The West Wing 59449 225709243 2008-07-15T00:44:58Z Hnsampat 109947 rv speculation {{For|the section of the White House for which the show is named|West Wing}} <!-- REGARDING TENSE CHANGES: Please remember that because The West Wing is a television show, literary present tense is applicable. Please do not make tense changes if the sentence could still be true. For example: Good change: "The series was produced…" Bad change: "The series was set…" Because the show is still viewable by anyone "in the present" it is still currently set in the West Wing of the White House. Please watch this when changing tenses over the next few days. --> {{Infobox Television | show_name = The West Wing | image = [[Image:TheWestWing.JPG|225px]] | caption = ''The West Wing'' Title Screen | rating = {{TV-PG}} — {{TV-14}} | format = [[Political drama]] | runtime = 42 minutes | creator = [[Aaron Sorkin]] | starring = [[Alan Alda]]<br/>[[Stockard Channing]]<br/>[[Kristin Chenoweth]]<br/>[[Dulé Hill]]<br/>[[Allison Janney]]<br/>[[Moira Kelly]]<br/>[[Rob Lowe]]<br>[[Joshua Malina]]<br/>[[Mary McCormack]]<br/>[[Janel Moloney]]<br/>[[Richard Schiff]]<br/>[[John Spencer (actor)|John Spencer]]<br/>[[Bradley Whitford]]<br>with [[Jimmy Smits]]<br>and [[Martin Sheen]] | country = [[United States]] | network = [[NBC]] | first_aired = [[September 22]], [[1999]] | last_aired = [[May 14]], [[2006]] | num_seasons = 7 | num_episodes = 156 (including two special episodes) | list_episodes = List of The West Wing episodes | website = http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/ | imdb_id = 0200276 | tv_com_id = 189 }} '''''The West Wing''''' is<!-- "is" not "was"; see talk --> an [[United States|American]] [[television]] [[serial (radio and television)|serial]] [[drama]] created by [[Aaron Sorkin]] that was originally broadcast from 1999 to 2006. It was produced/written by Sorkin (for the first four seasons) and also produced by [[Thomas Schlamme]]. After season four it was produced by [[John Wells (TV producer)| John Wells]]. The series is set in the [[West Wing]] of the [[White House]], the location of the [[Oval Office]] and offices of presidential senior staff, during the fictional [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[administration (government)|administration]] of [[Josiah Bartlet]] ([[Martin Sheen]]). ''The West Wing'' was produced by [[Warner Bros. Television]]. It first aired on [[NBC]] in 1999, and has been broadcast by many [[TV network|networks]] in [[List of The West Wing broadcasters and home video releases|dozens of other countries]]. The series ended its seven-year run on [[May 14]], [[2006]].<ref>Bauder, David. "[http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1531495&page=1 NBC Cancels 'West Wing' After 7 Seasons]." ''ABC News''. [[22 January]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[12 February]] [[2006]].</ref> The show received positive reviews from critics, [[political science]] professors, and former White House staffers. In total, ''The West Wing'' won two [[Golden Globe Award]]s and 26 [[Emmy Award]]s, a tie with ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' for the most Emmy Awards ever won by a television drama series. Included in this record-equalling haul were four straight awards for Outstanding Drama Series (2000–2003).<ref name="IMDBawards">"[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200276/awards Awards for ''The West Wing'']" IMDB.com. Accessed [[10 December]] [[2005]].</ref> The show's ratings waned in later years, but it remained popular among high-income viewers, a key demographic for the show and its advertisers.<ref>Byrne, Bridget. "[http://b4a.healthyinterest.net/news/000164.html Will NBC Reelect ''West Wing''?]" Originally printed in ''E!Online''. [[10 October]] [[2002]]. Reprinted at Bartlet4America. Accessed [[12 December]] [[2005]].</ref> ==Cast== {{main|List of characters on The West Wing}} ''The West Wing'' employed a broad [[ensemble cast]] to portray the many positions involved in the daily work of the [[US federal government|federal government]]. The [[President of the United States|President]], the [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]], and the President's senior staff and advisors form the core [[Casting (performing arts)|cast]]. Numerous [[secondary character]]s, appearing intermittently, complement storylines that generally revolve around this core group. [[Image:west wing cast.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Third season cast members of ''The West Wing'' (from left to right): (top) [[Dulé Hill]], [[Allison Janney]], [[Richard Schiff]], [[Janel Moloney]] (bottom) [[Rob Lowe]], [[Stockard Channing]], [[Martin Sheen]], [[John Spencer (actor)|John Spencer]], and [[Bradley Whitford]]]] {| class="wikitable" |+ Summary of the main cast |- ! Actor/Actress ! Character ! 1st Position ! 2nd Position (if any) |- | [[Stockard Channing]] | [[Abigail Bartlet]] | [[First Lady]] | |- | [[Dulé Hill]] | [[Charlie Young]] | [[Body man|Personal Aide to the President]] (Seasons 1–6) | Deputy Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff (Seasons 6–7) |- | [[Allison Janney]] | [[C. J. Cregg]] | [[White House Press Secretary|Press Secretary]] (Seasons 1–6) | [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]] (Seasons 6–7) |- | [[Moira Kelly]] | [[Mandy Hampton]] | White House Media Consultant (Season 1) | |- | [[Rob Lowe]] | [[Sam Seaborn]] | Deputy [[White House Communications Director|Communications Director]] (Seasons 1–4) |<!--Sam was not Deputy Chief of Staff in the Bartlet White House; this list does not include any job titles that he earned after the series ended--> |- | [[Janel Moloney]] | [[Donna Moss]] | Senior Assistant to Josh Lyman (Seasons 1–6) | Russell Campaign Spokesperson/Santos Campaign Spokesperson (Seasons 6–7) |- | [[Richard Schiff]] | [[Toby Ziegler]] | [[White House Communications Director|Communications Director]] | |- | [[Martin Sheen]] | [[Josiah Bartlet|Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet]] | [[President of the United States]] | |- | [[John Spencer (actor)|John Spencer]] | [[Leo McGarry]] | [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]] (Seasons 1–6) | Senior Advisor to the President (Season 6)/Democratic Candidate for Vice President (Season 7) |- | [[Bradley Whitford]] | [[Josh Lyman]] | [[Deputy White House Chief of Staff|Deputy Chief of Staff]] (Seasons 1–6) | Santos for President Campaign Manager (Seasons 6–7) |- | [[Joshua Malina]] | [[Will Bailey]] | [[Speechwriter|Deputy Communications Director]] (Seasons 4–5) | Chief of Staff to Vice President Bob Russell (Seasons 5–7)<br />White House Communications Director (Season 7) |- | [[Mary McCormack]] | [[Kate Harper]] | [[Deputy National Security Advisor]] (Seasons 5–7) | |- | [[Kristin Chenoweth]] | [[Annabeth Schott]] | [[Deputy Press Secretary]] (Season 6) | Santos for President campaign team (Season 7) |- | [[Jimmy Smits]] | [[Matt Santos]] | Congressman from Texas (Season 6) | Democratic Candidate for President (Seasons 6–7) |- | [[Alan Alda]] | [[Arnold Vinick]] | Senator from California (Season 6) | Republican Candidate for President (Seasons 6–7) |} Each of the principal actors made approximately $75,000 an episode, with [[Martin Sheen|Sheen]]'s most recently confirmed salary being $300,000.<ref name="Errico"> Errico, Marcus. "[http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,8598,00.html Détente on ''West Wing'' Set]." ''E!Online''. [[21 July]] [[2001]]. Accessed [[12 December]] [[2005]].</ref><ref>{{imdb name|0000640|Martin Sheen}} Accessed [[13 December]] [[2005]].</ref> Rob Lowe also had a six-figure salary, reported to be $100,000, because his character originally was supposed to have a more central role.<ref>{{imdb name|0000507|Rob Lowe}} Accessed [[13 December]] [[2005]].