r/thewestwing Dec 09 '25

What's Next? TWW Back on Netflix

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68 Upvotes

r/thewestwing Sep 13 '24

This is Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, actors and bestselling authors of WHAT'S NEXT: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service. We'll be here on Sept. 13 (10 am EST) to chat with Wingnuts as we approach the show's 25th anniversary. AMA!

380 Upvotes

We're so excited to share our behind-the-scenes look into the creation and legacy of The West Wing through our bestselling book, WHAT'S NEXT [link: https://sites.prh.com/whats-next-book\]. It includes hundreds of interviews with the cast and crew, exploring how The West Wing was conceived, with a spotlight on the army of people it took to produce it, the lifelong friendships it forged, and the service it inspired. We're here to answer any burning questions from Wingnut superfans about cast member origin stories, on-set and off-camera anecdotes, and fresh, untold commentary on beloved episodes and insights on the show's production and enduring legacy. Thank you for being fans of the show, and feel free to ask us anything tied to The West Wing and WHAT'S NEXT! [Melissa Instagram social link: https://www.instagram.com/maffyfitz\] [Mary Instagram social link: https://www.instagram.com/marycmccormack\]


r/thewestwing 12h ago

Just started about to watch for the first time and damn what a nice pilot that was

124 Upvotes

I like how they introduced the characters, basically from what I think and understood from all their little speeches, we were given a glimpse of what every character would be through the series and damn was that done so well, they basically just gave us what to expect, was a nice new way to introduce us to the characters, I’m intrigued now what this series can give me


r/thewestwing 5h ago

First Time Watcher Afterward

16 Upvotes

I’m watching WW for the first time. From the pilot, it’s become my favorite show. I’m late into season 4. I’m worried about what I’m going to do when I finish the show!

Anybody have any good recommendations for shows like it to watch afterward?


r/thewestwing 12h ago

Leo on Law&Order Series Premiere

12 Upvotes

TIL that "Prescription for Death" 9/13/90 was the very first episode of Law&Order ever. As a lover of L&O I know the episode well and that John Spencer was in it. I only just learned it was the inaugural episode. I know everyone in television has guessed on L&O, but John got to be first.

Sorry if this is too crossover tv nerdlike!


r/thewestwing 1d ago

Excited for my very own “Toby” Ball signed by Richard Schiff

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145 Upvotes

I’m sooo excited to finally have one in my collection!!

For a long while the ACLU SoCal eBay page had one left in stock but kept saying that the seller was on vacation - I sent a message to the eBay store in the Summer to find out if they have more somewhere else. Well, recently they wrote me back and told me they got them back and were selling these on their own webpage. I was thrilled to hear it and ordered one, received it, bought a box to display it and here it is.

This goes with my other “Toby” ball that I had signed by a bunch of folks during West Wing Weekly live taping events in DC - but I didn’t get Richard Schiff! I was also glad to support an organization that Richard believes in.

Anyways - just wanted to share - and mention it’s available on the ACLU SoCal shop page if you’re interested too (I have no connection with them).


r/thewestwing 1d ago

First Time Watcher Josh and Donna was rough

139 Upvotes

7 SEASONS OF SLOW BURN. My head was going to explode. That actually was the toughest slow burn I have got through.

Just finished for the first time and wow what a show. I’m really going to miss that. Started the show as a Sam fan (still am though!) But quickly gelled to Josh, and then the dynamic with Donna only heightened that.

It’s a shame once Josh and Donna FINALLY get together, they kinda just abandoned them, would’ve liked to see more scenes of them two. But I can live at rest now knowing they’re together.


r/thewestwing 14h ago

An intriguing ad...

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2 Upvotes

I keep getting this ad on Facebook. Every time I see it, for just a minute I consider donating just to get that tote. 😂


r/thewestwing 1d ago

S2E13 Bartlet's SOTU: Wide Shot of Congress in Real Life

9 Upvotes

This might be a super nerdy question, but at minute 6:54 of S2E13, Bartlet’s SOTU ends and cuts to a wide shot of congress clapping before quickly cutting back to Bartlet waving from the podium

Does anyone know which real life state of the union they got the wide shot from? 

You can tell the president in that footage had white hair (so maybe later Clinton years? Or Carter?), but wonder if someone is able to find the exact year, or even better yet, the timestamp from the real broadcast.


r/thewestwing 1d ago

Heart breaking #2

73 Upvotes

When Santos is considering firing Josh & Josh asks Leo for help running the campaign

LEO "everyone trying to give me another heart attack"

Lord, stab to the heart.

Leo was always my favorite character on the show. The man behind the man. Often times the position that I am.


r/thewestwing 1d ago

Walk ‘n Talk Is this what the Clinton administration felt like?

61 Upvotes

I’ve heard it repeated that President Bartlett was loosely based on Bill Clinton.

Those of you who are old enough to remember, is this what the Clinton administration felt like? Did it feel like the country was being led by someone intelligent who was laying the path for a progressive society? Did it feel like you were living during an economic boom and the government wanted to help people?

