'West Wing' Cast Reunites 10 Years After Series Finale For Exclusive Interview (Full) | TODAY
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- čas přidán 21. 06. 2016
- In this extended clip, the cast and creator of the of the Emmy-winning drama "The West Wing" sit down with NBC's Hallie Jackson for a look at the show's legacy.
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'West Wing' Cast Reunites 10 Years After Series Finale For Exclusive Interview (Full) | TODAY
I'm a better person because of the West Wing.
Yours may be the biggest compliment it could possibly be given. ; )
ha thanks! It's true.
I was thinking the same thing. I was going to say reading her reply thing I've read in a long time.
It is unfortunate, for those of us who immersed ourselves in Sorkin's fantastic interpretation of what DC could be, that a man like Trump has erased even the beauty of what we once had. May better angels triumph, soon. - I heard Trump, on TV, calling a reporter rude the other day. Were I that person, I would have said, 'I apologize. Perhaps if I lied, were crass, or hateful, I might have gone unnoticed.'
I agree with you but at the same time, wouldn't today's political climate even more justify a reunion? 'Remember when' type thing? Remember when we could be civil? When we could disagree but still respect the other person? We, as a country, need to return to civility before we do reach the point of no return.
I still to this day watch The West Wing. I honestly don't know how many times I've rewatched the entire series. Despite it being dated I still enjoy every bit of it.
I loved President Walken’s speech on the causes of WWI laying out how reactions against groups can trigger a war.
Great writing doesn't age. That is why it stays relevant.
I'm 20 and I just finished watching the show and it's so incredible. It's wild to see how much the tone of television has changed since then. The West Wing is so much less dramatic and high speed than stuff now, but that makes it so good. The pacing is incredible, the writing is so much more subtle, yet the humor and the dialogue is still fantastic.
Is anyone here in 2020?
I’m here BECAUSE it’s 2020. 🤦🏻♀️
2021 life and politics are returning to normal very slowly
2024 here 🙋🏻♀️
When the last episode ended, I turned off my TV and didn't turn it on again for three years. I had just seen TV as good as it could get.
YES!!
Amen to that!
One more season with Smits and Alda and most of the others would have been good.
I get what you mean. But you missed a lot of great shows.
Same here!! Miss it! Though not as much as i did the last 4 years.😂
My son and I discovered the show together a few years back and binged it like gluttons. We now watch West Wing whenever we need to revisit the cast, who feel like family friends.
I want to see a West Wing reboot with Sam Seaborn as President and Josh Lyman as Chief of Staff.
That would be perfect
Aaron Sorkin must seriously consider this
The Series ended With Josh being Chief of Staff. I think it should be Josh as President with Donna returning as chief of staff and Sam being VP.
I want to see that Sterling K. Brown version that Sorkin mentioned not that long ago.
Ainsley hayes as his chief if staff 👍
I cried when Mrs Landingham died, cried when Leo died and when Josh was shot. Cheered when CJ got back with Danny, cheered when Santos won the presidency and didn't like when Toby was booted out of the WH due to releasing highly confidential information to a journalist. My favorite show right alongside All in the Family.
The West Wing is one of my top 5 comfort shows and rewatch is early now
Richard Schiff isn't wrong about the whole house coming to a halt on West Wing night, but mom didn't put me in bed. Despite being a stanch conservative family, I was sitting there watching right along with them at 12 years old when the show started. It was so accessible for both sides and it really gave me this understanding that we all wanted what was best for our beloved nation, we just had different ideas on the solutions and that is something we've lost since the show went off the air.
Sadly, LivingAsLynn, you are right. We don't have that anymore. GONE are the Tim Russert's of this world, Gone are teh McGlocklin's and William Buckley's and the John Kennedy's and gone are the Democrats that could speak like statesmen. Gone are the statesmen we had who grillled Richard Nixon's administration years ago. Gone are William Safire and almost gone, George Will. Gone are the good debates Mary Matalin had with her husband Carville. Gone are the true conservatives like Reagan and others.
I'm waiting this in 2020. Right now it feels like all of sane politics is gone!
