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

Creator:

Aaron Sorkin
(more)

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 | White House | Democrat | U.S. President | Politics

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 89 wins & 177 nominations

Cast

Allison Janney	...	C.J. Cregg (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet / ... (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss (149 episodes, 1999-2006)
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler (144 episodes, 1999-2006)
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young (136 episodes, 1999-2006)
NiCole Robinson	...	Margaret Hooper / ... (105 episodes, 1999-2006)
Melissa Fitzgerald	...	Carol Fitzpatrick / ... (101 episodes, 1999-2006)
Rob Lowe	...	Sam Seaborn (84 episodes, 1999-2006)
Joshua Malina	...	Will Bailey (80 episodes, 2002-2006)
Stockard Channing	...	Abbey Bartlet (68 episodes, 1999-2006)

Series Directed by
Christopher Misiano		(35 episodes, 1999-2006)
Alex Graves		(34 episodes, 1999-2006)
Thomas Schlamme		(14 episodes, 1999-2002)
Lesli Linka Glatter		(8 episodes, 2002-2006)
Laura Innes		(6 episodes, 2000-2006)
Vincent Misiano		(5 episodes, 2002-2004)
Bill D'Elia		(3 episodes, 1999-2004)
Paris Barclay		(3 episodes, 2000-2002)
Ken Olin		(3 episodes, 2000)
Jessica Yu		(3 episodes, 2001-2004)
Julie Hébert		(3 episodes, 2004)
Andrew Bernstein		(3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Alan Taylor		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jeremy Kagan		(2 episodes, 2000-2002)
Robert Berlinger		(2 episodes, 2000-2001)
John David Coles		(2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Richard Schiff		(2 episodes, 2004-2005)
Nelson McCormick		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Writing credits
Aaron Sorkin		(155 episodes, 1999-2006)
Debora Cahn		(34 episodes, 2002-2006)
Eli Attie		(31 episodes, 2001-2006)
Lauren Schmidt		(26 episodes, 2002-2006)
Josh Singer		(26 episodes, 2003-2006)
David Handelman		(22 episodes, 2002-2003)
Paula Yoo		(22 episodes, 2002-2003)
Mark Goffman		(18 episodes, 2002-2005)
David Gerken		(18 episodes, 2002-2003)
Lawrence O'Donnell		(16 episodes, 1999-2006)
William Sind		(16 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Oates Palmer		(15 episodes, 2002-2003)
Paul Redford		(13 episodes, 1999-2003)
John Wells		(10 episodes, 2003-2006)
Kevin Falls		(8 episodes, 2000-2003)
Peter Noah		(8 episodes, 2003-2006)
Patrick Caddell		(7 episodes, 1999-2001)
Dee Dee Myers		(5 episodes, 1999-2003)
Laura Glasser		(5 episodes, 2000-2002)
Carol Flint		(5 episodes, 2003-2005)
Allison Abner		(4 episodes, 2000-2001)
Gene Sperling		(4 episodes, 2001-2003)
Felicia Willson		(4 episodes, 2001)
John Sacret Young		(4 episodes, 2004-2005)
Peter Parnell		(3 episodes, 2000)
Rick Cleveland		(2 episodes, 1999)
Julia Dahl		(2 episodes, 2001)
Alexa Junge		(2 episodes, 2003-2004)
Bradley Whitford		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Produced by
Kristin Harms	....	producer (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
John Wells	....	executive producer (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
Mindy Kanaskie	....	associate producer / co-producer (110 episodes, 2000-2005)
Christopher Misiano	....	co-executive producer / executive producer / ... (110 episodes, 2001-2006)
Patrick Ward	....	co-producer / associate producer / ... (109 episodes, 2001-2006)
Michael Hissrich	....	producer / co-producer (108 episodes, 1999-2006)
Llewellyn Wells	....	producer / line producer / ... (108 episodes, 1999-2004)
Alex Graves	....	co-executive producer / executive producer / ... (104 episodes, 2001-2006)
Thomas Schlamme	....	executive producer / consulting producer (90 episodes, 1999-2003)
Aaron Sorkin	....	executive producer (88 episodes, 1999-2003)
Lawrence O'Donnell	....	consulting producer / executive producer / ... (88 episodes, 2000-2006)
Paul Redford	....	co-producer / supervising producer / ... (88 episodes, 2000-2004)
Eli Attie	....	producer / supervising producer / ... (75 episodes, 2003-2006)
Peter Noah	....	supervising producer / executive producer / ... (66 episodes, 2003-2006)
Andrew Stearn	....	producer (66 episodes, 2003-2006)
Kevin Falls	....	co-executive producer (65 episodes, 2000-2003)
Neal Ahern Jr.	....	producer / co-producer / ... (55 episodes, 2001-2004)
Dylan K. Massin	....	co-producer / producer (45 episodes, 2004-2006)
Carol Flint	....	supervising producer / consulting producer (44 episodes, 2003-2005)
John Sacret Young	....	supervising producer / consulting producer (44 episodes, 2003-2005)
Julie Herlocker	....	associate producer (39 episodes, 1999-2001)
Debora Cahn	....	producer / co-producer (31 episodes, 2005-2006)
Patrick Caddell	....	co-producer (22 episodes, 2000-2001)
Peter Parnell	....	co-producer (22 episodes, 2000-2001)
Alexa Junge	....	supervising producer / consulting producer (22 episodes, 2003-2004)
Rick Cleveland	....	co-producer (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Ron Osborn	....	consulting producer (9 episodes, 1999)
Jeff Reno	....	consulting producer (9 episodes, 1999)
Robert W. Glass III	....	associate producer (7 episodes, 1999)
Stephanie Antosca	....	producer: Washington DC / producer: Washington D.C. (6 episodes, 2000-2004)
Mike Fountain	....	producer: Washington, DC (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
W.G. Snuffy Walden		(154 episodes, 1999-2006)