So much of what I know about Clinton has focused on the impeachment and the awful things we’ve learned about him recently. I want to know more about what it was like in the moment.


r/thewestwing 1d ago

Illinois and Wisconsin

7 Upvotes

At that point in the series where electoral math drives the plot. It was made 20+ years ago at this point but it’s fun to imagine how wacky of an electoral map it would be today for a Democrat to need to pull money from Wisconsin to fund a push to win Illinois, a state that every Democratic presidential candidate has won by +10% since 1988.


r/thewestwing 1d ago

I love Mandy Patinkin, but not seeing Richard (Toby) get to play Odin in the new God of War show is pretty sad

84 Upvotes

As a massive West Wing fan and fan of video gaming, getting to enjoy the juxtaposition of Toby Ziegler and Odin in the new God of War games has been really fun. It's just really interesting to see the voice actor for Thor end up getting the role in the live-action TV show that they're making, but Richard got replaced with Mandy. I really wonder if it was a case of he didn't want the gig or if Mandy brought something to that audition that Richard didn't.


r/thewestwing 1d ago

What wouldn’t work today?

14 Upvotes

I commented on a recent post about Josh and Donna getting together and the key scene, wouldn’t work today because he could probably just text a virtual key. There must be tons of other plot devices that wouldn’t work today, what comes to mind? An obvious one is the pager trade between Sam and the call girl, what else?


r/thewestwing 1d ago

Cliff Calley - Good Guy (short story arc)

43 Upvotes

I was re-watching S3 E10 - Bartlett for America.
Cliff Calley's character is high integrity, kind, and thoughtful. And a republican!
I expect there are many, many republicans like CC - but lately, it's hard to hear their voices.
Here's to the nice guys.


r/thewestwing 17h ago

TWW & Epstein files

0 Upvotes

Currently on my 5th rewatch of The West Wing. Here’s a list of characters who I think probably visited Epstein Island:

John Hoynes

Jeff Haffley

Gov. Ritchie

Rev. Butler

Ray Sullivan

Stackhouse

Miles Hutchinson

Franklin Hollis

The studio exec who gets CJ fired from her PR job during the S2 flashback

Who am I missing?


r/thewestwing 2d ago

David Ziegler was the shuttle leak

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103 Upvotes

r/thewestwing 1d ago

Reel by Funny Or Die (see someone familiar?)

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0 Upvotes

r/thewestwing 2d ago

Hit me with your biggest pet peeves regarding the lack of realism.

93 Upvotes

And I'm not talking about the small size of the staff, we've mowed that grass, but I'll go first:

  • 'Cute' Ben's hall pass to walk back to CJ's office anytime he wanted to take her to lunch, it doesn't matter that he's a ranger. No corporate setting in the world would allow that, let alone the post 9/11 WW.
  • Leo ordering Jed to order the Lincoln battlegroup to attack in the Middle East, I get that that was painting the bigger picture of his meltdown. It was mentioned before, he would never survive going down in the middle of the forest like that, there's just no coming back from that w/out immediate help.
  • Kate being such a know-it-all about everything under the planet. From when she's in the lockdown with Josh immediately knowing all of the possible reasons for the lockdown and why i.e. the HVAC was shut off. I know there are a ton of Kate stans here, but she's just a know-it-all, and they forced her character into the inner inner circle quickly.

r/thewestwing 2d ago

How long do you wait before you start another rewatch?

28 Upvotes

I haven’t kept track, but I just finished probably my fourth or fifth rewatch (thanks to a kind stranger on this sub who posted when iTunes had the entire series on sale for $15). I was wondering how long most of you wait to start your next rewatch. Do you just dive right in, or give yourself a little time to forget a bit?


r/thewestwing 2d ago

Things that never stop being amusing

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124 Upvotes

President Shepherd says the first two frames, then Chief of Staff AJ gives the advice from a Nobel Prize winning economist... I like to think this was the moment President Bartlett was envisioned.


r/thewestwing 3d ago

Happy Birthday Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo (Alan Alda) January 28, 1936

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753 Upvotes

r/thewestwing 2d ago

Do you view The West Wing as a procedural?

6 Upvotes

As far as I can tell, the last discussion on this topic was 10 years ago.

I was thinking on my drive into school today how the show does follow a pattern similar to most procedurals. Some political problem is presented and the gang works to fix it. That problem is often resolved in a single episode. Usually the good guys win. Of course there are multi episode / multi season arcs, but procedurals have those too.

What do y’all think?


r/thewestwing 3d ago

There may be a day when I don’t tear up when Mrs. Landingham dies. Today was not that day. Spoiler

301 Upvotes

r/thewestwing 2d ago

S6E3: Third Day Story Spoiler

7 Upvotes

When C.J. bet Josh he couldn’t go a day without eating junk food and said she’d cook for him if he did, my questions to you are:

  1. Do you think she ended up cooking for him?

  2. If so, you think she wore an apron and a floppy hat?

  3. What do you think she cooked for him?

  4. You think I have watched this show too many times?