The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 56

18 Friday January 19 2001 The Guardian odtefriday Last night's TV Gareth McLean Too good to be true stars of The West Wing surprise, selected an awful gang of twentysomethings -including Gay Stuart, Punk Vicky, Fat Michael, Dykey Lucy and a host of blandly good-looking blonde boys and girls to maroon on a desert island. Unfortunately, they'll be bringing them all back. Meanwhile, however, everyone will make friends, fall out and some may even tall into bed together. (Who Gay Stuart is going to pull is anyone's guess, so it's safe to assume he's only been chosen to test the liberalness of his fellow castaways.) Precision-engineered to appeal to E4 viewers in the first episode we've already had mass snogging, some boy's bare arse, and the seeds of an all-out bitch fight in the making we live in hope that one of the Shipwrecked gang will start murdering the others as they opt for a Lord Of The Flies-like atavistic descent. Some have less distance to descend than others but, whatever happens, it's the island I feel sorry for.

House." Firm but fair. And how fair the West Wing workers are. From the President down to assistants, everyone who works there is bubbling over with conviction, passion and human kindness. Rather than the cynical, selfish power-players who've been corrupted by the system, everyone on Potus's staff seems to have trained at the Maria Von Trapp Graduate School For Aspiring Political Types. And they're so darned articulate like Dawson (of Creek fame) and his friends all grown up.

In Bartlet, America or at least America's Democrats has a President of whom it can be unashamedly, 100 proud. Full of homespun wisdom and mature world views, he's a moral leader, a loving husband, father and grandfather. Above all, he's A Good Man, the Potus with the mostest. Bartlet is not the kind of Dt's a shame for Mrs Landingham, PA to Potus. He -the President Of The United States shouts at her, albeit in a generous, loving way.

She's irked by fast-talking, speed-walking members of his staff, particularly when they almost swear know how I feel about talk like that in the Oval Office," she tells Leo McGarry, Chief of Staff). And she's way behind CJ, sassy press secretary Donna, the Gwyneth-a-like secretary and even Mary Marsh, the religious fundamentalist, in the glamour stakes. It's as plain as she is that Mrs Landingham suffers. Yet does shegethername in the opening titles of The West Wing (Channel 4)? She certainly does not. It's tucked away, alongside Reporter Economist 2 and Maid in the always-too-fast end credits of the US drama.

For all its right-on, liberal, feelgood values, The West Wing could be a bit nicer to Mrs Landingham. Too busy to bother with the feelings of a character actress in the late summer of her life, The West Wing is occupied with illustrating just what marvellous people liberals are. (We at The Guardian already know how smashing liberals are, but it's rather off-putting to see it on TV, especially as it's force-fed to the audience. With a straw. Up their nose.) While nasty folks on the religious right make veiled anti-Semitic remarks to Jewish members of the White House staff, President Josiah Bartlet (a hammy Martin Sheen) and friends demonstrate again and again that they're on the side of the angels.

Making his grand entrance, he hobbles in quoting the Bible before telling the aforementioned religious types to "Get your fat asses out of my White dialogue. It verges on the corny at points especially when Sheen's Bartlet is spinning some folksy story with a Moral and its theme tune is awfully turgid, but The West Wing succeeds by focusing less on Bartlet and more on those around him. The West Wing may not enchant audiences here quite like it has in the States, but it's undoubtedly must-see TV. How's that for shiny optimism? The second series of Shipwrecked (Channel 4) began with the selection process which, quelle TV regional variations drhrgghlsshthyr Tj jieWffiaTbiiaft'r I pft' All the president's the bloke to indulge in fellatio in the Oval Office. (Mrs Landingham would probably have a conniption fit at the mere mention of the word).

