Join us as we celebrate 25 years of The West Wing and relive the unforgettable Emmy moments shared by the cast.
Celebrating 25 Years of The West Wing
In 2000, Gold Derby launched, becoming the first website focused on awards. That year, in its rookie season, The West Wing won the first of four consecutive statuettes for Best Drama Series at the 52nd Primetime Emmys. To celebrate our 25th anniversary and theirs, here are some of the best memories from the cast about that first ceremony and those that followed.
Aaron Sorkin Reflects on the First Emmy Win
Aaron Sorkin (creator, executive producer): “We were a freshman show in the age of The Sopranos, The Practice, Law & Order, and we couldn’t believe we got invited to the party. Honestly, we were happy to just be there. Then we were called. We all leapt out of our seats. We couldn’t believe it. I think it was the first time we realized that anyone had watched the show. That was a great night.”
Sorkin won six Emmys in 10 nominations for The West Wing.
Tommy Schlamme on the Significance of Awards
Tommy Schlamme (executive producer, lead director): “It would be incredibly disingenuous to say, ‘You know, Emmys are nice, they’re fun, they’re OK.’ I think they’re so meaningful to a show and not to the person [who wins] per se. I’m much more interested in the show getting recognized, which is why I always thought the greatest award ever was the SAG Ensemble Award. On West Wing, it was the most exciting award because you felt like a group was being recognized for their work.”
Schlamme won six Emmys in six nominations for The West Wing.
Allison Janney’s Red Carpet Anxiety
Allison Janney (C.J. Cregg): “I get stressed out about going down a red carpet and being asked questions. It’s really nerve-wracking, the whole thing. The hair and makeup. And then winning. Going up there. I’ve had so many moments just being terrified where you hear your name called and it’s the most exciting thing. It’s a very extraordinary thing to have it happen. … I’ve often said how great it would be if I could have Aaron Sorkin just be in my ear. Oh my god, that’s my dream, to have one of those earpieces in and have Aaron just be feeding me my life — my Cyrano.”
Janney won four Emmys in six nominations for The West Wing.
Richard Schiff’s Unique Emmy Experience
Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler): “Because of 9/11, Game 7 of the [2001 World Series] was happening on the same night as the Emmys. I wore my Yankee hat with the stars and stripes on it. We won best show and I ran backstage to watch the end, which was very tragic for Yankee fans [the Arizona Cardinals won the game — and the Series — with a ninth-inning rally].”
Schiff won one Emmy in three nominations for The West Wing.
Rob Lowe’s Super Bowl Analogy
Rob Lowe (Sam Seaborn): “It was my first TV series and we won the [Best Drama Series] Emmy that first year. It’s like going to the Super Bowl your first year in the NFL — your first four years in a row — and winning. I’ll never forget the love for that show. It matched the love we had making it.”
Lowe received one nomination for The West Wing.
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Dulé Hill’s Gratitude
Dulé Hill (Charlie Young): “I’ll never forget we were walking up the stairs for the fourth time that we won Best Drama [in 2003]. I’m thankful that I had it within me to really take in what he was saying because it was all fresh and new to me. And I’ve taken that with me to every other job. I’ve enjoyed the moments. I’m very grateful.”
Hill received one nomination for The West Wing.
Martin Sheen’s Emmy Journey
Martin Sheen (Josiah Bartlet): “We literally won everything there was to win in television. I couldn’t think of any award we didn’t win – with the exception of my winning one. I was nominated quite a few times but I never won, and it got to be a joke around the set. Every now and then the lads would come in with their Emmys and very subtly set them up on the set somewhere. So I would just throw a shoe.”
Sheen received six nominations for The West Wing.
The West Wing tallied 96 nominations across its seven seasons, winning 26 in all.
