LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE

NBC's hit series The West Wing tried something completely different last evening. The two candidates for president from the show, Matthew Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) were featured in a debate which aired live in the Eastern/Central time zones. Viewers are encouraged to vote on who won the debate on the show's Web site, which in itself if rather interesting as the characters' campaigns also have their own page which feature their official statements, and even their own campaign blogs.

The candidates agreed to drop all the rules and deliver a no-holds-barred debate, and it came across exactly how I --- and I'm certain, many of you --- would like to see our real candidates for public office debate the issues.

If this episode doesn't come away with an Emmy Award for someone, then something's terribly wrong. Another reason why The West Wing is presently the best show on television.