Five days before the New Hampshire primary, a desperate Josh must get his trailing candidate, Congressman Matthew Santos (recurring guest star Jimmy Smits), into the local debate between the two front-runners, Vice President Russell (recurring guest star Gary Cole) and John Hoynes (recurring guest star Tim Matheson - "Animal House"). Josh doesn't succeed, and his candidate's campaign is doomed--until they gamble on staging their own debate. When Santos brings in savvy Amy Gardner (recurring guest star Mary-Louise Parker - "Fried Green Tomatoes") to help prepare, Josh clashes with both his ex-girlfriend and his candidate over the listless campaign.

The Bartlet administration reels from press leaks that former Vice President Hoynes (recurring guest star Tim Matheson) is preparing a tell-all book that will embarrass the President and Leo as Hoynes plans to become a candidate for President of the United States. The newsflash first stuns C.J. live on the air as she jousts with acerbic pundit Taylor Reid (recurring guest star Jay Mohr). Josh welcomes the mayor of Washington, D.C., to the White House to discuss school vouchers and also encounters a political firestorm when intern Ryan (recurring guest star Jesse Bradford) proposes closing a military base in a district belonging to a powerful congressman. Toby parleys with trade union bosses who reach an impasse over import safeguards for brassieres.

Santos (recurring guest star Jimmy Smits) travels to Sacramento, California, for the last few days before Super Tuesday (a day when a large number of states simultaneously hold their primary elections; the single day when the most nominating delegates can be won). While he's trying to gather support for his healthcare agenda, Santos is pressured by the media to reveal his stand on California legislation that would provide driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Russell (recurring guest star Gary Cole) decides not to go to California, and Hoynes (recurring guest star Tim Matheson) capably dodges the issue. Meanwhile, Donna takes a more proactive role in the Russell campaign by becoming the new spokesperson.

Jack and the team search for an airline stewardess, Linda Schmidt (Heather Donahue - "The Blair Witch Project"), who disappeared on her way to the airport. Finally improving her life after a devastating bout with alcoholism, Linda had admitted to her roommate that the man she was dating was very disappointing. As the squad begins to uncover information about her, it appears that Linda was the victim of a serial killer, Richard Morgan (Harris Mann), with whom she had communicated through an Internet dating service. The investigation leads to two therapists--Dr. Aaron Morrison (Tim Matheson - "The West Wing"), who treated Linda, and Dr. Henry Franklin (Joel Polis), who treated Morgan--both of whom have privileged information that the team needs in order to find Linda.

When a large truck carrying uranium fuel rods crashes in a remote Idaho tunnel, Bartlet's staff prepares for a potential environmental--or terrorist--crisis. Meanwhile, Bartlet's stealthily composed electoral strategy may exclude Vice President John Hoynes (recurring guest star TIM MATHESON) from the next campaign. Unaware that his fate is in question, Hoynes ponders how to promote one of his favorite bills, one that would provide Internet access to low-income households. Also, Hoynes attends the same Alcoholics Anonymous meeting as Leo. Charlie regrets filing his tax return online, after heeding the meddling Bartlet's advice. At Donna's request, Josh seeks a presidential proclamation honoring the retirement of her favorite teacher, but the task proves more difficult than he first imagined.

Phoebe Cates stars in this bizarre comedy that wants to be the kind of stylish comic fable the likes of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice and Pee-wee's Big Adventure but ends up looking like a shabby burlesque about schizophrenia. Cates is Elizabeth, who has recently separated from her philandering husband Charles (Tim Matheson) and moved back home with her harridan mother Polly (Marsha Mason). Back in her old little-girl haunts, she regresses into childhood and recalls her imaginary childhood friend Drop Dead Fred (Rik Mayall), a nasty, ill-tempered sociopath. As a child, Elizabeth created mayhem with her imaginary pal, but Polly locked him up tight in a jack-in-the-box. But now, Elizabeth mistakenly liberates him from the jack-in-the-box, and the newly freed Drop Dead Fred proceeds to wreak more havoc than the Id Monster from Forbidden Planet -- taking vengeance upon all the people who have made Elizabeth miserable -- and then some. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide.

Frank (Henry Fonda) names the movie for Helen (Lucille Ball) and the kids, with Tom Bosley as the doctor and Tim Matheson as Mike, in Yours, Mine and Ours, 1968.

Henry Fonda (Frank) and Lucille Ball (as Helen) take turns narrating the introduction to the 1968 box office hit Yours, Mine and Ours, and yes, that is young Tim Matheson as "Mike."

Kurt Russell, Tim Matheson, and Susan Dey star in this TV-movie follow-up to the western The Quest. Russell and Matheson play brothers out to rescue their sister from American Indians. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide.

Tim Matheson plays a zealous prosecutor named Peter Hudson in the made-for-cable thriller Trial and Error. After sending a petty criminal to death row, Hudson pursues a political career, eventually becoming attorney general. Just before he is to be nominated for Lieutenant Governor, the criminal is about to be executed, and due to his wife's beliefs Hudson starts to suspect that the man was innocent. Hudson doesn't want to pursue his suspicions, since his political career is at stake. However, he is forced into action when the real killer begins stalking his wife. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide.