Shows / The West Wing Weekly
The West Wing Weekly
From The West Wing to The Diplomat to All the President's Men, we discuss works of political television and film. Co-hosted by Joshua Malina (The West Wing, Scandal) and Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder).
Episodes
The West Wing WeeklyThe Diplomat 1.05: The Dogcatcher (with Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones)
Pivots, lit bits, and a hookup in a pond. Plus plenty of plenipotentiary, as Hrishi and Josh welcome Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones and her husband Don Ruschman…
The West Wing WeeklyThe Diplomat 1.04: He Bought a Hat
You’ve said you’d listen to us talk about anything, and today we test this thesis. We touch on pigs, contractions, James Bond, and offscreen butts. And we…
The West Wing WeeklyThe Diplomat 1.03: Lambs in the Dark (with Andrew Bernstein)
We’re joined by director Andrew Bernstein to discuss his work on this episode (as well as his work on The West Wing)—and that fight scene between Kate and Hal!…
The West Wing WeeklyThe Diplomat 1.02: Don't Call It a Kidnapping
We’re digging into the dynamics of Kate & Hal, Eidra & Stuart, the breathless pace of the show, and its “no good guys” worldview. Josh has an important PSA…
The West Wing WeeklyThe Diplomat 1.01: The Cinderella Thing (with Debora Cahn)
Our discussion of The Diplomat begins at the beginning with the creator of the series, Debora Cahn, who tells us about the show's origin story. For more info…
The West Wing WeeklyIntroducing: The Diplomat
We’re very excited to announce a new series here on The West Wing Weekly, discussing the Netflix hit political thriller The Diplomat, episode by episode…
The West Wing WeeklyAll The President's Men
We're discussing the 1976 Oscar-winning classic directed by Alan Pakula and written by William Goldman (one of Aaron Sorkin's screenwriting heroes). WOODSTEIN!…
The West Wing WeeklyA Few Good Men
Did you order the Code Red? You're goddamn right I did!—if by "Code Red" you mean an hour of Josh & Hrishi discussing this Aaron Sorkin / Rob Reiner classic…
The West Wing WeeklyBob Roberts (with Adam Scott)
We've got a bonus installment of the Film Fest—with special guest Adam Scott! In addition to his work on Severance, Parks & Recreation, Party Down, and so much…
The West Wing WeeklyMr. Smith Goes to Washington
We're trying to savor the Capra-esque quality of this experience by wrapping up with Mr. Smith. Supplemental materials: James Taylor - You've Got a Friend Mr…
The West Wing WeeklyDave
Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, and Kevin Kline. This one was a Patreon subscriber pick! Additional materials: an article about the making of Dave…
The West Wing WeeklyThe Candidate
Is The Candidate, in fact, the anti-West Wing? A political story that ends not with a bang, but with a question of existential dread. Interview with…
The West Wing WeeklyA Face In The Crowd
Did this movie predict Trump back in 1957? We discuss the film debut of Andy Griffith in a role so dark, anyone who knows the Andy Griffith show might…
The West Wing WeeklyNetwork
This week, we dive deeper into the role of the fourth estate, as we discuss Network, the Oscar-winning film that was meant to be a wild satire at the time it…
The West Wing WeeklyBulworth
This week, we're discussing the 1998 film Bulworth, which features a rapping Warren Beatty, a young Josh Malina, a few problematic moments, and some wonderful…
The West Wing WeeklyJudas and the Black Messiah
What's more terrifying in Martin Sheen's depiction of J. Edgar Hoover—the racism, or the makeup?! We discuss ALL the important aspects of this cat-and-mouse…
The West Wing WeeklyDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
This week, we're discussing the hilarious — and terrifying—Dr Strangelove. A few goodies: An interview with title designer Pablo Ferro "Are We the Baddies?"…
The West Wing WeeklyIn the Loop
This week, we're discussing the razor-sharp dialogue and side-splitting comedy of In the Loop (2009), one the greatest political satires. Here are footnotes…
The West Wing WeeklyThe American President
It's the first installment of the Political Film Fest, and we've got: Martin Sheen in the oval office! "What is the virtue of a proportional response?" The…
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Introducing: The West Wing Weekly Political Film Fest!
