20 Hours in L.A. (23 Feb. 2000)

The President meets Zoey's new bodyguard on a 20-hour trip to California; Josh tries to keep a fund raiser from being canceled; Leo needs the VP to break a 50-50 tie in the Senate.

Director:

Alan Taylor

Writers:

Aaron Sorkin (creator), Aaron Sorkin

Stars:

Rob Lowe, Moira Kelly, Dulé Hill

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Rob Lowe	...	Sam Seaborn
Moira Kelly	...	Mandy Hampton (credit only)
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	...	C.J. Cregg
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet
David Hasselhoff	...	Himself
Jay Leno	...	Himself
Veronica Webb	...	Herself
Marlee Matlin	...	Joey Lucas
Bob Balaban	...	Ted Marcus
Tim Matheson	...	Vice President John Hoynes
Jorja Fox	...	Agent Gina Toscano

Storyline

President Bartlet is making a whirlwind 20-hour trip to Los Angeles. On the flight he meets Zoey's new bodyguard, who assures him that she will protect his daughter from those who have been sending racist threats. Josh is excited to hear that Joey Lucas will be at the evening's fund raiser, but dismayed to learn that the host is threatening to cancel the party unless the President makes a public statement supporting gay rights. Back in Washington, Leo needs to convince Vice President Hoynes to break a 50-50 tie by voting for an ethanol gas tax.

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Plot Keywords:

fund raiser | racist | flag burning | airforce one | interracial romance | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 2000 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 18, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The President's plane is said to land at around 6am, with him leaving LAX at 6:20am. The shot of the plane taxiing into the airport is in bright sunlight. In Los Angeles, in January and February, the sun rises at around 7:00am. The plane would have arrived in relative darkness.

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Quotes

[Leo is exasperated that the President is pushing himself too hard]
Leo McGarry: Be that way.
President Josiah Bartlet: Your impersonation of my mother is getting sharper and sharper, you know that?

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Connections

References Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier (1989)

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Soundtracks

"West Wing Main Title"
(uncredited)
Written by W.G. Snuffy Walden
Performed by Pete Anthony

User Reviews

Gather ye rosebuds while you may, Josh

The Presidential caravan heads to CA, for a banquet hosted by studio chief Ted Marcus (WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, BEST IN SHOW). Ted jerks Josh around, and threatens to cancel the party unless Bartlet comes out against an anti-gay bill. Leo asks Hoynes to break a 50-50 senate tie, voting for ethanol subsidies, which he campaigned against. Pollster Al Kiefer (John de Lancie, STAR TREK: TNG-DS9-VOY) offers unsettling numbers on flag- burning...and an unsettling moment for Josh, who discovers him in Joey Lucas' hotel room. Plus the debut of Jorja Fox (MEMENTO, CSI) as secret service agent Gina Toscano, assigned to Zoey's detail. C.J.'s ignorance of the movie business is ridiculous, given her later backstory as a Hollywood publicist. The chemistry between Donna and Josh has become exquisite, and the scene between Balaban and Sheen is towering. Not enough? Okay, you made me say it...Hasselhoff.