The West Wing (TV Series) The Short List (1999) User Reviews

Law, politics and goldfish: three reasons to love this episode

[gizmomogwai · 9/10 · 21 September 2009]

For those of us hoping constitutional interpretation of the law is a neutral, objective undertaking, it may be discouraging to realize there's a lot of politics in it. That's partly why judges often disagree with each other and write dissents; their politics are different. This episode, which is about President Bartlet's opportunity to nominate a Supreme Court justice, is aware of that. Bartlet's first choice for the job becomes less appealing when the White House learns this judge isn't committed to privacy rights. The retiring Supreme Court justice is a liberal and disappointed by Bartlet's moderate politics and his candidate.

Disagreement about whether Bartlet falls short of greatness, as the retiring justice argues, makes for good drama; the two men compare Bartlet to Harry Truman. The issue of privacy rights is good drama too since it deals with a fundamental freedom that is still hotly debated. And then there's Leo, who's a great character. We learn that in addition to alcoholism he may have once been hooked on drugs; the president and staff are still willing to support him, however. They should. Leo's a great man.

An amusing subplot has CJ getting a goldfish after a miscommunication. Because of this episode, I named one of my own pet goldfish CJ. CJ the fish didn't last long, I'm afraid. Altogether, this is yet another fine episode from The West Wing's first season.

Very insightful

[mhk76 · 9/10 · 7 November 2019]

In two weeks it's 20 years from the first airing of this episode. It struck me how insightful it is/was. A quote from Sam: "In the '20s and '30s it was the role of government. '50s and '60s it was civil rights. The next two decades are going to be privacy. I'm talking about the Internet. I'm talking about cell phones. I'm talking about health records and who's gay and who's not." That was almost correct. The right to privacy will probably be hashed for another decade. When this episode aired it wasn't an issue for most people, but today it touches almost everybody.

Only the gay part of the Sam's quote is starting to be irrelevant. Within couple of decades most homophobes are pushing daisies and then being gay is as big of a deal as being left or right handed.

Also another big topic of the episode, drugs, has changed it's from. Pot is legal again in many places and seems to be on it's way of becoming new beer. Harder drugs are still a big deal, but getting caught using them wouldn't be so sinful as they were two decades ago.

One of the best episodes of Season One, maybe the whole series.

[gitfid1 · 10/10 · 15 May 2016]

This is by and large my favorite episode of Season One, and Season One is pretty excellent all on its own. The episode starts with Josh and CJ (or mostly Josh, according to... Josh) coaxing a deal for a Supreme Court Justice to step down, meaning they can put someone on the bench. Bartlet settles on a nominee, Payton Cabot Harrison III, who they believe is a home run choice. The staff sets to work making sure the process goes smoothly. Before stepping down, the outgoing Justice Crouch criticizes the President for going the easy route and not considering Roberto Mendoza. The wheels begin to come off as a Congressman accuses 1 in 3 White House staffers of illegal drug use. Josh begrudgingly begins investigating the claim to ensure their nominee holds the spotlight. As often happens in The West Wing, the President also begins to wrestle with "the easy choice" or "the right choice" and asks Toby to look into Mendoza, just as Sam uncovers a big kink in the nomination: a decades old unsigned note that could spell trouble. They bring it to the President who demands they look into it, and then he decides to meet Judge Mendoza. The different threads of the episode begin to weave together here beautifully: the subject of the unsigned note is privacy, which is discussed in a meeting between Harrison, the President, Sam, and Toby. Josh believes that the Congressman's accusations are directed at Leo, who is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. Sam begins to like Harrison less and less, who believes privacy is not a de facto right. Mendoza meets the President, and blows them all away. He is qualified, intelligent, liberal, and just. As Leo's privacy is about to be invaded in the media, President Bartlet asks Mendoza to accept the nomination, which he does. The President presents "Mr. Justice Mendoza" to the West Wing as the episode ends.

Edward James Olmos as Roberto Mendoza is one of my favorite pieces of casting ever. When the President asks Mendoza if he'll accept the nomination, and Olmos growls "With honor", I nearly stood up and saluted.

The writing and regular cast is, of course, fantastic, as with most of The West Wing. A staple of the show also makes its first appearance here: Gail the Goldfish, given to CJ by Danny Concanon. (It's an adorable moment between the two, and Allison Janney is especially good in the scene, featuring her wonderful laugh). This episode is one of the most liberally idealistic of a fairly liberal and idealistic show, so I was predisposed to enjoy it, but I think it holds up without my bias anyway.

The Supreme Court

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 24 January 2021]

Bartlet is going to make a Supreme Court choice and has to try to remain ethical. Do you choose a less qualified candidate because he can be manipulated or because he represents the people. There are more ins and outs here relating to relationships. Like most politics there are bad players. We get insight into one of our heroes having alcohol and drug problems and jeopardizing credibility.

THE WEST WING: SEASON 1, EPISODE 9: The Short List

[dalydj-918-255175 · 9/10 · 17 July 2023]

THE WEST WING: SEASON 1, EPISODE 9: The Short List Directed by: Bill D'Elia Written by: Story by : Aaron Sorkin & Dee Dee Myers Teleplay by : Aaron Sorkin & Patrick Caddell

This episode begins in a sort've fantasy world where everything is going right for President Bartlet and his white house staff and while I enjoyed this opening once the reality sets in for everyone the decisions they've made the episode really gets good.

This was a brilliant episode which brought the realities of how the white house works and sort've shown a light on how judges are chosen for the supreme court.

The episode also has a hilarious and fun moment when Danny gets C. J. a goldfish which is not something I expected but helps to make my enjoyment of this episode even greater. The laugh from Janney is so endearing.

The great Edward James Olmos as Mendoza deserves a lot of credit for this great episode. Olmos a respected veteran brings a gravitas & humanity to his role & is an example of a great guest star on the show that would come to be an important part of the show in future years.

The episode works as time capsule for what was deemed wrong at the time and I appreciate this time capsule to see where the world has mostly come to. This another great episode from the first season and I'm proud to say so.