</ref> Disparities in cast salaries led to very public contract disputes, particularly by [[Allison Janney|Janney]], [[Richard Schiff|Schiff]], [[John Spencer (actor)|Spencer]], and [[Bradley Whitford|Whitford]]. During contract negotiations in 2001, the four were threatened with [[breach of contract]] suits by [[Warner Bros.]] However, by banding together, they were able to persuade the studio to more than double their salaries.<ref name="Errico"/> Two years later, the four again demanded a doubling of their salaries, a few months after Warner Bros. had signed new licensing deals with NBC and [[Bravo (television network)|Bravo]].<ref>Haberman, Lia. "[http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,12224,00.html ''West Wing'' Salarygate]." [[28 July]] [[2003]]. Accessed [[16 December]] [[2005]].</ref> [[John Spencer (actor)|John Spencer]], who played [[Leo McGarry]], died from a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on [[December 16]], [[2005]] — about a year after his character experienced a nearly fatal heart attack on the show. A brief [[memorial]] message from [[Martin Sheen]] ran before "[[Running Mates (The West Wing episode)|Running Mates]]", the first new episode that aired after Spencer's death. The loss of Spencer's character was addressed by the series beginning with the episode "[[Election Day Part I|Election Day]]", which aired on [[April 2]], [[2006]]. Different performers had been originally considered for many of the roles. [[Bradley Whitford]] states in an interview on the Season 1 DVD that he was originally cast as Sam, though the character of Josh was the role Whitford had wanted and for which he had auditioned. In addition, Josh's character had been written specifically for him by Aaron Sorkin. In the same interview, Janel Moloney states that she had originally auditioned for the role of C.J., and that the role she eventually received, Donna, was not meant to be a recurring character. Other actors who were seriously considered included [[Alan Alda]] and [[Sidney Poitier]] for the President, [[Judd Hirsch]] for Leo, [[Eugene Levy]] for Toby, and [[CCH Pounder]] for C.J.<ref>Sassone, Bob. "[http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/05/07/a-look-back-at-the-west-wing-entertainment-weekly-in-60-seconds/ A look back at The West Wing: Entertainment Weekly in 60 seconds]" ''tvsquad.com''. [[7 May]] [[2006]]. Accessed [[19 May]] [[2006]].</ref> ==Plot== {{seealso|List of The West Wing episodes}} ''The West Wing'', like many serial dramas, stretches storylines over several episodes or entire seasons. In addition to these larger storylines, each episode also contains smaller arcs which usually begin and end within an episode. Most episodes follow President Bartlet and his staff through particular legislative or political issues. Plots can range from behind-closed-doors negotiating with Congress ("[[Five Votes Down]]") to personal issues like sex ("[[Pilot (The West Wing)|Pilot]]", "[[Take Out The Trash Day]]") and personal drug use (a major plotline throughout the first and second seasons). The typical episode loosely follows the president and his staff through their day, generally following several plots connected by some idea or theme. A large, fully connected set of the White House allows the producers to create shots with very few cuts and long, continuous [[master shot]]s of staff members walking and talking through the hallways. These "[[walk and talk]]s" became a trademark of the show. The final two seasons delivered somewhat of a narrative change, with the focus of the show dividing between plots in the West Wing with President Bartlet and his remaining senior staffers and plots revolving around the rest of main cast on the campaign trail for the [[The West Wing presidential election, 2006|2006 election]]. In the first season, the administration is in the middle of its first year and is still having trouble settling in and making progress on legislative issues. The second season brings scandal as the White House is rocked by allegations of criminal conduct and the president must decide whether he will run for a second term. The third and fourth seasons take an in-depth look at the campaign trail and the specter of both foreign and domestic terrorism. In the fifth season, the president begins to encounter more issues on the foreign front, while at home he must face off with the newly elected [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] over the future of the federal budget. The sixth season chronicles the quest to replace Bartlet in the next election, following the primary campaign of several candidates from both parties. In the seventh season, the president must face a leak of confidential information about a secret NASA program from inside the White House, while the Democratic and Republican candidates battle to replace him in the general election. ==Evolution== [[Image:Westwing statedinner2.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Josiah Bartlet|President Bartlet]] (second from left) talks via speakerphone with a [[United States Navy|Navy]] sailor while (from left to right) [[Toby Ziegler]], [[Abigail Bartlet]], [[Sam Seaborn]], and [[Leo McGarry]] look on.]] The series developed from the 1995 theatrical film ''[[The American President (film)|The American President]]'', for which [[Aaron Sorkin]] wrote the screenplay. Unused plot elements from the film and a suggestion from [[Akiva Goldsman]] inspired Sorkin to create ''The West Wing''. According to the DVD commentary, Sorkin intended to center the show on the senior staff with the president in an unseen or a secondary role. However, Bartlet's screen time gradually increased, and his role expanded as the series progressed. Positive critical and public reaction to Sheen's performance raised his character's profile, decreasing Lowe's perceived significance. In addition, according to Sorkin, the storylines began to focus less on Sam and more on Josh Lyman, the deputy chief of staff. This shift is one of the reasons for Lowe's eventual departure from the show in the fourth season.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2150891.stm Lowe confirms West Wing exit]." BBC News. [[25 July]] [[2002]].</ref> For the first four seasons, Sorkin wrote almost every episode of the series, occasionally reusing plot elements, episode titles, character names, and actors from his previous work, ''[[Sports Night]]'', a [[sitcom]] in which he began to develop his signature dialogue style of rhythmic, snappy, and intellectual banter. Fellow executive producer and director [[Thomas Schlamme]] developed the "[[walk and talk]]," a continuous shot tracking in front of the characters as they walk from one place to another that became part of ''The West Wing''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s signature visual style.<ref>[http://westwing.bewarne.com/overlaps/default.html Overlaps between West Wing & Other Sorkin Writings]. West Wing Continuity Guide.</ref> Sorkin's hectic writing schedule often led to cost overruns and schedule slips,<ref>Carter, Bill. "[http://b4a.healthyinterest.net/news/000326.html ''The West Wing'' Comes to Terms With the G.O.P.]" ''New York Times''. [[23 September]] [[2003]]. Reprinted at Bartlet 4 America. Accessed [[12 December]] [[2005]].</ref> and he opted to leave the show after the fourth season, following increasing personal problems, including an arrest for possession of illegal drugs.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Rutenberg |title=Sorkin Arrested |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E6DC1730F93BA25757C0A9679C8B63 |work=TV Notes |publisher=New York Times, The |date=2001-04-18 |accessdate=2007-10-28 }}</ref> [[Thomas Schlamme]] also left the show after the fourth season. [[John Wells (TV producer)|John Wells]], the remaining executive producer, took the helm after their departure. The show aired its series finale on Sunday, [[May 14]], [[2006]]. It had suffered a significant ratings fall after being placed in the same timeslot as ABC's Top 20 hit [[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]], and [[CBS]]'s Top 30 hit [[Cold Case]]. ==Critical reactions== [[Image:Al-gore snl2 121402.