126 Fun Facts About The West Wing

Who played President Josiah Bartlet in "The West Wing"?

Martin Sheen played Bartlet for all seven seasons and was nominated for six Emmys without winning, in a role originally planned as an occasional presence.

Which state did President Bartlet govern before the White House?

Bartlet served two terms as Governor of New Hampshire, winning re-election with 69% of the vote; his ancestor Josiah Bartlett signed the Declaration and also governed the state.

In 'Five Votes Down', what legislation was Leo McGarry five House votes short of passing?

The bill was a gun control measure; Leo was five House votes short, and the final votes came through only after Vice President Hoynes twisted arms and took the credit.

Which senior staffer holds the title of Deputy White House Chief of Staff for most of the series?

Josh Lyman is the Deputy Chief of Staff; Bradley Whitford originally auditioned for Sam but pushed to play Josh, and won an Emmy for it in 2001.

What is the full first name of President Bartlet?

Josiah Edward Bartlet, a Nobel-winning economist and New Hampshire governor, is descended in the show from a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The actor playing President Bartlet was originally signed for how many episodes of The West Wing?

Martin Sheen was signed for just four episodes; Sorkin planned to keep the President mostly off-screen, but the role grew into the lead during the first season.

What was C.J. Cregg's job for most of the Bartlet administration on The West Wing?

C.J. Cregg was White House Press Secretary from the pilot until early in season six, when Bartlet made her Chief of Staff after Leo McGarry's heart attack.

President Bartlet secretly battled which chronic illness throughout his presidency?

A major storyline in the series revolved around President Bartlet's secret battle with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, which he later disclosed to the public.

Who created the acclaimed political drama television series *The West Wing*?

Aaron Sorkin left after season four, and the walk-and-talk he made famous became the show's signature; he returned for the 2020 reunion special.

Which character frequently ended Oval Office discussions on The West Wing with the phrase 'What's next', before moving on?

President Bartlet's 'What's next?' closes a topic and moves to the next; Josh's first words coming out of surgery after the Rosslyn shooting are the same question.

In what year did *The West Wing* first premiere on American television?

*The West Wing* premiered on NBC on September 22, 1999, quickly gaining critical acclaim.

Which main cast member's death during The West Wing's final season was written into the plot?

John Spencer, who played Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, passed away in 2005 during the production of the final season, and his character's death was written into the show.

What was Toby Ziegler's position in the Bartlet administration?

Toby Ziegler served as the White House Communications Director, responsible for crafting and disseminating the administration's message.

How many seasons did *The West Wing* originally run on NBC?

7 seasons, from 1999 to 2006, ending with the Bartlet presidency and the election of his successor.

Which network originally broadcast *The West Wing* in the United States?

NBC ran all seven seasons, and the show won the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy in each of its first four years.

Who composed the iconic main title theme music for *The West Wing*?

W.G. Snuffy Walden composed the memorable and Emmy-winning main title theme music for *The West Wing*.

In the final season, Leo McGarry joins the Democratic ticket as the nominee for which office?

Vice President was Leo's slot on Matt Santos's ticket; he dies of a heart attack on election night, a plot forced by John Spencer's real death during production.

Which real White House Press Secretary consulted on *The West Wing* and partly inspired C.J. Cregg?

Dee Dee Myers, who was Press Secretary for President Bill Clinton, worked as a consultant on *The West Wing* and was a partial inspiration for C.J. Cregg.

Which actress played Mandy Hampton, whose unexplained exit after West Wing season one gave fans the term 'Mandyville'?

Moira Kelly played Mandy Hampton for season one only; Sorkin conceded the character never worked, and she vanished without explanation, giving fans the term 'Mandyville' for any silently dropped character.

What led President Bartlet to temporarily invoke the 25th Amendment in The West Wing?

President Bartlet invoked the 25th Amendment and temporarily relinquished power to the Speaker of the House after his youngest daughter, Zoey Bartlet, was kidnapped.

In '20 Hours in America', which three staffers are stranded in Indiana when the motorcade leaves without them?

Josh, Toby and Donna miss the motorcade and spend the day hitching rides across Indiana, unaware they crossed a time-zone line; the episode ends with Bartlet's 'streets of heaven' speech after a swim-meet bombing.

What was Charlie Young's initial role in the White House?

Personal Aide to the President is the job Charlie gets after walking in looking for messenger work; he later dates Bartlet's daughter Zoey.