Series Cinematography by
Thomas Del Ruth		(107 episodes, 1999-2004)
Michael Mayers		(36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Anette Haellmigk		(3 episodes, 2003-2005)
Walt Fraser		(3 episodes, 2006)
Rick Bota		(2 episodes, 2000)
Dean Cundey		(unknown episodes)
Mike Fash		(unknown episodes)
Bing Sokolsky		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Russell Denove		(50 episodes, 2001-2006)
Janet Ashikaga		(39 episodes, 2000-2006)
Bill Johnson		(19 episodes, 1999-2001)
Tina Hirsch		(16 episodes, 1999-2001)
Lauren A. Schaffer		(9 episodes, 2001-2002)
Caroline Ross		(3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Christopher Nelson		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Rob Starnes		(2 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Casting by
Laura Schiff		(66 episodes, 2003-2006)
John Frank Levey		(44 episodes, 1999-2001)
Kevin Scott		(44 episodes, 1999-2001)
Anthony Sepulveda		(44 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Production Design by
Kenneth Hardy		(153 episodes, 1999-2006)

Series Art Direction by
Tony Fanning		(1 episode, 1999)
Dan Bishop		(1 episode, 2003)
Dean A. O'Dell		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Ellen Totleben		(152 episodes, 1999-2006)
Jay Klein		(1 episode, 2003-2004)

