Inside The West Wing: A 25th Anniversary Salute

12:10 pm
The West Wing: “Pilot”
The “Pilot” deftly established the main characters of the series so that the audience understands their idealistic dedication to their respective jobs. Creator Aaron Sorkin’s signature fast-paced witty dialogue and director Thomas Schlamme's groundbreaking visual style are on display from the beginning as the White House grapples with President Bartlet crashing his bicycle on vacation. (1999)
 
12:55 pm
The West Wing: “Celestial Navigation”
Like all great West Wing episodes, “Celestial Navigation” is character-driven, nicely balancing humor and drama. With a story by Dee Dee Myers and Lawrence O’Donnell, Sorkin frames the episode with Josh recounting recent White House events to a college audience as press secretary C.J. Cregg struggles after root canal surgery and the President’s nominee for the Supreme Court is arrested for suspicion of drunk driving. (2000)
 
1:40 pm
The West Wing: “Noel”
Against the backdrop of White House holiday festivities, deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman is still struggling with being shot and is ordered to see a psychiatrist.  Josh slowly grasps the meaning of his depression, revealing his vulnerabilities and resilience after a panic attack at a holiday concert featuring Yo-Yo Ma. Sorkin was highly praised for his sensitive and realistic portrait of post-traumatic stress disorder.  (2000)
 
2:25 pm
The West Wing: “Two Cathedrals”
The second season finale “Two Cathedrals” is one of The West Wing’s most emotional episodes as President Bartlet confronts grief, faith, and the burden of leadership. A devout Catholic, Bartlet must decide to seek re-election as he grieves for his executive secretary who was killed by a drunk driver. Few scenes in television history are as powerful as the President screaming at God in the National Cathedral, replete with Latin phrases.  (2001)

3:10 pm
The West Wing: “Twenty Five”
In one of the most wrenching episodes of The West Wing, President Bartlet must decide what comes first, his family or the nation.  This season four finale focuses on the crisis after the President’s daughter Zoey is kidnapped. Sorkin’s last script for The West Wing takes its title from the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential succession. (2003)
 
3:55 pm
The West Wing: “The Supremes”
After the death of a Supreme Court Justice, deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman comes up with a plan to nominate two justices, one liberal and one conservative. This fifth season episode features two remarkable guest starring roles: Glenn Close as the liberal Evelyn Baker Lang and William Fichtner as the conservative Christopher Mulready.  (2004)
 
4:40 pm
The West Wing Documentary Special
This acclaimed special was produced during The West Wing’s third season and features conversations with real-life White House staff, as well as interviews with Presidents Ford, Carter, and Clinton. Directed by Bill Couturié, this documentary received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program.  (2002)