Which Republican senator ran against Matt Santos for President in the show's later seasons?

Senator Arnold Vinick, portrayed by Alan Alda, was the Republican presidential nominee who ran against Democratic Congressman Matt Santos in a highly contested election.

Who eventually became the Democratic nominee for President, succeeding Bartlet?

Santos, a Texas congressman played by Jimmy Smits, won a brokered Democratic convention and then narrowly beat Republican Arnold Vinick in the general election.

Whom did President Bartlet make Chief of Staff after Leo McGarry's heart attack?

C.J. Cregg became Chief of Staff in season six after Leo McGarry's heart attack at Camp David; she moved up from Press Secretary and held the job until the end of Bartlet's term.

Which fictional Middle Eastern country, home to the Bahji network, is the Bartlet administration's recurring foe?

Qumar is the show's invented Gulf state; Bartlet secretly orders the assassination of its defence minister, Abdul ibn Shareef, a decision that haunts the back half of the series.

In 'Two Cathedrals', Bartlet rages at God after Mrs. Landingham's funeral partly in which language?

Sorkin wrote the tirade in Latin so NBC's censors could not object to what the President was saying to God. Bartlet then grinds out a cigarette on the cathedral floor.

In 'Shibboleth', President Bartlet's dilemma involves refugees from what country?

In 'Shibboleth,' President Bartlet faces a moral quandary regarding a group of Chinese Christian refugees seeking asylum.

The episode "Noel" focuses on Josh Lyman's post-traumatic stress disorder following what event?

'Noel' follows Josh's PTSD after the Rosslyn shooting, the assassination attempt on Bartlet that left Josh critically wounded; trauma specialist Stanley Keyworth diagnoses him on Christmas Eve.

On what did Leo McGarry famously first write the slogan 'Bartlet for America'?

Leo wrote 'Bartlet for America' on a cocktail napkin to talk a reluctant Governor Bartlet into running; Bartlet later gives Leo the framed napkin as a Christmas present.

In 'A Proportional Response', what provoked President Bartlet to demand a far harsher strike on Syria?

Bartlet admits he has personalised the attack because his physician, a new father, was among the 58 killed. Admiral Fitzwallace warns his plan would 'dole out five thousand dollars worth of punishment for a fifty buck crime'.

In 'The Stackhouse Filibuster', the stalling senator has a grandson with what condition?

Stackhouse had been refused a $47 million autism amendment, so he read recipes and rulebooks to an empty chamber. Donna's fix: have friendly senators ask him questions so he can rest without yielding the floor.

In "The Supremes", which actress guest-stars as Evelyn Baker Lang, the judge Josh wants as Chief Justice?

Glenn Close plays Evelyn Baker Lang; Josh's two-for-one gambit retires the ailing Chief Justice, elevates Lang, and gives the other seat to a conservative judge played by William Fichtner.

Because Emily Procter read with a Southern accent, Sorkin made Ainsley Hayes a native of which state?

Ainsley Hayes is from North Carolina, Emily Procter's own home state; Sorkin kept Procter's natural accent rather than having her lose it. Procter later left for CSI: Miami.

In 'Election Night', a dead Democrat winning California's 47th district creates a dilemma for which staffer?

Sam had promised the late Horton Wilde's campaign manager he would run in any special election if Wilde won. The pledge sets up Rob Lowe's exit from the show a few episodes later.

The episode 'Debate Camp' covers preparations for a presidential debate between which two candidates?

'Debate Camp' is a season-four episode, so the mock debates prepare Bartlet to face Florida Governor Robert Ritchie, with flashbacks to the administration's first weeks. The Santos-Vinick contest comes two seasons later.

Who was Josh Lyman's senior assistant for most of the series?

Donna Moss, played by Janel Moloney, called herself the 'deputy deputy chief of staff'; she and Josh finally become a couple in the final season.

'Bartlet for America' details Leo McGarry's testimony to the congressional investigation into what?

Leo's testimony is framed by flashbacks to the campaign, including a relapse into drinking that Republicans threaten to expose. John Spencer won his Emmy for this episode.

In 'The Indians in the Lobby', how long has the Stockbridge-Munsee application sat unanswered?

Their land-into-trust application had sat at Interior for 15 years; two Stockbridge-Munsee representatives refuse to leave the lobby on Thanksgiving eve until C.J. secures them a meeting.

Which actor played Communications Director Toby Ziegler?

