Leo McGarry
Jimmy Smits
November 25, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Prime time soap operas dominated the 1980’s. In the 2000’s, not so much, except for the teenage version of the genre on the CW television network.
Jimmy Smits was part of an effort to reignite the genre with Cane, a short-lived offering on CBS in 2007. Cane revolved around a Cuban-American family and its power, wealth, and dynasty stemming from its rum and sugar business interests.
This is the third consecutive decade where Jimmy Smits has been a focal point of a prime time television series.
In the 1980’s, he played Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law. Sifuentes worked in the Public Defender’s office before Michael Kuzak recruited him to the private law firm sector.
While Victor began as the ‘cleanup’ attorney for McKenzie Brackman, Chaney & Kuzak, handling the firm’s pro bono cases and other matters that burdened the firm’s workload, he ventured into other legal territories.
In the episode Victor Sifuentes confronted legendary attorney August Redding, played by legendary actor Ralph Bellamy. Victor’s client sues Redding for legal malpractice. In the episode’s climactic scene, Victor puts Redding on the witness stand. He reveals Redding’s deep loss of memory when the aging lawyer cannot remember Victor’s name.
Victor confronted another legendary attorney in Hamilton Schuyler, a dwarf attorney who specializes in products liability cases.
Nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor six times during his L.A. Law tenure, Smits won once.
In the 1990’s, Smits took over the lead position in NYPD Blue after the sudden departure of David Caruso. Smits’ Bobby Simone character is suave, sophisticated, and strong. With quiet confidence, he gains the respect of his partner, Andy Sipowicz. He also wins the love of fellow detective Diane Russell.
NYPD Blue eased out Bobby Simone in a story arc centering on a terrific heart problem. In the episode where Bobby dies, the last scene shows him flatlining and then we see the Executive Producer credits in black against a white background. It’s a direct contrast to the usual format -- white lettering against a black background.
Smits returns as Bobby Simone in an episode near the show’s end. Andy has a waking dream where he talks to Bobby.
Smits also hosted the retrospective that aired near the end of the show’s successful twelve-year run.
Smits did not win an Emmy Award for his work on NYPD Blue, though he received five nominations.
In the 2000’s, Smits appeared on The West Wing as Matthew Santos, a three-term congressman from Texas and former Mayor of Houston who wants to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for president.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman convinces Santos that he has a legitimate shot at the presidency. Initially an also-ran candidate, Santos slowly gains recognition during the primaries. The Democratic National Convention occurs with the delegates still unsure of a nominee. Santos gives an inspiring speech concerning the voters’ freedom to choose a nominee without the pressure of power brokers making the decision for them.
The speech inspires many delegates to vote for Santos. He also gets a little help from President Bartlet who convinces an influential New York delegate to cast the Empire State’s delegate votes for Santos.
Santos’ choice for the VP nominee slot -- Leo McGarry, President Bartlet’s Chief of Staff.
In a narrow election, Santos beats a veteran politician, Senator Arnold Vinick from Santa Paula, California.
Jimmy Smits’ contributions to television have been significant, enjoyable, and challenging. Making a name for himself while part of an ensemble on L.A. Law. Taking over a lead position on a hit show from an actor who made a notorious exit from success on NYPD Blue. Joining a team that’s played together for several years while adding to the chemistry of the cast on The West Wing.
Bringing interest, enthusiasm, and novelty is a difficult challenge for any actor. Smits met the challenge directly.
By the way, Jimmy Smits also deserves a place in television trivia history. Smits plays Eddie Rivera, the partner of Detective Sonny Crockett in the pilot of Miami Vice. Rivera died in a car bomb explosion triggered by Crockett’s nemesis.
david@davidkrell.com
Prime time soap operas dominated the 1980’s. In the 2000’s, not so much, except for the teenage version of the genre on the CW television network.
Jimmy Smits was part of an effort to reignite the genre with Cane, a short-lived offering on CBS in 2007. Cane revolved around a Cuban-American family and its power, wealth, and dynasty stemming from its rum and sugar business interests.
This is the third consecutive decade where Jimmy Smits has been a focal point of a prime time television series.
