Wraithfighter “sunlight is the best disincention”
People with horrible views about social issues should be ignored if they’re unreasonable but if not you should try and convince them why their wrong, but you need an audience, people to see what pathetic people these clowns with poison
You most likely won’t change the mind of a bigot. But 3rd parties who are watching
This debate…….probably.
1) think their morally superior, and know they’re right...ofcourse some can be saved and find redemption.
There’s countless examples of racists that later became campaigners against racism.
2) when you refuse to engage with them an ignorant 3rd would think you were insecure in your beliefs and not willing to defend them and humiliated a racist.
3) ignoring them, banning them, making holocaust denial illegal etc just legitimises that. It look it look like your afraid of them.
4) when you ostracised from the group you condemn when and It reinforces the isolation that diminishes your confidence, damaging your mental health in turn
5) if there are 5-10% of racists in this country wouldnt you like know who they are…….Wouldn’t you like to know?! See
Like sexual offenders etc
@@jimmy2k4o Except that what Leo's doing in this scene is telling the guy to show respect to a bigot who holds a position in the highest court of the land.
You can engage with bigots by attacking their bigotry and shaming them for it, instead of trying to appease and show deference and be kind about it all. The fact of the matter is that a bigoted supreme court justice is deserving of no respect, and shouldn't be granted any, especially because he's in a position to spread that hatred and bigotry to others, and enshrine that hate into law.
West Wing had a very lackadaisical attitude towards the "Near Right" sorts, that they could be respected and worked with, they're not bad people at their core, they just believe different things...
...and American History since the West Wing went off the air showed that, no, sorry, they can't. We tried playing nice, they used that acceptance to entrench themselves into power further.
If you're going to engage at all with bigots? You do it to shame them, attack their beliefs, show them the exact amount of respect that they show the people they hate, which is usually none at all. That's the only thing that they deserve.
Shishkabobob!
What season and episode is this?
How did Tribby get a cricket bat from Queen Elizabeth?
@ptb6744 Season 2, Episode 5 "And It's Surely to Their Credit"
Counsel not council
"The United States." =)))
Stereotypes, such funny things, aint they?!
Honestly, why in the name of holy hell would the Queen give a cricket bat to the White House Counsel?
I cringe, I weep inside, every time I watch this scene because it's totally ridiculous, and shows The West Wing's ever-present unfamiliarity with how the world works beyond its borders.