The Bartlett administration never actually occupied the White House, but the trials and tribulations during its run are the subject of scrutiny and critical acclaim all the same. For one night, all the principals that madeThe West Winga rousing success come together once again for charity to reenact an episode on HBO Max.
The West Wingwas once a centerpiece of NBC’s “Must See TV” lineup, depicting the exploits of the fictitious democratic President Jed Bartlett and his White House staff as they navigated the complicated world of politics. The show ended more than a decade ago, but its cast will come together for one night for a theatrical rendition of the episode “Hartsfeld Landing.” Proceeds for the show will benefit the nonprofit-nonpartisan organizationWhen We All Vote, which aims to increase voter participation. The reunion’s full title isA West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote.
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Almost the entire original cast agreed to participate in the episode including the series creatorAaron Sorkin and producerThomas Schlamme. Among the returners are Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford and Martin Sheen. The reunion special will film over several days in early October at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles with HBO Max parent company WarnerMedia making a donation to When We All Vote in honor of the special.
Some familiar favorite characterswill making their return in “Hartsfield’s Landing” with Sheen reprising his role as President Bartlet. He attempts to navigate a foreign relations spat with China during the episode while playing a game of chess. His opponents are White House Communications Director Toby Ziegler, played by Schiff, and his deputy Sam Seaborne played by Lowe. Whitford plays Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman who anxiously awaits the results of a primary in a small New Hampshire town. At the same time this is happening, Press Secretary C.J Cregg (played by Janney) and Charlie (played by Hill) are in the midst of a prank war.
Missing from the gang of original cast members performing the episode is Chief of Staff Leo McGarry who wasplayed by Jon Spencer. Spencer died of a heart attack before the show ended in 2006.The West Wingearned critical acclaim winning a Peabody, Golden Globe and a prime time Emmy during its run. The show gets its reunion asFriends,another show popular during the “Must See TV” era, struggles to finalize its own reunion special.
There is no date for the special to air on HBO Max, but it’s filming in October falls close to the 2020 election in November.