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Former Vice President [[Al Gore]] appeared in a [[Saturday Night Live]] skit with ''The West Wing'' cast members, on the show's Oval Office set.]] ''The West Wing'' offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of [[United States|America]]'s most powerful address, [[White House|1600 Pennsylvania Avenue]], and the show's legitimacy, political slant, and film merits have generated considerable discussion. ===Realism=== ''The West Wing'' is not completely accurate in its portrayal of the actual West Wing<ref name="Levine">Levine, Myron A. "''The West Wing'' and the West Wing." Reprinted in ''The West Wing: The American Presidency as Television Drama''. Edited by Peter C. Rollins and John E. Connor. 2003.</ref>; however, former White House staffers agree that the show "captures the feel [of the West Wing], shorn<!--not "short"; "shorn" is the past participle of "shear" and what is being said here is that the undramatic details were cut away--> of a thousand undramatic details."<ref name="Miller">Miller, Matthew. "[http://b4a.healthyinterest.net/news/000004.html The Real White House]." ''Brill's Content''. Reprinted at Bartlet4America. [[1 March]] [[2000]].</ref> Former [[White House Press Secretary]] [[Dee Dee Myers]] as well as expert pollster [[Patrick Caddell]] served as consultants for the show from the beginning, helping writers and actors depict the West Wing accurately. Other former White House staffers, such as [[Peggy Noonan]] and [[Gene Sperling]], have served as consultants for brief periods. A documentary special in the third season compared the show's depiction of the West Wing to the real thing. Many former West Wing denizens applauded the show's depiction of the West Wing, including advisor [[David Gergen]], Press Secretary [[Dee Dee Myers]], [[Secretary of State]] [[Henry Kissinger]], Chief of Staff [[Leon Panetta]], Deputy Chief of Staff [[Karl Rove]], and former Presidents [[Gerald Ford]], [[Jimmy Carter]], and [[Bill Clinton]]. While critics often praised ''The West Wing'' for its writing, others faulted the show as unrealistically optimistic.<ref>Millman, Joyce. "[http://www.salon.com/ent/col/mill/2000/09/11/emmys_2000/index.html Don't blame me, I voted for Martin Sheen!]". Salon.com. [[11 September]] [[2000]]. Accessed [[10 December]] [[2005]].</ref> A large part of this criticism came from the perceived naiveté of the characters. Television critic Heather Havrilesky asked "… how do you go from innocent [[millipede]] to White House staffer without becoming soiled or disillusioned by the dirty realities of politics along the way?"<ref>Havrilesky, Heather. "[http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2003/05/14/west_wing/index1.html Will ''The West Wing'' go south?]". [[14 May]] [[2003]]. Accessed [[10 December]] [[2005]].</ref> ===Social impact=== Despite acclaim for the veracity of the series, Sorkin believed, "My obligation isn't to the truth … my obligation is to captivate you for however long I've asked for your attention."{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Former White House aide Matthew Miller noted that Sorkin "captivates viewers by making the human side of politics more real than life — or at least more real than the picture we get from the news." Miller also noted that by portraying politicians with empathy, the show created a "subversive competitor" to the cynical views of politics in media.<ref name="Miller"/> In the essay "''The West Wing'' and the West Wing", author Myron Levine agreed, stating that the series "presents an essentially positive view of public service and a healthy corrective to anti-Washington stereotypes and public cynicism."<ref name="Levine"/> Dr. Staci L. Beavers, associate professor of [[political science]] at [[California State University, San Marcos]], wrote a short essay, ''The West Wing as a Pedagogical Tool'', concerning the viability of ''The West Wing'' as a teaching tool. She concluded, "While the series’ purpose is for-profit entertainment, ''The West Wing'' presents great [[pedagogical]] potential." ''The West Wing'', in her opinion, gave greater depth to the political process usually espoused only in stilted [[talking points]] on shows like ''[[Face the Nation]]'' and ''[[Meet the Press]]''. However, the merits of a particular argument may be obscured by the viewer's opinion of the character. Beavers also noted that characters with opposing viewpoints were often set up to be "bad people" in the viewer's eyes. These characters were assigned undesirable characteristics having nothing to do with their political opinions, such as being romantically involved with a main character's love interest. In Beavers's opinion, a critical analysis of the show's political views can present a worthwhile learning experience to the viewer.<ref>Beavers, Staci L. "''The West Wing'' as a Pedagogical Tool." ''PS: Political Science & Politics''. [[24 December]] [[2001]]. Reprinted in ''The West Wing: The American Presidency as Television Drama''. Edited by Peter C. Rollins and John E. Connor. 2003.</ref> One of the stranger impacts of the show occurred on [[January 31]], [[2006]], when ''The West Wing'' was said to have played a hand in defeating [[Tony Blair]]'s government in the [[British House of Commons]], during the so called "''West Wing'' Plot". The plan was allegedly hatched after a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament]] watched the episode, "[[A Good Day]]", in which Democrats passed the President's stem cell bill by hiding in an office until the Republican Speaker calls the vote.<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/02/nlab102.xml ''West Wing'' Plot]" ''The Daily Telegraph''. [[2 February]] [[2006]].</ref> ==="The Left Wing"=== ''The West Wing'' was sometimes called "[[Left-wing politics|The Left Wing]]" by detractors because of its portrayal of an ideal [[American liberalism|liberal]] administration and an alleged penchant for demonizing conservatives.<ref>[http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=7574 JewishJournal.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/051506/westwing.html City Says Goodbye to 'West Wing,' Its Chattier Self (washingtonpost.com)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/200705210032 New Statesman - The war on culture<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Chris Lehmann characterized the show as a [[Historical revisionism (negationism)|revisionist]] look at the Clinton presidency: an attempt to solidify the Clinton legacy and to make America forget the [[Whitewater scandal|Whitewater]] and [[Lewinsky scandal]]s.<ref>Lehmann, Chris. "The Feel-Good Presidency: The Pseudo-Politics of ''The West Wing''." Reprinted in ''The West Wing: The American Presidency as Television Drama''. Edited by Peter C. Rollins and John E. Connor. 2003.</ref> On the other hand, some Republicans have admired the show since its inception, before even the departure of Sorkin and the show's resulting shift toward the center.<ref>"[http://www.msnbc.com/news/968925.asp?cp1=1 ‘West Wing’ goes more bipartisan]" MSNBC.com. [[September 18]] [[2003]].</ref> In his 2001 article "Real Liberals versus the ''West Wing''", [[Mackubin Thomas Owens]] wrote, {{cquote|Although his administration is reliably liberal, President Bartlet possesses virtues even a conservative could admire. He obeys the Constitution and the law. He is devoted to his wife and daughter [sic]. Being unfaithful to his wife would never cross his mind. He is no wimp when it comes to foreign policy — no [[quid pro quo]] for him.