The first season of The West Wing wastes no time in plunging the fledgling administration of American president Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) into a crisis, when the commander in chief is injured by a fall from a bicycle borrowed from his chief of staff, Leo McGarry (John Spencer). Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) and Communications Director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) do a neat job alienating the entire Religious Right; and Tobys deputy, Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe), exhibits his customary streak of irresponsibility by entering into a romance with call girl Laurie (Lisa Edelstein). As the season progresses, other major issues arise, some crucial, some not. Vice President Hoynes (Tim Matheson) refuses to espouse the party line (it isnt the first time, and it wont be the last); Mandy Hampton (Moira Kelly) is hired as Bartlets consultant, but doesnt last the year; the president ponders the problem of proportional response when he mounts a deadly counterattack to avenge the death of his doctor when his plane is shot down over Jordan; Josh must deal with the death of his sister; the love-hate relationship between Press Secretary C.J. (Allison Janney) and reporter Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield) heats up; war breaks out on the India-Pakistan border; Bartlet shows signs of fatigue (or perhaps something more serious) when he collapses just before his first State of the Union address; and First Daughter Zoey raises a few eyebrows (and, unfortunately, more than a few threats) when she begins dating Bartlets young African-American aide, Charlie (Dule Hill). Among the recurring characters making their first appearances this season are Bartlets loyal secretary and sometimes severest critic, Delores Landingham (Kathryn Joosten); Joshs wisecracking assistant, Donna Moss (Janel Moloney); and political consultant Joey Lucas (Marlee Matlin), a feisty deaf woman who is seldom seen without her intrepid interpreter (played by actress Maitlins real-life interpreter, Bill OBrien). The season ends on a cliffhanger, as Bartlet and his staff are besieged by an assassination attempt -- and it will not be until the following season that the casualty list will be posted. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide