Shutdown 

President Bartlet refuses to let Speaker of the House Haffley hold him hostage on the budget and allows the government to be shut down.

Director:

Christopher Misiano

Writers:

Aaron Sorkin (created by), Mark Goffman

Stars:

Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Stockard Channing	...	Abbey Bartlet
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	...	C.J. Cregg
Joshua Malina	...	Will Bailey
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	Jed Bartlet
Gary Cole	...	Vice President Bob Russell
Michael Hyatt	...	Angela Blake
Steven Culp	...	Speaker of the House Jeff Haffley
Melissa Marsala	...	Rina
H. Richard Greene	...	Senator Robert Royce, R-PA
NiCole Robinson	...	Margaret

Storyline

President Bartlet refuses to let Speaker of the House Haffley hold him hostage on the budget and allows the government to be shut down.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 2003 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 23, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the government shutdown of 2013, the Speaker of the House was effectively "held hostage" by the right wing faction of the Republican Party, shutting down the government in an attempt to derail the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

---

Goofs

Although it takes place during the holiday season and multiple characters comment on the freezing temperature, when Bartlet stops to speak to the tourists from Kansas on his way to the Capitol, the tourists as well as those in the background can be seen wearing light clothing and t-shirts.

---

Quotes

C.J. Cregg: Okay, but I need some numbers fast... maybe some garlic and a crucifix.

---

Connections

References Days of Our Lives (1965)

---

Soundtracks

West Wing Main Title
(uncredited)
Written by Pete Anthony
Performed by W.G. Snuffy Walden

User Reviews

The problem with Season 5 is summed up the most with this episode

The thing with Josh this premise is stupid. It's like the writers forgot that spinning a story was a thing the characters can do, and were good at. It's clear that Sorkin's influence was absent for this season. While the "Josh can't do his Job" arc ends here it was silly and not worth the arc.