After four years away, we're bringing back The West Wing Weekly in a new form. As this election season heats up, we're taking a weekly respite from the stress…
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0.21: Celebrating the new West Wing book "What's Next?" (live with Mary McCormack, Melissa Fitzgerald, Aaron Sorkin, and
On Saturday, August 10, we celebrated the publication of the new book "What's Next: A Backstage Pass to the West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring…
The West Wing Weekly0.20: A West Wing Weekly Special to Discuss A West Wing Special To Benefit When We All Vote (with Aaron Sorkin)
We’re back! The West Wing cast reunited for this special episode, so we got back together to discuss it. And Aaron Sorkin joins us to talk about his…
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Introducing: Home Cooking
We want to introduce you to a brand new emergency quarantine podcast mini-series called Home Cooking. It’s from Hrishi and chef Samin Nosrat, author of the…
The West Wing Weekly7.22: Tomorrow (Live with cast and crew of The West Wing)
As the Bartlet administration ends, so does our podcast. We recorded our finale live in Los Angeles, at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel. This episode has two…
The West Wing Weekly7.21: Institutional Memory (with Janet Ashikaga)
CJ & Danny and Will & Kate all ponder what's next, and Josh & Hrishi do, too, as we discuss "Institutional Memory." We're joined by someone who also posseses…
The West Wing Weekly7.20: The Last Hurrah (with Mary-Louise Parker and Teri Polo)
We discuss "The Last Hurrah" in this, our antepenultimate hurrah. And what a hurrah it is, with not one, but two great guests: Mary-Louise Parker and Teri…
The West Wing Weekly7.19: Transition (Live with Bradley Whitford)
We traveled all the way to London to make a lot of references to "Fiddler on the Roof." Bradley Whitford joined us to record this episode in front of a…
The West Wing Weekly0.19: John Wells
For our last episode of the year, we've got a special one with television legend John Wells. We've been talking about him for seven seasons, and now we finally…
The West Wing Weekly7.18: Requiem (with memories of John Spencer from the cast and crew)
In this episode, some thoughts on John Spencer, shared by Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, Rob Lowe, Jimmy Smits, Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew…
The West Wing Weekly0.18: Small Block of Cheese Day (The West Wing Weekly Forever)
In the main foyer of our podcast, we have this small block of cheese, there for any and all who might want a snack. We want this block of cheese to stick…
The West Wing Weekly7.17: Election Day, Part 2 (with Jimmy Smits)
As we finish the long arc of the Presidential campaign with this momentous West Wing episode, Jimmy Smits joins us to tell us about his experience playing Matt…
The West Wing Weekly7.16: Election Day, Part 1 (with Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Michael Hissrich)
This week’s episode is one of love and loss, but with our guests this week, we’re celebrating the joyful side. Lauren Schmidt Hissrich wrote this episode, and…
The West Wing Weekly0.17: Casting the Pilot (with John Levey)
Before we get to the end, we're going back to the beginning. For this bonus episode, we talk to John Levey, Emmy-winning casting director for the first two…
The West Wing Weekly7.15: Welcome to Wherever You Are
In this week's episode, Toby says, "You should do the crossword," so Hrishi made a mini puzzle to go along with our discussion. Get a PDF of the puzzle at…
The West Wing Weekly7.14: Two Weeks Out
We take this episode in our bone-crushing grip and shake it with everything we've got. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/714 Learn about your ad choices…
The West Wing Weekly7.13: The Cold (with Janel Moloney and Bradley Whitford)
Josh and Donna There on my TV K-I-S-S-I-N-G Let's discuss. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/713 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
The West Wing Weekly7.12: Duck and Cover (with Eli Attie)
Eli Attie joins us to discuss this tension-filled episode about a potential nuclear disaster. For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/712 Learn about your ad…
The West Wing Weekly7.11: Internal Displacement (with Bradley Whitford and Annabeth Gish)
Bradley Whitford returns to gleefully tell us about writing this episode and giving Josh the lines, "I can't act. I'm a terrible actor." And Annabeth Gish…
The West Wing Weekly0.16: Annabeth Schott (with Kristin Chenoweth)
