What is a “Constituency of One”? You know, it’s all about that boss, ‘bout that boss, those troubles. It’s all about that boss, ‘bout that boss, those troubles. Toby and POTUS. Will and Bob Russell. Amy and the First Lady. Plus, we speak with Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri , whose list of bosses includes Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/505 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Jun 27, 2018•1 hr 5 min
Listener beware - like the episode we're discussing, Han, this installment of The West Wing Weekly has more sad piano music than all previous episodes combined. When they're not lost in a sadness so deep no tears will come, Josh and Hrishi interview Paula Yoo , the writer who came up with the story of a would-be North Korean defector who visits the White House. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/504 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Jun 20, 2018•1 hr 6 min
Jefferson lives, but the President's dreams for a strong VP die—killed by committee. But Josh and Hrishi, pilgrim detectives, are on the scene to investigate. PS: Jefferson is also dead. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/503 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Jun 13, 2018•48 min
Friends, Romans, people in other places, lend us your ears. We come to dissect this episode, and to praise it, or at least the parts we liked. So cry "havoc!" and let slip this podcast into your downloads. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/502 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Jun 06, 2018•49 min
Josh and Hrishi take a deep breath and dive headfirst into the post-Sorkin years. They're joined by guests Bradley Whitford and Ronald Klain to discuss the suspense of the Season 5 premiere — a fateful moment for the characters, and the show itself. Recorded live at Georgetown University. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/501 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
May 30, 2018•1 hr 8 min
We’ve reached the end of the fourth season, and the end of Aaron Sorkin’s tenure on The West Wing. For this special farewell, Aaron himself joined us on stage at the historic Town Hall in New York to teach us how to say goodbye. He surprised us with his candor, and we surprised Aaron and the audience with special guest Emily Procter, as well as heartfelt messages sent in by the cast and crew. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/424 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
May 16, 2018•1 hr 24 min
Recorded live in Boston, Tommy Schlamme joins Josh and Hrishi to talk about the last days of the Sorkin-Schlamme era as they recap the episode Twenty Five. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/423 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
May 09, 2018•1 hr 21 min
Live from the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC, Josh and Hrishi discuss the penultimate episode of Season 4—and all its trip-hop-laced anomalies—with special guests Bradley Whitford , Ronald Klain , and Melissa Fitzgerald . Plus: a surprise guest who’s surprised to be part of the podcast. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/422 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
May 03, 2018•1 hr 8 min
We’re live in London! Josh and Hrishi discuss Life on Mars with guests Richard Schiff ( @Richard_Schiff ) and Eli Attie ( @EliAttie ). Plus some special West Wing-themed musical performances from Debbie Fiderer’s favorite a capella group, The Swingles ( @swinglesingers ). For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/421 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Apr 25, 2018•1 hr 26 min
We’re live in Dublin to discuss Evidence of Things Not Seen with special guests Richard Schiff, Marlee Matlin, her interpreter Jack Jason, and a pint of Guinness that is like an angel crying on Richard’s tongue. Cilantro! For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/420 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Apr 19, 2018•1 hr 11 min
AARON BURR: How does a podcast, web thing, Recap and chat on The West Wing, Dropped on the internet by nostalgic pals On a fake President—it makes no sense! How do Josh and Hrish, on balance, Manage to land two major Broadway talents? The two gallants, Lin-Manuel and Tommy Kail, Got a lot farther by working a lot harder By being a lot smarter, by being self-starters By watching Bartlet, who's based a bit on Jimmy Carter Well, the word got around that they’re like, "Sorkin is insane, man" So we s...
Apr 04, 2018•1 hr 11 min
Please set your cell phones to airplane mode, it’s Angel Maintenance time. In this episode we’re joined by former Acting Secretary of the Air Force (and former Secretary of the Army) Eric Fanning for lots of juicy details about Air Force One, including the fact that there’s more than one Air Force One. And Josh looks back fondly on filming this episode, for reasons involving Vaseline. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/419 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Mar 28, 2018•1 hr 2 min
Privateers has a special place in our hearts because we love the scene where Allison Janney can’t stop laughing - and she’s here with us to talk about the fugue state necessary to create such memorable giggles. We’re also joined by Josh’s Scandal costar Jeff Perry , and Helen Slayton-Hughes, who played Marion Cotesworth-Haye of Marblehead. And we get the final word on the privateer question from Bren Landon of the DAR. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/418 Learn about your ad choices: doveta...
Mar 21, 2018•1 hr 21 min
The Laurens make good! West Wing writer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich joins us to recap Red Haven's on Fire and share stories of the real world Lauren confusion behind this episode. And Senator Tammy Duckworth tells us what to expect when you're a senator who's expecting. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/417 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Mar 07, 2018•1 hr 16 min
Ah, Miss Hamantaschen! It's the California 47th. Josh and Hrishi discuss the linguistic nuance of Rice Krispies and what one calls the treats made from them. And, Mrs Hottentot, Hrishi introduces a handy online tool for President Bartlet: the Debbie Fiderer nickname generator . For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/416 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Feb 28, 2018•54 min
A live Big Block of Cheese Day from San Francisco Sketch Fest! Hrishi and Josh are joined by Dulé Hill to answer questions from fans - including a semi-surprise guest. Nate DiMeo of The Memory Palace ( @thememorypalace ) podcast tells the history of the big block of cheese, and Helen Zaltzman of The Allusionist ( @AllusionistShow ) gets VERY salty with her language as she explains the origin of the word “sh**hole.” Saltiest of all, though, is the 50 pound wheel of Pecorino Romano that we actuall...