<ref>Owens, Mackubin T. "[http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/01/liberals.html Real Liberals versus the ''West Wing'']." John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. February 2001.</ref>}} Journalist [[Matthew Miller (journalist)|Matthew Miller]] wrote, "although the show indeed has a liberal bias on issues, it presents a truer, more human picture of the people behind the headlines than most of today's Washington journalists."<ref name="Miller"/> ===Filming techniques and reactions=== [[Image:westwing trackingshot.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Sam Seaborn]] and [[Josh Lyman]] converse in the hallway in one of ''The West Wing''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s noted tracking shots.]] In its first season, ''The West Wing'' attracted critical attention in the film community with a record nine [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] wins. The show has been praised for its high production values and repeatedly recognized for its [[cinematography|cinematic]] achievements.<ref name="IMDBawards"/> With a budget of $6 million per episode, many consider each week's show to be a small feature film.<ref>Richmond, Ray. "[http://www.joshlyman.com/articles/ww100e.html ''West Wing'' 100th episode.]" JoshLyman.com. [[7 January]] [[2004]]. Accessed [[12 December]] [[2005]].</ref> However, many in the film community believe that the true genius of the show was Sorkin's rapid-fire and witty scripts.<ref>"[http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,950581,00.html Next week on The West Wing … erm]" Guardian Unlimited. Accessed [[10 December]] [[2005]].</ref> ''The West Wing'' is noted for developing the "walk-and-talk"—long [[Steadicam]] [[tracking shot]]s showing characters walking down hallways while involved in long conversations. In a typical "walk-and-talk" shot, the camera leads two characters down a hallway as they speak to each other. One of these characters generally breaks off and the remaining character is then joined by another character, who initiates another conversation as they continue walking. These "walk-and-talks" create a dynamic feel for what would otherwise be long expository dialogue, and have become a staple for dialogue-intensive television show scenes.<ref>Smith, Greg M. "[http://www2.gsu.edu/~jougms/Wwing.htm The Left Takes Back the Flag]." Accessed [[10 December]] [[2005]].</ref> ===Awards=== In its first season, ''The West Wing'' garnered nine Emmys, a record for most won by a series in a single season. In addition the series has received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in [[52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards|2000]], [[53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards|2001]], [[54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards|2002]], and [[55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards|2003]], tying ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' and ''[[L.A. Law]]'' for most won in this category. Each of its seven seasons earned a nomination for the award. As of 2006, ''The West Wing'' ranks 8th all-time in number of Emmy Awards won by a series. The series shares the [[Emmy Award]] record for most acting nominations by regular cast members (excluding the guest performer category) for a single series in one year. (Both ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' and ''[[L.A. Law]]'' also hold that record). For the 2001–2002 season nine cast members were nominated for Emmys. Allison Janney, John Spencer and Stockard Channing each won an Emmy (for Lead Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress respectively). The others nominated were Martin Sheen (for Lead Actor), Richard Schiff, Dule Hill and Bradley Whitford (for Supporting Actor), and Janel Moloney and Mary-Louise Parker (for Supporting Actress). In addition, that same year Mark Harmon, Tim Matheson and Ron Silver were each nominated in the Guest Actor category (although none won the award). This gives the series an Emmy Award record for most acting nominations overall (including guest performer category) in a single year, with 12 acting nominations. Twenty individual Emmys have been awarded to writers, actors, and crew members. Allison Janney is the record holder for most wins by a cast member, with a total of four Emmys. In addition to its Emmys, the show has won two [[Screen Actors Guild]] (SAG) Awards, in [[2000 Screen Actors Guild Awards|2000]] and [[2001 Screen Actors Guild Awards|2001]], Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Martin Sheen is the only cast member to have won a Golden Globe, and he and Allison Janney are the only cast members to win a SAG award (best actor and best actress respectively) In both 1999 and 2000, ''The West Wing'' was awarded the [[Peabody Award]] for excellence in broadcasting. The following table summarizes award wins by cast members: {| class="wikitable" ! Actor ! Awards won |- | [[Alan Alda]] |Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2006) |- |[[Stockard Channing]] |Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2002) |- | rowspan="3" valign="top"|[[Allison Janney]] |Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2000, 2001) |- |Emmy, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2002, 2004) |- |SAG Award, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (2000, 2001) |- |[[Richard Schiff]] |Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2000) |- | rowspan="2" valign="top"|[[Martin Sheen]] |[[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]], Best Actor in a TV Series - Drama (2001) |- |SAG Award, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (2000, 2001) |- |[[John Spencer (actor)|John Spencer]] |Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2002) |- |[[Bradley Whitford]] |Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2001) |} [[W.G. Walden|W.G. "Snuffy" Walden]] received an Emmy Award for Main Title Theme Music in 2000 for "The West Wing Opening Theme". Many cast members have been Emmy-nominated for their work on ''The West Wing'' but have not won, including Martin Sheen—who was nominated each year for all seven seasons of the series without receiving the award—as well as Janel Moloney, who was nominated twice, and Dulé Hill, Rob Lowe, and [[Mary-Louise Parker]], who were all nominated once. [[Matthew Perry (actor)|Matthew Perry]], [[Oliver Platt]], [[Ron Silver]], [[Tim Matheson]], and [[Mark Harmon]] have also received Emmy nominations for guest starring on the show. ==Exploration of real world issues== [[Image:Westwing situation room.jpg|right|thumb|200px|In the [[White House Situation Room]], [[Leo McGarry]] waits for [[Josiah Bartlet|President Bartlet]]'s decision on a controversial bombing campaign.]] ''The West Wing'' often features extensive discussion of current or recent political issues. After the real-world election of Republican President [[George W. Bush]] in 2000, many wondered whether the liberal show could retain its relevance and topicality. However, by exploring many of the same issues facing the Bush administration from a Democratic point of view, the show continued to appeal to a broad audience of both Democrats and Republicans. In its second season episode [[The Midterms]], President Bartlet admonishes fictional radio host Dr. Jenna Jacobs for her views regarding [[homosexuality]] at a private gathering at the White House. Dr. Jacobs is a caricature of radio personality [[Laura Schlessinger|Dr. Laura Schlessinger]], who strongly disapproves of homosexuality. According to Barbara Mikkelson of snopes.com, many of the president's [[Bible|biblical]] references in his comments to Dr. Jacobs are thought to have come from an open letter to Dr. Schlessinger, circulated online in early May 2000. <ref>Mikkelson, Barbara "[http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/drlaura.asp Letter to Dr. Laura]." Snopes.com. 2004.