Yet for all its shiny optimism and liberal love-ins, The West Wing is smart, snappy and instantly engrossing. As atrauma-in-the-high-pressure-work-place, it operates in the same way as ER (with whom it shares an executive producer, John Wells), with engaging characters emerging from tumultuous camera work, the spaghetti of multiple plot lines, and sparky, speedy Technology Programme 38414635 11.40 Science In Focus Special 50429906 12.0 Powerhouse (T) 55535432 12.30 MontelfT) 44593068 1.0 Planed Plant (T) 44738068 1.30 The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (T) 24616203 2.30 The Real Joan Of Arc (D 42187838 3.30 Great Estates (T) 13296567 4.0 Fifteen To One (T) 13275074 4.30 Collectors' Lot In The Garden (T) 13271258 5.0 Planed Plant 80189567 5.30 Countdown (T) 13295838 6.0 Newyddion 6 (T) 53176567 6.10 Heno (D 74852432 7.0 Pobol Cwm. Beryl receives an offer. (T) 80169703 7.30 Newyddion (D 13272987 8.0 Cefn Gwlad (D (R) 97668068 9.0 Friends (T) (R) 68775190 9.30 Armstrong And Miller (T) 44679432 10.0 Brookslde (T) 54275819 10.35 Frasier. The shrink has his ideas stolen.

(T) 38253906 11.05 So Graham Norton 76698635 11.55 Secret Life Of Japan (D 22866646 12.55 Homiez 14536681 1.0 Get Your Kit Off CD 77160952 1.30 Bits 37162846 2.05 Loves Like A Dog 83662778 3.05 The Other Side 10648223 3.40 Two Minus One 33917223 3.50 YR 1: A Snapshot Of Britain In The 21st Century. Photographic competition. (R) 15697865 4.49 The Crime List 2523S063 5.40 Diwedd S4C Digital As S4C except 9.0am Coleg Dlgktol 6530722 12noon Dinas 8251364 12.30-1.0 Cwmni Hon 6698819 I. 30 Planed Plant (R) 6680890 2.0 8041635 2.30 Slaymakerffi) 4527364 3.0 PNawn Da 44999838 4.49-5.0 Byd Natur 42470839 5.30-6.0 Planed Plant (R) 4521180 9.0 Arachnid (T) 6196155 9.95 Arachnid (D 1976567 10.50 Pam Fi Duw? 2134703 II. 15 Bandit 6911513 12.15am Diwedd BBC Learning Zone 3.0 GCSE Bltesize: Maths 1 86643 I.

Shortland Street (S) 58567 3.15-3.20 Anglia News And Weather (T) 7922797 5.05-5.30 The Planefs Funniest Animals. Home videos. 4072884 5.58 Anglia Weather (D 730451 6.0-6.30 Anglia News (T) 529 11.20-11.30 Anglia News And Weather 212987 Central As London except 12.20pm Just A Moment (T) (S) 2146109 12.25-12.30 Central News (T) 2138180 1.0-1.30 Shortland Street. Medical drama. (S) 58567 3.15-3.20 Central News CT) 7922797 6.0-6.30 Central News At Six (T) 529 11.20-11.30 Central News (D 212987 4.45am Central Jobfinder 2001 (D 6337812 5.20-5.30 Asian Eye.

International news. 3263488 Westcountry As London except 12.20pm Illuminations 2146109 12.23-12.30 Westcountry News (D 2120161 1.0-1.30 Westcountry Lunchtime Live (T) 58567 3.15 Westcountry News (D 7922797 3.18-3.20 Birthday People 7922797 5.30 Westcountry Weekend (D 616 6.0-6.30 Westcountry Live (T) 529 II. Westcountry News (T) 212987 Channel As London except 12. 15pm Daily Diary 2043068 12.20-12.30 Channel News 2120161 1.0-1.30 Wheel Of Fortune (D 58567 3.15-3.20 Puffin's Hati)ce 7922797 5.03 Puffin's PlaOTce 6978105 5.05 The Planet's Funniest Animals 4072884 5.30 Bon Voyage. Eastbourne, Brussels and Devon.

