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PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST NY 2019: THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEST WING: A LOOK BACK WITH AARON SORKIN {LONG VERSION}

Summary

One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's PaleyFest New York 2019. This evening celebrates the 20th anniversary of the debut of "The West Wing," the series of dramas about the day-to-day running of the White House and the lives of its staff, created by award-winning writer and director Aaron Sorkin.

Host Diane Lewis (chief programming officer, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and introduces the episode specifically chosen by Sorkin, the second season finale "Two Cathedrals," which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 138237.)

After the screening, Julie James (program director and curator, SiriusXM's "On Broadway" and host "Broadway Names with Julie James") welcomes Sorkin to the stage. The conversation touches upon such topics as: his feelings on re-watching the episode, directed by frequent collaborator Thomas Schlamme, for the first time in many years; his "accidental" creation of the series, thanks to advice from fellow writer Akiva Goldsman and a fateful lunch with famed TV producer John Wells; many political TV series having failed in the past, partially because they "alienate" much of the audience; the show's "magical" and critically lauded cast; early marketing tests that proved the show scored well with wealthy, college-educated Internet users; dealing with controversy early on in the series because of political and religion-related plotlines; how summer reruns, now largely a thing of the past, helped the show achieve great success; the decision to incorporate character flashbacks in season two; the death of Mrs. Landingham, the president's executive secretary and close friend, owing to actress Kathryn Joosten's role on another series; and filming scenes at the Washington D.C.'s National Cathedral.

Topics also include: director Schlamme's demands that Jason Widener, the actor playing young Jed Bartlet, learn Martin Sheen's unique mannerisms; evading the network censors by writing Bartlet's furious monologue to God partially in Latin; inspiration from the Dire Straits song "Brothers in Arms," featured in the episode's final scenes; Sorkin's love of writing "musical"-sounding dialogue, inspired by his many childhood trips to the theater; the challenges of finding enough stories and episodes for all the show's characters, including those played by guest stars; his sense that scripts are eventually "confiscated," never truly finished; working with producer and political advisor Lawrence O'Donnell, who also portrayed young Jed's stern father; the show as "wish fulfillment" of an idealistic White House, compared to the Machiavellian "House of Cards" and the purposefully absurdist "Veep"; comparisons to modern-day political turmoil, including how President Bartlet's confession of concealing his multiple sclerosis diagnosis "seemed like a big deal at the time"; how the show would differ, or not, if on the air today; and Sorkin's sense of the American voter as the show's main "off-screen character."

Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: the importance of teaching civics in schools in order to "make better voters"; his love of "watching smart people arguing," as seen in many of his shows and films; how Netflix is allowing younger viewers to experience and hopefully be inspired by "The West Wing"; why none of his works are actually "too smart" for a wide audience; how TV creates an intimate relationship with the viewer in their home, and why "West" doesn't work as "background music"; exploring famous politicians' humanity through funny scenes of "ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances" in both "West" and "The American President" (1995); the show's memorable holiday-themed episodes, which led to Emmy Awards for actors Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff; an on-screen appearance from The Whiffenpoofs, Yale University's famous singing group; and a behind-the-scenes story about the prop department's careful attention to detail regarding C.J. Gregg's (Allison Janney) in-office goldfish bowl.

Note: this summary addresses clips that were only shown at the venue on the day of the event.

Details

  • NETWORK: N/A
  • DATE: 6:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: N/A
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: 138222
  • GENRE: Seminars
  • SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
  • SERIES RUN: N/A
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Diane Lewis … Host
  • Julie James … Moderator
  • Aaron Sorkin … Panelist
  • Dire Straits
  • Akiva Goldsman
  • Allison Janney
  • Kathryn Joosten
  • Lawrence O'Donnell
  • Richard Schiff
  • Thomas Schlamme
  • Martin Sheen
  • John Wells
  • Jason Widener
  • Bradley Whitford