In the 1980’s, he played Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law. Sifuentes worked in the Public Defender’s office before Michael Kuzak recruited him to the private law firm sector.
While Victor began as the ‘cleanup’ attorney for McKenzie Brackman, Chaney & Kuzak, handling the firm’s pro bono cases and other matters that burdened the firm’s workload, he ventured into other legal territories.
In the episode Victor Sifuentes confronted legendary attorney August Redding, played by legendary actor Ralph Bellamy. Victor’s client sues Redding for legal malpractice. In the episode’s climactic scene, Victor puts Redding on the witness stand. He reveals Redding’s deep loss of memory when the aging lawyer cannot remember Victor’s name.
Victor confronted another legendary attorney in Hamilton Schuyler, a dwarf attorney who specializes in products liability cases.
Nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor six times during his L.A. Law tenure, Smits won once.
In the 1990’s, Smits took over the lead position in NYPD Blue after the sudden departure of David Caruso. Smits’ Bobby Simone character is suave, sophisticated, and strong. With quiet confidence, he gains the respect of his partner, Andy Sipowicz. He also wins the love of fellow detective Diane Russell.
NYPD Blue eased out Bobby Simone in a story arc centering on a terrific heart problem. In the episode where Bobby dies, the last scene shows him flatlining and then we see the Executive Producer credits in black against a white background. It’s a direct contrast to the usual format -- white lettering against a black background.
Smits returns as Bobby Simone in an episode near the show’s end. Andy has a waking dream where he talks to Bobby.
Smits also hosted the retrospective that aired near the end of the show’s successful twelve-year run.
Smits did not win an Emmy Award for his work on NYPD Blue, though he received five nominations.
In the 2000’s, Smits appeared on The West Wing as Matthew Santos, a three-term congressman from Texas and former Mayor of Houston who wants to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for president.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman convinces Santos that he has a legitimate shot at the presidency. Initially an also-ran candidate, Santos slowly gains recognition during the primaries. The Democratic National Convention occurs with the delegates still unsure of a nominee. Santos gives an inspiring speech concerning the voters’ freedom to choose a nominee without the pressure of power brokers making the decision for them.
The speech inspires many delegates to vote for Santos. He also gets a little help from President Bartlet who convinces an influential New York delegate to cast the Empire State’s delegate votes for Santos.
Santos’ choice for the VP nominee slot -- Leo McGarry, President Bartlet’s Chief of Staff.
In a narrow election, Santos beats a veteran politician, Senator Arnold Vinick from Santa Paula, California.
Jimmy Smits’ contributions to television have been significant, enjoyable, and challenging. Making a name for himself while part of an ensemble on L.A. Law. Taking over a lead position on a hit show from an actor who made a notorious exit from success on NYPD Blue. Joining a team that’s played together for several years while adding to the chemistry of the cast on The West Wing.
Bringing interest, enthusiasm, and novelty is a difficult challenge for any actor. Smits met the challenge directly.
By the way, Jimmy Smits also deserves a place in television trivia history. Smits plays Eddie Rivera, the partner of Detective Sonny Crockett in the pilot of Miami Vice. Rivera died in a car bomb explosion triggered by Crockett’s nemesis.
The West Wing
June 25, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Two presidential candidates.
A moderate, republican United States senator from a western state in his golden years with decades of political experience.
A fortysomething, ethnic, democratic congressman with just a few years on his national political resume.
John McCain and Barack Obama?
No.
Arnold Vinick and Matthew Santos.
The last years of The West Wing gave us a fictional presidential race featuring two television heavyweights. Senator Arnold Vinick from Santa Paula, California, played by Alan Alda. Congressman Matthew Santos from Houston, Texas, played by Jimmy Smits.
In this parallel political universe, Vinick and Santos want to succeed President Jed Bartlet, the liberal, Nobel Prize winning economist from New Hampshire who built a political life -- congressman, governor, President of the United States. Martin Sheen plays Bartlet.
Santos' team enjoyed the leadership of Bartlet's former Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman, played by Bradley Whitford. Josh sees the congressman's incredible political intuition and convinces him not to retire from politics as originally planned.