No matter how much I might have disagreed a President's politics before now, I never doubted they wanted what was best for America in their heart. Now I'm just praying we can all live long enough to vote in change
WRITING this in 2020. I just adore auto correct, sigh
i know exactly what you mean. it's a testament to how good the show is that it can capture such young minds and hearts. I was 9 when the show started, hadn't a clue what they were talking about and yet I was so invested in these characters. And i adored the show up until series 6, and desite loving alan arkin, not even he could save it at that point, but S1-5, so much love. It's so rare to get the casting so right, and they really did.
The West Wing taught me a great deal. Whether you're a Republican, Democrat or Independent, you can learn so much from the series.
This makes me want to turn on Netflix and begin binge watching from the beginning!
I want a west wing reunion series.
With Sam as President and Elsie Snuffin as his First Lady.
^^^..that would work^^^
Santos would be the outgoing president now, handing off to President Seaborn.
In season 3 Bartlett said to Sam "One day you will run for president" while playing chess. This would be great! Plus Rob Lowe could use the work. LOL!
I love everything about this comment. 😂😂😂😂
The benchmark was set by this elegant and wonderful series, The West Wing. An alignment of stars and planets, words and inspiration. Thank you - thank you to all involved in the production.
I want them back !!!
It's a pleasure to hear how great actors experienced personally their participation in an enduring classic written in a way that credibly endures across generations.
the news show he wrote for HBO was just as good. I was so disipointed when that was cancelled.
We all had dinner together on Tuesday and then watched the show. Everything stopped. We watched the west wing and then discussed it. I still rewatch start to finish every year.
I have long considered 'West Wing' to be the best TV show of all time. Think I've watched the entire show over 7 tunes now.
Watching the West Wing got me interested in politics. Thoroughly enjoyed t, thank you one and all!
funny watching this video because I just got my wife watching the show.... we have just started season seven. amazing!
Carol literally has not aged a day!
Carol!!! I'd forgotten CJ's PA!! 😂😂😂 (I knew the actor's name, not the PA)
My son was young when TWW started and continued to watch it all the way to the end with me. Lots of questions and discussions later and he is now a political consultant himself. I majored in law and minored in political science, so TWW was one of my all time favorite shows.
West Wing gave us a sense of honor that comes from braving a different sort of combat; the arena of public opinion, the rapier poignancy of diplomacy, and the stand-your-ground bravery one needs when confronted with, mediocrity, power, and evil...
I wanted the series to continue on through the Santos administration.
I did too. There is chatter about a 'reboot' but as Rob Lowe/Sam Seborn as President, I'd rather see what a Santos administration would have looked like.
They would have been more likely to continue it if Alan Alda's character would've won. But having yet another Dem presidency probably felt as more of the same. (not that we didn't want more of the same, hehe)
my BiL just finished watching the whole 7 seasons in 2016.. this thing still has cred 10 years on ... thank you
Just finished my summer of binge-watching and got through the whole series for the first time!
Just finished watching the West Wing for the 2nd time. Best TV to come out of the US and still so relevant in 2021. Incredible content and acting
Everyone making fun of Josh Malina is so great.
he seems like an easy target
Bit of a low hanign fruit, that one.
watch the west wing weekly podcast, there's more where that came from ;)
Josh is a very well known prankster backstage and behind the scenes. Mary McCormack talked about it while they reunited on the show "In Plain Sight" and I believe someone else brought it up before(name escapes me at the moment) and he always seems like an easy going guy.
One of the best TV shows ever.
My history and AP Gov teacher of a dad introduced me to this gold nugget of a show. Love it.
My mother and I watched together. When the season started we would make a night of it with special apps and wine. The last show of the season we would do the same. I really miss my Mum.
I have the entire DVD series and love the show so much. Parts of it hits me directly. Love from Israel.
I am adicted to the show writng and actors. Cant stand whats going on in 2020. Started watching all 7 seasons on netflix and all the interviews on U tube. Keeping me sane at 82yrs Thanks so much.
Grew up on the west wing, from teen stuff to career stuff to mum stuff- love the west wing, it’s just one of those rare shows that was that good.
Thanks guys
Again again!
Thank you so much for publishing the entire interview! Even better than the ATX panel itself.