Richard Schiff played Toby Ziegler for all seven seasons and won the 2000 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the role.

The two-part episode 'In the Shadow of Two Gunmen' features extensive flashbacks detailing what event?

'In the Shadow of Two Gunmen' uses flashbacks to show how President Bartlet's senior staff came together during his initial presidential campaign.

The special episode 'Isaac and Ishmael', aired after September 11th, focused on discussions about what?

'Isaac and Ishmael' was a special episode created and aired in response to the September 11th attacks, focusing on a discussion about terrorism, though it is not considered part of the show's regular continuity.

In 'Ways and Means,' what tax policy divides the administration and Congress?

The episode 'Ways and Means' features the White House staff negotiating with congressional Republicans over the 'death tax,' also known as the estate tax.

In 'The Crackpots and These Women', what does Bartlet insist on cooking for his staff?

Bartlet cooks chili for the senior staff in 'The Crackpots and These Women', the season-one episode that also introduces Big Block of Cheese Day and C.J.'s wolves-only roadway meeting.

In The West Wing's 'The Long Goodbye', C.J. goes home to Dayton, Ohio, where she confronts what?

C.J.'s father Tal, played by Donald Moffat, has Alzheimer's; the episode, written by Jon Robin Baitz, follows C.J. home to Dayton to speak at her old high school as she confronts his decline.

Which conservative judge is among the Supreme Court candidates in The West Wing episode 'The Supremes'?

In 'The Supremes,' the Bartlet administration considers both liberal and conservative nominees, including the highly intellectual conservative Judge Christopher Mulready.

In 'Ninety Miles Away', Leo's secret back-channel talks with Cuba's ailing dictator aim to achieve what?

Leo's secret talks aim at lifting the trade embargo and normalizing relations with Cuba before its ailing dictator dies; flashbacks show Leo's own back-channel trip years earlier, and Kate Harper turns out to have her own Cuban history.

On what date did The West Wing's series finale air?

The finale, 'Tomorrow', aired on May 14, 2006; NBC had moved the show to Sundays for its final season, a shift widely blamed for its falling ratings.

Which studio produced The West Wing?

Interiors were shot on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios Burbank.

Who took over as head writer after Aaron Sorkin left at the end of Season 4?

Wells had been an executive producer since the pilot.

Which director was the show's primary director and championed the 'walk and talk'?

Schlamme won two Emmys for directing the show.

How many Primetime Emmys did The West Wing win in total?

The West Wing won 26 Primetime Emmys in total, tying Hill Street Blues' record for a drama series until Game of Thrones passed both.

Of the first 88 episodes, how many did Sorkin write or co-write?

Sorkin wrote or co-wrote 85 of the show's first 88 episodes, a workload that led to delayed scripts and budget overruns before he left after season four.

Which three real presidents did Martin Sheen say Bartlet was a conglomeration of?

Martin Sheen described Bartlet as a conglomeration of Kennedy, Carter and Clinton; the character is a Catholic, Nobel-winning economist and former New Hampshire governor.

What does Donna Moss become after Santos wins the election?

Donna becomes chief of staff to First Lady Helen Santos in the final episodes, while Josh becomes President Santos's Chief of Staff.

Which university does Charlie Young begin studying law at as the series ends?

Charlie heads to law school at Georgetown as the series ends, having already earned his undergraduate degree there part-time while working as Bartlet's personal aide.

Which actress played Mrs. Landingham, the President's personal secretary?

Kathryn Joosten played Mrs. Landingham from the pilot until the character's death in season two; Kirsten Nelson played her younger self in the 'Two Cathedrals' flashbacks.

Which state does Will Bailey represent as a congressman after the series ends?

Will Bailey decides to run for a House seat in Oregon in the final episodes; Joshua Malina played him from season four, arriving as Horton Wilde's campaign manager in Orange County.

Which two organisations had Kate Harper worked for before the White House?

Kate Harper was a Navy officer and then a CIA officer before becoming Deputy National Security Advisor; Mary McCormack played her from season five.

Which city was Matt Santos mayor of before entering Congress?

Santos was mayor of Houston before serving three terms in Congress from Texas; Josh Lyman talks him out of retiring and into a presidential run.

Which cabinet post does President-elect Santos offer Arnold Vinick?

Santos offers Vinick Secretary of State in 'Transition'; Vinick, who lost the election narrowly, hesitates and then accepts, joining the cabinet of the man who beat him.

