‘The West Wing’ Stages Emmy Awards Reunion to Encourage Voter Registration

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing , and some members of the cast reunited on Sunday at the Emmy Awards to present the award for Best Drama and encourage everyone to register to vote.

Martin Sheen , Allison Janney , Richard Schiff , Dulé Hill , and Janel Moloney appeared onstage in a replica of The West Wing ‘s Oval Office set as the show’s original opening theme played. The fictional Jed Bartlet administration “officials” briefly paid tribute to the series, which won 26 Emmy Awards during its run from 1999 to 2006 on NBC. Then they turned to a tongue-in-cheek mention of current political events:

Janney: It’s hard to believe that just 25 years ago, Aaron and the writers actually had to use their imaginations to create interesting plotlines for The West Wing .

Schiff: Unlike today, where storylines can be plucked right off the news, storylines that writers would have deemed a bit farfetched, if not utterly ridiculous 25 years ago.

Moloney: Our political landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years, but two things have not changed — the importance of everyone making sure to be registered and to vote.

Sheen: And the quality of the drama series on television.

The Emmy Award for Best Drama went to FX’s Shōgun .

Four years ago, almost the entire cast of The West Wing reunited to recreate the third season episode “Hartsfield’s Landing” on HBO Max to benefit the nonpartisan group When We All Vote .