Feb 21, 2018•1 hr 10 min
For our discussion of Inauguration: Over There, Josh regales Hrishi with tales of shooting in his underwear and throwing snowballs at Janel Moloney. Plus, we’re joined by West Wing writer and former Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling ( @genebsperling ). He tells us how the Clinton administration's regrets over the handling of the Rwandan genocide led to the Bartlet administration's doctrine for the use of force. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/415 Learn about your ad c...
Feb 14, 2018•1 hr 4 min
Inauguration: Part I is the first part of our two-part series about a two-part series of West Wing episodes. Josh and Hrishi dig up fun facts about presidential bibles, and cast a critical eye on CJ's flirting and Josh's mean sass about Jack Reese. They also talk with Danica McKellar ( @danicamckellar ) about how a character named Tracy became Elsie Snuffin. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/414 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Feb 07, 2018•1 hr 10 min
As the West Wing takes a trip to Dayton, OH, for The Long Goodbye, Josh and Hrishi talk to playwright Jon Robin Baitz, who playwrought the episode. He talks about how his own father's illness informed the script in ways he didn't realize at the time, and gets props from our hosts for finally letting C.J. get some. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/413 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Jan 31, 2018•48 min
For our discussion of Guns Not Butter, Josh and Hrishi go on a hunt for Hrishi’s Hebrew name that is almost as intense as Donna’s quest to get Josh’s phone into the hands of Senator Hardin. Tom Hart of ONE ( @OneCampaign ) makes the case for foreign aid, and MAZON’s CEO & President Abby Leibman (@ MAZONusa ) backs Charlie up on the subject of food stamps on the military, but not one single person sides with poor Josh Lyman on the remote prayer issue. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/412...
Jan 24, 2018•1 hr 9 min
On the West Wing, it’s Toby’s birthday (December 23), and his father visits. On the West Wing Weekly, it’s Josh’s birthday (January 17), and HIS father visits. We turn to Mr Robert Malina for some Yiddish info and some Joshish insights. Plus, we’re joined by a couple of the Yale Whiffenpoofs who appeared in "Holy Night" to tell us about how they ended up singing for President Bartlet. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/411 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Jan 17, 2018•1 hr 13 min
One of us! One of us! Will Bailey finally arrives in the West Wing and we've got a trio of guests to welcome him. Former Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu ( @ChrisLu44 ) talks about the (nonexistent) precedent for cabinet resignations; director John David Coles breaks down his unusual camera choices; and Richard Schiff ( @Richard_Schiff ) reveals what song Toby had stuck in his head the first time he met Will. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/410 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-ch...
Dec 20, 2017•1 hr 31 min
Eli Attie ( @EliAttie ) and Kevin Falls ( @KevinFalls ) are our guests to talk about the “break glass in case of emergency” writing that went into “Swiss Diplomacy”, a rare episode without a Sorkin writing credit. These guys have stories! And they’ll tell you why, when in doubt, you should always run for president. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/409 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Dec 13, 2017•1 hr 14 min
Stock up on Cheetos, because Joanna Gleason ( @TheRealJGleason ) is our guest and she’s got a drinking game - sorry, an eating game - for anyone who loves to pick apart Bradley Whitford’s acting technique. Needless to say, Josh is on board. It’s a probable impossibility that by the end of this episode we’ll all understand what an improbable possibility is, and why Sam is so down on it. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/408 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Dec 05, 2017•58 min
As the characters anxiously await election results and Donna tries to swap votes with Christian Slater, Josh and Hrishi interview Clark Gregg ( @ClarkGregg ) about how everybody wants to call him Agent Something. And, Josh looks back fondly on the mighty superpowers that allowed him to summon rain from a clear sky. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/407 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Nov 21, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Hrishi and Josh welcome special guest Joshua Malina to talk about Joshua Malina’s first episode as Will Bailey. [fanfare] With special appearances by Bradley Whitford, Rob Lowe, and Joshua Malina. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/406 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Nov 15, 2017•1 hr 26 min
To discuss the Bartlet Administration's debate camp, we're joined once again by Ronald Klain, who has been in charge of debate prep for every Democratic presidential candidate since 2004. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/405 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Nov 07, 2017•59 min
Pretty much one long “ai yi yi.” For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/404 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Nov 01, 2017•54 min
This week, we’re joined by former Secretary of Education John King, Jr. ( @JohnBKing ) and Aimee Mann ( @aimeemann ) to discuss “College Kids”. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/403 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Oct 25, 2017•1 hr 14 min
Josh and Hrishi discuss second part of Season 4 premiere with episode director, Christopher Misiano. West Wing Weekly love episode! For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/402 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Oct 18, 2017•1 hr 24 min