</ref> The Bartlet administration experiences a scandal during the second and third seasons that has been compared to the [[Monica Lewinsky]] affair.<ref>Sepinwall, Alan "[http://b4a.healthyinterest.net/news/000180.html Exit poll: ''West Wing'' is sinking. Why?]" NJ.com. Reprinted at Bartlet4America. [[6 November]] [[2002]].</ref> President Bartlet was diagnosed with [[Multiple sclerosis#Disease course and clinical subtypes|relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis]] (MS) in 1992. The scandal centers around President Bartlet's nondisclosure of his illness to the electorate during the election. He is investigated by an opposition [[U.S. House of Representatives|Congress]] for defrauding the public and eventually accepts Congressional [[censure]]. Multiple sclerosis advocacy groups have praised the show for its accurate portrayal of the symptoms of MS and stressing that it is not fatal. The National MS Society commented: {{Cquote|For the first time on national television or even in film, the public encountered a lead character with both an MS diagnosis and the hope for a continued productive life. Because ''[The] West Wing'' is a fictional drama and not a medical documentary, writers could have greatly distorted MS facts to further their story line [but did not].<ref>Kerr, Gail. "[http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/news/Dec2001/WestWingAidsMSAwareness.html ''West Wing'' aids MS awareness]." All About Multiple Sclerosis. [[24 December]] [[2001]].</ref>}} Following the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], the start of the third season was postponed for a week, as were most American television premieres that year. A script for a special episode was quickly written and began filming on [[September 21]]. The episode "[[Isaac and Ishmael]]" aired on [[October 3]] and addresses the sobering reality of [[terrorism]] in America and the wider world, albeit with no specific reference to [[September 11]]. While "Isaac and Ishmael" received mixed critical reviews, it illustrated the show's flexibility in addressing current events. The cast of the show state during the opening of the episode that it is not part of ''The West Wing'' [[continuity (fiction)|continuity]]. [[Image:Westwing actingpresident.jpg|right|thumb|200px|In a surprising plot twist, [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] [[Glen Allen Walken]] temporarily becomes [[Acting President of the United States|Acting President]] when Zoey Bartlet is kidnapped.]] While the September 11th attacks do not occur in ''The West Wing'' continuity, the country does enter into a variation of the [[War on Terrorism]]. The war begins during the show's third season, when a plot to blow up the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] was uncovered; in response, the President orders the assassination of terrorist leader [[Abdul ibn Shareef]]. At the end of the fourth season, the conflict escalates when [[Zoey Bartlet]] ([[Elisabeth Moss]]), the president's youngest daughter, is kidnapped by Islamic extremists from a fictional country named [[Qumar]]. The result of this kidnapping is the bombing of [[Qumar]]. This storyline draws similarities to the real-world [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|U.S. invasion of Afghanistan]] as well as U.S. relations with [[Saudi Arabia]], as it brings the Middle East to the forefront of U.S. foreign relations and elevated terrorism as a serious threat in ''The West Wing'' universe. In Seasons 3, 4 and 5, the fictional [[Qumar#The Bahji|Bahji terror group]] seems to act as a fictional stand-in for the real world [[Al Qaeda]], but in Seasons 6 and 7, characters mention Al Qaeda itself as a threat, despite no clearly stated history of Al Qaeda terror attacks in ''The West Wing'' continuity (although Nancy McNally does refer to [[Osama Bin Laden]] as a potential threat at [[In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part I|the beginning of Season 2]].) In the middle of the fourth season, Bartlet's White House is confronted with the genocide in the fictional African country of [[Equatorial Kundu]] which was compared to [[Rwandan Genocide]] of 1994. The result was new foreign policy doctrine for Bartlet Administration and military intervention to stop the violence, which came after much hesitation and reluctance to call the conflict a genocide. In reality, [[Clinton Administration]] didn't intervene in Rwanda, making series events look like a [[moral imperative]].<ref>{{cite web | first = Judge Diane | last = Wild | title =The West Wing: The Complete Fourth Season | url =http://www.dvdverdict.com/printer/westwingseason4.php | publisher =HipClick Designs LLC. | date =[[June 1]], [[2005]] | accessdate =2007-04-03}}</ref> In the sixth and seventh seasons, ''The West Wing'' explores a leak of top-secret information by a senior staffer at the White House. This leak has been compared to the events surrounding the [[Plame affair|Valerie Plame affair]].<ref>Clabby, Consuela. "[http://www.smrt-tv.com/v2-04/feature_westwing.html Leaky Politics: ''The West Wing'' versus The Bush Administration]." SMRT-TV. [[31 October]] [[2005]]].</ref><ref>"[http://www.footnote.tv/ftvww133i.html#leakinvestigation 'The Ticket': Leak Investigation]" FootnoteTV. [[25 September]] [[2005]].</ref> In the storyline, the [[International Space Station]] is damaged and can no longer produce [[oxygen]] for the [[astronaut]]s to breathe. With no other methods of rescue available, the president is reminded of the existence of a top-secret military space shuttle. Following the president's inaction, the shuttle story is leaked to a White House reporter, Greg Brock (analogous to [[Judith Miller (journalist)|Judith Miller]]), who prints the story in the ''[[New York Times]]''. Brock will not reveal his source and goes to jail for failing to do so, as did Miller. In order to stop the investigation, in which authorities suspect Chief of Staff C.J. Cregg, Toby Ziegler admits to leaking the information, and the President is forced to dismiss him. In comparison, the Plame affair resulted in the arrest and conviction of [[Lewis Libby]], the vice president's chief of staff. However, Libby was convicted of perjury in testimony to a grand jury. No one was convicted for "blowing the cover" of Plame. ([[Richard Armitage]], an official in the Bush State Department, acknowledged leaking information about Plame to reporters but was never charged with a crime.) Libby's two and a half year prison sentence was later commuted by President Bush, though the other facet of his sentence ($250,000 fine) stands until Libby's appeals were to be considered. Other issues explored in ''The West Wing'' include: *[[North Korea]]n and [[Iran]]ian nuclear ambitions *Strained relations and a state of [[brinksmanship]] between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] *Legislation of the [[Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement|Central American Free Trade Agreement]] *The formation of the [[Minuteman Project]] *Peacemaking and terrorism in [[Israel]], [[West Bank]] and the [[Gaza Strip]], including a peace negotiation at [[Camp David]], similar to the [[Camp David 2000 Summit]]. *The [[genocide]] in [[Darfur conflict|Darfur]], [[Sudan]] *[[AIDS]] in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] *The [[Northern Ireland peace process]] *[[War on Drugs]] and [[Colombian armed conflict (1960s–present)|conflict in Colombia]] *Controversy over [[Intelligent design]] in schools *[[Brinksmanship]] and potential conflict between the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Republic of China]] over [[Political Status of Taiwan|Taiwan's political status]] (including a situation similar to the [[Third Taiwan Strait Crisis]] when the PRC holds military exercises in response to the ROC's first democratic elections) *A hate crime murder, similar to the death of [[Matthew Shepard]] *[[federal government shutdown of 1995|A