Which Broadway star played deputy press secretary Annabeth Schott?

Kristin Chenoweth, a Tony winner for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, played Annabeth Schott from season six; Annabeth ends the series as press secretary to incoming First Lady Helen Santos.

Which actor played the President's personal aide, Charlie Young?

Dulé Hill played Charlie Young from the third episode, 'A Proportional Response', to the finale; he later starred as Gus in Psych.

Which two actors were seriously considered to play President Bartlet before Sheen?

Alan Alda and Sidney Poitier were both seriously considered for Bartlet before Martin Sheen was cast; Alda later joined the show anyway as Republican senator Arnold Vinick.

Which comic actor was considered for the role of Toby Ziegler?

Eugene Levy was considered for Toby Ziegler; Judd Hirsch was considered for Leo and CCH Pounder for C.J. before the final cast was set.

Which actor played Vice President Bob Russell?

Gary Cole played Bob Russell, the Colorado congressman Bartlet picks as Vice President after Hoynes resigns; 'Bingo Bob' then loses the Democratic nomination to Santos.

Sorkin made headlines in April 2001 after being arrested for possessing what?

Airport security at Burbank found hallucinogenic mushrooms in Sorkin's carry-on in April 2001; he entered a court-ordered drug diversion program.

Which Season 4 Christmas episode opens with a teaser almost entirely in Yiddish?

'Holy Night' opens with a Yiddish-language flashback to 1950s Brooklyn introducing Toby's father, Jules Ziegler, a former Murder, Inc. man who turns up at the White House for Christmas.

Where did the showrunner see Jimmy Smits perform before casting him as Santos?

John Wells cast Jimmy Smits after seeing him play Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park; Smits joined in season six.

Which musicians appeared as themselves on the show?

James Taylor, Yo-Yo Ma and Jon Bon Jovi all appeared as themselves: Ma plays Bach in 'Noël', Taylor sings at a White House event in season six, and Bon Jovi campaigns for Santos.

Which 1995 film's unused plot elements led Sorkin to create The West Wing?

The American President, written by Sorkin, left him with unused plot threads about staffers; Martin Sheen played the Chief of Staff in that film.

Which real-world controversy delayed the show's airing by about a year, per Sorkin?

Sorkin said NBC held the pilot for about a year because the Clinton–Lewinsky affair made the network wary of a White House drama; the show finally premiered in September 1999.

Which earlier Sorkin sitcom developed the snappy dialogue style he reused here?

He reused plot elements, character names and even actors from it.

On which night and time did The West Wing air for its first six seasons?

The West Wing aired Wednesdays at 9pm on NBC for six seasons; the move to Sundays at 8pm for season seven put it against ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Which country's fledgling government reportedly used West Wing DVDs to study democracy?

Myanmar's reformist government, emerging from military rule, reportedly watched West Wing DVDs to learn how a democracy operates, a story the New York Times broke in 2012.

Which cast member holds the record for most Emmy wins on the show, with four?

Allison Janney's four Emmys, two supporting and two lead, are the record for a cast member; Martin Sheen was nominated six times without winning.

Which is the only season in which The West Wing failed to win an Emmy?

The sixth season (2004–05) was the only one without an Emmy win; season seven bounced back with Alan Alda's supporting-actor award in 2006.

Which episode earned the show's only writing Emmy, shared by Sorkin and Rick Cleveland?

'In Excelsis Deo', the season-one Christmas episode about a homeless Korean War veteran's funeral, won the 2000 writing Emmy; Sorkin later feuded with Cleveland online over how much Cleveland had contributed.

Which future MSNBC host wrote for The West Wing and played Bartlet's father in flashbacks?

Lawrence O'Donnell, a former Senate staffer, wrote and produced for The West Wing and played Bartlet's cold father in the 'Two Cathedrals' flashbacks, long before hosting The Last Word on MSNBC.

Under what username did Sorkin post on a Television Without Pity precursor in 2001?

Sorkin posted as 'Benjamin' on Mighty Big TV, the forum that became Television Without Pity, sparring with fans there in 2001 before giving it up.

Which fictional fan website does Josh get into trouble with in 'The U.S. Poet Laureate'?

LemonLyman.com is the fan site where Josh posts a reply and is pilloried for it; Sorkin wrote the plot as a swipe at online forums after his own sparring with fans.

Which university did Jed Bartlet attend as an undergraduate?

