Galileo (29 Nov. 2000)

The President and NASA plan a TV event for a probe's landing on Mars; satellite photographs show a suspicious-looking fire in Russia; Leo asks Toby and Josh to decide on the next postage stamp; Sam and C.J. have personal reasons for not wanting to accompany the President to a concert.

Director:

Alex Graves

Writers:

Aaron Sorkin (creator), Kevin Falls,

Stars:

Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Rob Lowe	...	Sam Seaborn
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	...	C.J. Cregg
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet
Allison Smith	...	Mallory O'Brien
Troy Ruptash	...	Scott Tate
John Carroll Lynch	...	Jack
Charlotte Cornwell	...	Nadia
Colm Feore	...	Tad Whitney
Kathryn Joosten	...	Mrs. Landingham
NiCole Robinson	...	Margaret

Storyline

The Gallileo V probe is scheduled to land on Mars, and NASA has set up live TV coverage featuring the President. Satellite photographs show a suspicious-looking fire at what the Russians implausibly call an "oil refinery". Leo asks Toby and Josh to decide who should be featured on the next stamp. Sam and C.J. accompany the President to a concert at the Kennedy Center which will also be attended by people they are hoping to avoid for personal reasons. Toby and C.J. disagree over whether a report of the President disliking green beans will turn into a major issue or not.

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Plot Keywords:

nasa | mars | green beans | russia | ambassador | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 November 2000 (USA)

Filming Locations:

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - 2700 F Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

42 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

President Clinton allowed use of his President's Box at the Kennedy Center for scenes in this episode.

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Goofs

UR-100N/SS-19 missiles do not use hydrogen as fuel. Instead they use asymmetrical dimethylhidrazine for fuel, and nitrogen tetraoxide as oxidiser. Even if it did use hydrogen, (which is extremely difficult to contain long term) the fuel would not be stored on the missile and therefore could not be offloaded.

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Quotes

Sam Seaborn: Who's your boyfriend?
Mallory O'Brian: I don't think...
Sam Seaborn: What's his name?
Mallory O'Brian: His name is Richard Andrewchuk.
Sam Seaborn: There's a hockey player named Richard Andrewchuk.
Mallory O'Brian: Well, unless there are two of them...
Sam Seaborn: You're dating Richard Andrewchuk?
Mallory O'Brian: Yes, and we're having quite a lot of sex.
Sam Seaborn: I think you'd almost have to.
Mallory O'Brian: What does that mean?
[...]

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

No, there aren't any pictures of me and a call girl.

Another drop-in from Mallory, with the interplay between she and Sam as irresistible as ever. An ominous fire rages in a Russian missile silo, but their government maintains that it's an oil refinery. Charlie gets in trouble for saying the President doesn't like string beans. Jed is set up for a live interview as the unmanned Galileo V prepares to land on Mars...then telemetry is lost. Jed and Sam and C.J. wax idealistically poetic, and have some touchingly, sweetly beautiful moments. At the Kennedy Center, they hear a modern classical performance by the Reykjavik Symphony Orchestra. Bartlet pooh-poohs it presumptively, but is profoundly moved.