federal government shutdown]] *The 1996 [[Defense of Marriage Act]] (referred to directly, along with the fictional Marriage Recognition and Sanctity of Marriage Acts) *[[2001 anthrax attacks|Anthrax attacks]] against the Bartlet Administration *The deaths of 3 Americans in the attack on a diplomatic convoy in the [[Gaza Strip]] *A mysterious nuclear detonation in the Indian Ocean, similar to the [[Vela Incident]] *[[Russian apartment bombings|A bombing of apartment blocks in Moscow]], leading to allegation that the Russian President orchestrated the attacks *Federal funding for the arts. ==The West Wing universe== {{Seealso|List of politicians on The West Wing}} ===Domestic=== All contemporary domestic government officials in The West Wing universe have been fictional. President Bartlet has made three appointments to the fictional Supreme Court and maintains a full cabinet, although the names and terms of all members have not been revealed. Some cabinet members, such as the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], appear more often than others. Many other government officials, such as mayors, governors, judges, representatives, and senators, have been mentioned and seen as well. Fictional locations inside the United States have been created to loosely represent certain places: ====San Andreo==== San Andreo is a fictional [[California]]n city. It is located near [[San Diego]], has a population of 42,000 and is the location of the San Andreo Nuclear Generating Station. The city's title, Spanish for [[St. Andrew]], seems to be an attempt at an ambiguously Californian locale, due to the prevalence of Spanish place names in the region. A near [[meltdown]] at the nuclear plant becomes the focus of an [[October surprise]] for Republican nominee [[Arnold Vinick|Senator Arnold Vinick]] during the [[The West Wing presidential election, 2006|2006 presidential election]], due to Vinick's strong pro-nuclear stance and revelations of his active lobbying for the construction of the plant. This was seen to be a key factor in Vinick's narrow defeat in the election by Democratic nominee [[Matt Santos|Congressman Matt Santos]]. ====Hartsfield's Landing==== [[Hartsfield's Landing]] is a town in New Hampshire. It is stated to be a very small community of only 63 people, of whom 42 are registered voters, that votes at one minute past twelve on the day of the [[New Hampshire primary]], hours before the rest of the state, and has accurately predicted the winner of every [[United States presidential election|presidential election]] since [[William Howard Taft]] in [[United States presidential election, 1908|1908]]. It is based on the true New Hampshire communities of [[Hart's Location, New Hampshire|Hart's Location]] and [[Dixville Notch, New Hampshire|Dixville Notch]], which in real life do vote before the rest of the state during the primaries, and also loosely upon the concept "[[bellwether|bellwether states]]" in US presidential elections. ====Kennison State University==== Kennison State is a fictional [[university]] in [[Iowa]] that was used as the setting of a bombing in the beginning of the fourth season. ===Foreign=== While several real-world leaders exist in the show's universe, most foreign countries have fictional rulers. Some real persons mentioned in ''The West Wing'' include [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]], [[Yasser Arafat]], [[Fidel Castro]], [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], [[House of Chakri|King]] [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]], [[Monarch of Sweden|King]] [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl Gustaf]], [[Thabo Mbeki]] and [[Osama bin Laden]]. However, when a peace accord was worked out between [[Israel]] and the [[Palestinian Authority]] at the start of the show's sixth season, the [[President of the Palestinian National Authority|Chairman]] of the Palestinian Authority was the fictional Nizar Farad, not Arafat. (By that time, Arafat was dead, and a successor had been elected, [[Rawhi Fattuh]].) Entire countries are invented as composite pictures that epitomize many of the problems that plague real nations in certain areas of the world: ====Qumar==== Qumar, is a fictional oil-rich, terrorist-sponsoring [[Middle East]]ern state is repeatedly a source of trouble for the Bartlet administration. According to maps on the show, Qumar appears to consist of a small part of southern [[Iran]], including the important [[Strait of Hormuz]]. After the [[September 11 attacks]], it became the main venue for the show's terrorism subplots. Jabal Nafusah (also the name of a real-life Libyan city) seems to be the largest city and the capital, according to maps shown of the country. Qumar is an [[absolute monarchy]], ruled by a [[sultan]] and his family. The country is a former British protectorate. The nation was [[The Women of Qumar|first introduced]] in the third season where it was mentioned as a close ally of the [[United States]]. Qumar continues on the show to be a U.S. ally, though the Sultan and other officials were extremely troubled by the [[assassination]], bombing campaign and invasion. As a result of the air strikes, gas pipelines were damaged, leading to economic troubles for the country and its European allies. ====Equatorial Kundu==== Equatorial Kundu is a fictional [[Africa]]n nation blighted by [[AIDS]] and a civil war resembling the 1994 [[Rwandan genocide]]. When Kundu was [[In This White House|first mentioned]] in season 2, it is led by President Nimbala who is executed by the end of the episode. In January 2003 of the series' timeline ("[[Inauguration, Part I]]"), the Arkutu-run government of President Nzele (described as a "sadistic madman") begins an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Induye in Bitanga, killing 200 people. The violence soon spreads outside Bitanga and into the countryside. In [[President of the United States|President]] [[Josiah Bartlet]]'s second [[inaugural address]] ("[[Inauguration Over There]]"), he announces the new [[United States Presidential doctrines|Bartlet Doctrine]] for the use of force: America shall intervene whenever there are humanitarian interests at stake. With that new doctrine, Bartlet sends a brigade of the [[U.S. 82nd Airborne Division|82nd Airborne Division]], the [[101st Airborne Division]], and a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] expeditionary unit, a force of 11,000 troops in total, to Kundu ("[[The California 47th]]"). As of the episode "[[Twenty Five (The West Wing)|Twenty Five]]," US forces are still operating in Kundu. In its original appearance, Kundu's location is somewhat ambiguous. President Nimbala and his aide appear to speak [[Setswana]], a [[Bantu]] language spoken in South Africa and Botswana, which would imply a [[Southern Africa]]n setting. The Season 4 appearance seems to more firmly place the country in [[West Africa]], near to the [[Ivory Coast]] and [[Ghana]]. Its capital city is Bitanga, which contains a major airport, TV station and a radio station. ==Presidential elections== ===Timeline skew=== [[Image:Westwing recruit josh.