2x09 Galileo - The West Wing Episode Guide

The West Wing

- Episode 02x09

Episode: 02x09
Title: Galileo
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 226209
First Aired: Nov. 29, 2000

Season 2 » Episode #09 - Galileo

Summary: As Bartlet prepares to speak to thousands of elementary students as the Galileo probe approaches Mars, major problems begin to pop up, including a missing F-15 fighter pilot, a fire inside a Russian nuclear missile silo, and the loss of contact with the Galileo probe. Meanwhile, Josh and Donna work together to decide whose face will appear on the newest postage stamp; and C.J. and Sam accompany Bartlet to a concert where they run awkward situations with people they've tried to avoid.

Who appeared in this episode?

President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet	played by Martin Sheen
Mallory O'Brien	played by Allison Smith
Scott Tate	played by Troy Ruptash
Jack	played by John Carroll Lynch
Nadia	played by Charlotte Cornwell
Tad Whitney	played by Colm Feore
Dolores Landingham	played by Kathryn Joosten
Aide #1	played by Duffy Epstein
Aide #2	played by Nigel Gibbs

	Season 2 / Episode 9: - Galileo Scott Tate: Look, I don't want to step on your toes. You don't want to step on mine. We're both writers. Sam Seaborn: Yes, I suppose, if we broaden the definition to those who can spell. Scott Tate: [Sam walks away] Excuse me?
	Season 2 / Episode 9: - Galileo Leo McGarry: What are you smiling at? Josh Lyman: Nothing, I just... Toby got the stamp assignment. Toby Ziegler: Leo, I might need some help. Leo McGarry: Take Josh. Toby Ziegler: Thanks. Congratulations, you're choosing the next stamp. Josh Lyman: Wow, that happened fast.

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

FACT: White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry is talking to the president and says of Iceland's Ambassador, Vigdis Olafsdottir, that "he's very excited to meet you". An Icelandic name finishing in "dottir" is a woman's name (men's names end in "son"), so the Ambassador can't be a he. (In addition, Vigdis is a female forename)
CHAR: When C.J. Cregg asks Toby Ziegler how many moons the planet Mars has he responds by saying two, and that they are named for the horses that pulled the god Mars' chariot. This is incorrect, Deimos (dread) and Phobos (fear) were the sons of Mars, or more correctly of Ares.
FACT: There is an explosion in Russia. during a briefing Leo asks if it is "in the Oblast region". "Oblast" in Russian is a administrative unit of the country. There are a lot of oblasts in Russia. So, asking "is it in the oblast region" is equivalent to asking "is it in the state region" or "in the county region" without meaning any one of them.
CHAR: White House Speech Writer Sam Seaborn disparages the introduction a NASA public affairs person has written by responding to the man saying "we're both writers" with "if we broaden the definition to those who can spell". Sam then rewrites the introduction and it begins "... you, me, and... are going to..." The correct pronoun is "I" and not "me" (remove the others from the sentence and see if you'd still say "me").
CHAR: UR-100N/SS-19 missiles do not use hydrogen as fuel. Instead they use asymmetrical dimethylhidrazine for fuel, and nitrogen tetraoxide as oxidiser. Even if it did use hydrogen, (which is extremely difficult to contain long term) the fuel would not be stored on the missile and therefore could not be offloaded.