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April 09, 2002
'West Wing' to run interview episode without Bush administration participation
Electronic Media
Following controversial published complaints from series creator/executive producer Aaron Sorkin last February about Bush administration policies, NBC's "The West Wing" is pushing forward with an April 24 special episode featuring interviews with past White House players. But notably absent is the participation of any current Bush Cabinet officials. The current administration was approached for
participation by "West Wing's" series producers.
"The West Wing's" docudrama special, directed by Bill Coultouris and airing 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, April 24, will feature a mix of scenes in which the series' fictional characters will be balanced by the reflections of past White House officials.
NBC spokespeople were unreachable for comment on the absence of any current Bush Cabinet members from the show. NBC did issue a release mentioning a list of "real-life" Cabinet members and presidents from previous administrations.
Former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton will participate. Other officials set for interviews are Reagan and Clinton administration adviser David Gergen, Clinton Press Secretary
Dee Dee Myers, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (from the Nixon and Ford administrations) and Clinton Chief of Staff Leon Panetta.
Last February, Mr. Sorkin was quoted in a New Yorker magazine feature taking issue with the media "waving pompoms" on the Bush administration's war on terrorism. In particular, Mr. Sorkin took
issue with NBC News' access to President Bush for a Tom Brokaw-hosted "Inside the Bush White House: Inside the Real West Wing," which Mr. Sorkin suggested had the president padding his schedule "to show him being much busier and more engaged than he is."
The online Drudge Report was the first to pick up on the New Yorker feature and quoted unnamed White House officials as saying Mr. Sorkin was "bitter" because his TV show had been rebuffed on interview requests. During a subsequent February sweeps conference call, NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker said he would "never get in the way" of Mr. Sorkin speaking his mind but also noted the "West Wing" producer had apologized to Mr. Brokaw for suggesting that NBC News
participated in a staged special on the day in President Bush's White House life.
The "West Wing" special will also feature highlights of all three seasons of the series. The Emmy winner as outstanding drama for two years running stars Martin Sheen, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Rob
Lowe, Richard Schiff, Allison Janney, Dule Hill, Janel Moloney and Stockard Channing.
"The West Wing" is from John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Director Thomas Schlamme and John Wells are executive producers.
Posted by MorganG at April 9, 2002 10:17 PM