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October 04, 2002
Fund-Raiser Takes Flight With 'West Wing's' Help
By GINA PICCALO and LOUISE ROUG
LA Times
Inside producer Lawrence Bender's spacious living room, beyond the candles surrounding the guest list and the stash of gift bags, a crowd of young, energetic liberals mingled with Hollywood types. The Wednesday night gathering was part fund-raiser, part viewing party for the second episode of the Emmy-winning "The West Wing," which aired on NBC at 9 p.m. Bender invited people to pay a minimum of $250 to watch it at his house. The casual affair in Bel-Air raised an estimated $100,000 for the nonprofit Rock the Vote, which works to build political awareness among young people and registers them to vote.
"The last time I was here, it was the [2000] Democratic convention," noted Los Angeles City Council candidate Rob Vinson. "It was like 'The West Wing' meets the West Wing. Half the Clinton administration was here."
On this night, the crowd was peppered with actors, including "The West Wing's" Janel Moloney and Anna Deavere Smith, "Rock the Vote" staff, as well as the group's founders and supporters. Before the show, the crew from "Extra!" interviewed guests from a brightly lighted spot on the lawn. Most guests crowded onto the back porch near the bar, where bartenders doled out the POTUS (for President of the United States), a drink with Dewar's White Label Scotch whiskey and ginger ale.
The evening also celebrated the nonprofit's inclusion in that night's episode. In it, members of the cast, most prominently Allison Janney, were featured at a fictitious Rock the Vote concert at the House of Blues. The episode, which reached an estimated 20 million people, was a coup for the organization that operates nationally with a 10-member staff. "It's a call to arms for the last 34 days of the election," said Rock the Vote Executive Director Jehmu Greene of the party and the episode.
But for "West Wing" creator and executive producer Aaron Sorkin, watching about 150 people react to the show was near torture. During the hourlong episode, he stood in the back of the room with his head down, hand to his brow. At every commercial break, he rushed outside to smoke a cigarette.
When asked about watching people watch the show, he didn't hesitate. "It's like being naked," he said, lighting another cigarette. "It's like that dream you have when you find yourself in front of a bunch of people--totally naked. It's like that every time."
Posted by MorganG at October 4, 2002 12:30 PM