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Season 2 Episode Index
Season 2 Information Index
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| Rob Lowe as | Sam (Samuel Norman) Seaborn | Deputy Communications Director |
| Dulé Hill as | Charlie (Charles) Young | Personal Aide to the President |
| Allison Janney as | C.J. (Claudia Jean) Cregg | Press Secretary |
| Janel Moloney as | Donna (Donnatella) Moss | Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff |
| Richard Schiff as | Toby (Tobias Zachary) Ziegler | Communications Director |
| John Spencer as | Leo Thomas McGarry | Chief of Staff |
| Bradley Whitford as | Josh (Joshua) Lyman | Deputy Chief of Staff |
| and Martin Sheen as |
Jed (Josiah Edward) Bartlet | President of the United States |
| Special Guest Stars | ||
| Stockard Channing as | Abbey (Abigail Ann) Bartlet M.D. | First Lady |
| Timothy Busfield as | Danny (Daniel) Concannon | (Washington Post) Reporter |
| Tim Matheson as | John Hoynes | Vice President |
| Guest Starring | ||
| Elisabeth Moss as | Zoey Patricia Bartlet | Bartlets' youngest daughter |
| Michael O'Neill as | Ron Butterfield | Head of POTUS' Secret Service detail |
| Jorja Fox as | Gina Toscano | Special Agent |
| Anna Deavere Smith as | (Dr.) Nancy McNally | National Security Advisor |
| Kathryn Joosten as | Mrs. Landingham / Delores (first name) |
President's Secretary / Delores (first name) |
| NiCole Robinson as | Margaret | Hooper (last name) / Assistant to Chief of Staff |
| Daniel von Bargen as | General Jack Shannon | last name from script |
| Michael Bryan French as | Hospital Administrator | Lewis (name from script) |
| Pamela Gordon as | Woman in Hank's Tavern | Tracy (name from script) |
| Andy Umberger as | Cal Mathis | Campaign Staffer |
| Jim Ortlieb as | Dr. Benjamin Keller | Surgeon |
| Guest Starring | ||
| Peter White as | Mr. Gage | Jack (first name) |
| Ernie Lively as | Mr. Loch | |
| Jody Wood as | Mr. Cameron | |
| Co-Starring | ||
| Melissa Fitzgerald as | Carol | Fitzpatrick (last name) Assistant to the Press Secretary |
| Kim Webster as | Ginger | Assistant to Communications Director |
| Kris Murphy as | Katie | Witt (last name) / Reporter |
| Mindy Seeger as | Chris | Reporter |
| Randolph Brooks as | Arthur | Leeds (last name) / Reporter |
| Ivan Allen as | TV Anchor | Roger Salier |
| Willie Gault as | Agent Madsen | Michael (first name) |
| Elijah Marhar as | Agent Dixon | |
| Dafidd McCracken as | Agent #1 | |
| Juan A. Riojas as | Agent #2 | |
| Bradley James as | Agent #3 | Donnie |
| Al Twanmo as | Agent Cho | Tommy (first name) |
| Derek Coleman as | Agent #4 | |
| Ming Lo as | Dr. (David Lee) Clancy | |
| Rhonda Stubbins White as | Dr. Whitaker | |
| Sean Moran as | Dr. Holbrook | |
| Carol Kiernan as | Doctor | |
| Dan Gunther as | Doctor #1 | |
| Maria McCann as | Nurse | |
| Trisha Simmons as | Nurse Debbie | |
| Ted Garcia as | TV Reporter | |
| David Ursin as | Bartender | |
| Matt Gotleib as | Military Aide | |
| Thomas Spencer as | Aide #3 | Jeff |
| Gary Cervantes as | Civilian Advisor | Bobby |
| Andy Milder as | Senator's Aide | Mark |
| Robyn Pedretti as | Senator's Aide | Candy |
| Victor McCay as | Henry | |
| Kat Sawyer-Young as | Sam's Secretary | |
| V. Kim Blish as | Volleyball Player | |
| Scott Parrott as | Paramedic #1 | |
| Sunita Koshy as | Paramedic #2 | |
| Shawn Woodyard as | Paramedic #3 | |
| Chad Knight as | Paramedic #4 | |
| Tanya Linnette Smith as | Paramedic #5 | |
| Kivi Rogers as | Paramedic #6 | |
| Garrison Hershberger as | Jerry | |
| Peter Birkenhead as | Steven | |
| Jayne Lynch as | Reporter | Lucy / (first name from script) |
| Jerry Sroka as | Reporter | Kyle / (first name from script) |
| Jenny Buchanan as | Questioner #1 | |
| Harris Laskawy as | Questioner #2 |