Series Costume Design by
Lyn Paolo		(154 episodes, 1999-2006)
Molly Harris Campbell		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
John Damiani	....	key makeup / key makeup artist / ... (139 episodes, 2000-2006)
Greg LaCava	....	assistant makeup artist / assistant make-up / ... (93 episodes, 1999-2005)
Lisa Nash-Jones	....	makeup artist / assistant makeup artist (93 episodes, 2001-2006)
Jeffrey Sacino	....	key hair stylist / key hair (86 episodes, 1999-2003)
Sherri Bramlett	....	key hair stylist: Washington, D.C. / hair stylist: Washington, D.C. / ... (47 episodes, 1999-2006)
Darlene Brumfield	....	key hair stylist / hair stylist (43 episodes, 2004-2006)
Laverne Caracuzzi	....	makeup artist (34 episodes, 1999-2005)
Jill Crosby	....	key hair stylist (21 episodes, 2003-2004)
Ginger Damon	....	hair stylist (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Rita Bellissimo	....	hair stylist / assistant hair stylist / ... (12 episodes, 2002-2004)
Kim Donohue	....	makeup artist (8 episodes, 2003-2005)
Robert Norin	....	key makeup artist / key make-up (5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Tony Williams	....	assistant hair stylist (3 episodes, 2000)
Rachel Kick	....	makeup artist: Washington, D.C. / makeup artist: Pittsburgh (3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Sharon Rivera	....	key hair stylist (2 episodes, 2004)
Maria Fernandez	....	key hair stylist: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Gail 'Freddie' Godden	....	key hair stylist: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Kathleen Graham	....	makeup artist: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Andy Clement	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Mark Landon	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Margie Latinopoulos	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Rela Martine	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Vivian Maxwell	....	additional makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Maria Randelman	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Alicia M. Tripi	....	hair stylist: John Spencer (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Dylan K. Massin	....	unit production manager (88 episodes, 2002-2006)
Neal Ahern Jr.	....	unit production manager (55 episodes, 2000-2002)
Nicole Lucas	....	post-production supervisor (20 episodes, 2003-2004)
Rebecca Moline	....	post-production supervisor (19 episodes, 2000-2002)
Robert P. Cohen	....	unit production manager (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Nicole Brown	....	post-production supervisor (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kathryn Lekan	....	post production supervisor (3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Wray	....	production manager: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Catherine Bond	....	second assistant director / second second assistant director (65 episodes, 2000-2006)
Douglas S. Ornstein	....	first assistant director (61 episodes, 2000-2006)
Andrew Bernstein	....	first assistant director (53 episodes, 2000-2006)
Cary Jones	....	second assistant director / second second assistant director (41 episodes, 2002-2006)
Dylan K. Massin	....	second assistant director (36 episodes, 1999-2001)
Adam Ben Frank	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (36 episodes, 2002-2006)
Margot Coleman	....	dga trainee (19 episodes, 2005-2006)
Stacy Schrader	....	second second assistant director (16 episodes, 2005-2006)
Chris Stoia	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Robert 'Skid' Skidmore	....	second second assistant director (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
A.K. Pavri	....	dga trainee / second second assistant director (11 episodes, 2004-2005)
Rodney Allen Hooks	....	first assistant director (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Stacy Fish	....	second assistant director (7 episodes, 1999)
Merry Chen	....	dga trainee (6 episodes, 2006)
David Hyman	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 2005-2006)
Shawn Griffith	....	second assistant director: exteriors (4 episodes, 1999)
Kathleen Campbell	....	dga trainee (4 episodes, 2006)
Mark Rabinowitz	....	dga trainee (3 episodes, 1999)
Laura Sylvester	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 2005)
Harmony Gosbee	....	dga trainee (2 episodes, 2001)
Aric Dupere	....	trainee assistant director: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Greg Edmunds	....	third assistant second unit director (2 episodes, 2005)
David McAree	....	first assistant director: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Lorin Raine	....	second assistant director: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Kevin Walker	....	second assistant director: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Joe Incaprera	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 2000-2003)
Peter Dress	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes, 2000)
Anya Adams	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Neal Ahern Jr.	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)
Steve Apicella	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey T. Bernstein	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Bryan Cox	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Stephen D'Amato Jr.	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Stephen P. Del Prete	....	second second assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Frank Ferro	....	first assistant director: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes)
Yor-El Francis	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey Hunt	....	second assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Matthew Janssen	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Stephanie Lovell	....	second second assistant director: Washington, DC (unknown episodes)
Joann Matsuo	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Michael T. McNerney	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Pazz Neglia	....	assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Jenny Nolan	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Yuko Ogata	....	day player second second assistant director / dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Marek Posival	....	first assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Ruben Flores Rios II	....	second second assistant director: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes)
Steven Rosenhaus	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Scott Schaeffer	....	second assistant director: New York (unknown episodes)
Richard Peter Schroer	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Xanthus Valan	....	second second assistant director: Washington DC (unknown episodes)
Rudy Van Zyl	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Michelle Vogler	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Jane Chase Wells	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Robyn Linn Willey	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Blanche Sindelar	....	property master (151 episodes, 1999-2006)