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Leo McGarry]] (left) asks [[Josh Lyman]] to consider joining then [[Governor of New Hampshire|New Hampshire Governor]] [[Josiah Bartlet|Bartlet]]'s 1998 presidential campaign]] The last real president who is known to have existed in the show's universe is [[Richard Nixon]]. Presidents who served between Nixon and Bartlet include one-term Democrat [[D. Wire Newman]] ([[James Cromwell]]) who was the last Democrat in the White House before Bartlet and two-term Republican [[Owen Lassiter]]. Also in the second-season episode "Galileo," a portrait of [[Bill Clinton]] can be seen hanging on the wall of the Situation Room, when President Bartlet is being briefed about the Russian missile silo explosion, although Clinton is never mentioned at any time in the series. In the Sixth season epsiode "A Good Day" a picture of [[Jimmy Carter]] can be seen hanging on a wall in the White House. Leo McGarry is mentioned as being Labor Secretary in the administration that was in office in 1993 and 1995 - directly prior to Bartlet's, suggesting a Democratic administration. However in the first season, an outgoing Supreme Court Justice tells president Bartlet that he had been wanting to retire for 5 years, (1994) but waited "for a Democrat." In the series four episode "Debate Camp", we see in flashback to the days just before Bartlet's inauguration, as [[Donna Moss]] meets with her Republican predecessor, Jeff Johnson who makes it clear that the outgoing Republican administration has been in office for eight years and in the sixth season Leo says the Republicans have been "out of power for eight years" and Republicans at their convention say "eight (years) is enough", making it clear that the President before Bartlet was a Republican, but it was never disclosed if this President was President Lassiter. The passage of time on the show relative to that of the real world is somewhat ambiguous when marked by events of smaller duration (e.g., votes, campaigns). Sorkin has noted in a [[DVD]] [[audio commentary (DVD)|commentary track]] for the second season episode "[[18th and Potomac]]" that he has tried to avoid tying ''The West Wing'' to a specific period of time. Despite this, real years are occasionally mentioned, usually in the context of elections and President Bartlet's two-term administration. The show's presidential elections are held in 2002 and 2006, setting them off by two years from actual presidential elections in the United States (e.g., 1996, 2000, 2004, etc.). The election timeline in ''The West Wing'' matches up with that of the real world until early in the sixth season, when it appears that a year is lost. For example, the filing deadline for the [[New Hampshire primary]], which would normally fall in January 2006, appears in an episode airing in January 2005. In an interview, John Wells stated that the series began one and a half years into Bartlet's first term and that the election to replace Bartlet was being held at the correct time.<ref>Elber, Lynn. "[http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/ap/20041013/109771080000.html ''West Wing'' Eyes Successor for Bartlet]." Yahoo! Entertainment. [[13 October]] [[2004]].</ref> In the season 5 episode "[[Access (The West Wing)|Access]]," it is mentioned that the Casey Creek crisis occurred during Bartlet's first term, and network footage of the crisis carries the date of November 2001. ===1998 presidential election=== Bartlet's first campaign for president is never significantly explored in the series. Bartlet won the election with 48% of the popular vote, 48 million votes, and a 303–235 margin in the [[Electoral College]]. Bartlet faced three debates with his [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] opponent. It is mentioned that Bartlet won the third and final debate, which was held eight days before election day in [[St Louis]], [[Missouri]], and that this helped swing a close election in his favor. [[Josh Lyman]] said in the days prior to the election "Bartlet was punching brick walls" as the result seemed too close to call, before the result broke his way. [[Leo McGarry]] said the same thing in "[[Bartlet for America]]" when he said "It was eight days to go, and we were too close to call". <!-- Please do not add specific information about the outcome of individual state elections or other minute details of the election. This article concerns the entire series as a whole. These details are trivial. --> The campaign for the Democratic nomination is extensively addressed. In the episodes "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen" and "[[Bartlet for America]]," flashbacks are used to tell how Bartlet defeated Texas Senator [[John Hoynes]] ([[Tim Matheson]]) and [[Washington (state)|Washington]] Senator William Wiley for the Democratic nomination. The flashbacks also reveal how Leo McGarry persuaded Bartlet, who was then governor of [[New Hampshire]], to run for president and how Bartlet ultimately selected John Hoynes as his choice as running mate. ===2002 presidential election=== {{main|The West Wing presidential election, 2002}} ''The West Wing''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 2002 presidential election pits Bartlet and Vice President John Hoynes against Florida Governor [[Robert Ritchie (TV character)|Robert Ritchie]] ([[James Brolin]]) and his running mate, Jeff Heston. Bartlet faces no known opposition for renomination, though Democratic Senator Stackhouse does launch a brief independent campaign for the presidency. Ritchie, not originally expected to contend for the nomination, emerges from a field of seven other Republican candidates by appealing to the party's conservative base with simple, "homey" sound bites. Bartlet's staff contemplates replacing Vice President John Hoynes on the ticket with [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] [[Admiral]] [[Percy Fitzwallace]] ([[John Amos]]), among others. After it is clear that Ritchie will be the Republican nominee, Bartlet dismisses the idea, declaring that he wants Hoynes in the number two spot, "Because I could die." Throughout the season it is anticipated that the race will be close, but a stellar performance by Bartlet in the sole debate between the candidates helps give Bartlet a landslide victory in both the popular and electoral vote. ===2006 presidential election=== {{main|The West Wing presidential election, 2006}} [[Image:Spencer Smits.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Matt Santos]] and [[Leo McGarry]] at the 2006 [[Democratic National Convention]].]] A speed-up in ''The West Wing''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s timeline, in part due to the expiration of many cast members' contracts and a desire to continue the program with lower production costs, resulted in the omission of the 2004 midterm elections and an election during the seventh season. The sixth season extensively details the Democratic and Republican primaries. The seventh season covers the lead-up to the general election, the election, and the transition to a new administration. The timeline slows down to concentrate on the general election race. The election, normally held in November, takes place across two episodes originally broadcast on [[April 2]] and [[April 9]], 2006. Congressman [[Matt Santos]] (D-[[Texas|TX]]) ([[Jimmy Smits]]) is nominated on the fourth ballot at the [[Democratic National Convention]], during the sixth season finale. Santos was planning to leave [[United States Congress|Congress]] before being recruited to run for the presidency by [[Josh Lyman]]. Santos polled in the low single digits in the [[Iowa caucus]] and was virtually out of the running in the [[New Hampshire primary]] before a last-ditch direct television appeal vaults him to a third-place finish with 19% of the vote. Josh Lyman, Santos's campaign manager, convinces [[Leo McGarry]] to become Santos's running mate. However, [[John Spencer (actor)|John Spencer]], the actor portraying Leo McGarry, died on [[December 16]], [[2005]]. Senator [[Arnold Vinick]] (R-[[California|CA]]) ([[Alan Alda]]) secures the Republican nomination, defeating [[Glen Allen Walken]] ([[John Goodman]]) and the [[Reverend]] [[Don Butler]] ([[Don S. Davis]]), among others. Initially, Vinick wants Butler to become his running mate. However, Butler does not want to be considered because of Vinick's stance on [[abortion]]. Instead, [[West Virginia]] Governor [[Ray Sullivan]] ([[Brett Cullen]]) is chosen as Vinick's running mate. Vinick is portrayed throughout the sixth season as virtually unbeatable because of his popularity in [[California]], a typically Democratic state, his