"Last week I decided I want to [do] a two-part episode, which would be a flashback showing how everyone came to be part of the campaign. It's a style of storytelling that really appeals to me. I think we're gonna do that a lot next year--have [those] two parallel things going. It's fraught with problems, not the least of which is we have one of the most expensive sets in television and we won't be able to use it at all in those episodes. But another problem is, how do you establish the vocabulary with the audience? How do I set up the rules with viewers that from time to time, this is going to happen and you shouldn't be upset by it?"I just want to be able to write the moment when someone walks up to Martin Sheen and says, 'Sir, all three networks and CNN are calling and projecting you the winner.' Just to see what happens to his face when he realizes he's the President." - Aaron Sorkin
"Meet The Prez"
by Ken Tucker
February 25, 2000
Entertainment Weekly
When do you start shooting the new season?"The 17th of [July]." - Stockard Channing
"A few minutes with Stockard Channing"
by John Levesque
July 12, 2000
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Peggy Noonan, a journalist and former speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan, and Marlin Fitzwater, ex-press secretary to both Reagan and President George Bush, will join a team of backstage political consultants that already includes ex-Clinton spokeswoman Dee Dee Myers."When I spoke to Marlin Fitzwater on the phone about hiring him, his one question was: 'I don't need to be, like, the right-wing guy, do I?' And I said, 'Be whatever you want,' " Sorkin told TV critics at a session on the Warner Bros. lot, not far from the show's set.
"Peggy," he added, "had no such problem."
"Republican advisers to join left-leaning 'West Wing'"
by Joanne Weintraub
July 14, 2000
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Rob Lowe calls the opener, ... "very emotional" and "the best thing Aaron has ever written . . . better than 'The American President,' better than 'A Few Good Men,' anything."
"'W. Wing' heals after gun attack"
by Phil Rosenthal
July 17, 2000
Chicago Sun Times
When Aaron Sorkin, the creator of The West Wing, visited the Oval Office, he ended up getting a mini-tour of the White House from National Security Adviser Sandy Berger. " [And] he's telling me he's upset because there is no national security adviser on the show," Sorkin says.
"House Call"
by Mary Murphy
July 22, 2000
TV Guide (American edition)
"Let's see. You're from the media, ... So, all I can tell you is, it wasn't me." - Bradley Whitford
"Chatting up cast of 'West Wing'"
by Mike Cassidy
August 15, 2000
San Jose Mercury News
The previous day's work, which required outdoor night scenes, ended at 4a.m.
"'West Wing' talent garners 18 Emmy Awards"
by Bill Keveney
September 3, 2000
Charlotte Observer
In the season premier, the victim(s) will be shown on their way to the hospital and inside the GW emergency room. Exterior shots, such as familiar Washington D.C. landmarks, are filmed here in D.C. Camera crews and actors will be in the city to film exterior shots of the GW Hospital on September 16th.Interior scenes are filmed at Warner Brothers studio in California. To make the scenes authentic, producers have requested detailed information about GW Hospital for the writers, set designers, and costume designers. Hospital floor plans, photographs of staff uniforms, VIP policies and security policies have all been provided to create a set resembling GW Hospital
"Shooting Victim(s) Taken to GW Hospital in Season Premiere of The West Wing "
by Unknown
September 8, 2000
U.S. Newswire
"A lot of criticism we've heard is, "How could the Secret Service let him be so vulnerable?'. ...That's answered in the story. The first episodes of the season (beginning Oct. 4) are a two-parter on the ramifications of the shooting ... that's all I can tell you." - Martin Sheen
"Popular politics"
by Eric Deggans
September 10, 2000
St. Petersburg Times
The biggest thing that goes on here is all the people who feel slighted. You would think that our national security team was protesting in jest, because there's no national security adviser, and foreign policy seems to be handled by a general. They're not protesting in jest. They're really mad. They're lobbying hard, and every time these guys come through here -- and they come through occasionally -- they grab them, and yell at them about, "Why don't you have more national security people?"
