"The West Wing" (1999) TV series 1999-2006

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Creator:

Aaron Sorkin

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

22 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Right place. Right time. right man.

Plot:

Inside the lives of staffers in the west wing of the White House.

Plot Keywords:

President | Political | Secretary | White House | First Lady

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 86 wins & 176 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 13	8:00 AM	BRAVO	Let Bartlet Be Bartlet	#1.19
Mon. July 13	9:00 AM	BRAVO	Mandatory Minimums	#1.20

Cast

Allison Janney	...	Claudia Jean 'C.J.' Cregg (155 episodes, 1999-2006)
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet / ... (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry (153 episodes, 1999-2006)
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman (153 episodes, 1999-2006)
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss (148 episodes, 1999-2006)
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler (146 episodes, 1999-2006)
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young (133 episodes, 1999-2006)
NiCole Robinson	...	Margaret Hooper (105 episodes, 1999-2006)
Melissa Fitzgerald	...	Carol Fitzpatrick / ... (99 episodes, 1999-2006)
Rob Lowe	...	Sam Seaborn (82 episodes, 1999-2006)
Joshua Malina	...	Will Bailey (77 episodes, 2002-2006)
Stockard Channing	...	Abbey Bartlet (63 episodes, 1999-2006)

Also Known As:

"West Wing" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

42 min | USA:60 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (season 7) | New Zealand:M (season 2) | New Zealand:M (season 4) | New Zealand:PG (season 1) | New Zealand:PG (season 3) | New Zealand:PG (season 5) | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | UK:12 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Company:

John Wells Productions

Trivia:

Aaron Sorkin resigned from his job as writer and executive producer after the fourth season following a protracted dispute with NBC executive Jeff Zucker.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Some long shots of Washington from season 1 are flipped horizontally, e.g: at one point, the Smithsonian is north of the Mall.

Quotes:

President Josiah Bartlet: [Before the State of the Union, Bartlet is counseling a cabinet member on what to do in the event of a terrorist attack] You got a best friend?
Roger: Yes, sir.
President Josiah Bartlet: Is he smarter than you?
Roger: Yes, sir.
President Josiah Bartlet: Would you trust him with your life?
Roger: Yes, sir.
President Josiah Bartlet: That's your Chief of Staff.

Movie Connections:

Spin off "Mister Sterling" (2003)

Charming and intelligent drama - a joy to watch

This gem of a series really took me by surprise. Observing the world of American politics and the lives of those working in the White House could be an extremely dull concept. But thanks to an outstanding script and the wonderful skills of the experienced cast, The West Wing effortlessly draws the viewer in and provides top quality drama in every action-packed episode.

Following the trials and triumphs of those working behind-the-scenes in and around the Oval Office, this series perfectly portrays the shrewdness that the president and his staff require to do their jobs and the way they inter-relate in a manic environment to get those jobs done, while still managing to maintain a personal life. Combining a subtle mix of poignancy, humour and dramatic tension with varying degrees of pace, it is a joy to watch.

Each episode is relatively self-contained with running storylines developing throughout the series. The characters are perfectly rounded, the script continually sharp, and credit goes to the directors and editors who ensure such slick movement and spot-on timing on screen.

Singling out any particular member of the cast is difficult as each one of them is truly first-rate. However, Martin Sheen is excellent as President Bartlet, a fiercely intelligent and discerning man with a genuine passion for his job. Rob Lowe is a revelation as Sam Seaborn, the wise and witty deputy communications director, and Allison Janney, as the astute press secretary, CJ, is far removed from her almost unrecognisable role as Barbara Fitts in American Beauty.

Whether White House life is in reality as appealing as this remains to be seen. It would, however, be very reassuring to believe that those who actually do hold such influential positions are as unashamedly charming as The West Wing brilliantly depicts them.