The West Wing Premieres

Setting the scene

The late 1990s were a relatively prosperous, scandal-weary period after Clinton's impeachment, and audiences were curious about idealistic politics again. Aaron Sorkin, who wrote A Few Good Men, created a White House drama with walk-and-talk dialogue and policy debates. NBC paired it with The West Wing's optimism against grittier crime shows.

What happened

The West Wing premiered on NBC on September 22, 1999, with Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet, Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn, and Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg. The pilot established the senior staff managing crises from porn-star witnesses to military decisions with Sorkin's rapid-fire wit. Sheen was originally guest-starring until his role expanded.

Why it still matters

The show won twenty-six Emmys in its first four seasons and shaped how many Americans imagined Washington, for better or worse. Its dialogue style influenced The Newsroom and political campaigns. Memorable detail: President Bartlet's MS storyline was hidden early on because Sorkin planned the reveal as a second-season bombshell.

Background

Aaron Sorkin's dialogue shaped how a generation imagined Washington.