Michael Parent	....	painter (134 episodes, 1999-2006)
Scott De Shields	....	construction coordinator / leadman (120 episodes, 1999-2006)
Christopher S. Nushawg	....	set designer (68 episodes, 2002-2006)
Mike Sunga	....	set dresser (40 episodes, 2000-2002)
Mike Stassi	....	set designer (37 episodes, 1999-2002)
Kinney Booker	....	on-set dresser (36 episodes, 1999-2001)
Kurt Verbaarschott	....	set dresser (35 episodes, 1999-2001)
Katherine Lambert	....	art department coordinator (27 episodes, 2000-2002)
Chris Fielding	....	leadman (27 episodes, 2001-2006)
Lee Cunningham	....	set property / property master (25 episodes, 2003-2006)
Leslie Wah	....	graphic designer / art department coordinator (14 episodes, 2003-2004)
Gary Burkhart	....	art department intern (10 episodes, 2006)
Kristen Catena	....	on-set dresser / swing gang (8 episodes, 2003-2006)
Kristina Kilpe	....	assistant propmaster: Washington DC (8 episodes, 2003-2004)
Jack Evans	....	on-set dresser (5 episodes, 1999-2003)
John R. Boucher	....	set dresser (5 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jeff Halvorsen	....	swing gang (5 episodes, 2005-2006)
Latanya Marble	....	set dresser (5 episodes, 2006)
Steve Whiteside	....	on-set property master / on-set prop master (4 episodes, 2001-2004)
James Malley	....	swing gang (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Brent A. Blom	....	swing gang (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Mark Worister	....	assistant property master (2 episodes, 2004)
Christopher Geggie	....	property master: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Brian Patrick	....	assistant property master (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Sound Department
Thomas A. Harris	....	supervising sound editor (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
Walter Newman	....	supervising sound editor (154 episodes, 1999-2006)
Gary D. Rogers	....	re-recording mixer / sound re-recording mixer (151 episodes, 1999-2006)
Dan Hiland	....	re-recording mixer / sound re-recording mixer (136 episodes, 1999-2006)
Al Gomez	....	foley mixer & editor / foley mixer (121 episodes, 1999-2006)
Casey J. Crabtree	....	foley artist (114 episodes, 1999-2006)
Michael Crabtree	....	foley artist (114 episodes, 1999-2006)
Kevin B. Barron	....	assistant sound editor (113 episodes, 1999-2006)
Yervant Hagopian	....	utility sound (107 episodes, 2001-2006)
Deron Street	....	assistant sound editor (95 episodes, 1999-2005)
Patrick Hanson	....	sound mixer (93 episodes, 2001-2006)
Nicholas R. Allen	....	boom operator / sound mixer (57 episodes, 2002-2004)
Damon Cohoon	....	assistant sound editor (52 episodes, 1999-2005)
Catherine Flynn	....	dialogue editor / sound editor (50 episodes, 1999-2006)
Wayne O'Brien	....	m&e re-recording mixer (34 episodes, 1999-2006)
Karen Spangenberg	....	dialogue editor (32 episodes, 2001-2004)
Jessica Goodwin	....	dialogue editor (22 episodes, 1999-2005)
Kenneth B. Ross	....	sound mixer (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Juan Cisneros	....	boom operator (22 episodes, 2002-2003)
Kat Craig	....	boom operator (19 episodes, 1999-2001)
Carolyn Tapp	....	adr recordist (18 episodes, 2004-2005)
Hal Whitby	....	sound mixer (15 episodes, 2001-2002)
Chuck Fitzpatrick	....	sound mixer (15 episodes, 2004-2005)
Kenn Fuller	....	sound mixer (12 episodes, 2001)
Jaya Jayaraja	....	second boom operator (10 episodes, 2000-2001)
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer (8 episodes, 2000)
James Bailey	....	foley artist (6 episodes, 1999)
Gabrielle Gilbert Reeves	....	dialogue editor / sound editor (6 episodes, 2004)
Kenneth Young	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 2003-2004)
Rick Hromadka	....	sound effects editor / sound editor (4 episodes, 1999-2006)
Laurence Abrams	....	boom operator (3 episodes, 2003)
Christian P. Minkler	....	re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2000)
Charles Hamilton	....	sound recordist (2 episodes, 2003-2006)
Douglas Ganton	....	sound mixer: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Gerald Beg	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Chuck Buch	....	sound mixer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Grahame Davies	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Jim Emswiller	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Jeff Enden	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Jeff Erdmann	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
George Flores	....	additional sound utility (unknown episodes)
Eric Gotthelf	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Matthew McFadden	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Marc Meyer	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer: additional unit (unknown episodes)
Benjamin Patrick	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Blair Scheller	....	boom operator: Chicago (unknown episodes)
Scott Warren	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Bryan O. Watkins	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
John Eggett	....	special effects technician (5 episodes, 2004)
David J. Barker	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes, 2002)
Ian O'Connor	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Amy D'Alessandro	....	graphic artist (132 episodes, 1999-2006)
Josh Hayes	....	storyboard artist (4 episodes, 2000)
Gayle Reznik	....	visual effects producer: Gray Matter (2 episodes, 2003)
Tim Jacobsen	....	visual effects producer (2 episodes, 2004)
Johnathan R. Banta	....	digital artist: Sassoon Film Design (unknown episodes)
Rick Cortes	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Sean Fairburn	....	digital imaging engineer (unknown episodes)
Trey Freeman	....	digital artist: Encore Hollywood (unknown episodes)
Spence Fuller	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Amy Hollywood Wixson	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)
Les G. Jones	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)
Frank Lawas	....	visual effects I/O supervisor (unknown episodes)
Margaux Mackay	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)
Gray Marshall	....	visual effects supervisor: Gray Matter (unknown episodes)
David Ridlen	....	digital video (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Aaron Michael Lacey	....	stunt driver: precision driving (11 episodes, 2001-2004)
Rick Kain	....	precision driver (3 episodes, 2000-2003)
Johnny Becker	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ned Corrigan	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Wally Crowder	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Keith Davis	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Scott Leva	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Nick Plantico	....	stunt rigger (unknown episodes)
Garrett Warren	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Chad Persons	....	camera operator / Steadicam operator (83 episodes, 2002-2006)
Isaac Chee	....	grip / best boy grip (53 episodes, 1999-2005)
Stephen Pazanti	....	assistant camera (51 episodes, 2002-2005)