616 6.0-6.30 Channel Report (D 529 6.58-7.0 The News Minute (D 133819 11.20-11.30 Channel News (T) 212987 5.0am-5.30 Freescreen (T) 59778 Granada As London except 12.15pm-12.30 Granada NewsfT) 5838161 1.0-1.30 Eat Yourself Slim With Rosemary Conley. Toyah Willcox guests. 58567 3.15-3.20 Granada News IT) 7922797 5.05 The Planefs Funniest Animals 4072884 5.29 Granada Weather 2479190 5.30-6.30 Granada Tonight (D 36797 11.20-11.30 Granada News (T) 212987 HTVWest As London except 12.15pm-12.30 HTV News (T) (S) 5838161 I. Shortland Street (S) 58567 3.15-3.20 HTV News (T) (S) 7922797 6.0-6.30 HTV News (T) (S) 529 10.59-11.0 HTV Crimestoppers (S) 422277 11.20-11.30 HTV News (T)(S) 212987 Meridian As London except 12.15pm-12.30 Meridian News And Weather (D 5838161 1.0-1.30 Wheel Of Fortune 0) (S) 58567 3.153.20 Meridian News And Weather (T) 7922797 5.05 The Planet's Funniest Animals. Home videos.

40728845.30 Bon Voyage 616 6.0-6.30 Meridian Tonight (T) 529 7.29-7.30 Meridian Weather 477890 II. Meridian News And Weather 212987 5.0am-5.30 Freescreen fT)(S) 59778 Yorkshire As London except 12.15pm-12.30 Calendar News And Weather 5838161 1.0-1.30 Eat Vourself Slim Witt! Rosemary Conley 58567 3.19-3.20 Calendar News 7922797 5.05 The Planet's Funniest Animals 4072884 9.30 Tonight Tony Eamshavs film reviews. (T) 616 6.0-6.30 Calendar (T) 52911.20-11.30 Calender News 212987 4.45am-5.30 Jobfinder 3747339 SAC 6.0 Sesame Street (R) 41578890 7.0 The Big Breakfast 44831109 9.0 YsgoHon; ICT learning: Bulk) A Roman Town 66789426 9.15 The English Programme 66864161 9.35 Off Limits 87507180 9.59 My Brilliant Career 57665074 10.0 Quest 79458432 10.19 Just Write 79375155 10.30 Inset 55544180 11.0 The Hoobs 95077180 11.29 The BBCl Ireland: 6.30pm-7.0 Newsline (T) 523 8.0 Hugo And Friends (S) 7635 8.30 Give My Head Peace (S) (R) 3242 9.0-10.0 The John Daly Show (T) (S) 1513 10.35 Battle Of The Fantasy Bands (Tl (S) 326884 1 1.25 They Think It's All Over. Offbeat sports quiz. (T) (S) 417345 11.55 Clive Anderson Now (T) (S) 399155 12.25am FILM: Carlrto's Way (Brian De Palma, 1993) Thriller, with Al Pacino and Sean Penn.

(Tl (S) 75422285 2.50-7.0 BBC News 2462831681 Scottish: 2.55pm Oram Agus Ranna (Songs And Rhymes) (S) 3347797 3.0 An T-Ollamh Seileasdar (Professor Iris) (S) 3263839 3.15-3.25 Rathad An Sutha. More fun for the young. (S) 6436884 6.30-7.0 Reporting Scotland (D 513 Wain: 6.30pm-7.0 Wales Today (D 513 9.30-10.0 Mike Doyle (T) 23242 10.35 They Think It's All Over (T) (S) 580364 11.05 CSve Anderson Now. Witty repartee. (T) (S) 427722 1 1.35 FILM: Cartitoli Way (Brian De Palma, 1993) Thriller, with Al Pacino.

(D (S) 61223567 2.0am-7.0 BBC News 24 2037310 BBC2 Ireland: 12.10pm-12.30 Primary Focus English. Friendship. (S) 3703364 Scottish: 9.20am-9.30 Aon Dha (S) 6502971 6.0pm Robot Wars. With Craig Charles. ID (S) 162345 6.45-7.30 Buffy The Vampire Slayer (T) IS) 394277 Walei: 6.0pm Robot Wars (Tl 162345 6.45 European Scrum Live.

Llanelli Colomiers. 21971631 9.0 Graham Henry's Six Nations (T) 6364 9.30 Bill Oddie Goes Wild (D (S) 21884 10.0-10.30 The Flying Gardener (T) (S) 88635 Angto As London except 12.15pm-12.30 Anglia News And Weather 0)5838161.