7x07 The Debate - The West Wing Episode Guide

The West Wing

- Episode 07x07

Episode: 07x07
Title: The Debate
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 2T6207
First Aired: Nov. 06, 2005

Season 7 » Episode #07 - The Debate

Summary: Santos and Vinick go head-to-head in a live, primetime debate. Two versions, one for the East coast and one for the West coast aired, moderated by Forrest Sawyer and hosted by Ellen Degeneres.

Who appeared in this episode?

Guest Stars:

Louise Thornton	played by Janeane Garofalo
Bruno Gianelli	played by Ron Silver
Helen Santos	played by Teri Polo
Sheila Brooks	played by Patricia Richardson
Himself - Moderator	played by Forrest Sawyer
Senator Arnold Vinick	played by Alan Alda
Annabeth Schott	played by Kristin Chenoweth
Kate Harper	played by Mary McCormack
Congressman Matthew Santos	played by Jimmy Smits

Episode Quotes

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MISTAKES/GOOFS

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TRIVIA

The Debate was advertised as a "live presidential debate" and was actually telecast live twice, once for the East and West coasts, with limited commercial interruption. It was also one of the few times actors were allowed to go "off script."
The heckler in the audience who calls Vinick a liar is executive producer Chris Misiano.
This is the first episode where no original cast members (people from the pilot) appeared. Only Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits appeared in this episode.
The episode was shot "Live" so the TV-debate would have the same live debate "flavor" that the real debates have. This is most notable in the quality of the image on screen, which is more crisp, than the image of the other episodes, which is actually shot on 35mm film

KEYWORDS:

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