moderate views, and his wide crossover appeal. Vinick, however, faces difficulty with the [[pro-life]] members of his party as a [[pro-choice]] candidate, and criticism for his support of nuclear power following a serious accident at a Californian nuclear power station. On the evening of the election, Leo McGarry suffers a massive [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] and is pronounced dead at the hospital, with the polls still open on the [[U.S. West Coast|West Coast]]. The Santos campaign releases the information immediately, while [[Arnold Vinick]] refuses to use Leo's death as a "stepstool" to the presidency. Santos emerges as the winner in his home state of [[Texas]], while Vinick wins his home state of [[California]]. The election comes down to [[Nevada]], where both candidates need a victory to secure the presidency. Vinick tells his staff repeatedly that he will not allow his campaign to demand a recount of the votes if Santos is declared the winner. Josh Lyman is seen giving Santos the same advice, although the Santos campaign does send a team of lawyers down to Nevada. Santos is pronounced the winner of the election, having won Nevada by 30,000 votes, with an electoral margin of 272–266. Santos organizes his administration, choosing Josh Lyman as Chief of Staff, who in turn calls on former colleague Sam Seaborn to be Deputy Chief of Staff. In need of experienced cabinet members, Santos taps Arnold Vinick as [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], believing the senior statesman to be one of the best strategists available and respected by foreign leaders. <!--Other Bartlet staffers have plans for futures away from Washington: After turning down the president-elect for "any position she wants", C.J. Cregg accepted a job with a non-profit corporation in California, where she also plans on giving her off-on relationship with Danny Concannon a chance. Toby Ziegler is pardoned by President Bartlet at the last minute, with promise of a life with ex-wife Andrea and the twins, Huck and Molly.--> President Bartlet's final act as President of the United States is pardoning Toby Ziegler. The series ends with Bartlet returning to New Hampshire. Having said his goodbyes to his closest staff, former President Bartlet tells President Santos, "Make me proud, Mr. President", to which Santos responds, "I'll do my best, Mr. President." According to executive producer Lawrence O'Donnell, the writers originally intended for Vinick to win the election. However, the death of Spencer forced him and his colleagues to consider the emotional strain that would result from having Santos lose both his running mate and the election. It was eventually decided that the last episodes would be rescripted by [[John Wells (TV producer)|John Wells]].<ref>Steinberg, Jacques. "[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/10/arts/television/10wing.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1144685466-MCf2l0C1+9Hqlvh+y9ZjfA ' 'West Wing' Writers' Novel Way of Picking the President.']" NY Times. Accessed [[10 April]] [[2006]].</ref> Other statements from John Wells, however, have contradicted O'Donnell's claims about a previously planned Vinick victory. The script showing Santos winning was written long before the death of John Spencer.{{Dubious|date=March 2008}} Similarities between the fictional 2006 election and the real-life [[2008 U.S. presidential election]] have been noted in the media. Specifically, it has been noted that a young minority Democratic candidate (Matthew Santos on the show, [[Barack Obama]] in real life) has a grueling but successful primary campaign against a more experienced candidate (Bob Russell on the show, [[Hillary Clinton]] in real life), whereas the Republican contest is determined early in the primary season with an aging maverick senator being the nominee (Arnold Vinick on the show, [[John McCain]] in real life).<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/02/14/do1402.xml Barack Obama stars in the West Wing? - Telegraph<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Funt |authorlink=Peter Funt |title=A Race Straight Out of a 'West Wing' Rerun |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/25/AR2008052502282.html |work=[[The Washington Post]] |page=A17 |date=[[2008-05-26]] |accessdate=2008-05-26}}</ref> ==See also== *[[List of The West Wing broadcasters and home video releases|List of ''The West Wing'' broadcasters and home video releases]] *[[Big Block of Cheese Day]] *''[[Commander in Chief (television)|Commander in Chief]]'', an [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] series about a female President that has drawn comparisons to ''The West Wing'' *''[[Sports Night]]'', Aaron Sorkin's first television series. Many of its storylines were recycled in ''The West Wing''. *''[[Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip]]'', Aaron Sorkin and [[Thomas Schlamme]]'s latest television series collaboration *''[[Yes Minister]]'', 1980s satire of [[British government]] *[[Politics in fiction]] ==References== <!--When adding a ref/ref, please be sure to conform to the style already used in this page. Thank you! --> {{reflist|2}} ==External links== {{wikiquotepar|The West Wing}} {{Spoken Wikipedia|The West Wing (television).ogg|2005-12-08}} ;Official websites *United States: [http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/ NBC], [http://www.bravotv.com/The_West_Wing/ Bravo], and [http://www.westwingtv.com/ Warner Bros] *United Kingdom: [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/W/westwing/ More4 (Channel Four)] and [http://www.thewestwing.co.uk/ Warner Bros] *Japan: NHK Official Homepage of ''The West Wing'' - [http://www.nhk.or.jp/kaigai/wh Season 1], [http://www.nhk.or.jp/kaigai/wh2 Season 2], [http://www.nhk.or.jp/kaigai/wh3 Season 3], and [http://www.nhk.or.jp/kaigai/wh4 Season 4] *Canada: [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20030911/WestWing-default/20030911/ CTV] *Sweden: [http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=25452 SVT] *Netherlands: [http://www.rtl.nl/soaps/westwing/ RTL4] *Norway: [http://www.nrk.no/programmer/sider/presidenten/ NRK] ;General *{{imdb title|id=0200276|title=The West Wing}} *[http://www.westwingtranscripts.com/ ''The West Wing'' Transcripts] or [http://communicationsoffice.tripod.com/ Fan Transcribed Scripts] *[http://www.westwingepguide.com/ ''The West Wing'' Episode Guide] *[http://epguides.com/WestWing/ ''The West Wing'' Episode Guide with consumer ratings] *[http://westwing.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page ''The West Wing'' Wiki] *[http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/special/wwtv.htm White House Museum: "The West Wing of ''The West Wing''"] with layout, pictures, and reviews comparing the TV West Wing to the real West Wing ;Articles *[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/west_wing/ PBS Newshour Special Report on ''The West Wing''] {{start box}} {{succession box | before = ''[[The Sopranos]]'' | title = [[List of Golden Globe Awards: Television, Best Series, Drama|Golden Globe – Best Television Series – Drama]] | years = 2001 | after = ''[[Six Feet Under (TV series)|Six Feet Under]]''}} {{end box}} {{EmmyAward DramaSeries 1976-2000}} {{EmmyAward DramaSeries 2001-2025}} {{featured article}} {{DEFAULTSORT:West Wing, The}} [[Category:NBC network shows]] [[Category:1990s American television series]] [[Category:2000s American television series]] [[Category:Television shows set in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:The West Wing (TV series)| ]] [[Category:Political television series]] [[Category:Peabody Award winners]] [[Category:2006 television series endings]] [[Category:American drama television series]] [[Category:Serial drama television series]] [[Category:Television series by Warner Bros. 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