A novice at presidential campaigns, Santos proves himself to be a quick learner.
But Vinick throws fear into the democratic side, particularly Bartlet's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, played by John Spencer.
He knows that Vinick has the invaluable ability to connect with voters at the grass-roots level.
Combined with years of political experience, his brand-name quality in politics, and savvy campaign skills, Vinick will be a tough competitor.
For his running mate, Vinick chooses the conservative governor of West Virginia to shore up the conservative base -- Ray Sullivan, played by Brett Cullen.
Santos stays close to home and selects Leo McGarry, a terrific administrator with unparalleled political knowledge, wisdom, and instinct.
The presidential campaign arc of The West Wing features a live debate and a Democratic National Convention with ballots, unlike the scripted infomercials with which we've become familiar.
Santos wins the nomination of his party after a rousing, inspiring, and honest speech to the delegates encouraging them to vote for who the believe will do the best job as president.
John Spencer's death in December of 2005 left a void in The West Wing. The writers constructed a plot line where Leo McGarry dies of a heart attack on Election Night. The device is not a terrific stretch as McGarry had major heart problems in a previous story line.
Santos wins the election. Dialogue indicates the president-elect will replace McGarry with Pennsylvania Governor Eric Baker, a candidate during the democratic presidential primaries, because of Baker's executive experience.
In a show of bipartisan unity, Santos asks Vinick to be Secretary of State because of his strategic thinking and strong relationships with the democratic corps.
The last episode of The West Wing takes place on Inauguration Day. Appropriately, Martin Sheen has the last word in the series. When his wife asks him what he's thinking about, he replies, Tomorrow.
david@davidkrell.com
Two presidential candidates.
A moderate, republican United States senator from a western state in his golden years with decades of political experience.
A fortysomething, ethnic, democratic congressman with just a few years on his national political resume.
John McCain and Barack Obama?
No.
Arnold Vinick and Matthew Santos.
The last years of The West Wing gave us a fictional presidential race featuring two television heavyweights. Senator Arnold Vinick from Santa Paula, California, played by Alan Alda. Congressman Matthew Santos from Houston, Texas, played by Jimmy Smits.
In this parallel political universe, Vinick and Santos want to succeed President Jed Bartlet, the liberal, Nobel Prize winning economist from New Hampshire who built a political life -- congressman, governor, President of the United States. Martin Sheen plays Bartlet.
Santos' team enjoyed the leadership of Bartlet's former Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman, played by Bradley Whitford. Josh sees the congressman's incredible political intuition and convinces him not to retire from politics as originally planned.
A novice at presidential campaigns, Santos proves himself to be a quick learner.
But Vinick throws fear into the democratic side, particularly Bartlet's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, played by John Spencer.
He knows that Vinick has the invaluable ability to connect with voters at the grass-roots level.
Combined with years of political experience, his brand-name quality in politics, and savvy campaign skills, Vinick will be a tough competitor.
For his running mate, Vinick chooses the conservative governor of West Virginia to shore up the conservative base -- Ray Sullivan, played by Brett Cullen.
Santos stays close to home and selects Leo McGarry, a terrific administrator with unparalleled political knowledge, wisdom, and instinct.
The presidential campaign arc of The West Wing features a live debate and a Democratic National Convention with ballots, unlike the scripted infomercials with which we've become familiar.
Santos wins the nomination of his party after a rousing, inspiring, and honest speech to the delegates encouraging them to vote for who the believe will do the best job as president.
John Spencer's death in December of 2005 left a void in The West Wing. The writers constructed a plot line where Leo McGarry dies of a heart attack on Election Night. The device is not a terrific stretch as McGarry had major heart problems in a previous story line.
Santos wins the election. Dialogue indicates the president-elect will replace McGarry with Pennsylvania Governor Eric Baker, a candidate during the democratic presidential primaries, because of Baker's executive experience.
In a show of bipartisan unity, Santos asks Vinick to be Secretary of State because of his strategic thinking and strong relationships with the democratic corps.
The last episode of The West Wing takes place on Inauguration Day. Appropriately, Martin Sheen has the last word in the series. When his wife asks him what he's thinking about, he replies, Tomorrow.