Perfectly timed to coincide with the current economic crisis and the start of the holiday shopping season comes this TV Addict’s Deal of the Day. For 24 hours only, Amazon.com is offering up THE WEST WING Complete Series on DVD for a mere $114.99. That amounts to a whopping 62% off the regular price of $299.99 for what is quite possibly this TV Addict’s all-time favorite television show. Well, with of course the notable exception of that snooze-inducing episode where we got to spend an hour with C.J. and her Dad back in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio.

Simply click here to check it out and get ready to enjoy over 154 hours of how we wish our elected officials conducted themselves.

As I’m wont to do, this TV Addict spent yesterday afternoon working far too hard well, not working. Was I breaking my cardinal rule by watching television during the day? Absolutely not! I was surfing the net. And for that my fellow TV Addicts, I blame GiveMeMyRemote and new contributor Kari, who decided to drive me bonkers by posting their Top 5 Favorite Episodes of THE WEST WING.

You see, as is often the case with these “Top 5 Lists,” I couldn’t disagree more with Kari’s choices [seriously, brilliant idea GMMR!]. I mean hello?! How did “Let Bartlett Be Bartlett” not make the Top 5? It’s maddening!!! [Hence the completely gratuitous overuse of exclamation points]. Which is why I immediately set about replaying all 156 episodes of THE WEST WING in my head to figure out theTVaddict.com’s definitive Top 5 favorites.

Cut to three hours later, DVD sets strewn everywhere and one very tired TV Addict. Turns out that widdling down Aaron Sorkin’s opus to a mere five favorites is virtually impossible. Thus, I’ve taken the far easier route and simply pointed out ten scenes [complete with YouTube links] that perfectly illustrate the magic that was, and still is, the Bartlett administration. So watch, enjoy and my apologies in advance if your HR department comes down to your desk/cubicle/office only to ask why you’ve just wasted [or as I like to call it "quality spent"] about an hour or so of company time on YouTube.

1. Let Bartlett Be Bartlett
Almost ten years later, Leo Thomas McGarry’s plan to get the Bartlett administration back on track remains this TV Addict’s all-time favorite WEST WING moment.

2. Josh and the President Head up the Hill
Quintessential Josh Lyman.

3. Bartlett for America
To this day, it still makes me sad that John Spencer is no longer with us.

4. Charlie and the Thanksgiving Carving knife
You know that imaginary place where TV shows continue to live on even after they’re cancelled. Well, in that world, Charlie is so married to Zoey Bartlett.

5. President Bartlett Delivers a Verbal Smack-down
Suck it Dr. Laura, umm… I mean Dr. Jacobs.

6. The Kiss Heard ‘Round the World!
Forget your Pam & Jims and Ross & Rachels, this TV Addict will take Josh & Donna any day.

7. The Stackhouse Filibuster
Another small victory that this TV Addict never tires of watching.

8. Leo and Josh share a Moment
Did I mention how much I miss John Spencer?

9. Toby and the Vietnam Vet
And Miss Landingham.

10. Ainsley Hayes
Or how we wish our government officials really acted.

Good News: Martin Sheen reminisces about the fictional Bartlett administration. Bad News: With Paris Hilton. [Video]

Good News: The women of THE VIEW are crazy as the daily gabfest continues to devolve into a rip-roaring can’t miss political free-for-all. Bad News: I’m almost starting to feel bad for Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Emphasis on the “almost.” [Source]

Good News: Nathan Fillion’s return with CASTLE looks fantastic. Bad News: Which means it will likely last a solid four episodes before its abruptly canceled. [Trailer]

If there’s one thing that Ben Silverman has taught us during his first season as NBC President, it’s that he isn’t one for re-inventing the wheel. KNIGHT RIDER! AMERICAN GLADIATORS! ‘CELEBRITY’ APPRENTICE! Who says television networks need to air original content?

Yet rather than continue to kick a guy when he’s down. This TV Addict is going to take the high road and offer to lend a hand as we inch closer and closer to the launch of the new fall season.

Mr. Silverman, how would you like a show with a built in audience of desirable demographics, a proven concept, a familiar brand and a cast that the public is already in love with?

Now I know what you’re thinking. Madison Avenue buzz words already fooled you once [see: the disastrous ratings of myspace darling QUARTERLIFE]. But trust me. This idea is a winner.

As you’re undoubtedly well aware, American is in middle of quite possibly the most captivating race to the White House in its history. People of all ages have been swept up in Hillary vs. Obama fever making politics once again ‘cool’.

With that in mind, this TV Addict would like to propose that it’s time to bring back THE WEST WING: The Santos Years, or The Santos Administration. I’ll leave it up to your marketing wizards to figure out what title sells.

Not only will a Matthew Santos Presidency resonate with a country that seems ready for change. The final few episodes of THE WEST WING’s fantastic seventh season offered up the ideal set-up for a newly re-energized White House.

Virtually the entire Santos administration [with the exception of Jeneane Garofalo who will be busy protecting American interests from terrorists over on 24] including Jimmy Smits, Bradley Whitford, Teri Polo and Janel Moloney are available. Add in a few good-looking (yes, this is still NBC) and idealistic young White House staffers and the story-lines practically write themselves. Or if they don’t, the TV Addict can be reached here.

So Ben [can I call you Ben?], before you consider re-imagining the classic NBC series MANIMAL, why not take a moment, think about THE WEST WING: THE NEXT GENERATION and utter three simple words. “Yes we can.”

The first two seasons of THE WEST WING were pure magic. From the moment we learned what POTUS was (President of the United States) as Sam realized he was in bed with a call girl — everything just clicked. The characters, the stories, it was the White House we wish (or at least I wished) we had.