Shaun Langham	....	rigging gaffer / best boy / ... (49 episodes, 2000-2006)
Donald E. Thorin Jr.	....	camera operator (49 episodes, 2000-2002)
Steve Randolph	....	camera operator / camera operator: "b" camera / ... (46 episodes, 2002-2005)
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	first assistant camera: second unit / first assistant camera: "b" camera / ... (45 episodes, 2003-2006)
Jake Avignone	....	second assistant camera (42 episodes, 2004-2006)
Sean W. Del Ruth	....	film loader (41 episodes, 1999-2001)
Alberto S. Ramos	....	dolly grip (35 episodes, 2004-2006)
Josh Kuykendall	....	grip (32 episodes, 2004-2006)
William D. Wynn	....	dolly grip (27 episodes, 2001-2003)
Marlin Hall	....	key grip (26 episodes, 1999-2004)
Stephen Murphy	....	camera intern (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Calmar Roberts	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera / first assistant camera / ... (22 episodes, 2002-2003)
Nathan Crum	....	second assistant camera (22 episodes, 2004-2006)
Tasso Bravos	....	key rigging grip / best boy grip (21 episodes, 2003-2004)
Erin Franklyn	....	grip (21 episodes, 2004-2005)
Alan Caudillo	....	director of photography: second unit (19 episodes, 2004-2006)
Andy Kessler	....	assistant camera (18 episodes, 2004-2005)
Tom Barone	....	gaffer (17 episodes, 2001-2004)
John Villegas	....	gaffer (16 episodes, 2005-2006)
Rod Weaver	....	gaffer: second unit (14 episodes, 2003-2006)
Andrew Shulkind	....	camera operator (14 episodes, 2004-2005)
Michael-Ryan Fletchall	....	crane operator / crane technician (13 episodes, 1999-2006)
Lisa Bonaccorso	....	second assistant additional camera (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
Karen Korn	....	second assistant camera (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
To Lee	....	assistant camera (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
David Chameides	....	camera operator / steadicam operator (12 episodes, 1999-2006)
Anthony Gudino	....	lamp operator (12 episodes, 2005-2006)
Matthew Brewer	....	assistant camera (11 episodes, 1999-2001)
Thomas H. Frederick	....	film loader (11 episodes, 1999-2001)
Ron P. Jaffe	....	still photographer (11 episodes, 2002-2005)
Dan Dobson	....	video playback / video playback assistant / ... (11 episodes, 2002-2004)
Charles May II	....	video playback / video playback assistant / ... (11 episodes, 2002-2004)
Jeff Butters	....	gaffer (10 episodes, 1999-2004)
Stephen Martin Paull	....	rigging electrician (10 episodes, 2001-2002)
Jacqueline J. Nivens	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (9 episodes, 2003)
David Henri	....	video operator / computer/video engineer (8 episodes, 2002-2004)
Eric Liebowitz	....	still photographer (7 episodes, 2001-2006)
Bryan Fletchall	....	technocrane operator (7 episodes, 2004-2006)
Eric Yu	....	camera technician (7 episodes, 2006)
Rick Tschudin	....	first assistant camera / camera operator (5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Christopher Goss	....	Steadicam operator / steadicam operator (5 episodes, 2004)
Peter Fernberger	....	cinematographer: Washington D.C. / camera operator (4 episodes, 2000-2004)
Michael Mayers	....	director of photography: Washington DC / director of photography: Washington D.C. (4 episodes, 2000-2004)
Gaylan Andrew Hussain	....	dolly grip (4 episodes, 2004-2006)
Charles Papert	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Shugrue	....	playback operator: computer / playback: computer / ... (3 episodes, 2000-2001)
Joe Chess	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2000)
Gary J. Jensen	....	best boy grip (3 episodes, 2000)
Tim Wicks	....	crane tech (3 episodes, 2000)
Jeff Diaz	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2005)
Mark K. Kuromoto	....	best boy grip (2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Eric L. Roberts	....	playback operator: TV (2 episodes, 2000)
Robert Ulland	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 2000)
Rick White	....	best boy grip (2 episodes, 2001-2002)
Tim Hennessy	....	camera loader: Washington D.C. (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
Ray Patrick	....	super technocrane operator (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
Zena Bielewicz	....	second assistant camera (2 episodes, 2005)
Candide Franklyn	....	camera operator: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Casting Department
Barbara Miller	....	executive in charge of casting (88 episodes, 1999-2003)
John Frank Levey	....	original casting / original casting director (66 episodes, 2003-2006)
Kevin Scott	....	original casting / original casting director (66 episodes, 2003-2006)
Josh Einsohn	....	casting associate / casting assistant (64 episodes, 2003-2006)
Tiffany Moon	....	extras casting director / extras casting (22 episodes, 2003-2004)
Dalton Newsom	....	casting intern (11 episodes, 2004)
Joy Tenenberg	....	extras casting (5 episodes, 2006)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Debra Beebe	....	costume supervisor (87 episodes, 2002-2006)
Robert Cron	....	key costumer (87 episodes, 2002-2006)
Philip Hayman	....	costume supervisor (87 episodes, 2002-2006)
Alyssa Kim	....	key costumer (66 episodes, 2002-2005)
Betty Edwards	....	set costumer (65 episodes, 2003-2006)
Michael J. Long	....	costume supervisor (32 episodes, 2000-2001)
Kathleen Felix-Hager	....	costume supervisor (21 episodes, 2000-2001)
Karen Bellamy	....	costume supervisor (21 episodes, 2001-2002)
Kate Crowley	....	key costumer (19 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ricardo Richard Alvarez	....	set costumer (14 episodes, 1999-2001)
David Swope	....	costume supervisor (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Christopher Koelsch	....	costumer (6 episodes, 2006)
Carrie Proffer	....	key costumer (2 episodes, 1999)
Behnaz Shokouhi	....	set costumer (2 episodes, 2000)
Linda M. Boyland	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)
Joan M. Lynch	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)
Philip Maldonado	....	costumer (unknown episodes)
Gina Marie Ome	....	set costumer: Chicago (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
George Manno	....	colorist (28 episodes, 2001-2006)
Devin Rich	....	post-production coordinator (17 episodes, 2005-2006)
Nancy Bettcher Hurley	....	assistant editor (10 episodes, 1999-2001)
Jennifer Fragoso	....	post-production coordinator (8 episodes, 2003-2004)
Jim Rohrig	....	assistant editor (5 episodes, 2001-2006)
Mark Pitner	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2004-2006)
Arge O'Neal	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Nicole Lucas	....	post-production coordinator (2 episodes, 2002)
Cynthia Conel	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Michael K. Reynolds	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Ann Kline	....	music supervisor (153 episodes, 1999-2006)
Stuart Goetz	....	music editor (66 episodes, 1999-2002)
Troy Hardy	....	music editor (56 episodes, 2003-2005)
Stacey Lee	....	music production supervisor (55 episodes, 2003-2006)
Sarah Sheehe	....	music supervisor (22 episodes, 2004-2006)
