25 years ago, the TV series The West Wing premiered. It was a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional White House. We revisit our interviews with show creator/writer Aaron Sorkin, and actors Allison Janney, who played C.J., and John Spencer, who played Leo McGarry. They talk about the show's signature walk-and-talk and the quippy, rapid-fire style of dialogue. Also, Justin Chang reviews Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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This is fresh AIR.
I'm David B.
And Cooley.
NBC's the West Wing premiered 25 years ago, the same year that HBO premiered the Sopranos.
That year marked the beginning of a shift in power and quality from broadcast to cable tv, and the West Wing was one of the last shows from broadcast television to win the Emmy for best drama series.
The show, which was unveiled near the end of the presidency of Bill Clinton, was a behind the scenes look at a fictional White House.
Aaron Sorkin, a young playwright who had written the stage in movie versions of a few good Menta, created the show.
The stars of the West Wing included Martin Sheen as president Bartlett, John Spencer as the president's chief of staff, and Allison Janney as his press secretary.
At the actual White House recently, first lady Jill Biden welcomed the cast and creators of the West Wing, saluting them for doing a show about politics and the White House that was smart, funny and above all, hopeful.
Anytime we begin to slip into cynicism or apathy, we just have to remember Jed Bartlett's White House, a place where there are big blocks of cheese and everyone belongs where you do good.
That's the story the West Wing showed the nation.
Today we'll dip into our fresh air archives and hear from both John Spencer and Allison Janney.
But we'll begin with an interview with Aaron Sorkin.
Terry Gross spoke with Aaron Sorkin in 2012, and they talked about the show's distinctive look, developed in part by the show's director, Tommy Shlomi.
A lot of the dialogue in the West Wing became known as the walk and talk, where two or more of the characters would be talking to each other, exchanging strategy or whatever as they walk through the hall.
And, you know, in reality, a lot of this dialogue would probably be.