Terence Smith: Sandy Berger does?
Sandy would be one who'd have to plead guilty to that. - Joe Lockhart [former press secretary for President Clinton]
"Popular Politics"
by Terence Smith
September 13, 2000
Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
So, of course, us spoiler vultures and future lawyers in the room sensing possible vulnerability, the first question was "Ok, so if we all promise not to let it leave this room....would you tell us who got shot?"Aaron laughs at us. A lot. He tries to appease us and goes on to say that he promises that we'll find out who gets shot within the first 90 seconds of the show (plugs "A week from Wednesday!"...as if we all didn't know already), and that "At least one person was shot, but it couldn't matter less who you'll all understand what I mean when you see it." You better be right, Mr. Sorkin. He confirms the old spoilers, that "I'm really telling two stories here the aftermath of when someone tries to assassinate a President and how the entire Bartlet staff came together three years ago."
Posted at TheWestWing@egroups.com
by Jenn
September 26, 2000
Message 6797
Notes from the Harvard Law School Forum with Aaron Sorkin
The premiere, interestingly, as I said, it's a two-parter that I had written assuming that it was going to be aired over two weeks, and it's now going to be aired back-to-back. And I've seen it many, many times now, and I'm just concerned that somehow I forgot something in the writing of it, where if you air it on the same night, it won't work. But other than that, I hope they enjoy it, and we're very proud of the episode. It's a very ambitious episode, the most ambitious we've done. - Aaron Sorkin
"Popular Politics"
by Terence Smith
September 27, 2000
Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
"They are trying to kill Charlie, I will give you that much," [Martin] Sheen said in July, referring to the black aide Charlie Young (Dulé Hill) who is dating the president's daughter, Zoey (Elizabeth Moss). "That is as much as I can tell you."
"Hail of bullets opens new season of 'West Wing'"
by Mark McGuire
September 29, 2000
Albany Times Union
Here, too, there's plenty of wishful thinking. During the dark days of Bartlet's candidacy, Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) counsels his man to tell Iowa [New Hampshire] farmers the unpleasant truth about their federal subsidies, a la John McCain. Then he retires to a bar where he drowns his sorrows, sure that Bartlet will fire him. Instead Bartlet fires all his other advisers, who have counseled him to fudge the issue.
"What's This? D.C. Rules?!"
by Sharon Waxman
October 1, 2000
Washington Post
"It might seem on its face a cheap, easy hook. Yet by doing it we get to do this incredible two-parter which is the finest piece of writing I've ever read, ... They're better than anything we did last year." - Rob Lowe
"West Wing takes us back from cliff"
by Tyler Mcleod
October 1, 2000
Calgary Sun
"It was never designed as 'a cool cliffhanger,' as a 'Who Shot J.R.?' way just to get more viewers," explained "West Wing" director and executive producer Tommy Schlamme of the assassination debate. "Our intent was to open a storytelling avenue."...
So we'll see how Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer), Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (Allision Janney), Communications Director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) and the rest assembled for Bartlet's initial presidential election run.
"It's sort of like the cattle drive in old Western movies," said Schlamme, "where we see how all the cowboys came together."
"Bullets pump new energy into 'West Wing' storyline"
by Mike Duffy
October 1, 2000
Detroit Free Press
"One or more of us could have taken a bullet," Spencer acknowledged last June. "But who among us did, we don't know. We were all supposed to panic and drop as we heard the shots."...
"Aaron had started playing with the idea of an assassination attempt months before," said Mr. Spencer, referring to "West Wing" guiding light Aaron Sorkin. "When we heard about it, we were surprised."
