MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO, THE: WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL 2000: THE WEST WING {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Museum of Television & Radio's William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Directors Guild of America Theatre Complex, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television, and is dedicated to television's creative community. This evening honors "The West Wing," a drama series about the day-to-day running of the White House and the lives of its staff. Steven A. Bell, Los Angeles Museum vice president and director, begins by bringing series creator, writer and executive producer Aaron Sorkin to the stage, who introduces the episode "In Excelsis Deo," which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see T:58981.)
After the screening, Bell moderates the following panelists: Sorkin; executive producers Thomas Schlamme and John Wells; and cast members Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler), Dule Hill (Charlie Young), John Spencer (Leo McGarry), Rob Lowe (Sam Seaborn), Allison Janney (C.J. Gregg), Martin Sheen (President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet), and Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman).
The panelists touch on such topics as: the genesis of the program; Sorkin's first meeting with Wells; the producers' initial fear that people were so cynical about elected officials that they would not be interested in the storyline; the influences on Sorkin's work; the style of the series; the casting of the regular characters; the theatricality of Sorkin's scripts; Sorkin's receptivity to the actors' suggestions about their characters; the difficulties that Sheen faces in trying to "act presidential"; President Clinton's response to the show; the idealism of politicians; the role of consultants -- Dee Dee Myers, Patrick Caddell, and Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. -- in production; the decision to make the president a major character; the "family dynamic" of the show; the talent of the cast (Sorkin announces a number of supporting actors who are in the audience); and Sorkin's plans for the future of the series.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: Janney's preparation for playing a press secretary; Sorkin's favorite episode; Spencer's initial response to reading the script for the pilot, and Wells's initial response to Spencer's audition; the effect of the program on people's faith in politics and politicians; interesting letters that the panelists have received from fans -- and non-fans -- of the series; the difficulties in balancing a lengthy filming schedule with family and home life; the complexity of the shots and shooting schedule for the series; the program's tackling of race relations; the decision to give President Bartlet multiple sclerosis; Stockard Channing's role as first lady Abigail Bartlet; and the mutual respect exhibited by the ensemble cast.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: March 7, 2000 Tuesday 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:48:12
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:59672
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven A. Bell … Moderator
- Aaron Sorkin … Panelist
- Dule Hill … Panelist
- Allison Janney … Panelist
- Rob Lowe … Panelist
- Richard Schiff … Panelist
- Thomas Schlamme … Panelist
- Martin Sheen … Panelist
- John Spencer … Panelist
- Bradley Whitford … Panelist
- Patrick Caddell
- Stockard Channing
- Bill Clinton
- Dee Dee Meyers
- Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.