The West Wing

Name: The West Wing
Genre: Drama
Released: September 22, 1999
Rating: 78
Cast: Mary McCormack, Mary McCormack, Alan Alda, Alan Alda, John Spencer

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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Series Details & Credits

NBC | Release Date: September 22, 1999

Starring: Mary McCormack, Mary McCormack, Alan Alda, Alan Alda, John Spencer, Jimmy Smits, Martin Sheen, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, Janel Moloney, Stockard Channing, Stockard Channing, Joshua Malina, Joshua Malina, Kristin Chenoweth, Kristin Chenoweth

Summary: The West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches the heart while the politics that they discuss touch on everyday life. The first six seasons focused onThe West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches the heart while the politics that they discuss touch on everyday life. The first six seasons focused on the administration of President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet (Martin Sheen). The seventh and final season transitioned to the 2006 Presidential Election between Democrat Congressman Mathew Vincente Santos of Houston, Texas (Jimmy Smits) and Republican Senator Arnold Vinick of California (Alan Alda). Broadcast History:
Seasons 1-6: NBC, Wednesdays, 9:00pm EST
Season 7: NBC, Sundays, 8:00pm EST

Theme Music:
The theme tune is an original composition by W.G. Snuffy Walden. There is a CD available of his work, which includes not only a suite from The West Wing, but also his music from Felicity, Once and Again, & thirtysomething, plus other non-TV compositions. Walden can be contacted at his official website wgsnuffywalden.com.

Awards:
As of October 24, 2008:
The show and its stars have won 26 Primetime Emmys, 1 ADG Award, 2 ALMA Awards, 2 Artios Awards, 2 ASC Awards, 1 Banff Rockie Award, 2 CAS Award, 1 Christopher Award, 2 DGA Awards, 1 Eddie Award, 2 Family Television Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, 4 Golden Laurel Awards, 5 Golden Satellite Awards, 3 Humanitas Awards, 2 Imagen Awards, 2 Peabody Awards, 1 Prism Award, 6 SAG Awards, 2 Shine Awards, 4 Television Critics Association Awards, 3 TV Guide Awards, 3 Viewers for Quality Television Awards, 2 WGA Awards and 2 Wilbur Awards.

The show has been nominated for a total of 93 Primetime Emmys and holds the record for the most Emmys won in a single season for a single show which is 9 (for its first season).

The show also was named 1 of the 10 AFI TV Programs of the Year, received 1 Special Recognition from GLAAD Media Awards and 4 Commendations from the Prism Awards.

Syndication:
Airs all the time on Bravo (which is also part of the NBC Universal empire) and in some local areas during the "midnight hours."

DVD Releases:
All seven seasons have been released in all regions. There was complete series box set released in November 2006.… Expand

Creator: Aaron Sorkin

Genre(s): Drama

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Recent Episodes

tbd
S7:E22. Dateline Documentary Special
Air Date: unknown
tbd
S7:E22. Tomorrow
Air Date: May 14, 2006
tbd
S7:E21. Institutional Memory
Air Date: May 7, 2006

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Tom Gliatto

Jun 27, 2013

Season 2 Review: Remains a winner. Read full review

Ed Bark

Apr 21, 2013

Season 1 Review: All the president's men and women are deftly drawn and seamlessly woven through a crackerjack opening hour. Whether they'll be able to hold our interest remains to be seen. [22 Sept 1999, p.1C]

Terry Kelleher

Jun 27, 2013

Season 1 Review: The West Wing sure looks like a winner. Read full review

Diane Werts

Apr 22, 2013

Season 1 Review: There's real thought behind The West Wing, a blessed exhilaration in this increasingly apolitical medium. For those who remember when '70s TV comedy took on the world, this is a welcome arrival. True, the pilot takes some fish-in-a-barrel potshots at sanctimonious evangelists, in Sorkin's speechifying manner from "Sports Night." But it also delivers that series' satisfying depth of reflection and rich characterization. Eventually. Once we know who these people are. [21 Sept 1999, p.B27]

Tim Goodman

Jul 25, 2013

Season 5 Review: Yes, there's a lot less walking and talking. There is a limited amount of witty banter -- precisely enough so people not paying too much attention will never notice it's gone. What has increased... is heavy emotion a la "ER." Read full review

Aaron Barnhart

Apr 21, 2013

Season 1 Review: This behind-the-scenes look at the American presidency from the creator of "Sports Night" (Aaron Sorkin) gets off to a bumpy start tonight when viewers realize that the supposedly liberal chief executive played by Martin Sheen - who in real life is an actual fire-eating Hollywood liberal - has no minorities in his inner circle. (The first black face seen in the premiere episode is a traffic cop who pulls over one of the show's regulars.) [22 Sept 1999, p.F10]

Caryn James

Apr 21, 2013

Season 1 Review: That still makes the series more daring than most of what's on television; the problem is, its creators know that and the show's self-satisfaction becomes annoying. The floundering first episode (the only one available for preview) is sometimes smart, sometimes stupid, eventually gooey and, despite its sharp cast, not often entertaining. One of the season's most hyped and anticipated series, The West Wing is by far its biggest disappointment. Read full review

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Seasons & Episodes

78

Series Overview
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 2005
- tbd
  S7:E22. Dateline Documentary Special
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S7:E22. Tomorrow
  Air Date: May 14, 2006
- tbd
  S7:E21. Institutional Memory
  Air Date: May 7, 2006
- tbd
  S7:E20. The Last Hurrah
  Air Date: April 30, 2006
- tbd
  S7:E19. Transition
  Air Date: April 23, 2006
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  S7:E18. Requiem
  Air Date: April 16, 2006
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  S7:E17. Election Day (Part 2)
  Air Date: April 9, 2006
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  S7:E16. Election Day (Part 1)
  Air Date: April 2, 2006
- tbd
  S7:E15. Welcome to Wherever You Are
  Air Date: March 26, 2006
- tbd
  S7:E14. Two Weeks Out
  Air Date: March 19, 2006
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  S7:E13. The Cold
  Air Date: March 12, 2006
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  S7:E12. Duck and Cover
  Air Date: January 22, 2006
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  S7:E11. Internal Displacement
  Air Date: January 15, 2006
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  S7:E10. Running Mates
  Air Date: January 8, 2006
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  S7:E9. The Wedding
  Air Date: December 11, 2005
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  S7:E8. Undecideds
  Air Date: December 4, 2005
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  S7:E7. The Debate (East Coast)
  Air Date: November 6, 2005
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  S7:E7. The Debate (West Coast)
  Air Date: November 6, 2005
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  S7:E6. The Al Smith Dinner
  Air Date: October 30, 2005
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  S7:E5. Here Today
  Air Date: October 23, 2005
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  S7:E4. Mr. Frost
  Air Date: October 16, 2005
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  S7:E3. Message Of The Week
  Air Date: October 9, 2005
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  S7:E2. The Mommy Problem
  Air Date: October 2, 2005
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  S7:E1. The Ticket
  Air Date: September 25, 2005
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: October 20, 2004
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 24, 2003
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 2002
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: October 3, 2001
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 4, 2000
Season 1

79
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 1999