"John Spencer loves life on 'The West Wing' -- even facing death"
by Frazier Moore
October 3, 2000
Associated Press
"But I understand the concerns and I'm sure if they (viewers) come back and watch, I really believe they'll find the West Wing that they like." Nonetheless, Sorkin is nervous about tonight's season opener, ..."I want people to like the show," he explains, "this one in particular . . . I almost feel like, to use the metaphor once again, I almost feel like all last year we were doing our pre-Broadway, out-of-town tryout and now it's opening night."
...
"We rise to expectations," Sorkin says.
Sorkin will watch tonight at home, "with everyone from the show, about 150 people. It'll be great. We're going to have these huge flat-screen TVs in the backyard and there's going to be hot dogs and fried chicken."
"Agatha Christie it ain't," he says, "and you're going to know the answer to the question 90 seconds into the show. It'll be nice to actually get past that, a little bit, and just into the meat of the show."
...
At this point, with the Nov. 7 election date looming, Americans should be engaged in a full-fledged debate about social security, "which is terribly important. In fact you'll hear about it in the show (tonight)," and on other issues, such as gun control and abortion, says Sorkin.
...
"He's clearly not a very bright guy . . . and I think that the Republicans, who started the George Bush juggernaut, thought that we weren't going to notice . . . or that weren't going to care."
Quite the opposite.
"If you've got to run for president, at the very least, you've got to be able to speak in complete sentences." - Aaron Sorkin
"Writer shoots back"
by Betsy Powell
October 4, 2000
Toronto Star
Sheen, who's a social sort, was a bit loose of lip after the Television Critics Association's Awards in July, at least until John Spencer came over and went all Leo McGarry on him, pulling Sheen back before he ventured too far onto the grassy knoll.
"Whose 'Wing' is it, anyway?"
by Ellen Grey
October 4, 2000
Philadelphia Daily News
This summer, Martin Sheen almost slipped up and let part of the secret out during the Television Critics Association meetings in Pasadena. Sheen mentioned that his character, President Bartlet, ends up in the hospital.After a quick gasp from the cast and audience, Sheen put his hand to his mouth.
...
"And to see what happens at a White House when shots are fired at a president is fascinating, and I know it's something we'll deal with. It also gives Aaron an opportunity to go back and see how these people got together. Does that answer you?" - Bradley Whitford
Well, really Brad, I won't tell. Who gets hit?
Whitford, the rat, opened his mouth to answer, then smiled and walked away.
"Premiere of 'West Wing' Finally Answers Questions About Assassination Attempt"
by Martin Renzhofer
October 4, 2000
Salt Lake Tribune
"(Sorkin) is a great protector of integrity. Every time it seemed to me that (the story) would have a chance to go in an obvious way or an indulgent way, he always surprises me with the unexpected and the realistic. As long as he's writing the words, I don't have too much fear." - John Spencer
"Who got shot in West Wing?"
by Tony Atherton
October 4, 2000
Ottawa Citizen
Lowe, who also mingled with critics on the TV tour last summer, confirmed that Sorkin pitched him tonight's script "almost word-for-word" well over a year ago....
"I was really turned on by the drama (of an assassination attempt), all the events that occur in the minutes and hours after an event like that," - Aaron Sorkin
"West Wing shocker"
by Bill Brioux
October 4, 2000
Toronto Sun
What Schlamme will say is that the resolution to the cliffhanger won't be drawn out ("You find out everything right away"). And he insists that his non-disclosure policy is not "a marketing tool" and that "people don't want to know [the outcome in advance]." Maybe so, and West Wing, a top 20 hit that won a record nine Emmy Awards last month (one of which went to Schlamme, for directing last season's opener) doesn't really need a marketing tool, but it has one.It also has a peg. "The idea of the episode - and even of the shooting - was to be able to flash back and find out how all these people (the regulars) came together," says Schlamme, who directed this episode as well. So, much of it will take place on the campaign trail that led to the Bartlet White House. The episode will also flesh out the relationship that already had existed between Jeb [Jed] Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer). "Leo," says Schlamme, "is the one who realizes that 'if we could motivate this guy, he could be an extraordinary President'."
