Take Out the Trash Day (26 Jan. 2000)

In preparation for the Friday night briefing for the Saturday papers and news broadcasts -- nicknamed "take out the trash day" because it disposes of all the stories the White House doesn't... See full summary »

Director:

Ken Olin

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
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young (credit only)
Allison Janney	...	C.J. Cregg
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet
Timothy Busfield	...	Danny Concannon
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss
Suzy Nakamura	...	Cathy
Dakin Matthews	...	Simon Blye
James Handy	...	Rep. Joseph Bruno, R-PA
Ray Baker	...	Jonathan Lydell
Liza Weil	...	Karen Larson

Storyline

In preparation for the Friday night briefing for the Saturday papers and news broadcasts -- nicknamed "take out the trash day" because it disposes of all the stories the White House doesn't want heavy coverage on, and because Saturday is the least read paper of the week -- the staff take on a variety of chores: C.J. prepares to meet with the family of a Matthew Shepard-type victim of murder just because he was gay, and discovers something unexpected about the young man's reticent father; Josh and Sam contend with an angry Republican house committee leader who wants to make a deal to avoid public hearings on Leo's alcoholism; the president must read and wince through a graphic report on sex education in public schools; Danny pesters C.J. about an aide to the v.p. living on high off of taxpayer dollars.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to pbs | recovering alcoholic | press conference | anti gay bigotry | reference to julia child | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 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:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Hate Crimes Prevention Act dealt with in this episode is a reference to the real-life "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act." The real act was named after Matthew Shepard, the University of Wyoming student who in 1998 was beaten and murdered because of his homosexuality (and whose story was the basis for the character of Lowell Lydell, whose homophobic murder figures in several The West Wing episodes); and James Byrd, Jr, who in 1998 was dragged behind a Jasper, Texas, pickup truck and murdered because he was black. The real bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 28, 2009, almost ten years after this episode first aired.

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Goofs

The list of Sesame Street characters quoted includes Fozzie Bear, a non-Sesame Street Muppet.

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Quotes

Josh Lyman: [Josh has just handed CJ a report on sex ed] By the way, pages 27 to 33? A couple things every girl should know.

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Connections

References Sesame Street (1969)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

You watched Julia Child?

C.J. and Mandy meet the parents of a homosexual teen killed in a hate crime, and discover the father's reticence isn't about homophobia, but about shame over the administration's weak position on gay rights. Republican Senator Bruno (James Handy, in the first of two fine appearances) agrees to avoid public hearings over Leo's drug addictions, in exchange for burying a sex ed report. Toby defends Julia Childs' funding. More C.J./Danny smooching. The final scene, between Leo and the junior staffer (Liza Weil, GILMORE GIRLS) who outed him, is exquisite. He tries to understand her reasons, she tries to understand his alcoholism, and he un-fires her.