The West Wing Cast Celebrates Show’s 25th Anniversary With Election-Conscious Emmy Reunion

If the current state of American politics has you down, this year’s Emmys offered a few moments of respite, courtesy of the most aspirational political drama in TV history.

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Members of The West Wing cast gathered on the stage at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater Sunday to honor the Aaron Sorkin series’ 25th anniversary. Those in attendance included: Martin Sheen (who played President Jed Bartlet), Allison Janney (chief of staff C.J. Cregg), Dulé Hill (Bartlet’s personal aide Charlie Young), Richard Schiff (communications director Toby Ziegler) and Janel Moloney (senior assistant to the deputy chief of staff Donna Moss).

In the brief set-up for the awarding of the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy — which went to Shogun (see full winners list here ) — Sheen & Co. mused about how 25 years ago, Sorkin and his writers had to imagine dramatic political scenarios rather than just look at the day’s news. “Our political landscape has shifted,” Moloney said before reminding viewers to make sure they’re registered to vote, and then to vote.

But where was Bradley Whitford, who played deputy White House chief of staff Josh Lyman? Whitford posted his regrets Sunday on X , writing, “It breaks my heart not to be able to be with my West Wing family at the Emmys tonight or at the White House later this week to celebrate our 25th birthday, but I’m in Budapest on another White House set pretending to work for another administration. (I know. I need to work on my range.)” Whitford currently is in Hungary, shooting Netflix’s Death By Lightning , which is about President James Garfield.

The West Wing debuted in 1999 and ran seven seasons on NBC. The drama followed the staff of a fictional Democratic administration during its two terms in the White House. It won 26 Emmys along the way, including Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row. The cast also included Rob Lowe, Stockard Channing, Joshua Malina, Mary McCormack, Alan Alda, Kristen Chenoweth and John Spencer.

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Spencer died of a heart attack in 2005, while The West Wing was filming its final season. The series wrote his passing into the story, having his character —top presidential advisor-turned-vice presidential candidate Leo McGarry — die of a heart attack on Election Night.

Lowe, Hill, Janney, Moloney, Schiff, Whitford and Martin Sheen previously reunited in 2020 in A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote , HBO Max’s theatrical presentation of a reading of Season 3’s “Hartsfield Landing” episode. Sterling K. Brown ( This Is Us ) read the role of Leo.

Video of the reunion will be added as soon as it becomes available. Until then: What did you think of seeing some of the West Wing cast together again? Hit the comments with your thoughts!

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