Janel Moloney looks the same as she did when the show started. What is her secret/
I was going to post the same thing, you're so right!
she is just as annoying as when she was on the show
Bradley Whitford sure does not look the same. Well now we know who won the lottery in the Josh/Donna relationship :D
Alabaster skin, of course. ;)
Why are they seated like that? Never seen such a moronic setting for this sort of reunion thing.
After Tuesday, I will being streaming every season of The West Wing, once again. I need it.
Still watching! Just finished! Loved it!!!
i cannot understand all the talk, but only some things. Just for one hour three minutes and 43 seconds, i'd be glad to be an English speaking man. we miss martin sheen, allison janney and john spencer here. I'm french but "the west wing " is my favorite series.
WWLD
BSGT2TREKFAN88 what would leo do. lol
"Shakespeare of our Era". Remember when I watched the first episode---fell to the knees in front of the TV---questioning whether I had seen what I had seen. And how soon my local TV station was going to cancel it. I taped it and joined the Wing Nuts. We tried to tell what was going to happen.
OMG!! It took 58 mins to realise you can change the camera angle????? lol. Great interview though.
I LOVE(D) the West Wing & still do. It maintains a height of pure excellence & such heart that has yet to be challenged.
Thank you for all the episodes. This series sparked my interest in Government, Policy, and Philosophy.
Martin Sheen was the best series actor. PERIOD. Where is he?
Bring show back with Sam (Rob Lowe) as President and Josh as his Chief of Staff. Charlie as Deputy COS, CJ as VP, Donna as Press Secretary
Donna wouldn't be Press Secretary. She's technically be "under" Josh at work, and that wouldn't happen again. Besides - she would want to be with the kids. *not in a chauvinistic way*
You couldn't bring them all back except for one-offs. Rob Lowe left the show because it was an ensemble; I'm not sure he'd do another one. I could handle Josh as president, Donna as first lady, and Toby as chief of staff. Pretty much everybody else would have to be new, with the oldsters doing appearances now and again, such as Presidents Bartlet and Walken and Santos meeting up at a state funeral or something.
It will only work if Sam is President though. #theChessGame
What makes The West Wing the Best show in History is the view of the future that Aron had back then, for me is the seen that Sam has in the Oval Office with President and Toby about Privacy been the issue of the next 20 years is so Real right now and that was in the first season. So many other “predictions” were made that have in some way or another come true !!!!!! Best Show ever !!!!!
I remember reading that, although Sidney Poitier was initially offered the role of Bartlet, when it came time to write episodes re the campaigns of candidates looking to take over his job, it was decided that a black man wouldn't be accepted as the Democratic nominee; it was thought to be too far-fetched at the time. Interestingly enough, when Santos has just won a major primary, Josh dances off the campaign plane singing "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" - a complete coincidence, and a somewhat eerie one.
"I'm exhausted, I'm broke, and I don't think I'm ever gonna kiss Mary-Louise Parker."
hardly seems fair
🤣🤣🤣🤣
One of the best shows ever.....I still watch it over and over.
"We used to win awards..." is the most Richard Schiff / Toby Ziegler take ever 😂
Just started binging again. I don’t know how many times.
top five best shows of all time, hands down!
Great show , I still watch it and wish they would do another one.
It's Hamilton that helped with the rebirth. Lin's love of the show got those who were following his every move to check it out.
I was very moved by this clip... clarifying why I loved this series (perhaps my top series ever)... e.g. the incredible synergy of head and heart, self and other, inner and outer.
And it helped me understand why I rewatched many West Wing clips and episodes the past two weeks... as an antidote to massive depression re the state of politics and my personal wudda/cudda/shuddas.
Yet...
as much as I dearly love and admire all aspects of this show... often wishing it was real world (and my world)...
my soul guidance says that we need even MORE today...
aligned with soul purpose, perspective and power (vs. ego intellect and pride)...
transcending judgment...
and seeing the hidden gifts and mirrors in those adversaries we might call bad, evil, stupid, etc.
In rewatching the clips through such soul perspective... I saw that many of the most inspiring, exciting or entertaining scenes had juicy adrenaline rushes of the ego (e.g. spiritual narcotics) vs. humility and compassion of the soul (e.g. weneedadream.org/independence.htm).
