Maybe this is just me being a crank, but I hate it when scenes involving chess close with "Checkmate" after nobody has said "check". Again, my experience might be atypical, but no chess game I have ever played or seen has had a checkmate out of the blue. Someone's king always gets threatened in an escapable manner before there's no way out.
Do you think...somewhere there is a script (or 40) about the Seaborne Administration in Aaron Sorkin's closet...waiting for Rob Lowe to get a little older and more acceptable as President?
@sunnchilde Josh would be a higher political player, he's already Santos' chief of staff and Sam is working as the communications director. I'd love it if Sam were to call in Will Bailey as he was the first staff member to really see Will's potential.
@jiveturkey25 I personally prefer this scene, Bartlett always had an eye that Sam can be President, and their relationship, whenever they had them in scenes together, was made even more special that Rob Lowe and Martin Sheen knew each other since Rob was a kid. There's always this air of mentor-ship and father/son.
Look at the WHOLE chessboard. Not just self interest. This fictional scenario took 50 minutes TV time to resolve. 50 minutes and it was China/Taiwan.
Two POTUS's, 4 years and it still hasn't got done? yes. I wished Sam Seaborne wasn't a fictional character too. His character would make a great President
I really wish Sam had been elected to the 47th district when he agreed to stand in for that dead candidate. A rise through the executive branch and elected positions is better to me than his later appointed positions in the Santos admin
Plus it would have effectively sent him to Mandyville but also with the possibility of a guest reappearance
Great scene but it's a terrible example of hollywood chess - dude walks in on a half finished game (it's his move) and plays checkmate as a symbol of out-thinking his opponent.
Whereas in real life if it was his move he would have finished the game with checkmate before the adjournment because 1) Mate-in-one is really easy to spot and play & 2) that means the players can pack up the set rather than having to leave it out (or record the position) and finish it later.
@BobfromSydney Dude, the entire logic of Bartlet's game obviously went right over your head. It's not some practical crap about an easy game -- he was teaching Sam and Toby about politics. And helping himself think, too.
lol. i know right! thats why they work so great together i think is because Martin's like a father figure for Rob and the fact that they have known each other so long.
Love this seen. Full disclosure, I am a conservative Republican. This scene displays my biggest disappointment with GWB. Too many "yes" men, not enough diversity of thought, and I hope Im wrong since Ive never been in a meeting but not enough curiousity.
Maybe this is just me being a crank, but I hate it when scenes involving chess close with "Checkmate" after nobody has said "check". Again, my experience might be atypical, but no chess game I have ever played or seen has had a checkmate out of the blue. Someone's king always gets threatened in an escapable manner before there's no way out.
timmyhkvt 1 week ago
@timmyhkvt not necessarily true especially if the queen is involved and flanking.
babytweeze85 6 days ago
Why oh why did he leave the show...
GuppyOdyssey 2 weeks ago
I love Jed Bartlett! I want him to be my prez!
9claudiajenssen 2 weeks ago
Do you think...somewhere there is a script (or 40) about the Seaborne Administration in Aaron Sorkin's closet...waiting for Rob Lowe to get a little older and more acceptable as President?
pierrelongshanks 8 months ago 2
@pierrelongshanks That would be amazing.
4thWallProduction 6 months ago
@pierrelongshanks But it might be impossible, because I believe that Rob Lowe is a non-aging android. Look at him in Parks and Rec.
4thWallProduction 6 months ago 4
If Sam did run and won, do you think he calls Josh in as Chief of Staff?
sunnchilde 9 months ago 3
@sunnchilde Josh would be a higher political player, he's already Santos' chief of staff and Sam is working as the communications director. I'd love it if Sam were to call in Will Bailey as he was the first staff member to really see Will's potential.
MisterAbsolution 8 months ago
@sunnchilde I doubt it. After Josh had his gig as Santos' Chief of Staff I doubt he'd go back to it.
westdog54 7 months ago
President Sam Seaborn....I can see that....
hollywoodwerewolf 10 months ago
Happened to have the clip where Bartlett is playing chess with Toby. I think I like that scene better than this one.
jiveturkey25 1 year ago
@jiveturkey25 I personally prefer this scene, Bartlett always had an eye that Sam can be President, and their relationship, whenever they had them in scenes together, was made even more special that Rob Lowe and Martin Sheen knew each other since Rob was a kid. There's always this air of mentor-ship and father/son.