Bartlet is a Notre Dame graduate who once considered the priesthood before earning his economics doctorate at the London School of Economics.

Which radio host is 'Dr. Jenna Jacobs' in 'The Midterms' a caricature of?

Bartlet's biblical rebuke echoed a viral open letter to Schlessinger.

Which fictional California city's nuclear plant nearly melts down in the 2006 race?

The San Andreo plant, its name a nod to California's real San Onofre, suffers a near-meltdown in 'Duck and Cover', damaging Vinick, who had championed nuclear power.

How many registered voters does the tiny New Hampshire town that votes first have?

The town has 63 residents and 42 registered voters who cast ballots at one minute past midnight on primary day, while Bartlet plays chess with Sam and Toby waiting for the result.

In which fictional African nation does Bartlet intervene to stop ethnic cleansing?

Equatorial Kundu is the fictional African state where Bartlet sends troops to halt ethnic cleansing in 'Inauguration'; Sorkin later reused the country in The Newsroom.

Which landmark does Qumari minister Shareef plot to destroy?

Intelligence shows Shareef planning to blow up the Golden Gate Bridge, which leads Bartlet to authorise his assassination in the season-three finale 'Posse Comitatus'.

Which actor played former one-term Democratic president D. Wire Newman?

James Cromwell played D. Wire Newman, the one-term Democrat who rides with Bartlet to Republican Owen Lassiter's funeral in 'The Stormy Present'.

With what Electoral College margin did Bartlet win his first election?

Bartlet took 303 electoral votes to 235 in his first election while winning just 48% of the popular vote, a weak mandate the staff fret about in season one.

Which Texas senator does Bartlet defeat for the nomination and then pick as running mate?

John Hoynes, a Texas senator played by Tim Matheson, lost the nomination to Bartlet and became his Vice President before resigning in season four over an affair.

What state does Bartlet's 2002 opponent Robert Ritchie govern?

Robert Ritchie is the Governor of Florida, played by James Brolin as a folksy Republican whom Bartlet trounces in the season-four debate.

What 'four words' does Bartlet write to explain keeping Hoynes on the ticket?

In 'Stirred', after the staff float replacing Hoynes with Admiral Fitzwallace, Bartlet writes 'Because I could die' on a card to explain keeping his Vice President.

On which ballot is Santos nominated at the Democratic National Convention?

Santos is nominated on the fourth ballot of a deadlocked convention in '2162 Votes', after his floor speech breaks the stalemate among Santos, Russell and Hoynes.

Which actor played Republican Speaker and briefly Acting President Glen Allen Walken?

John Goodman's Walken takes the oath under the 25th Amendment when Bartlet steps aside during his daughter's kidnapping, and later loses the Republican nomination to Vinick.

Which West Virginia governor becomes Vinick's running mate?

Ray Sullivan, the West Virginia governor played by Brett Cullen, joins Vinick's ticket as a social conservative to balance the pro-choice Vinick.

Which state decides the Santos–Vinick election?

Nevada is the last state called; Santos wins it by about 30,000 votes for a 272–266 Electoral College victory over Vinick.

Which real senator did writer Eli Attie use as a model for Matt Santos?

Attie phoned David Axelrod to 'grill him about Obama'.

Which Pennsylvania governor does Santos pick to replace Leo as vice president?

Baker had once been the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

What is Bartlet's final official act before leaving office?

Toby had leaked classified information about a military Space Shuttle.

What are Bartlet's last words to his successor?

On Inauguration Day in 'Tomorrow', Bartlet tells Santos 'Make me proud, Mr. President', and Santos replies, 'I'll do my best, Mr. President.'

Which streamer briefly dropped the show in December 2024, then restored it?

Leadership reportedly had not known it was flagged for removal.

Which UK channel first aired The West Wing in 2000?

Sky One aired the first season in the UK in 2000; the show later moved to Channel 4, then E4 and More4, which screened its final seasons.

Which two actresses co-wrote the 2024 book What's Next about the show?

Melissa Fitzgerald, who played C.J.'s assistant Carol, and Mary McCormack, who played Kate Harper, co-wrote What's Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, published in 2024.

Which cast member co-hosted The West Wing Weekly podcast with Hrishikesh Hirway?

Joshua Malina, who played Will Bailey, co-hosted The West Wing Weekly from 2016 to January 2020; Hirway also hosts Song Exploder.

Which president is 'Big Block of Cheese Day' named after?