"The Capitol Gang"
by Paul Droesch
October 4, 2000
TV Guide Online
Rob Lowe (who plays Sam Seaborn) told CNN's "ShowBiz" that two people had been shot, then told "Entertainment Tonight" that one of them "wasn't him."
"'West Wing' Premiere Is Life-or-Death"
by Donna Petrozzello
October 4, 2000
New York Daily News
Noting that in his lifetime, one president (John F. Kennedy) and one candidate (Robert F. Kennedy) have been murdered, and other presidents and presidential candidates have been shot at, [Richard] Schiff says, "If you're in the real world, you're going to think, 'God, I hope he's not vulnerable.' To not deal with this issue would be a mistake."Another intriguing part of the season opener: "There are flashbacks to before we were part of the team," [Richard] Schiff says. "I purposely gave Toby a lighter feel. He definitely feels burdened now."
"'West Wing' player keeps a cool head"
by Virginia Rohan
October 4, 2000
Bergen Record
The USC women's volleyball team will make its television debut tonight, Oct. 4, on the season premier of "The West Wing." The two-hour premier will air on NBC at 9 p.m. PT.In preparation for the 2000 NCAA Championship, the Women of Troy will be crowned national champions by the cast, crew and viewers of the Emmy Award-winning show. Look for the USC women's volleyball team as they present Vice President Hoynes (Tim Matheson) with their own championship jersey.
"
Volleyball Wins Championship On The West Wing"
by Unkown
October 4, 2000
USC Athletics Women's Volleyball
Even Republicans consider The West Wing a guilty pleasure. "I was prepared not to like it because it was about my sacred White House," says Fitzwater. "But from the second show on, I've loved it. It very accurately portrays so many elements of presidential life - the frantic urgency about issues and decisions."Fitzwater acknowledges that the show has detractors in the GOP. "'Yes, it's liberal-oriented,' I tell all my conservative friends, 'but that's the way the presidency works,'" he says. "And the truth is, my friends all love the show."
"Inside The West Wing's New World"
by Sharon Waxman
November 2000
George Magazine
I was summoned to the office of National Security adviser Sandy Berger, who chewed me out for not having a national security adviser. So I opened the next season with Anna Deavere Smith as the national security adviser. - Aaron Sorkin
"Profile"
by Bob Spitz
February 2001
Sky
He [Aaron Sorkin] said he was amazed that it didn't get out last year that Josh was the one who was shot. They were in DC filming it and he said, "we've got 300 extras standing around, Brad is on the ground with blood all over him, and Richard's yelling, 'Get an ambulance!'" He said he told Tommy [Schlamme], this is going to get out. They were really surprised that it didn't. I told him we sort of guessed Josh, based on the fact that there was sort of an emotional bond with him and he had such a following. He said that was a good guess, and also the reason why they didn't shoot Mandy - they didn't think anyone would really care (I DIDN'T say that some may have cheered).
Posted at AaronSorkin@yahoogroups.com
by List Owner
June 21, 2001
Message 5319
But the role that drew the most phone calls from friends and relatives across the country was his reporter appearance on last season's premiere episode of NBC's White House drama, "The West Wing."The scene was shot at the Los Angeles airport; [Ted] Garcia appears after it's been discovered that the president, played by Martin Sheen, had been gunned down. He's shown doing a TV report on the closing of airports on the East Coast because of the shooting.
He described Sheen as "the nicest actor I've run into." Garcia said the star walked up to the reporter and said modestly: "I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Martin."
"Ex-S.A. newsman knows his role in Hollywood"
by Jeanne Jakle
August 16, 2001
San Antonio Express-News
Spencer has not trouble getting behind his scenes with Sheen - and the fraternal dynamics at play between their characters. "He and I took to each other as if we had been twins separated at birth. We have never worked together before "West Wing", but many people think we have because of our chemistry, which I take as a tremendous compliment. People ask me, 'What do you use to play Leo?' I don't have to 'use' anything. I just use Martin. I adore the man. I would do anything for him and follow him anywhere. Which is, of course, how Leo feels about Jed."The depth of Spencer's affection for Sheen becomes readily apparent when discussing one of Spencer's favorite Leo/Bartlet scenes: a quiet moment at the president's bedside hours after the assassination attempt that left Bartlet seriously wounded. Before Bartlet was wheeled into surgery, Leo bent over the railing of his gurney and kissed him on the forehead. "I've got tears in my eyes just talking about it," says Spencer. He takes a beat. "From the moment I walked in and was supposed to see Bartlet lying there wounded, all I could see was Martin lying there," Spencer recalls, now fully collected. "Often, male relationships aren't explored with that kind of honesty."
