The West Wing is 25. Writer Aaron Sorkin explains the ‘walk-and-talk’
The West Wing is a cultural touchstone and, in an interview, its creator speaks about the present political moment, President Bartlet’s evolution and why he believes the politics were mostly beside the point.
the cast of West Wing: (l-r) Richard Schiff as Communications Director Toby Ziegler; Allison Janney as Press Secretary CJ Gregg, Dule Hill as aide Charlie Young, John Spencer as Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet, Rob Lowe as Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn, Janel Moloney as Assistant Donna Moss, Brad Whitford as Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman.
When it premiered on NBC on September 22, 1999, The West Wing contained elements of both what great television had been and what great television would become.
It had the strict structure, self-contained episodes and PG-13 language of esteemed network contemporaries like NYPD Blue and ER. (John Wells was an executive producer of both ER and The West Wing.)
Subscribe to gift this article
Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.
Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?
Introducing your Newsfeed
Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.
Find out moreRead More
Latest In Arts & Culture
Fetching latest articles