The TV Addict’s personal favourite episode of the first two seasons is “Let Bartlet Be Bartlet.” The last few minutes alone, where Leo (the much loved John Spencer) tells President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) to start doing what he was elected to do, support the issues in which he truly believes — is well worth the $1.99 in itself.

And now for the obligatory rant: Warner Bros, I give you all the credit in the world for being pro-active when it comes to releasing the digital rights of your shows to iTunes. I’m thrilled to see VERONICA MARS, AQUAMAN et al in the iTunes store. My one problem — when are you going to get your act together and release seasons two through four of EVERWOOD on iTunes? If HERCULES and XENA can find a spot on iTunes, surely there’s room for one of television’s finest family dramas.

While I’m on the subject of Aaron Sorkin, did you see the promo for his new show. How INCREDIBLE does STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP look? It it’s definitely theTVaddict’s most anticipated show of the new season!

It was such a strange episode, as the writers have been building up to it for weeks. We knew it was over. The Bartlett administration had come to an end. All that was left to do was see Matthew Santos sworn in and take over as the new President. Which of course is exactly what happend. We got to watch the Santos administration move into the White House, as the beloved cast that we’ve come to know and love throughout the past seven years were kicked to the curb.

Perhaps that’s a bit harsh, but the finale was essentially an introduction to a new cast – one that unfortunately we’re never going to see in action. Don’t get me wrong, the writer’s did a good job. It was nice to see CJ, Charlie, and Will have final scenes with the President, and Martin Sheen and Stockard Channing were at the top of their game as per usual. It was just strange, essentially watching an episode that would not only mark the final episode for the Bartlett administartion, but also for the actors as well. We spent the entire hour watching Matt Santos and his first lady (the lovely Teri Polo) nervously realize how much their life is giong to change – yet we’ll never get to watch go along for the journey. For lack of a better word, it was a bitter-sweet ending.

A few of my favourite moments:

Donna seeing her new office, she’s come so far!

Josh & Sam briefing the President in the Oval office, and of course having him say, “What’s Next?”

Mallory returning to give the President a gift. While it was the most obvious gift ever, it was yet another deserving nod to Jon Spencer’s brilliant chief-of-staf Leo McGarry.

Some of the supporting players getting a nice moment: Margeret, Ed & Larry, the reporter, and Lilly Tomlin’s funny secretary.

Overall it was a nice, albeit, depressing farewell. The show will be missed. All I can hope is that one day in the not to distant future, say four seasons from now, THE WEST WING is revitalized as we see Matthew Santos fight for his re-election.

The day I’ve dreaded has finally arrived. Tonight, after seven (mostly) brilliant seasons, THE WEST WING signs off (NBC, 8pm). Since its inagural episode (which coincidentally will air prior to the finale, at 7pm) THE WEST WING has shown us the best of American Politics. It was a fairytale almost, with idealized versions of the men and women who worked in the White House. Each week, creator Aaron Sorkin created edge of your seat drama out of mundane political happenings such as filibusters and senate reform. For me at least, Sorkin made politics come alive. While some may think it is ridiculous for me to actually take more of an interest in the ‘real world’ through a fictional look at the White House, I like to think it was a rare case of television actually ‘edutaining’ (learning and being educated at the same time!).

That said, after tonight, the world of TV will have lost one of the most talented ensembles of all time. I for one can only hope that one day, the powers that be, decide it’s time once again to dip back into the well, and bring us WEST WING: THE NEXT GENERATION (Say in time for Santos’ re-election campaign in 2010?)

The Cast of THE WEST WING are on ELLEN today (check your local listings). It will be the only time we see the cast talk to the fans about the finale, as they deemed their pay not enough to do a proper retrospective on NBC before Sunday’s finale.

In more WEST WING news, there is a great article in the LA TIMES about Josh & Donna’s relationship. Check it out by clicking here.

Some great WILL & GRACE Scoop about the upcoming finale. According to actor Leslie Jordan, who plays recurring character Beverly Lesley on WILL & GRACE, the finale was shot over three days, with three different audiences. Basically, no one in the audience got the benefit of the full story. Apparently, the story skips around from the present to the future. We get to see what happens to the characters after the finale. While no doubt most fans and critics think it’s time for the show to go, it still makes me laugh, which is never a bad thing.

According to Variety, the reason we’re not getting the retrospective episode filled with cast interviews that we deserve, prior to THE WEST WING’s series finale is because the cast members didn’t think they were being compensated enough to appear in the special.

Yet again Hollywood actors prove that the only thing that matters to them is money. This truly is a slap in the face to us loyal viewers who have endlessly and passionately supported the show for the past 7 years. I for one was really looking forward to a great retrospective, featuring cast and creative team interviews. I already own season one of the series on DVD, I don’t need to see the pilot episode again. Actors should take a moment and realize that something as special as THE WEST WING is a rarity. They may never work on such a high quality show again. They should take every opportunity to appreciate it, before jumping ship and moving on (Yes, I’m talking to you too Amy Sherman-Palladino)

UPDATE: Thanks to freelancer-1 over on the eonline.com boards for pointing out that the main cast members of WW, will be on ELLEN this Thursday:

Ellen has the exclusive farewell interview with the entire cast of “THE WEST WING,” including MARTIN SHEEN, ALLISON JANNEY, BRADLEY WHITFORD, RICHARD SCHIFF, JIMMY SMITS, JANEL MOLONEY, KRISTIN CHENOWEHT and DULE HILL. Ellen and the cast celebrate with a special season finale send-off party! The cast shares special moments and highlights from the past nine seasons.