by Catlin Hogan

Created on: March 09, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

It may sound odd, but I didn't become hooked to The West Wing until the show had already been taken off the air. I rented the first season from the local video store, and now I own all 7 seasons on DVD.

West Wing creator, Aaron Sorkin had said in an interview, that when he originally sat down with executive producer John Wells, he thought they were simply schmoozing, but Wells apparently thought different. John was under the impression he was being pitched an idea, and there in that restaurant, off the top of his head, Aaron Sorkin pitched a series which to this day holds the record for the most Emmy wins in its first season.

In that first season-even in the pilot episode alone, Warner Brothers was so convinced that this show would be a hit, that they spent an amount of money on the set which was unheard of for a pilot episode. Watching the special features from the first season there were actors saying just how much detail went into the sets. Kim Webster, who played on of the secretaries was blown away to see that on her desk was a pad of paper that "White House" and had a seal of the President. All of the actor's I.D. cards that they would normally have in the White House, actually had their pictures on it.

That first season must have been difficult to put together. Sorkin mentioned in the commentary of one episode in the first season, that John Spencer and Alison Janney (Leo and C.J.) would walk through a door on "Set A" on Tuesday and walk out the other side on "Set B" on Thursday. For the entire first season, Warner Brothers had two separate sound stages, made more for half hour sit-coms. It wasn't until the filming of season two that the studio moved them to a feature-film sound stage, allowing them to build the entire White House set as a whole.

In Sorkin's writing, it is amazing how quick you will develop an emotional relationship with each of the main characters. I've just finished watching season seven, and as most fans are aware, John Spencer passed away from a sudden heart-attack during filming. When it came to the point of the season where they needed to write-out his character of Leo, I had to use all my energy not to start crying. Also looking at the relation between Charlie (Dule Hill) and the President (Martin Sheen), I can't help but looking at the two of them and seeing myself and my political mentor. In the very final episode, the President and Charlie are talking and the emotion in their voice, just gave me chills.

My coworker and I were discussing who had the best lines in the series. I told him it really depended on what the situation was. For powerful lines, that definitely had to go to The President (Martin Sheen). For general humour, I had to go with Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford). Sarcasm hands down had to goto Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff). Dry humour, Leo McGarry (John Spencer). And for people not being afraid to make a fool of themselves, I had as a tie between Sam Seborne (Rob Lowe), and C.J. Craig (Alison Janney).

Don't you think Martin Sheen would make a great Democratic candidate? He has confessed to being a bleeding heart liberal. We should have him run against Arnold in California for Governor.

Learn more about this author, Catlin Hogan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.