THIS week Taoiseach Enda Kenny and some senior ministers twice presented themselves as hand-tied supplicants dependent on the kindness of strangers who might do the right thing — hopefully before an election is called.

Creator Aaron Sorkin’s sure hand is missing from The West Wing: Season 5 (Warner), the political drama series which lost some of its momentum towards the end of the series (season 6 continues the drift).

HBO's mobster saga, The Sopranos, led the field of prime-time series announced yesterday as contenders for US television's highest honours, with 20 Emmy nominations, including a nod for best drama.

West Wing star Martin Sheen is to earn more than €3m for the next series of the White House drama, it was reported today.