Take out the Trash Day

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“Take out the Trash Day”
The West Wing episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 13
Guest stars	Timothy Busfield Janel Moloney Suzy Nakamura Dakin Matthews James Handy Ray Baker Liza Weil Linda Gehringer Renee Estevez
Written by	Aaron Sorkin
Directed by	Ken Olin
Production no.	225912
Original airdate
Season 1 episodes
Pilot Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc A Proportional Response Five Votes Down The Crackpots and These Women Mr. Willis of Ohio The State Dinner Enemies The Short List In Excelsis Deo Lord John Marbury He Shall, From Time To Time... Take Out The Trash Day Take This Sabbath Day Celestial Navigation 20 Hours In L.A. The White House Pro-Am Six Meetings Before Lunch Let Bartlet Be Bartlet Mandatory Minimums Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics What Kind of Day Has It Been
List of The West Wing episodes

"Take out the Trash Day" is the 13th episode of The West Wing.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

1 Plot
2 Title
3 Trivia
4 Quotes
5 External links

[edit] Plot

While Bartlet and his staff debate the best way to handle a controversial sex education study, a Congressional committee furthers its efforts to expose and condemn Leo's past substance abuse. There are concerns that the father of a recently murdered gay teen won't offer public support on the hate crimes bill, and Toby prepares to battle over Public Broadcasting.

[edit] Title

The title refers to Friday press briefing where the White House releases information about several sensitive stories thereby preventing discussion and reducing any probable impact in the media.

Donna: What's take out the trash day?
Josh: Friday.
Donna: I mean, what is it?
Josh: Any stories we have to give the press that we're not wild about, we give all in a lump on Friday.
Donna: Why do you do it in a lump?
Josh: Instead of one at a time?
Donna: I'd think you'd want to spread them out.
Josh: They've got X column inches to fill, right? They're going to fill them no matter what.
Donna: Yes.
Josh: So if we give them one story, that story's X column inches.
Donna: And if we give them five stories ...
Josh: They're a fifth the size.
Donna: Why do you do it on Friday?
Josh: Because no one reads the paper on Saturday.
Donna: You guys are real populists, aren't you?

[edit] Trivia

The Lowell Lydell story bears strong resemblence to the real life story of Matthew Shepard who was beaten in 1998 in Wyoming, because he was gay. It was an incredibly high profile case and focused the nation on hate crimes.

[edit] Quotes

Mr Lydell: I don't understand how this President, who I voted for, can take such a completely weak-ass position on gay rights. I want to know what quality necessary to being a parent the President feels my son lacked. I want to know, from this President, who has served not one day in uniform - I served two tours in Vietnam - I want to know what quality necessary to being a soldier this President feels my son lacked. Lady, I'm not embarrassed that my son was gay. My government is.