Inside The West Wing

The show that won 9 Emmy Awards - an all time record - in September 2000- is now being screened on British TV. Author Paul Challen takes a detailed look at this hugely popular show: how it's put together, what ideas and political themes drive its plots, and ultimately, why it's so popular. Through in-depth interviews, commentary from political and entertainment industry observers, plus extensive searches of the numerous official and unofficial show websites, Challen provides a comprehensive view for diehard fans and casual watchers alike. Another first from ECW.

Step inside the Bartlet Administration in this detailed official companion to one of televisions most sophisticated dramatic series. Created by Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing won nine Emmy Awards in its first season alone, and is acclaimed for its writing, portrayals, and an intelligent, authentic depiction of White House life.

Eminent scholars Peter C. Rollins and John O'Connor make an important contribution to the field with an eclectic mix of essays, which translate visual language into on-screen politics. While the series may be criticized as "idealistic," its clever techniques of camera work, lighting, editing, and mise en scene reflect America's best image of itself, and entertains a loyal audience that desperately wants to believe in the nobility of the American dream. This collection introduces readers to the sensibilities to appreciate the show's nuances and the necessary knowledge to avoid any misreadings. It will be of interest to students of politics, popular culture, fans and critics alike.

The West Wing premiered in 1999. That's a long time ago. Back then, we were worrying about the Millennium Bug, paying $700 for DVD players, and using pagers. 1999: a century ago. And yet, the show continues to have an impact that is arguably unique. If you live or work in DC, references to it are inescapable. People have walked down the aisle to the theme music. Or they’ve named children, pets, GPS systems, and even an iPhone app after the characters. Or they’ve started Twitter accounts as the characters to continue the storyline and comment on current political events. Or they credit it for closer relationships with their family members or a way out of depression. In this anthology of quotes and essays, contributors from six countries, ranging in age from twenty to seventy years old, tell their West Wing stories.

Presents eight teleplays selected from the third and fourth seasons of "The West Wing."

Shrouded in anonymity, protected by executive privilege, but with no legal or constitutional authority of their own, the 5,900 people in 125 offices collectively known as the "White House staff" assist the chief executive by shaping, focusing, and amplifying presidential policy. Why is the staff so large? How is it organized and what do those 125 offices actually do? In this sequel to his critically appraised 1988 book, Ring of Power, Bradley H. Patterson Jr.—a veteran of three presidential administrations—takes us inside the closely guarded turf of the White House. In a straightforward narrative free of partisan or personal agendas, Patterson provides an encyclopedic description of the contemporary White House staff and its operations. He illustrates the gradual shift in power from the cabinet departments to the staff and, for the first time in presidential literature, presents an accounting for the total budget of the modern White House. White House staff members control everything from the monumental to the mundane. They prepare the president for summit conferences, but also specify who sits on Air Force One. They craft the language for the president to use on public occasions—from a State of the Union Address to such "Rose Garden rubbish" as the pre-Thanksgiving pardon for the First Turkey. The author provides an entertaining yet in-depth overview of these responsibilities. Patterson also illuminates the astounding degree to which presidents personally conduct American diplomacy and personally supervise U.S. military actions. The text is punctuated with comments by senior White House aides and by old Washington hands whose careers go back more than half a century. The book provides not only a comprehensive key to the offices and activities that make the White House work, but also the feeling of belonging to that exclusive membership inside the West Wing.

Originally published in 1963, The West Wing is one of Edward Gorey's classic books. This wordless tale unfolds through thirty-one mysterious drawings that carry the viewer from room to room via long corridors. Peeling wallpaper hangs to the floor, a candle held by invisible hands casts light into the dark, and odd characters appear unbidden. The viewer wonders: What's haunting this building? And who left that boulder on the table?First released as part of The Vinegar Works: Three Volumes of Moral Instruction (whichincluded The Gashlycrumb Tinies and The Insect God) this book is undoubtedly a cautionarytale. Stop. Do not enter. Unless you dare to find out what's happening in The West Wing.