Sorkin rambling

[out_there]

First, a quick SV rec: Laying Siege by slightlights is a wonderful post-Shattered fic. Hot and heady style, exploring sex, lust and desperate need. Really, really good.

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ahab99, answer me one question. How much do you love me right now? *g*

I found the Casey/Sam fic I mentioned at Our Boys. It's A Roomful of Canadians by Julian Lee is Casey, Dan, Sam and Josh running into each other in Canada. Rather enjoyable, and some of the dialogue is rather funny.

"Maybe," Sam suggested, "he was mad not at the particular Lisas involved in this particular situation, but with the Platonic ideal of Lisa -- with all Lisas everywhere, throughout time."

Josh slumped against the back of the booth. "I just had to survive that bullet, didn't I?"

My favourite line is still Josh's comments about SN:

"He was co-anchor of 'Sports Night,' Sam. That show was the most intelligent, well-crafted -- Toby and I held a wake when it was cancelled."

Hee! You can just imagine the pair of sports fan in mourning, can't you? The fic's formatting is a bit odd (random "=" keep appearing in the text, but it's legible).

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Okay, something that peeved me over the weekend watching SN? The attitude to cricket. Well, not the attitude, so much as Jeremy's lack of understanding.

Casey: What's a Bowler?
Jermey: I don't know.
Casey: What's a Batsman?
Jermey: I don't know.

It's pretty damn simple. The Bowler *bowls* the ball. The Batsman is the guy standing there, holding the *bat*, trying to hit the ball. Seriously, if the guy can follow weather patterns and program software, he should have been able to figure that out.

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Hmmm... I'm curious. How many Sorkin fans are M*A*S*H* fans? There's a really interesting rant showing the comparisons between SN and WW (I'd spotted about two thirds of them), which also mentions the similarities/homages to MASH.

It's an interesting read because I *loved* MASH as a kid. Also adored Hawkeye, too. Not in a sexual way, just loved the character. Then, when you stop and think about it, Hawkeye (and the rest of MASH crew to some extent) do have big simlarities to the Sorkin crowd. He's a sarcastic, funny but flawed character who honestly *believes* in his job. He has faith in human nature but can be horrified by the darker aspects of the world around him.

***

As you can probably tell, my plan to *really* work this morning hasn't exactly been followed. Instead, I'm reading Sorkinfic. But, since I am, I might as well quickly rec Kabuki and the Beast by Shaye. Gen WW, it's the morning after bad Japanese food, too much alcohol and odd dreams for the fab four (I need to stop refering to Josh, Sam, CJ and Toby like that, don't I?). Funny and snarky fluff.

Comments

[dammitcarl.livejournal.com]

you know, that reminds me to pull out my list of ww/sn similarities. i've slacked off the last while in recording them, but i imagine, what with sorkin gone, we won't be seeing anymore.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

i've slacked off the last while in recording them, but i imagine, what with sorkin gone, we won't be seeing anymore.

Heh. Good point. I doubt the new cast would be able to mimic Sorkin that well. (It'd be freaky if they did. And, they'd probably get dragged over the coals for being uninspired and unoriginal if they stole half as much stuff as Sorkin himself did during those early years... *g*)

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

You know, I think 'A Handful of Canadians' is the only SN story I've read. And I enjoyed it too. I'm seriously considering downloading some Sports Night episodes.

As for MASH, when I first saw the series I was way too young, and totally bemused by it. Then I saw it in my teens, and fell for it. It's great fun, even if it didn't really measure up to the film (heh, just realised I'm assuming you meant the series...)

So, how are you feeling today? Did you get to bed last night???

[out-there.livejournal.com]

You know, I think 'A Handful of Canadians' is the only SN story I've read. And I enjoyed it too. I'm seriously considering downloading some Sports Night episodes.

Babe, totally. If you can download them, do it. *Great* series. Not well-suited to TV, but a *great* series. (As explanation, it's too continuity/character driven for a sitcom; too humourous for a drama. If it had been hour long format, it might have been more easily marketable.) You should watch. Every WW fan should watch. It's not as serious/political as WW, but it's that same veiw of humour, the same type of well-rounded characters. Man, you should totally watch it if at all possible.

Although, if I'm really pimping it, I should fin the other SN/WW crossovers to tempt you with, shouldn't I? There's a *very* good Sam/Dan one somewhere that I love, and there's a Josh/Dan one that many people love. (I have issues with the Sam in the piece. Most of it is great, wonderfully Sorkin, but I have issues with Sam.) There's a gen crossover piece of the WWers going to a SN party for Isaac (punishment handed down by the Pres), which totally rocks too.

