The West Wing Weekly
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.
Episodes
We’re back! The West Wing cast reunited for this special episode, so we got back together to discuss it. And Aaron Sorkin joins us to talk about his experiences adapting "Hartsfield’s Landing" for this voter turnout initiative. Please go to whenweallvote.org to donate!
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/020
We want to introduce you to a brand new emergency quarantine podcast mini-series called Home Cooking. It’s from Hrishi and chef Samin Nosrat, author of the award-winning cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, and host of the Netflix show by the same name. The first episode just came out, and features Josh as the special guest. If you’ve missed hearing Josh and Hrishi in conversation, we thought you’d appreciate this excerpt. The ...
As the Bartlet administration ends, so does our podcast. We recorded our finale live in Los Angeles, at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel. This episode has two parts: first, we discuss "Tomorrow," with several guests joining us. Then, we take a fond look back at the entire series, along with thirty (30!) guests from the cast and crew, including Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme. Here’s everyone who was with us on stage:
Aaron S...
CJ & Danny and Will & Kate all ponder what's next, and Josh & Hrishi do, too, as we discuss "Institutional Memory." We're joined by someone who also posseses institutional memory: the fantastic Janet Ashikaga, editor on The West Wing (including this episode), as well as Sports Night and Seinfeld.
Plus: listen to the trailer for Hrishi’s new podcast, Partners, and subscribe to it here.
For more, visit thewestw...
We discuss "The Last Hurrah" in this, our antepenultimate hurrah. And what a hurrah it is, with not one, but two great guests: Mary-Louise Parker and Teri Polo. Hurrah!
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/720
We traveled all the way to London to make a lot of references to "Fiddler on the Roof." Bradley Whitford joined us to record this episode in front of a sold-out crowd at the Hammersmith Apollo.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/719
For our last episode of the year, we've got a special one with television legend John Wells. We've been talking about him for seven seasons, and now we finally got him to talk to us directly. Our conversation spans the entire history of The West Wing, since John Wells served as Executive Producer for every single episode.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/019
Right now, Radiotopia is holding its annual fundraiser. He...
In this episode, some thoughts on John Spencer, shared by Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, Rob Lowe, Jimmy Smits, Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Del Negro, Emily Procter, Eli Attie, Michael Hissrich, and Josh Malina. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/718
Support The West Wing Weekly and Radiotopia. Make your mark. Go to radiotopia.fm today.
In the main foyer of our podcast, we have this small block of cheese, there for any and all who might want a snack. We want this block of cheese to stick around forever, and never get moldy, or get thrown out! To do so, we’re hoping you’ll support our wonderful podcast network, Radiotopia, the refrigerator that keeps our show fresh in this increasingly painful metaphor. We’re sharing some stories from you, our lovely liste...
As we finish the long arc of the Presidential campaign with this momentous West Wing episode, Jimmy Smits joins us to tell us about his experience playing Matt Santos. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/717.
Right now, Radiotopia is holding its annual fundraiser. Help us keep The West Wing Weekly available and free forever by supporting the network. Make your mark. Go to radiotopia.fm to donate today.
This week’s episode is one of love and loss, but with our guests this week, we’re celebrating the joyful side. Lauren Schmidt Hissrich wrote this episode, and she and her husband, West Wing line producer Michael Hissrich, join us to tell us how their path together mirrored and influenced Josh and Donna’s.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/716
Before we get to the end, we're going back to the beginning. For this bonus episode, we talk to John Levey, Emmy-winning casting director for the first two seasons of The West Wing, about putting together our renowned ensemble.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/017
In this week's episode, Toby says, "You should do the crossword," so Hrishi made a mini puzzle to go along with our discussion. Get a PDF of the puzzle at thewestwingweekly.com/715.
ACROSS
1. Grammy-winning singer and creator of questionable slogans, Bon _
5. Nights before, like Erevs Yom Kippur
6. What Josh wants when he yells, "I want the numbers!"
7. __ chunks, like when you eat way too much candy
DOWN...
We take this episode in our bone-crushing grip and shake it with everything we've got.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/714
Josh and Donna
There on my TV
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
Let's discuss.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/713
Eli Attie joins us to discuss this tension-filled episode about a potential nuclear disaster.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/712
Bradley Whitford returns to gleefully tell us about writing this episode and giving Josh the lines, "I can't act. I'm a terrible actor." And Annabeth Gish joins us, too! (How lucky are we?) We talk to her about the complicated character of Liz Bartlet Westin, whom she portrayed so thoughtfully.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/711
This week, the great Kristin Chenoweth joins us to discuss her role as Annabeth. She's an Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer, and we’re so glad she’s finally joining us!
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/016
This week, we discuss the beautiful performance by John Spencer in "Running Mates," the first episode of his to air posthumously. We’re also joined by Matthew Del Negro to discuss Bram, telebrams, and more.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/710
Today, we’re talking about "The Wedding" (or The Marriage, or The Espousal, or The Nuptials, or The Union). We’re joined by Nina Siemaszko, who tells us about the twist in this subplot that she didn’t see coming.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/709
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