tzikeh

Some time in the months after 9/11, I was visiting

astolat in NYC, pounding some first season West Wing into them. We were rollicking along and having a good time, when we came to the episode "He Shall, from Time to Time", in which Donna and Josh discuss how they always keep someone from the line of Presidential succession out of the audience during the State of the Union Address, just in case.

DONNA
I don't know why you're picking the secretary of agriculture.

JOSH
Because the secretaries of defense, state
and treasury are famous faces, and we want the camera to find them.

DONNA
So, if the Capitol Building blows up...

JOSH
Yes.

DONNA
The man my country will be looking to is the secretary of agriculture.

JOSH
It's my country too.

DONNA
Yeah, but you'll be dead.

JOSH
Which is why I really don't care that much.

DONNA
Josh?

JOSH
Donna, I really don't anticipate the Capitol Building exploding.

DONNA
What percentage of things exploding have been anticipated?

JOSH
Now you're just bringing me down.

DONNA
I would think so.

I remember laughing my ass off when I first saw this scene. This time, I just looked at my friends and said, "Wow, that used to be a really funny line." Cesca said "Yeah, I can tell."