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Season 6 Episode Index
Season 6 Information Index
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| Alan Alda as | Arnold Vinick | Republican Candidate for President |
| Stockard Channing as | Abbey (Abigail Ann) Bartlet M.D. | First Lady |
| Dulé Hill as | Charlie (Charles) Young | Deputy Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff |
| Allison Janney as | C.J. (Claudia Jean) Cregg | Chief of Staff |
| Joshua Malina as | Will (William) Bailey | Vice President's Campaign Manager |
| Mary McCormack as | Kate (Katherine) Harper | Deputy National Security Advisor |
| Janel Moloney as | Donna (Donnatella) Moss | Russell Campaign Staffer |
| Richard Schiff as | Toby (Tobias Zachary) Ziegler | Communications Director |
| John Spencer as | Leo Thomas McGarry | Former Chief of Staff |
| Bradley Whitford as | Josh (Joshua) Lyman | Santos Campaign Manager |
| with Jimmy Smits as |
Matthew Vincente Santos | Rep. D-TX |
| and Martin Sheen as |
Jed (Josiah Edward) Bartlet | President of the United States |
| Special Guest Stars | ||
| Kristin Chenoweth as | Annabeth Schott | Deputy Press Secretary |
| Gary Cole as | Robert "Bingo Bob" Russell | Vice President |
| Teri Polo as | Helen Santos | Matt Santos' Wife |
| Ed O'Neill as | Eric Baker | Governor of Pennsylvania |
| with Tim Matheson as |
John Hoynes | Former Vice President |
| and Lily Tomlin as |
Debbie (Deborah) Fiderer | President's Secretary |
| Guest Starring | ||
| Elisabeth Moss as | Zoey Patricia Bartlet | Bartlets' youngest daughter |
| Steve Ryan as | Miles Hutchinson | Secretary of Defense |
| Renée Estevez as | Nancy | Aide |
| Vincent Gustaferro as | Ernie Gambelli | New York Teachers' Union |
| Shannon O'Hurley as | Susan Wertz | NBC Executive |
| Tim Kelleher as | Dylan Clark | Hoynes Campaign Manager |
| Matthew Del Negro as | Bram (Howard) | Santos Campaign Staffer |
| Evan Arnold as | Ned Carlson | Santos' Aide |
| Karis Campbell as | Ronna (Beckman) | Santos' Aide |
| Co-Starring | ||
| Ivan Allen as | Anchor | Roger Salier |
| Kate Enggren as | Dorothy Baker | Eric Baker's Wife |
| Rebecca Avery as | Co-Anchor | |
| Petrea Burchard as | Chair of CA Delegation | |
| Will Macmillan as | David Adams | Network Executive |
| Richard Hilton as | Convention Secretary |
"Leo sometimes makes me sad," he said, "because his whole life is his work. So I hope that after Bartlet's second administration, Leo retires, settles down, finds a good woman and has a life." - John Spencer
"'West Wing' makes his heart soar"
by R.D. Heldenfels
August 14, 2002
Akron Beacon Journal
"What we're hoping to do is give the audience some insight into what the campaign process is about," Smits says.
"Can 'West Wing' build a bridge to the 21st century?"
by Bill Keveney
October 19, 2004
USA Today
"That, we think, is interesting territory, when you look at who is likely to replace you and realize that you need to stay above the fray and, at the same time, you're not happy with the direction the election is going in," Wells says.
" In 'West Wing' time, it's more"
by Virginia Rohan
October 20, 2004
Bergen Record
"The West Wing is doing an interesting experiment here," [Alan] Alda says. "If it ends up being Jimmy Smits' character versus me, we'll have a contest to see who can present their arguments better, not who maneuvers better."
"1 liberal actor, 2 conservative senators"
by Rich Copley
December 19, 2004
Lexington Herald-Leader
Wells felt he wasn't playing sides in the campaign by crafting a good guy/bad guy scenario. "We've set up both candidates as someone you'd like to have a beer with," he said.