I should see if I can find them.

As for MASH, when I first saw the series I was way too young, and totally bemused by it. Then I saw it in my teens, and fell for it. It's great fun, even if it didn't really measure up to the film (heh, just realised I'm assuming you meant the series...)

Bwah! Yeah, most of the time I totally forget about the film. It's a good film, but Alan Alda's Hawkeye stole my heart before I watched it. Hence, I think it's a good film, but I love it for starting the series, but not so much for it's own sake. (Similar to my attitudes to the original Buffy film.)

So, how are you feeling today? Did you get to bed last night???

Bed at midnight. Up at 7.30am. Feeling shocking, but should catch up on work before boss returns tomorrow. (Yet, I'm not. I'll do it this arvo.)

[laylee.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I'm curious. How many Sorkin fans are M*A*S*H* fans?

I've been watching M*A*S*H for years. Dare I say it, I remember when some of the later episodes first aired in Australia. And I have seen many similarities between the shows, particularly with Col. Potter/Isaac and Bj-Hawkeye/Dan-Casey dynamic. In the first instance you have men who haved lived through some iteresting times, can command respect and obedience from those under them but at the same time, know how to kick up their heels and have some fun. With the latter, these are wondeful portrayals of friendship between men that goes beyond the sort of blokey, back-slapping friendship usually portrayed on TV. These are guys who aren't afraid to turn to each other for support, who can recognise the strengths and weaknesses in each other and know who to make the most out of a bad situation.


Okay, something that peeved me over the weekend watching SN? The attitude to cricket. Well, not the attitude, so much as Jeremy's lack of understanding.

It always struck me as strange that someone like Jeremy (who knows a great deal about more obscure things than cricket) couldn't work out the whole batsman/bowler thing.

I found the Casey/Sam fic I mentioned at Our Boys. It's A Roomful of Canadians by Julian Lee is Casey, Dan, Sam and Josh running into each other in Canada. Rather enjoyable, and some of the dialogue is rather funny.

I love this story. In fact all of Julian's SN stories are great. 'Freon' is just laugh out loud funny, while 'Paddle to the CSC' is a great take on what ultimately happens to Casey's missing favourite shirt and has a nifty WW crossover via Sam Donovan.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

And I have seen many similarities between the shows, particularly with Col. Potter/Isaac and Bj-Hawkeye/Dan-Casey dynamic.

*nods* Interesting point.

In the first instance you have men who haved lived through some iteresting times, can command respect and obedience from those under them but at the same time, know how to kick up their heels and have some fun.

*nods* And, you know, I have to add Leo to that list, without a doubt. And, I think that to a great extent Jed belongs in there as well, despite his total lack of military (or physically dangerous) background. They play the father roles to the whole cast, setting the serious tone, stopping people when they go too far, but generally trusting those beneath them. Very loyal to their subordinates, so much so that even when they screw up, they'll stand beside them because if anyone's going to berate their staff, it should be them.

You know, I can't help but see the Dana/CJ/Hotlips similarity too. You just need to look beneath the exterior. All intelligent, professionally capable women who have bad lovelives. (All three are shown as utterly professional, and yet lacking in their personal lives.) All highly attractive women surrounded by male superiors and co-workers, who are perfectly happy to compete in a man's world, but refuse to lose their femininity while doing so. They also don't tend to take crap from anyone, regardless of higher gender or social status.

They are also sexually confident women. CJ proclaims "I'm great in bed!", Dana has no real trouble talking about sex or sleeping with Gordon, and doesn't apologise for being a sexual person; and Hotlips was, to an extent, known for her highly sexual nature.

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Love M*A*S*H. Was addicted to it through most of primary and high school. *g*

'Ten Wickets' peeves me, too. Yes, it's not a sport played professionally in the US, but it *is* followed by a good chunk of the world's population. And the tea-drinking thing. The fuck? Since when has a cricketer *ever* drank tea? Beer all the way. I'm guessing that it's a stereotypical association with England, but it still pisses me off. Meh.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Ah, the tea drinking thing I could give them. I've been amused by the British/tea stereotypes on BtVS, it's playing favourites not to laugh when it's on SN.

Oh man. That sentence did make sense in my head. Really.

Yes, it's not a sport played professionally in the US, but it *is* followed by a good chunk of the world's population.

Good point. And even though soccer's hated by Dan, the rest of the cast know about it/understand it. It was just so... dodgy.

Didn't know it wasn't played pro in USA. Learn something new every day.

[ahab99.livejournal.com]

I found the Casey/Sam fic I mentioned at Our Boys.

Yay! *runs off to read*