"At Ease"
by Robert Schork
February 12, 2002
Soap Opera Weekly
She [Anna Deveare Smith] never got to see the Situation Room, where her character typically interacts with President Bartlet on The West Wing. But she knows Condoleeza Rice, President Bush's national security advisor -- Rice was Smith's provost at Stanford University -- and she talked to former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger about her role."He was very generous," Smith says. "He said, basically, 'You've got to try to know everything. And you're overworked. Call your friends up once you get the job and say, "Look, you won't hear from me for four years." You're overworked, but on the other hand, you have to be the most alert person in the room. You could have been working for 12 hours, but you've got to feel like it's first thing in the morning.' "
"'West Wing' actress gets proof she's convincing"
by Marc D. Allan
March 14, 2002
Indianapolis Star
Brush with fame: Christine Dell'Amore , at the time a University of Maryland student hired as an extra for the Season 2 opener, got to walk past Sam Seaborn in a shoot at the Newseum. "I always tell people I was thrilled to be in Rob Lowe's short-term memory."
"The Reliable Source"
by Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
March 5, 2006
Washington Post
"I never have a lot of medical terminology. They learned that about the first or second year of 'West Wing.' I'm hopeless at it. They just let me go with other stuff. On take 10, they said, 'This is the end of this. This is clearly not her forte.' I don't see how they do it on 'ER.'" - Stockard Channing
"Channing Returns for More 'Practice'"
by Kate O'Hare
March 22, 2006
zap2it.com
Q: You also played roles in more conventional scripts, like Nancy McNally on "The West Wing." Did you play her with Condoleezza Rice in mind?A: She wasn't ("West Wing" creator) Aaron Sorkin's model. I started following Condi Rice years ago, when we were both at Stanford. But Aaron, who knows everything, hadn't heard of her (when he created Nancy).
(Former secretary of state) Madeleine Albright credits herself with Nancy. One night they were filming a scene from "The West Wing" on the street where she lives, so she went over and told them, "You really need a national security advisor, and it needs to be a woman."I have known a lot of women like Nancy McNally, women who have to take a lot of responsibility and have to make other people look good. You don't need to be the national security advisor to have a job like that
"Anna Deavere Smith breaks rules, tops expectations, creates art"
by Judith Newmark
October 29, 2006
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The character that had most training [was probably] Gina Toscano – she was one of 200 people on the planet that knew how to do what she did. So that was really cool to play her....
It was amazing. The year was 2000 -- there was a presidential election. We had the Democratic National Convention in LA that year, and there was a warm, sort of friendly relationship between the Clinton administration and The West Wing. So we were invited to go every night, we were invited to the White House Correspondents dinner in Clinton's last year. I got to go places and meet people that I would have never been able to meet and I felt so honored to be part of all that.
I've always had a naďve sense of romance about politics. I think it's interesting and what politicians do is really cool – the idea of it, going to Washington to serve your area or state, your country. That's a very noble pursuit. It was really wonderful for me to be a part of all that, to hear Gore speak on the floor that year. At the time of the Democratic National Convention – he was ahead by so much that everybody thought that we were seeing the future. It was a big shock to a lot of people when his numbers started to fall and there was that big debacle.
When I left The West Wing, I really thought I'd be back there because I thought that CSI would fall flat on its face. A show about death on a Friday night would never fly -- people wouldn’t be interested in it. Aaron Sorkin never wrote off any of his characters. With the amount of characters on the show, and the amount of people coming and going – he felt that's all he'd ever do was try to explain somebody's arrival and somebody's departure so for the most part characters would disappear into thin air. - Jorja Fox
"PopGurls Interview: CSI's Jorja Fox"
by Amy
April 4, 2007
PopGurls