Jackson let the public eat from a huge cheese wheel at the White House.

Which episode inspired the 2006 'West Wing Plot' in Britain's House of Commons?

In 'A Good Day' House Democrats hide in an office until a vote is called; Conservative MPs copied the trick in January 2006 to ambush Blair's government on the religious hatred bill.

Which actress played First Lady Abbey Bartlet?

Stockard Channing played Abbey Bartlet from season one's 'The State Dinner' onward and won the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the role.

Which episode did the cast restage for the 2020 HBO Max benefit special?

The cast restaged 'Hartsfield's Landing', the season-three episode in which Bartlet plays chess with Sam and Toby while a tiny New Hampshire town votes, at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

Who played Leo McGarry in the 2020 benefit special?

Sterling K. Brown stepped in as Leo McGarry, John Spencer having died in 2005; Emily Procter read the stage directions.

Which non-profit did the 2020 special benefit?

The special benefited When We All Vote, the non-partisan voter-registration group Michelle Obama co-founded in 2018; she appeared in one of the act breaks.

Which band performed music with Snuffy Walden for the 2020 special?

The Avett Brothers performed with W.G. Snuffy Walden in the 2020 special, which Thomas Schlamme directed, drawing on his experience staging ER's live 1997 episode 'Ambush'.

How does Mrs. Landingham die at the end of Season 2?

In a car accident, the day she bought her first new car; Bartlet then berates God in Latin in the National Cathedral in 'Two Cathedrals'.

Where was Mrs. Landingham working when she first met the teenage Jed Bartlet?

She pushed him to challenge his father over unequal pay for women staff.

Which crisis abroad is the staff handling on the day of Mrs. Landingham's funeral?

C.J. warns the Haiti story will be buried by the MS disclosure.

What is Martin Sheen's birth name?

Born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez in 1940, he took the stage name Sheen, after Bishop Fulton Sheen, to avoid typecasting; his son Charlie Sheen also adopted it.

In which Ohio city was Martin Sheen born?

Fittingly, C.J. Cregg's hometown on the show is also Dayton.

Which Francis Ford Coppola film earned Sheen a BAFTA Best Actor nomination?

Apocalypse Now cost Sheen a heart attack at 36 during its chaotic Philippine shoot; he had earlier starred in Terrence Malick's Badlands.

Toby Ziegler is fired from the Bartlet White House after confessing to leaking classified information about what?

A secret space shuttle, leaked to save astronauts stranded in orbit; Bartlet pardons him on his last day in office.

Whom does Bartlet nominate to the Supreme Court in season one's 'The Short List'?

In 'The Short List', Bartlet passes over frontrunner Peyton Cabot Harrison III and nominates Roberto Mendoza, a judge played by Edward James Olmos, after Sam finds Harrison's law-review writing on privacy.

Whom does C.J. Cregg marry after the series ends, according to the show's epilogue?

C.J. marries Danny Concannon, the White House reporter who pursued her for years; the flash-forward that opens season seven shows them years later with a daughter.

How many regular cast members were Emmy-nominated for the 2001–02 season, a record the show shares?

Janney, Spencer and Channing won; Sheen, Schiff, Hill, Whitford, Moloney and Mary-Louise Parker were the others nominated.

How many Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Drama Ensemble did The West Wing win?

The West Wing won two SAG drama-ensemble awards, at the 2001 and 2002 ceremonies; it also picked up Peabody Awards for 1999 and 2000.

Which actor played White House reporter Danny Concannon?

Timothy Busfield played Danny Concannon, the White House correspondent who courts C.J. from season one; Busfield, a Sports Night alumnus, also directed several episodes.

Which real journalist moderated the live season-seven episode 'The Debate'?

Forrest Sawyer, the former ABC News anchor, moderated 'The Debate', the Santos–Vinick episode performed live in November 2005, once for the East Coast and again for the West.

Which Friends star received an Emmy nomination for guest-starring on The West Wing?

Matthew Perry was Emmy-nominated twice, in 2003 and 2004, for playing Republican lawyer Joe Quincy; Oliver Platt, Ron Silver, Tim Matheson and Mark Harmon were also nominated as guests.

In what month and year did it become public that Rob Lowe intended to leave the series?

Rob Lowe's decision to leave became public in July 2002, attributed to salary dissatisfaction and Sam's shrinking role as Sheen's Bartlet became the show's centre; his last regular episode aired in early 2003.