This week, the great Kristin Chenoweth joins us to discuss her role as Annabeth. She's an Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer, and we’re so glad…
The West Wing Weekly7.10: Running Mates (with Matthew Del Negro)
This week, we discuss the beautiful performance by John Spencer in "Running Mates," the first episode of his to air posthumously. We’re also joined by Matthew…
The West Wing Weekly7.09: The Wedding (with Nina Siemaszko)
Today, we’re talking about "The Wedding" (or The Marriage, or The Espousal, or The Nuptials, or The Union). We’re joined by Nina Siemaszko, who tells us about…
The West Wing Weekly7.08: Undecideds
In "Undecideds," Santos gives a speech meant to uplift and inspire, but Josh and Hrishi are "Unconvinceds." Plus, we look at Toby’s apartment, Godwin’s Law…
The West Wing Weekly7.07: The Debate (Part II, with Ronald Klain and Beth Myers)
How did Santos and Vinick do in the debate? To help us judge the candidates on both substance and style, we’ve enlisted the people in charge of debate prep on…
The West Wing Weekly7.07: The Debate (Part I, with Lawrence O'Donnell)
In our first of two episodes on "The Debate," we talk to Lawrence O’Donnell, who took on the challenge of writing a live episode — one that takes place…
The West Wing Weekly7.06: The Al Smith Dinner
At long last, everyone is ready to unleash their negative ad campaigns. Here's one Hrishi came up with. JOSH MALINA—he's not nearly as mean as he makes himself…
The West Wing Weekly7.05: Here Today (with Richard Schiff)
Richard Schiff joins us to discuss this gorgeous, eerie, heartbreaking episode and to tell us his true feelings about Toby’s storyline. For more, visit…
The West Wing Weekly7.04: Mr. Frost
Joshua Malina and Hrishikesh Hirway (collectively, “The Hosts”) have been served a subpoena to appear on this episode of the podcast, to testify in regards to…
The West Wing Weekly0.15: Alex Graves
At long last, West Wing director and executive producer Alex Graves joins us to talk about his time on the show. From "In Excelsis Deo" to "17 People" to our…
The West Wing Weekly7.03: Message of the Week
This week, the message is The Message of The Week. Just to brief you: we're keeping it brief. As they say in athletics. For more, visit…
The West Wing Weekly7.02: The Mommy Problem
In this mother of an episode, Alex Graves cranks the style up to 11. We’re introduced to the character of Louise Thornton (played by Janeane Garofalo). We get…
The West Wing Weekly7.01: The Ticket
It’s the Season 7 premiere! Which begins, naturally, with a scene from the Season 10 premiere! Suspense hovers over this episode, like a space station in need…
The West Wing Weekly0.14: Veep (with Gary Cole and David Mandel)
We wanted to honor the end of Vice President Bob Russell's storyline in The West Wing with Gary Cole, who played Bingo Bob. Gary also plays Kent Davison in the…
The West Wing Weekly6.22: 2162 Votes (Live with Mary McCormack and Lawrence O'Donnell)
We wrap up Season 6 with a live taping from Washington, DC, joined by special guests Mary McCormack (@marycmccormack) and Lawrence O’Donnell (@lawrence). Cue…
The West Wing Weekly6.21: Things Fall Apart (with Jennifer Palmieri)
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the DNC, The delegate tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of democracy is…
The West Wing Weekly6.20: In God We Trust (with Alan Alda and Rev. Katey Zeh)
The legendary Alan Alda joins us this week to discuss Arnie Vinick, the Constitution, and eating ice cream. Plus, we speak to Reverend Katey Zeh, the executive…
The West Wing Weekly6.19: Ninety Miles Away
"Ninety Miles Away" really takes us somewhere, and we're not talking about Cuba. Josh and Hrishi try to navigate their way through wigs, termites, and…
The West Wing Weekly0.13: Graphic Design for President! (with Michael Bierut and Leslie Wah)
When you’re running for President, how you present yourself to the public is crucial. The West Wing often underscored that it’s not just what one says, it’s…
The West Wing Weekly6.18: La Palabra (with Eli Attie and Angelica Salas of CHIRLA)
Eli Attie joins us again to talk about his third episode in the trilogy of Santos campaign episodes that he wrote for Season 6. We also hear from Angelica…
The West Wing Weekly6.17: A Good Day (with Richard Schiff)
Richard Schiff returns as our guest this week to tell us about his experience directing "A Good Day." For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/617 Learn about…
The West Wing Weekly6.16: Drought Conditions (with Debora Cahn and Richard Schiff)
This week, we’re joined by Debora Cahn, to talk about her script for "Drought Conditions," and by Richard Schiff, to talk about his heartbreaking performance…