"Alan Alda eager to run 'The West Wing'"
by Bill Brioux
January 22, 2005
Toronto Sun
One "candidate" who thinks he doesn't have much of a chance is Cole. "Bingo" Bob Russell, says Cole, "knows how to run a race, but if he gets it, who knows? But I don't think he'll have to worry about that. Look, they'll enter next season with two guys running in the presidential campaign. I'll let you figure out who those two guys might be, and I don't think you'll need to be Dick Tracy to do that."
"'West Wing' presidential campaign heats up"
by Charlie McCollum
January 25, 2005
San Jose Mercury News
"Bartlet will have a lot to say about the nominee and then go out and work for the candidate and the Democratic agenda. Bartlet will not go out quietly," Sheen says.
"'West Wing' votes for Prez"
by Dusty Saunders
February 2, 2005
Rocky Mountain News
This season, Wells says the writing team has taken pains to "create a situation where it was a complicated election in which the decisions weren't easy for anyone involved."
"Change Is Good for TV's Master Juggler"
by Cynthia Littleton
February 13, 2005
Hollywood Reporter
"All of us players who have been involved this season will be part of next season, in some form or another," Smits confirms. Regarding his chances of beating out Alan Alda to succeed Martin Sheen as the prez, he says, "My hiatus will be a little bit like, 'Hmm... I wonder, wonder, wonder.' I'm OK anyway it goes. The way [executive producer] John Wells set it up, there's so much fodder for story lines that could happen, and we're all up for that."
"Jimmy Smits for President"
by Daniel R. Coleridge
March 24, 2005
TV Guide Online
Talking to executive producer John Wells shortly after the real-world 2004 political conventions were held, both remarked on how carefully controlled and sterile the events were (with the exception, Smits says, of Barack Obama's rousing speech)."The Democratic convention on 'West Wing' will be more reminiscent of Chicago but not in terms of its violence. There's going to be a convention, not a slickly produced television show," he said.
"It's Vinick vs. Santos, maybe, on 'The West Wing'"
April 4, 2005
Associated Press
For its season finale Wednesday, "The West Wing" comes west to San Jose. Well, in looks, anyway. You'll recognize the site where the TV series' fictional Democratic National Convention is supposed to be choosing its next presidential candidate: HP Pavilion. "Warner Bros. called last week to get permission to use exterior shots of the arena," reports Tom Manheim, the city's outreach manager. "For this week's show. I guess that shows how tight their production schedule is." And how perfect the Shark Tank would be for a gathering of politicians.
"'West Wing' coming west to San Jose"
by Leigh Weimers
April 5, 2005
San Jose Mercury News
As a former VOTE-COPE chairperson and current local leader, I struggle with my members about the importance of our VOTE-COPE programs both statewide and locally.After viewing the season finale of "The West Wing," I now have new ammunition to prove that VOTE-COPE makes a difference. The episode showed a Democratic convention in chaos over choosing the successor to the outgoing president. After several rounds of balloting, there seemed to be no hope for consensus.
In discussing who delegates would vote for in the next round, it was stated that the New York delegation was led by a member of the teachers union. One conversation in the episode stated what we know: Teachers' and labor unions' support have been the bread and butter of the Democratic Party. What a fitting tribute to VOTE-COPE and our retiring President Hobart that a television writer acknowledges the political activism and power of our union. VOTE-COPE matters, and it makes its presence known in some amazing places.
Tracy W. Allen
Richfield Springs
"Letters to the Editor: VOTE-COPE clout"
by Tracy W. Allen
May 12, 2005
New York State United Teachers
In Season 6, the show really found its feet again...It took a while for us to figure out what the hell we were going to do! I think the show is now more of a reflection of the real world as opposed to a fantasy of what it could be, but still keeps the intergrity of the characters.
"Shooting the breeze with The West Wing's Toby"
by James Dyer
October 2005
Empire