The West Wing - Season One (1999 Aaron Sorkin)

Elaborate camera moves through White House offices herald monster series and introduces Bradley Whitford (and his assistant Janel Moloney),  Rob Lowe, Richard Schiff, Allison Janney, John Spencer, Dulé Hill and hooker Lisa Edelstein. Oh yes, and (when he makes his forceful entrance at the end of episode one) Martin Sheen. And subsequently his wife Stockard Channing.

With Timothy Busfield (journalist Danny), Jorja Fox (FBI agent), Elisabeth Moss, Suzy Nakamura, Kathryn Joosten (feisty Mrs Landringham), NiCole Robinson (Margaret), Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God).

It's about 16½ hours, plenty of time to warm up to characters in fast-talking, almost thirties style, very verbal, with interesting themes and storylines - Josh's ex coming to work with them, the President's MS, Leo's former drug use, Sam's girlfriend, working its way up to a doozy of a cliff-hanger ending. Lots of humour and warmth too amidst acerbic front- and back-stabbing.

Q thinks the President and I share a similar way of putting on a jacket (zipper in my case) - two arms at once.