The West Wing's Sorkin: "Reasonable" Republicans Wouldn't Fly Today
Aaron Sorkin, creator of the iconic political drama *The West Wing*, has revealed that while he believes the series' idealistic portrayal of the White House could still resonate today, one element wouldn't work: the portrayal of "reasonable" Republicans.
During a recent reunion event celebrating the release of a new book about the show, Sorkin acknowledged the question of whether *The West Wing
could be made in the current political climate. While he believes the show's aspirational tone could still resonate with viewers, he concedes that the depiction of Republicans as reasonable and willing to work across the aisle would be jarring to audiences today.
"I'm afraid to say that right now, and maybe things will be different a year from now or two years from now," Sorkin told the crowd. "But right now, it would be implausible that the opposition party, that the Republican Party, was reasonable. People would watch that and it would be unfamiliar to them as the country they live in."
He went on to contrast the show's approach to political figures with typical depictions in pop culture: "Leaders are either portrayed as Machiavellian or as dolts, right? It's either *House of Cards
or *Veep*. The idea behind *The West Wing* was, they were as competent and dedicated as the doctors and nurses on hospital shows, the cops on cop shows and the lawyers on legal dramas. The result was something that was idealistic and aspirational."
Sorkin was joined by several cast members, including Melissa Fitzgerald, Mary McCormack, Richard Schiff, Janel Moloney, Dulé Hill, and Joshua Malina. The event was filled with reminiscing about their time on the show, including anecdotes about Martin Sheen's graciousness towards background actors, Yo-Yo Ma's infatuation with Moloney during a guest appearance, and Malina's notorious "troublemaker" status.
The discussion also touched upon the importance of respecting Sorkin's meticulous approach to writing. He admitted to maintaining a tight grip on the show's storytelling for its four-year run, emphasizing the precision of his language and the unique "sound" he aimed for. He explained that while he admires actors' ability to improvise, it could disrupt the intended tone and rhythm of his writing.
"It's not that my words are so precious that you can't improvise," Sorkin said. "It's that there are writers and directors and actors who are fantastic, who are virtuosos at carving out a space in a piece of writing for improvisation. What they are going for is that sound, that messiness. When they get it, it's fantastic. I'm going for a different sound. And if in the middle of it, you just started to ad lib a little bit, it would sound like an entirely different piece of music."
Sorkin's comments offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolving landscape of political discourse and the challenges of portraying it authentically in popular culture. While *The West Wing
remains a beloved and enduring series, it highlights the significant changes in the political landscape since its initial run, forcing viewers and creators alike to grapple with a new reality.