BetaArtemis 1 year ago 3
everybody sits at their desk one move away from checkmate..
allmememe2 1 year ago
Josiah: The carrier group's in the Taiwan Straight.....
Sam: Are they IN the Taiwan Straight?
Josiah: they're on their way...
Josiah: Is that the same thing?
Brilliant! :D :D
:D :D
PeterFormaini 1 year ago
@PeterFormaini It's beautiful to watch Bartlett approaching diplomacy like a chess player.
phreakoutaston 1 year ago 2
in 5 years sorkin needs to make a new version of this with sam as president and josh as his chief of staff
hitch4645 1 year ago 10
This has been flagged as spam show
Sam Seaborne is a putz. Fuck that guy.
Moredread25 2 years ago
Look at the WHOLE chessboard. Not just self interest. This fictional scenario took 50 minutes TV time to resolve. 50 minutes and it was China/Taiwan.
Two POTUS's, 4 years and it still hasn't got done? yes. I wished Sam Seaborne wasn't a fictional character too. His character would make a great President
Subject: comma less war more peace
Anagram: Law a mess - commerce opera
RaleighDawlishRaynar 2 years ago
I really wish Sam had been elected to the 47th district when he agreed to stand in for that dead candidate. A rise through the executive branch and elected positions is better to me than his later appointed positions in the Santos admin
Plus it would have effectively sent him to Mandyville but also with the possibility of a guest reappearance
thatdrattedcat 2 years ago 9
It would have really been something to see if he had stood for his party's nomination rather than Santos.
someguyupnorth 2 years ago 7
why hasnt america got a president like bartlet.
hiphipbadlad 2 years ago 5
Great scene but it's a terrible example of hollywood chess - dude walks in on a half finished game (it's his move) and plays checkmate as a symbol of out-thinking his opponent.
Whereas in real life if it was his move he would have finished the game with checkmate before the adjournment because 1) Mate-in-one is really easy to spot and play & 2) that means the players can pack up the set rather than having to leave it out (or record the position) and finish it later.
BobfromSydney 2 years ago
@BobfromSydney Dude, the entire logic of Bartlet's game obviously went right over your head. It's not some practical crap about an easy game -- he was teaching Sam and Toby about politics. And helping himself think, too.
grumpytosnowwhite 1 year ago
When realism and idealism meet! Great stuff!
drlee2 2 years ago 3
Incredible scene!
ihphlp 2 years ago 5
That's good television...
damour5 2 years ago 5
brilliant!!
craigholme22 2 years ago 2
I love that Bartlett's always saw Sam's potential in the political realm!
SEABORN FOR PRESIDENT!! SEABORN FOR AMERICA!!!!
Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe have amazing chemistry! Guess Rob didn't waste all that time at Martin's house for nothing! LOL!
BetaArtemis 2 years ago 2
lol. i know right! thats why they work so great together i think is because Martin's like a father figure for Rob and the fact that they have known each other so long.
Marinetv 2 years ago 5
the irony is that Rob Lowe does run for president in the show Brothers and Sisters just he is a Republican and loses in the primaries
redsoxrule124245 2 years ago 2
haha. i know. he keeps taking the political roles, but he's great at them!!!
Marinetv 2 years ago
Rob is so talented! These political roles really shows off his great skills!
LOVE him on Brothers and Sisters!
I really wanted McCallister for President!!
BetaArtemis 2 years ago 18
Same here. but that would have been really hard to film and keep the family together.
Marinetv 2 years ago
i echo the previous comments, what a stunning scene
bigjokk 2 years ago
i like what barlet implied at the end. you're going to run for president someday. checkmate. you'll run someday, but i rule now.
lennybaseball 3 years ago
Love this seen. Full disclosure, I am a conservative Republican. This scene displays my biggest disappointment with GWB. Too many "yes" men, not enough diversity of thought, and I hope Im wrong since Ive never been in a meeting but not enough curiousity.
th3gr8juan 3 years ago 4
TWW TNG... easily one of my favorite scenes of all time.
thedeepmind 3 years ago
Sam Seaborn for president!
kanakemahalo 3 years ago 26
Thanks for putting this up! Easily one of my favorite Sam-Bartlett moments.
Rotarrin 3 years ago
this is one of my fave scenes ever.
lovingshane 3 years ago 3