I hope to contact Brad Whitford (who is the only notable acting graduate of my high school in Madison WI) to ask him to speak some of his wise and inspiring perceptions (in this clip) to local leaders in our polarized and indulgent Madison... and give the commencement address at his high school alma mater.
I was born the year this show began and I have watched all 7 seasons in about a month. This is one of the best shows I've ever watched. I LOVE this show.
I was born the same year as the actor who played Toby (1954). WARNING: Old-aging happens fast...
Did you notice Aaron Sorkin confused Brad with his character - at 3:58 he says "As Josh was just saying" when clearly he's referencing Brad.
He was talking about Josh Manila, who played Will Bailey.
The fact that there is a fictional Josh and a real Josh does make it less than 100% clear - but in context, he had to be referring to Brad. Aaron said "Like [Josh] was just saying, shows about politics were anathema on television." Brad had just spoken at length about that, and Josh Malina hadn't weighed in.
Oh yeah, look at that, guess Aaron just got confused.
And clearly Joshua Malina notices, which is so fun to watch him try to process
He also called Alison CJ.
I love everything about this series. I regularly binge watch it from start to finish on Netflix. I'd vote this Administration into the White House in a New York second! Love you all. Come back. :)
It's such a shame that we can't have an election season that's like an Aaron Sorkin show, instead of the Farrelly brothers movie we've got this year.
I love Melissa Fitzgerald. What a compassionate, remarkable woman!
I'm literally scrolling down the comments bc I can't remember CJ's PA's name!! 🤦🏾♀️😭 but yes, she was great.
I still watch this show :)
West Wing heralded an era of great American television: The Practise. Boston legal, ER, House, Breaking Bad, Rectify, Leftovers. Prior to that we had the little show that could: and that would be Buffy. And hooray to Buffy because that particular show gave Sorkin hope.
Personally I would say ER heralded the current era. It started five years before, was always great and had strong continuity. Much later shows weren't allow to have even seasonal arcs because they wanted to be easily able to use them as repeats.
The first eight seasons, up until the death of Dr Greene and the departure of Dr Benton, were perfect when taken as a whole.
Jonny B oh sorry! to me because its got some similar metaphors and is truly some of the best telly America has produced in 15 years
I'm happy to "hear from" another fan of The Leftovers! I think it may struggle in the ratings due in part to its terrible title (and gaps between seasons.) When I recommend it, then reveal its title, I watch as both faces and expectations drop, and feel a sense of people thinking, "Oh. A cooking show." (It is NO such thing, and I encourage everyone to check it out!)
+alexandra momentalle Just curious - are you in the UK?
Salice McCool
West Wing taught me why politics matters in our day to day lives. All of us go to work and contribute to the success of our nation. Some of our leaders care about the continued success and some are only looking at filling their pockets today. This show gave me more of an in depth look behind the scenes and brushed me up on some history at the same time. We're walking, we're talking!
I have watched this series at least 3 times and what I find amazing is that everything is still relevant. The names may change but the issues are the same!
I want a new West Wing by Aaron Sorkin!!
They seem like they have so much fun together lol
The viewers knew they were watching something very special each week.
We re-watch the show almost every year - and before Netflix hubs bought me the entire series on DVD... I usually choose to watch it during political election times - The West Wing keeps me from sinking into despair regarding politics.
Loved Joshs reaction to Brad calling Scandal a soap
I just finished the last episode today!
I just finished it like 20 minutes ago! I'm now watching random CZcams videos on the show. :-)
I JUST FINISHED THE LAST EPISODE TODAY!!!!!!!!!
100% just binged it over the last month and I’m obsessed. It’s the best series I’ve ever seen and I plan on binging it multiple times. 34 years old. It holds up.
I was supposed to go to this interview but
I HAD WOOT CANAL!
The jackal..... CJ had some awesome moments :)
Can anyone tell me when they talk about Allison Janney
I've never been a person to sit through TV dramas but WW was the exception. I never missed an episode 👍
I can't get over how relevant the show is still even now, and every time I see Sarah Huckabee Sanders, I can't help but wonder how CJ Craig would have handled the situation.
Yes
GOD I MISS THIS SHOW!
Lol why is that so many actors studder so much? I miss this cast so much! I'm finishing up the series right now on netflix for the second time and stalling by watching this because I don't want it to be over!!!
