The Ainsley Incident | The West Wing 

I loved that Tribbey backed Sam up without hesitation.

The way John Spencer says "I know" to Ainsley's confession about the op-ed is genius acting.

Ainsley’s “Can you be rude to me tomorrow” and the fact that Sam follows up has stuck with me for a long time. It’s stylized but I think it’s an impressive example of mindfully taking accountability while also advocating for herself. It’s an impressive example of conflict resolution through deescalation and connection, and worth emulating.

Ainsley and Leo had the sweetest relationship. She was a great character.

"It's time for both of you to write your book now." That is not a "burn", that is an immolation!

Leo was not exactly kidding when he said that when Sam gets mad he leaves a Sam-shaped hole in the wall.

Ainsley was a terrific addition, though underused. The entire cast was top notch, and Sorkin gave them amazing words and situations.

One of my favourite subplots in The West Wing. Emily Procter was great and really held her own when acting with the main cast.

John Spencer had a smile to light up the world ❤

I love that Leo doesn’t hold to op-ed against her. He’s not mad because she was doing her job. He might have done the same thing in her position. Now, he expects her to continue doing her job for her new team.

This would have been even better with the Gilbert and Sullivan “He is an Englishman” scene when Ainsley returns to her office greeted by Sam and CJ.

Emily Procter is so great here. She immediately recognizes the privilege of working in the White House outweighed her office in the steam trunk pipe distribution venue.

I miss television like this!

With little umbrellas!

I really missed Ainsley after she was gone from the show.

This show during the Sorkin years was flawless.

Best writers. Best actors. Great show.

The elevated, thoughtful, and intelligent comments found here are testaments to the caliber of West Wing viewers and fans. And, all of you know exactly what I mean . . .

Every time I see this, in my head, the second Sam turns around, I hear the glass shatter, and Stone Cold Steve Austin's music start. Cause Sam is going upstairs to whip a man's ass! And rightfully so!

I love Sam’s moment, after Ainsley asks him to be “rude to me tomorrow”, where he do clearly acknowledges to himself: “I was just a total jerk.” Rob Lowe WAS Sam.

Ainsley should have been in every episode after her intro...she was awesome!

One of my all time favorite scenes 😊

Emily does a great job acting the part of someone who respects the idea of working for her govt and people, even though it means working for her complete opposite political party. I sort of identify in that I don't like most of the politics in the show, but I love to rewatch because of how well written, acted, and directed the series shows.

Everything about this show was perfection. It will never be bettered.

someone needs to make tv shows like this again...

I miss everything about this show. Sam, Josh and Ainsley talks a brilliant story

Ainsley was so great ❤

This version hits a lot differently than the other ones floating around RU-vid. There's a lot more gravitas to this one.

Went from wanting to fight her to then fighting for her.

Those guys were defiant with Sam but wanted absolutely no smoke from Tribbey

Rob Lowe had been chosen to head up this show... HIS starring role. That's why he was the first actor in the opening credits. But then Martin Sheen took over as main subject.

Lionel Tribby was one of my favorite characters.

Leo and Sam were straight up class all the way.

One of the most perfect scenes I’ve ever seen in film or television!

Greatest office ever. I would love it.

"OH.... YES he can."

"Sam I don't know who you think you are around here but you can't fire us" Sam: "I'm the Deputy Head of Communications and you work(ed) in the Communications department....so yes I can. But if you prefer I can call Toby and Leo in here and they can do it too."

They should've made Ainsley a main cast member she was so great.

I had forgotten that John Larroquette had guest starred on The West Wing.

*_IT WAS PENZANCE_*

Ainsley Hayes was great. Leo is a keen judge of talent.

One of my favorite Ainsley related lines is when she meets Bartlett, but is hiding in the closet and Bartlett says "they don't allow me to smoke in here but she gets to pee in Leos closet" (or something close to that)

while not all offices in the white house are created equal, an office in the white house is still an office in the white house. i'll start in the steam trunk pipe distribution venue and say thank you, just like she did. ainsley was a great character.

That office has more square footage by far than most white house offices.

I wish there would be a follow-up series with Sam in the White House

The 1 downvote is one of the chooches that got fired. EDIT: 27 Chooches

I loved Ainsley’s character, shame she wasn’t in it for long🙁

Way to go, Sam. ☮

Thanks for the clips. I really love your edits. But, why is the tail piece so loud? The ending is too loud.

Most American TV is a triviality with a few exceptions. This series and NEWSROOM are exceptions ! Looking at out-takes from this series in light of the current political environment in our capitol makes me- Sad, Angry, Affraid, Apprehensive, and wanting to find a different planet to move to :-( Nevertheless, I KNOW THE UNITED ETATES OF AMERICA will win through the day. In addition, I have great respect for our Founding Fathers because of the way they set things up to ensure that chaos and dire times in this country only makes us stronger. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS THE GREATEST NATION THAT EVER EXISTED AND CURRENTLY EXISTS ON THIS EARTH. THIS COUNTRY MAY ALSO PROVE TO BE THE GREATEST IN THE GALAXGH AND PROBABLY FAR, FAR INTO THE FUTURE !

I'd be insulted. Giving her this "office" is obviously meant to be an insult.

Emily Proctor is such a good actor, and did a great job although brief.

I started watching West Wing because of the scene with Sam firing those two.

Sam and Josh were such polar opposites. Josh Lyman was the attack dog, the guy that would loudly and publicly cut your balls off if you pissed him off. But Sam Seaborn was the quiet crusader. If he saw something wrong, he never hesitated. No matter what it may cost, he would fight it...and the madder he was, the quieter he got. He did not just fight. He eliminated.

i know some people will say sam was white knighting, which perpetuates that a woman needs a man to stick up for her, but while it is true that women don't need men to stick up for them, it doesn't negate the fact that a man should stick up for a woman, especially against other men. sam was really just sticking up for a coworker who had taken just a couple too many blows that day. sam went and blew those guys away.

Can someone help clarify for me how did Sam know those guys sent the bouquet? Is there something missing? They were just the last people she talked with

STEAM PIPE TRUNK DISTRIBUTION VENUE is that a real thing or Sorkin genius?😮

Please upload Democratic Women's Caucus scene from WW S4e09 Swiss Diplomacy.

Cregg/Seaborn 2024

"No, because I am not a woman." -Lionel Tribbey Ah yes, white knighting, feminism and misogyny all in one episode... it was fantastic!

Total hypocrisy from Sam here: he'd been consistently rude and hostile towards Ainsley a number of times at this point because she bruised his ego by making him look bad on TV. Those 2 other a-holes are just following his lead - frankly he's in no position to start getting high and mighty about workplace abuse. "She works here" - yeah Sam that didn't stop you behaving like a dick to her, but apparently the rules of civility only apply to subordinates not big-wigs like you...

Wow, a democrat with honor---- who would guess

Ainsley was such a great character, I wish she was in more episodes but left early on to star in CSI Miami🥹

This rips me apart because I know how their storyline ends. 😢🥲

I enjoyed the show but lost all respect for the actors who pushed for liberal agenda. The episode where they did for the election i totally lost my respect for each one of those actors.