Kevin Bassinson	....	music editor (11 episodes, 2005-2006)
Matthias Weber	....	music editor (10 episodes, 2002)
Michael Alexander	....	music editor (10 episodes, 2006)
Eugene Kulikov	....	composer: additional music (8 episodes, 2006)
A. Patrick Rose	....	orchestrator (4 episodes, 2006)
Lesli Carroll	....	assistant orchestrator: main theme (3 episodes, 1999)
Randall Crissman	....	composer: stock music (3 episodes, 2001-2005)
Michael Mason	....	music production coordinator (2 episodes, 1999)
Eyal Federman	....	assistant music editor (2 episodes, 2000)
Alan Ett	....	music arranger: choral music (2 episodes, 2003-2005)
Scott Liggett	....	music arranger: choral music (2 episodes, 2003-2005)
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator: main theme (unknown episodes)
Georg Brandl Egloff	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)
Max Helfman	....	music arranger: songs (unknown episodes)
Matt Kierscht	....	music manager (unknown episodes)
Avi Kipper	....	music scoring mixer (unknown episodes)
Joey Newman	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)
Freddy Sheinfeld	....	orchestrator: Midi (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Hobart Lundt	....	transportation coordinator / transportation captain / ... (121 episodes, 2000-2006)
Mike Storc	....	transportation / transportation captain (66 episodes, 2003-2006)
Bart Johnson	....	transportation / transportation captain / ... (53 episodes, 2002-2004)
Gina August	....	driver (22 episodes, 2000-2003)
Bryan Dirickson	....	transportation (12 episodes, 2000-2001)
Thomas O'Donnell	....	driver: production van / mobile lighting operator (10 episodes, 1999-2001)
Jon Cosham	....	transportation (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
William R. Peck	....	driver / transportation (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Michael Dawes	....	driver (unknown episodes)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (unknown episodes)
Margo Hunt	....	driver (unknown episodes)
George A. Miki	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Kathryn Moll	....	driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Amy D'Alessandro	....	titles (128 episodes, 1999-2006)
Bill Rinier	....	script coordinator (116 episodes, 2000-2006)
Dee Dee Myers	....	consultant (113 episodes, 1999-2004)
Chris Hanson	....	medical technical advisor (86 episodes, 1999-2006)
Gene Sperling	....	consultant (70 episodes, 2001-2004)
Matt G. Sheets	....	staff assistant (65 episodes, 2002-2005)
Thomas Schlamme	....	executive consultant (64 episodes, 2003-2006)
Lauren Schmidt	....	researcher / story editor / ... (48 episodes, 2002-2006)
Melissa Myers	....	writing assistant / researcher / ... (47 episodes, 2002-2006)
Marlin Fitzwater	....	consultant (44 episodes, 2000-2002)
Peggy Noonan	....	consultant (44 episodes, 2000-2002)
Debora Cahn	....	story editor / executive story editor / ... (44 episodes, 2002-2005)
Ingrid Urich-Sass	....	script supervisor (44 episodes, 2003-2006)
Josh Singer	....	executive story editor / story editor / ... (44 episodes, 2004-2006)
Patrick Caddell	....	consultant (43 episodes, 1999-2002)
Sean Riddle	....	production coordinator / production office coordinator (42 episodes, 2000-2006)
Nick Bohr	....	production assistant / assistant production coordinator (39 episodes, 2003-2006)
Mark Goffman	....	story editor / staff writer / ... (36 episodes, 2002-2004)
Michelle Lankwarden	....	assistant production coordinator / production coordinator (35 episodes, 2001-2004)
Jack Gutowitz	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (35 episodes, 2004-2006)
Sara McInnes	....	assistant to writer / writing assistant (34 episodes, 2004-2006)
Benjamin Benedetti	....	account executive (33 episodes, 2001-2006)
Holli Strickland	....	set production assistant (33 episodes, 2004-2006)
James William Visconti III	....	production assistant (28 episodes, 2001-2006)
Heather Zuhlke	....	assistant: John Wells (28 episodes, 2001-2004)
Ken Duberstein	....	consultant (26 episodes, 2003-2004)
David Hamilton	....	office production assistant (26 episodes, 2004-2006)
Kenchy	....	assistant script coordinator (24 episodes, 2000-2002)
David Henri	....	computer/video operator (24 episodes, 2001-2005)
Julie DeJoie	....	assistant: Thomas Schlamme (23 episodes, 2000-2003)
Frank Luntz	....	consultant (22 episodes, 2001-2002)
Eli Attie	....	executive story editor / story editor (22 episodes, 2002-2003)
John Podhoretz	....	consultant (22 episodes, 2003-2004)
Peter Parnell	....	executive story editor (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Paul Redford	....	story editor / executive story editor (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Lynn Johnson	....	set medic (17 episodes, 2005-2006)
Loren Elkins	....	assistant: Bradley Whitford (16 episodes, 2005-2006)
Stephanie Tull	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jonathan Reich	....	assistant location manager: Washington, DC / location manager: Washington, DC / ... (15 episodes, 2000-2006)
Lauren Carpenter	....	assistant: Aaron Sorkin (15 episodes, 2000-2002)
Lawrence O'Donnell	....	executive story editor (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Rob Coughlin	....	electrician/grip assist. (13 episodes, 1999-2005)
Jeff Crandell	....	location manager (13 episodes, 2001-2003)
Erin Charles	....	production coordinator: Washington D.C. (13 episodes, 2002-2006)
Michael Leon	....	location manager (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Kim Thio	....	set medic (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Felicia Willson	....	researcher (12 episodes, 2000-2001)
John Latenser V	....	location manager: Washington D.C. (12 episodes, 2001-2006)
Lauren Lohman	....	assistant: Aaron Sorkin (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Laura Glasser	....	story editor / researcher (11 episodes, 2000-2002)
Julia Dahl	....	executive story editor (11 episodes, 2001-2002)
Monica Ochoa	....	script supervisor (11 episodes, 2002-2006)
Janessa Rosenfield	....	writers assistant (11 episodes, 2004-2005)
Robert Foulkes	....	location manager (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
David Handelman	....	staff writer (10 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Oates Palmer	....	staff writer (10 episodes, 2002-2003)
Steffen Schlachtenhaufen	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 2002-2003)
Cameron Smith	....	intern (10 episodes, 2003-2005)
Allison Abner	....	story editor (9 episodes, 2002)
Joshua Parker	....	additional production assistant / additional set production assistant (9 episodes, 2003-2005)
Darren Willner	....	assistant script coordinator (9 episodes, 2003-2004)
Shelagh O'Brien	....	assistant: John Wells (8 episodes, 2000-2001)
Christopher Roe	....	location assistant: Washington DC unit / location assistant: Washington DC (8 episodes, 2001-2004)
William Sind	....	staff writer (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Patrick Falls	....	adr loop group (6 episodes, 2000-2003)
David Gerken	....	staff writer (6 episodes, 2002-2003)
Casey Casseday	....	stand-in (6 episodes, 2003)
