The_West_Wing_(season_1)

<i>The West Wing</i> season 1

The West Wing season 1

Season of television series


The first season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 17, 2000, and consisted of 22 episodes.

Quick Facts The West Wing, Starring ...

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Plot

The first season, which begins in the middle of Bartlet's first year in office, is loaded with images of a West Wing "stuck in neutral" and powerless to govern. Several episodes (notably "Five Votes Down" and "Mr. Willis of Ohio") feature the White House desperately digging for a backdoor through which to pass a particular piece of legislation. This powerlessness ends in "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" when Leo and the president finally agree to fight any battle they believe to be important, even if they are not sure they can win. The season ends with a cliffhanger assassination attempt with an ominous call over a Secret Service radio: "Who's been hit?! Who's been hit?!"

Episodes

More information No. overall, No. in season ...

Reception

U.S. viewers (in millions) per episode

Critical response

The first season of The West Wing received positive reviews, and scored a Metacritic rating of 79 out of 100, based on 23 reviews.[23] On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 96% with an average score of 8.3 out of 10 based on 46 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "The West Wing is a gripping fantasy of lawmakers and government operatives looking to make a difference, presenting an idealized vision of politicking that audiences can strive toward."[24]

Accolades

The first season received 18 Emmy Award nominations for the 52nd Primetime Emmy Awards, winning a total of 9 awards. It won for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Richard Schiff), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Allison Janney), Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Aaron Sorkin and Rick Cleveland for "In Excelsis Deo"), Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Thomas Schlamme for "Pilot"), Outstanding Main Title Theme Music (W. G. Snuffy Walden), Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series (Thomas Del Ruth), Outstanding Art Direction for a Single Camera Series, and Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series. Notable nominations included Martin Sheen for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, John Spencer for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Stockard Channing for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and Aaron Sorkin for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for "Pilot".[25]

Thomas Del Ruth received a nomination from the American Society of Cinematographers for the pilot episode.[26]


References

  1. "National Nielsen Viewership (Sep. 20–26)". The Los Angeles Times. September 29, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  2. "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 4–10)". The Los Angeles Times. October 13, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  3. "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 11–17)". The Los Angeles Times. October 20, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  4. "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 18–24)". The Los Angeles Times. October 27, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  5. "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 1–7)". The Los Angeles Times. November 10, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  6. "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 8–14)". The Los Angeles Times. November 17, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  7. "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 15–21)". The Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  8. "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 22–28)". The Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  9. "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 13–19)". The Los Angeles Times. December 22, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  10. "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 3–9)". The Los Angeles Times. January 12, 2000. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  11. "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 7–13)". The Los Angeles Times. February 16, 2000. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  12. "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 14–20)". The Los Angeles Times. February 24, 2000. Retrieved April 9, 2021 via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  13. "The West Wing: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  14. "The West Wing: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  15. "The West Wing". Emmys.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  16. "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
General references

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