WHAT’S IT CALLED?

“In This White House.”

WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?

Teleplay is credited to series creator Aaron Sorkin.

ANY GOOD?

Tonight’s episode is dynamite in a cathode ray tube.

DYNAMITE? IN A … ?

There are two perfectly wonderful television series in production right now. Brainy, funny, moving, life-enhancing, the two of them. They make me feel lucky to be alive in an era in which such spectacular entertainments are beamed into our homes, weekly, for free. One is called “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The other is called “The West Wing.” I am determined to harangue the readers of this site until every American and a good percentage of the viewing public overseas watch them both.

SO IT’S GOOD?

I am confounded by television this entertaining. I sit, I stare, I laugh and I cry. Could somebody show me a picture of Aaron Sorkin? How big, precisely, is his brain? Can a human skull contain it, or is Sorkin one of those massive floaty spacing-guild guys from David Lynch’s “Dune?”

UM…

Forget for the moment about “West Wing’s” superb ensemble of regulars and its army of fascinating supporting players. You will find few more entertaining characters in the realm of filmed entertainment than Ainsley Hayes (Emily Proctor), the fabulous young blonde Republican lawyer and political columnist President Bartlett decides to hire to work for White House counsel. Ainsley is so smart, she makes Sam Seaborn look stupid. In front of millions. She is polite, beautiful, charming and sincere. She is also disdainful of the president, his policies and his staff. And as strange as this may sound, fans of the very liberal “West Wing” are going to fall in love with her. Such is the dark magic that Aaron Sorkin and his giant brain may weave.

YOU IMPLIED THE EPISODE WAS SAD?

Because a good man, the president of an insanely impoverished African nation consumed by an AIDS epidemic, has come to D.C. to seek medical aid for his people. “It’s a terrible thing to beg for your life,” he tells the White House staff. “Terrible.” Sorkin’s script makes us fall in love this character too, then visits upon him a litany of horrors.

ANY OTHER REASONS TO WATCH?

To see Martin Sheen wring a laugh out of this line: “What am I, Farmer Bob?” This is one of the best episodes yet of the one of the two best shows on television. Far better than last week’s, 2.4 actually rivals “West Wing’s” second-season opener, which is saying something.

HERC’S RATING FOR “THE WEST WING” 2.4?

****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:

**** better than most motion pictures

*** actually worth your valuable time

** as horrible as most stuff on TV

* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

I warn you not to defy me!

I am – Hercules!

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