Hilary Momberger	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1999-2000)
Kevin Halloran	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1999)
Jim McKinney	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1999)
Debra Leilani Bakeman	....	set medic (4 episodes, 2000)
Paula Yoo	....	staff writer (4 episodes, 2002-2003)
Matthew Dillon Noonan	....	location assistant (4 episodes, 2004-2006)
Whitney J. Smith	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Hilary Griffiths	....	dialogue coach (3 episodes, 2002-2004)
Rick Kain	....	stand-in: Richard Schiff / stand-in: Josh Malina and Bradly Whitford (3 episodes, 2003-2004)
Brian Dragonuk	....	wrangler (3 episodes, 2003)
Frank Molloy	....	craft service (3 episodes, 2004)
Jason Krauskopf	....	production assistant: Toronto (3 episodes, 2005)
Neil Lumlock	....	location manager (3 episodes, 2005)
Alex Apple	....	location scout (3 episodes, 2006)
Renee Rosenfeld	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Briana Aeby	....	script production assistant (2 episodes, 2000)
Petra Jorgensen	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 2000)
Diana Son	....	story editor (2 episodes, 2000)
Melisa Sánchez	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 2002-2004)
Daniel T. Green	....	assistant to producer (2 episodes, 2003-2004)
Eric Johnson	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2003)
Jeremy Folster	....	assistant production coordinator (2 episodes, 2004)
Derek Brady	....	location scout: Toronto (2 episodes, 2005)
Tammy Fitzgerald	....	utility stand in (2 episodes, 2005)
Lesley Myers	....	production coordinator (2 episodes, 2005)
Joseph Martin	....	location coordinator: Washington, D.C. (1 episode, 1999-2001)
Sara Ellingen	....	production secretary (1 episode, 2002-2003)
Charley Armstrong	....	location manager (unknown episodes, 1999-2001)
Sheree Greco	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes, 2002)
Scott Foster	....	production assistant: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes, 2003-2006)
Kristi Strupinsky	....	publicist (unknown episodes, 2003)
Bebe Lerner	....	publicist (unknown episodes, 2004)
Anthony Steinhart	....	set production assistant: additional photography (unknown episodes, 2005)
Gerry Alfonso	....	payroll accountant: Canada (unknown episodes)
Emidio Antonio	....	stand-in: Martin Sheen (unknown episodes)
Angela Athayde	....	additional production assistant (unknown episodes)
Aeden Babish	....	assistant to writer (unknown episodes)
Alex Baik	....	executive assistant: Rob Lowe (unknown episodes)
Emma Baksi	....	assistant: Bradley Whitford (unknown episodes)
Ned Barbee	....	assistant to writer (unknown episodes)
Ran Barker	....	special projects (unknown episodes)
Jared Bentley	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Rozzanna Bonesso	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jessica Bouz	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Dan Burks	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Patrina Chin	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Rupert Cole	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Kim Crabb	....	key assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Guin Dill	....	animal trainer (unknown episodes)
Katherine Dorrer	....	location scout: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes)
Jason S. Edwards	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Johnny Egan	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Fred Fein	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)
Danielle Faith Friedman	....	assistant to co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
Jane E. Graves	....	key assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Shaun Greenspan	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Tuba Guvelioglu	....	production supervisor: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes)
Lisa Hagenmeyer	....	location coordinator: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes)
Seth William Hansen	....	additional set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Georgette Hayden	....	production office coordinator (unknown episodes)
Kelly Hayes	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Rick Heath	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Danny Ho	....	computer playback graphic artist (unknown episodes)
Jean Hodges	....	food stylist (unknown episodes)
David Honaker	....	key set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Patrick G. Ingram	....	medic on-location (unknown episodes)
Jeff Johnson	....	set medic: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes)
Mark Johnston	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
Diana Kania	....	assistant: Christopher Misiano (unknown episodes)
Christopher Kazarian	....	intern (unknown episodes)
Stephanie Lovell	....	set production assistant: Washington, DC (unknown episodes)
Jeff Lovely	....	location coordinator (unknown episodes)
Patrick Muldoon	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Terri Ann Myers	....	production secretary: Toronto (unknown episodes)
William Ostroff	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Eric Persons	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Billy Pittard	....	creative director (unknown episodes)
Jess Place	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Stefan Rand	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Errol Reichow	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Kenneth Requa	....	additional production assistant (unknown episodes)
Joseph Ruggieri	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Christopher Scott	....	set production assistant: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes)
Andrew Shulkind	....	remote head technician (unknown episodes)
Lynn Sisco	....	additional script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Paula Stier	....	production assistant: Chicago (unknown episodes)
Jason Sweet	....	double: Dule Hill (unknown episodes)
Mary Tallman	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Billy Taylor	....	production assistant: second unit (unknown episodes)
Vanessa Thiem	....	assistant: Neal Ahern Jr. (unknown episodes)
Bridgetta Tomarchio	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Katharine Trask	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Beth Troutman	....	assistant: Alex Graves / production assistant (unknown episodes)
John Trujillo	....	layout board (unknown episodes)
Adam T. Weisinger	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Nicole Widmyer	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Dave Willis	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr loop group (unknown episodes)
Ian Zander	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Robert Zorella	....	set production assistant: Washington D.C. (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Megan Moloney	....	special thanks (1 episode, 2000)
Theresa C. Chambers	....	thank you to (1 episode, 2003)
James S. Goff	....	special thanks (1 episode, 2005)
John Moore	....	special thanks (1 episode, 2005)

