11.27.2008

"What's the matter with his hind quarters?"

My friend Sarah, over at Cake for Breakfast, has obliquely referenced one of my favorite elements of Aaron Sorkin's writing: his holiday-themed episodes. His Thanksgiving episodes are particularly funny; see "Indians in the Lobby," where President Bartlett calls the Butterball Hotline and inquires about the temperature of the stuffing inside the turkey--"Not like that's a deal breaker" if he kills his guests! And "Shibboleth" finds C.J. dealing with 2 live turkeys inside her office, then has to get the President to pardon a 2nd turkey--"Make sure to support his hind quarters" in reference to the turkey, but the President assumes handler's hind quarters are sensitive. Funny stuff...

Also check out the Christmas episode of Studio Sixty--"Hot fun in the summertime" and the Santa doing the Nazi salute...

Happy Turkey Day everyone; I'm enjoying my first here in Long Island, I hope you're all enjoying yours...




1 comment:

Cake for Breakfast said...

Oh, the Christmas Studio 60 is a new holiday classic in my eyes. It's a really perfect 44 minutes of television. Matt Albee and the "Say it!" theme running through as he tries to get Danny to admit his feelings, trying to find the best way to make snow and Nazi Santa is funny. But the jazz musicians at the end playing O Holy Night brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. It's perfect. West Wing Thanksgivings are a hoot, pardoning of the turkeys and the Butterball hotline is great - as he gives a fake name and tries to think of an address at the end. Sorkin did holidays well.