Monday, 20 October 2025

Who Is In The White House Today, Ang?

It's my own fault. A few weeks ago, I said I was fed-up with a certain orange guy, and I wanted to watch The West Wing again, and think about people in power who actually cared about their nation. And there it was, in Sheringham Sally Army CS. The complete set...a stack of DVDs a foot high. Around 120 hours of viewing. So I treated myself. Its not Bob's thing, but if he's busy elsewhere, I can iron, or sew and indulge myself. I have been enjoying the thought provoking, well written, award winning scripts from 25 years ago. 
But like London buses, two series set in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have arrived at once in my lounge. Because there is a new series of The Diplomat just started on Netflix. But here's the thing - the same actors appear in both
Allison Janney [White House Press Secretary] and Bradley Whitford [WH Deputy Chief Of Staff] are back in Washington again.
But this time she is President, and he is her husband.
She has gone blonde, he has luxurious white hair and beard. Bob managed half an episode, then went off to do something useful,  muttering "Is this where actors from The West Wing go to die?"
Well I'm enjoying it, even if he prefers The Simpsons. Plus there are some excellent British actors on board - 
Rufus Sewell, Rory Kinnear, Celia Imrie, Nancy Carroll, Aidan Turner and more.
Is it weird to enjoy shows about the machinations of US politics? I enjoyed House Of Cards too , but preferred the original UK series to the later American version.
What is weird is that three times I tried to type Celia Imrie into my PC, and autocorrect kept changing it to  Reliability. You can trust CI to give a good performance every time!
I think I am the only person whose watch list does not include Strictly, Traitors or Masterchef. My new sleep regime "no screens after 10" means I don't go to bed with news stories about DT, or the Grand Old D of Y bothering my brain as I try to sleep. Reducing screen time generally is proving very beneficial. 


42 comments:

  1. I wouldn't watch your US political dramas but my husband would/has. I am with you on not watching Traitors/Masterchef or Strictly. Apart from The GB Bake off and a couple of natural history programmes I am not watching much at all. TV seems to have hit the doldrums. Regards Sue H

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    1. Maybe as winter draws on, things may pick up...

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  2. No Strictly, Traitors or Masterchef here either, but I do have a complete collection of West Wing DVD's in the cupboard and I have just finished watching the latest excellent series of The Diplomat. Are we related?!!!
    My daughter met Bradley Whitford about 10 years ago at Cambridge debating society. She said it really was like meeting Josh. He was very articulate, politically informed, enthusiastic and charming. I was quite jealous!

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    1. Dear Anon, we may be related (who are you?!) ooh I would love to meet BW. Not so keen on Rob Lowe. I saw Richard Schiff (Toby) in a fabulous play in London decades ago...

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    2. Sorry, Angela. I forgot to add my name to my comment this morning!

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    3. Hi Tracy. I shall henceforth regard you as an honorary cousin 🤣

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  3. RannedomThoughts20 October 2025 at 09:39

    Do you think it has something to do with age? This falling back on old favourites rather than current programmes? When I can't find something to watch on the box, any episode of Doc Martin will do: great story-lines, fine acting and fabulous scenery. I'm not asking for much. :)

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    1. Yes, back to Old Faithfuls ( it is why I enjoy Radio 4 Extra)

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  4. You are not the only person-I don’t watch any of them either! I enjoyed The West Wing and funnily enough my daughter often watches repeats of it too. I was looking forward to The House of Guinness but sadly the mumbled dialogue and dark lighting have made it impossible for me to enjoy. Catriona

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    1. I was wondering about HOG. Shan't bother now!

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  5. Never watched Traitors, stopped watching Masterchef after the Gregg Wallace debacle and on Saturday, for the first time since avidly watching from the very beginning, I switched Strictly off! It was just too noisy and full of ego and people with gaping insencere smiles.I'm enjoying The Morning Show and Slow Horses on Apple tv(special offer for two months). Can 'll give The Diplomat a try. Celia Indie is excellent in a lesser known American series called Better Things (IPlayer). 'The Grand Old D of Y'!!Now there's a piece of work.

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  6. I did enjoy the West Wing and will watch S3 of the Diplomat.

    Strictly doesn’t interest me at all.

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    1. I binge watched The Diplomat when the boys were in bed. Enjoyed it (mostly) pleased that series 4 is being made

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  7. We do watch Strictly (why? We never used to, until 2019 because my godmother loved it and so it gave us a conversation subject when we visited every week). And Masterchef is much improved without GW blustering about the whole time. But no quiz or reality shows about people betraying each other, putting people down, or with loud flashy music or lights and too much gloss. Bring back proper drama!