Production Companies

• John Wells Productions
• Warner Bros. Television

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Television (1999-2006) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1999-2006) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Bravo Cable (2003-) (USA) (TV) (repeats)
• Warner Home Video (2003-2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Canadian Television (CTV) (1999-2006) (Canada) (TV)
• Sky One (2002) (UK) (TV) (original airing) (season 1)
• E4 (2001-2004) (UK) (TV) (first run) (seasons 2-5)
• More4 (2006) (UK) (TV) (first run) (seasons 6-7)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (2001-2006) (UK) (TV) (re-runs) (seasons 1-4)
• Fox (2008) (Germany) (TV)
• KANAALTWEE (2004) (Belgium) (TV)
• RTL Klub Televízió (2001-2007) (Hungary) (TV)

Special Effects

• Gray Matter FX

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes, dollies and remote camera systems
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Keslow Cameras  camera equipment provided by
• Mattweb Music  music editing services
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Paws for Effect  animals provided by
• Playback Technologies  video playback
• PostWorks, The Lab  processing
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Also Known As:

"The White House" - Israel (English title), Japan (English title)

Runtime:

42 min | USA:60 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | UK:12 | Argentina:13 | 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) | Finland:K-12

Filming Locations:

Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Company:

John Wells Productions

Trivia:

After Aaron Sorkin and Rick Cleveland won an Emmy for writing the episode "In Excelsis Deo," only Sorkin spoke at the awards ceremony. Cleveland published an article in Writers Guild Magazine expressing his disappointment at not being allowed to speak because the homeless veteran aspect of the episode's plot was based on Cleveland's own father, who was a veteran who died a homeless alcoholic. Sorkin (writing under the user name "Benjamin," his real-life middle name) posted on the TV message board mightybigtv.com (later renamed televisionwithoutpity.com) that he had written most of the episode and had only given Cleveland a co-writing credit as a courtesy because Cleveland had worked on a previous draft that, according to Sorkin, bore no resemblance to the final shooting script. Sorkin also said that this was true of almost all of the _"The West Wing" (1999)_ scripts written up to that point (mid-2001), that he was the true and only writer of nearly all West Wing episodes, and the rest of the writing staff only helped him with research and "kick[ing] ideas around" - so he gave "them each a Story by credit on a rotating basis...by way of a gratuity." This internet posting attracted a great deal of mainstream press attention, which led Sorkin to post again, this time retracting his claim of exclusive writing credit. The "LemonLymon.com" subplot in the season 3 episode "The U.S. Poet Laureate" (in which Josh posts on a website dedicated to his fans and sees it come back to haunt him) is based on this series of events.

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:

Donna Moss:She should stick around. Your whole campaign is like some Dr. Seuss nightmare - One Fish, Two Fish, Dead Fish, We Fought The Good Fight Fish.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in On the Line (2001)

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.