Good Cop/Bad Cop

I saw an episode of CSI:Miami last night starring Sean 'Puff Daddy/P Diddy/The Artist Formerly Known As A Penis' Combs as a defence attorney. He was bad. REALLY bad. Anyhoo, this is not about him, it's about bad writing.

Mr Coombs had to defend Eric 'Man Of Wood' Delko and say nice things about him in a manly-yet-straight way that would bring a lump to your throat, such as how he got shot in the head but still carried on as a cop (honest, I couldn't make THAT up!) when he could have sued the city & become rich.

All supposed to reflect a feeling of self-sacrifice and bravery.

Then I put a DVD of The West Wing on, series 3. Leo is offered a deal to avoid national humiliation in exchange for getting President Bartlet to accept a censure, his reply:"I take a bullet for the President, he doesn't take on for me". Later on we learn thru flashbacks that it was Leo who got Bartlet to run, showing him the phrase 'Bartlet For America' written on a napkin.

At the end of the episode, the Prez agrees to accept the censure and gives Leo a gift - the napkin framed. He then leaves as we see Leo start to break down and cry, his armour proof against all threats except friendship.

Now granted we're talking different leagues of acting, but as examples of how to do & not to do something, they were hard to beat. It also showed what a fine actor John Spencer was, and he'll be sadly missed.