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  8. Waiting for Slow Horses on a free channel (may succumb to the Apple offer tho!)

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  9. There are so many more episodes in a USA TV series. I enjoy re-watching The West Wing too.
    I watch on my iPad and often have to turn up the light and put on the subtitles to understand.

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    1. I usually have subtitles on. Especially when there are strong accents, or mumblers

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  10. Nope, you are not the only one not watching that particular trio. I have never watched more than a few minutes of the very first season of Traitors, and I knew straight away that it wasn't for me. I stopped watching MasterChef years ago and I only used to watch Strictly to keep Mum company if I was at hers. I really enjoyed The Diplomat so I will be watching the new series at some point. I have just finished binge watching Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue, now that was really good.

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  11. I've never watched The West Wing, but think I might. It's got to be better than the comedy going on in real life right now! ;-)

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    1. There is an openness about faith issues which isn't as apparent in many UK dramas. I think you would enjoy it Terri

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  12. I tend to rewatch old crime series on DVD -- Marple, Poirot, Judge Dee, Pie in the Sky. Strictly fiction. I did watch the original House of Cards, such wickedness!

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    1. Pie in the Sky was filmed in Hemel Hempstead, where I began my teaching career. I never saw any faces I knew in the crowds tho..

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  13. Our family frequently quotes from West Wing.
    'Education is the silver bullet.'
    'What's next?'
    'Decisions are made by those who show up.'
    'Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land.'
    'I can only answer 14 or 15 questions at once.'
    ~ skye

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  14. What a GREAT charity shop find, well done. I still maintain that Aaron Sorkin's writing is probably the greatest thing ever to be shown on television. With winter coming I was pondering a major re-watch . . . thanks for the reminder.

    And hello, came over from the link at Sue Hall's blog. 🙂

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  15. Susan From Across the Pond20 October 2025 at 17:03

    As an American, I feel like I need to apologize for DT. He is truly horrible. I can't begin to explain how truly appalling it is over here now. I've had to limit my news intake and social media as it was making me despondent and sleepless.
    Funnily, I'm a big fan of British Masterpiece Theater. I adore Call the Midwife and can't wait for the next season of All Creatures Great and Small.
    As for American programming, I think our tastes align. Yes to rewatching West Wing. While I haven't started the new season of Diplomat, I will certainly watch it sometime this winter.

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    1. Susan, you do not need to apologise - I presume you did not vote for him.
      I too am enjoying All Creatures G&S. (Oh dear, bad abbreviation - that sounds like Gilbert &Sullivan)

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  16. We enjoyed the West Wing and will look out for the other series on Netflix. We keep threatening to cancel our subscription as we don't get our money's worth but every so often find something we enjoy!
    I am currently enjoying Riot Women on BBC iplayer. It's not everyone's cup of tea and I doubt Bob would enjoy it but there's an awful lot in there that I can relate to!
    We enjoy Strictly if we record it and whizz through all the ego stuff, but that's because we love the dancing. Traitors does not appeal to us, nor Master Chef any more. Too much fuffelwaffing and Bake Off is heading the same way!

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    1. Oh FUFFELWAFFING is definitely going into my vocabulary. So descriptive!!

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  17. Also in Netflix The Residence...a White House murder mystery.

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  18. The first series of West Wing is the greatest TV series ever created. This is a fact. (And the rest is very good as well.) My husband is devoted to The Intern but it hasn't grabbed me the same way so he is now watching it when I am at work.

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    1. Your OH is a wise man. In my absence Bob has been watching all the Star Wars films.

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  19. I am not a big viewer of TV programs, so I haven't watched any of the shows you've mentioned. However, I do watch a lot of news and news related programs and they offer the best reality shows in my opinion. Truth is, definitely, stranger than fiction!

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    1. I agree about "reality shows' - they are usually anything but reality.

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  20. I don't watch the 'trio' either but neither have I seen White Wing or the Diplomats, maybe we are the only household without Netflix or the like as well.
    Luckily there are no rules as to what anyone should enjoy. DH watches news items about DT then stresses over him and his antics...I much prefer not to hear or see him at all...in fact someone should invent a TV where it would be impossible to see or hear him as he only plays to his audience! Enjoy your viewing it will keep you entertained through the long winter evenings.

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  21. I cannot believe what i read today about the demolition of part of the East Wing of the White House. Can you imagine Macron rebuilding part of the Elycee Palace?

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