No one wrote their lines ahead of time.
Why a single camera shot from a poor angle
Luckily I have all of this series on DVD, but unless you live in the USA Netflix doesn't carry this show ... at least it doesn't in the UK :( A lot of the complicated political jargon used to go over my head, but I loved the show for the characterisations and how I fell in love with each and every character and wanted to know what happened to them.
I purchased the entire West Wing on DVD. I learned so much about the workings of the White House. I have not seen anything at the same level of quality since the conclusion of the series. How can I purchase the reunion DVD?
Great interview... but the sound quality was terrible. They were "miked" very poorly. At times it was hard to hear the actors.
I was so upset w/politics in reality, that I never watched any during the time this show was on! It was a better reality in my opinion. Great cast. Great series.
I watched the series from pilot until the end. I binge watched the entire series prior to the last election. I dreamed of writing Martin Sheen in for President.
Joshua Malina is hilarious
West Wings Rocks (Rocked)!!!!!
House of cards (U.S) is based on the UK TV series of the same name, it existed at least 9/10 years before west wing even aired. House of cards (U.K) was a huge hit in the UK when it aired.
Loved the British original! ♥
pretty good point!
in the light of what's happening in the US now, it's a pity we can't have these ones back for real!!!!
Tobby looks on edge as always :)
Sorkin and the actors here are trying to validate the success of West Wing by pointing to its timing and the place it found in the viewing world. I think they have really missed why it succeeded. Aaron Sorkin is one of the singular best writer/director/creative people to land in Hollywood in generations. The unsung heros of West Wing are the casting director(s). Can you remember any television program that week after week had the absolutely right person cast for every role? The writing was always stellar. And that writing also allowed an obviously left leaning show to recognize that even the opposition party had quality people in it, besides Ainsely Hayes... Lastly, few of these actors have ever had another role as good as the one the had on West Wing, or delivered performances so consistently good as they did in this drama. It was a shame that Martin Sheen or Rob Lowe weren't in this group to reminisce, both their roles were pivotal to the success of the series.
How about we ditch trump and swap the entire white house for west wing? Who's in?
what if i told you trump is the closest thing to the west wing
islam , affirmative action, illegals , china , threat of islamic extremism, against modern feminism, sharia law, social security doesn't work, medicaid doesn't work ..... hmmmm did you watch the show...
Did you not get to the end of the video? Aaron Sorkin basically discredits comparisons as the West Wing had people with good intentions, not cynical intentions. And your listing of issues doesn't mean the West Wing and Trump are on the same page- these are common issues, analysis of stances on issues and motivation for stances is needed before calling any of these two entities as being the same.
its not cynical at all. lol These are common issues. Trade war has been a topic 18 years ago. these issues on affirmative action and all the other political issues are reflective on reality. he didnt discredit anything. They are almost the same. Not the exact same :) but they are pretty much the same.
I'm not disagreeing that these are common issues. I'm disagreeing with the statement that Trump is the closest thing to the West Wing. These issues would be issues regardless of who is in the administration.
Imagine if they just made one episode a year afther the shows ending, dealing with that years political issues or other morality questions. i would love to see that.
I am a bit of a supper fan I've half way though season seven 9/4/2018 in England that's the 9th April 2018. started at season one for the fourth time might be fifth? Only because it's so good it's funny Arron saying he didn't do the fifth was the one I wasn't keen on got very political. But the cast was fantastic
I finished watching the entire run of the show after starting on New Years Eve 2022.
What stunning political tv. It almost got me into politics.
56:07 Truth from Brad
I think House of Cards (UK, 1990) showed that good political shows could work. The West Wing followed on, built on it and was brilliant. I watch all of it pretty much annually. We also need to mention Elizabeth Moss' start on the show. Another great piece of casting.
Whoa! What the hell happened to Bradley Whitford? I didn't recognise him at all!
LOL - I hear myself speaking the same words when seeing my image reflected nowadays. I was born the same year - 1954 - and it’ll happen to you too. But without the supreme arrogance.
18:40 Wait, we could've got Josh & Donna after S2? Dammit, Sorkin! I had to wait 7 seasons!
My heart will always belong to Melissa Fitzgerald. *sigh*