An episode-by-episode discussion of The West Wing, one of television’s most beloved shows, co-hosted by one of its stars, Joshua Malina, along with Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder.
We’re joined by Paul Redford, who wrote for West Wing Seasons 1–5, as well as Sports Night and The Newsroom. He’s responsible for some classic West Wing storylines, and we’re long overdue for a chat with him, so we’re making up for lost time with this bonus episode. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/010 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
We’re joined this week by Season 6 newcomer Ben Murray, who played Curtis Carruthers, the President’s new body man. He tells us the hilarious story of auditioning to be the guy who had to pick up and carry Martin Sheen. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/609 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Join us in the room to discuss "In the Room," in which the President’s need to be 'in the room' in China is the central topic of discussion in the room—President Room—the Oval Office. We’re joined by magicians Penn & Teller, who light a flag on fire in the (East) Room in this episode. Or did they? (They didn’t.) For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/608 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Mary McCormack joins Josh and Hrishi to discuss "A Change Is Gonna Come," recorded live in San Francisco. Plus, Roman Mars , host of 99% Invisible and noted flag expert, drops some vexillological knowledge. Special thanks to Professor Rebecca Nedostup for shedding light on Taiwan and China. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/607 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
In this special bonus episode, we learn about what it’s like casting The West Wing. Our guest is Tony Sepulveda, who was the casting director for Seasons 3 and 4. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/009 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wait a second: Is Annabeth Mandy 2.0? Plus Donna pushes Josh away, CJ pushes Toby away, and Santos pulls Josh in with his wily political moves. We need a bipartisan summit with Red Vines families and Twizzler families so we can discuss all of this and more. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/606 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
In this episode, a little chess, to test cognitive ability. First move: SUV to Prius. What's the opposite of checkmate? For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/605 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Everything about “Liftoff" feels like a new era is beginning, so we’re welcoming the new year by welcoming Allison Janney ( @AllisonBJanney ) to talk about CJ’s new job as the new chief of staff. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/604 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Big changes are getting announced: CJ is the new Chief of Staff. More importantly, Josh and Hrishi announce "Melon Day" as an official West Wing holiday. Grab a muskmelon and a plate of brownies, and hit play! For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/603 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Hello Mother, I'm elated Here I am at old Camp David I'm respectful, all due deference But I don't really get the Macbeth reference Plus, former ambassador Jacob Walles tells us about the years he dedicated to brokering Mideast peace, including his time at 2000 Camp David Summit, and he tells us what this episode got right about those conversations. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/602 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
It took a lot of diplomacy behind the scenes, but Josh and Hrishi have agreed to come together to negotiate our feelings on Season 6, Episode 1. Pull up a chair and join us for the discussion at Camp Josiah. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/601 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Introducing the folks behind the scenes of our podcast. You can help us make our show, too, by supporting Radiotopia's annual fundraiser, going on right now! radiotopia.fm For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/008 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
We literally cannot wait for you to hear how much The West Wing influenced Parks and Recreation. We spoke to the co-creator of the show, Michael Schur , and two of the stars, Rob Lowe and Adam Scott , to learn about the parallels between the Bartlet White House and the Pawnee Parks Department. Stop pooping! Just listen. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/007 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
We're wrapping up Season 5 with screenwriter Josh Singer , whose first writing credit was "Memorial Day." We also look back at the past 22 episodes to ask: what kind of season has it been? For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/522 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
We're joined by special guests Jason Isaacs and Janel Moloney to discuss the big, ambitious, penultimate episode of Season 5. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/521 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
We’re joined by three guests for our discussion of "No Exit." Former Senator Tom Daschle tells us about what it was like getting sent anthrax in the mail; Wilson Cruz tells us about playing Jack Sosa for his two episodes on The West Wing; and Eli Attie tells us about the writing of the episode, specifically the Will and Toby scenes, which he co-wrote with Peter Noah. But first, a poem that this episode inspired Hrishi to write: Albert Camus Cried, "What do we do? We're all stuck here in a cell!"...
We're joined by Richard Schiff to discuss this episode, his television directing debut! Hear what it was like for him to step behind the camera for this story about power and labor and international trade. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/519 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
In "Access," we're given a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to work inside the West Wing. …wait a second, what have all these other episodes been about? Let's discuss. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/518 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
We hereby appoint the Honorable Debora T. Cahn , West Wing writer, for the position of Chief Guestice of The Supremes episode. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/517 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
They tried to get us to renounce The West Wing, but Eppur Si Puodcaste! Josh and Hrishi investigate some of the real world mechanics behind NIH grants and the federal judiciary with help from cancer researcher Dr Muller Fabbri and political journalist Jason Zengerle . For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/516 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Full disclosure: you’re going to hear the words 'full disclosure' a lot in this episode, as we discuss "Full Disclosure." Lawrence O’Donnell joins us to discuss how he wrote this episode, how Richard Schiff changed its meaning without changing a word, and how Josh Lyman’s plot line landed him in Hillary Clinton’s crosshairs. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/515 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
In this episode, the past is laid bare like a nude portrait, or at the very least, like a photo of your ex in a bikini. Grab your copy of Latin Phrases for Awkward Situations, and parachute in with us. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/514 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
A potential nuclear threat looms on the horizon, so let’s head down to the Situation Room to discuss The Warfare of Genghis Khan. We’re joined by former congressman and nonproliferation advocate John Tierney , who catches us up on nuclear politics then and now. And Josh and Hrishi manage to listen to the arguments of NASA analyst Jacob Keaton without him even having to take them stargazing or anything. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/513 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-cho...
Sleep in! We'll wake up the President for you to tell him about our great idea to record a podcast about the Slow News Day episode of the West Wing. Joining us in this historic endeavor is returning guest Eli Attie , who shares his memories about real and fictional West Wing attempts to build a legacy. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works , also drops by to tell us just how Toby's efforts compare to the real history of Social Security reform. PS: we had a data glitch while recording ...
This week, we discuss "The Benign Prerogative," and the not so benign aspects of Presidential pardons. We're joined once again by Janel Moloney to talk about Donna's moving storyline in this episode. Plus, Lin-Manuel Miranda makes a little cameo (#Hameo) to help us with the original text by Alexander Hamilton from which this episode takes its name. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/511 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
It's the 100th episode of The West Wing! Our guest this week is Bellamy Young , who made her first appearance in a TV White House here, some years before joining Josh on Scandal as PRESIDENT Mellie Grant. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/510 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
"Cauliflower." For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/509 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Shut! It! Down! Josh and Hrishi are walking right up to the hallway outside your office to talk about “Shutdown.” Gene Sperling , former White House Director of the National Economic Council, joins them to compare Bill Clinton's shutdown game plan to Jed Bartlet's apparent lack of one. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/508 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
The Supreme Court is looking at a case that relates to Korematsu v. United States, while the White House starts to make their moves towards appointing a new justice. But ai yai yai, we aren’t talking about last month’s headlines—we’re talking about “Separation of Powers,” from November 2003. And this week, we’re joined by special guest Michael Hyatt who plays Angela Blake. She gave us a wonderfully candid interview about how she got the role—and why Angela didn’t stick around for longer. For mor...
We're joined this week by Alexa Junge and returning guest Lauren Schmidt Hissrich . They co-wrote "Disaster Relief," and together, we try to propulgate the backstory of this episode onto the frontstory. Like President Bartlet in Oklahoma, you'll never want to go back to work! For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/506 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
