Aaron Sorkin Movies

The Sports Night crew is abuzz after hearing a rumor that the network hired a ratings consultant to help boost the show from being a consistently lackluster third-place finisher. As Dana (Felicity Huffman) does her best to refute the rumors, Isaac (Robert Guillaume) informs her that not only is the rumor true but he's the one that hired the consultant. Meanwhile, Casey (Peter Krause) is trying to figure out what to do on his first date with Dana as Dan (Josh Charles) announces his impending breakfast engagement with First Lady and Senatorial candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Dana stops Casey's date plans dead with her decision to postpone their evening out for six months while Casey gets more dating experience, while prepping the staff for the ratings consultant's arrival. The consultant, Sam Donovan (William H. Macy), shows up unexpectedly and shocks everyone by instantly taking charge of the show's line-up, leaving everyone with no alternative but to follow along. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

After obsessing about a particularly expensive camera -- instead of obsessing over the infidelity of her boyfriend Gordon (Ted McGinley) -- Dana (Felicity Huffman) finally buys it and brings in her new equipment to take a picture of the Sports Night crew. Casey (Peter Krause) eagerly awaits a visit from his son Charlie (Cory Buck), who told his dad of some amazing feats while playing baseball. When Charlie shows up, Casey is out of the studio on assignment but Dan (Josh Charles) wastes no time in greeting the youngster -- and promptly calls him on his clearly embellished baseball accomplishments. Meanwhile, Gordon shows up and calls off his wedding engagement with Dana, who insists on knowing why. Gordon declares that Dana was more upset to learn that Casey had slept with Sally than learning that he had and therefore Dana must have some unresolved feelings for Casey. While disagreeing with him, Dana resignedly agrees to call off the engagement and then -- still obsessing with her new camera -- tries to take a second picture of the crew with the same horrible results as the first time she tried earlier that day. Just as she makes a very loud plea for something good to happen today, Isaac (Robert Guillaume) makes his first appearance in the studio since having his stroke. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

The inaugural episode of The West Wing finds the staff concerned with Cuban refugees, and the fact that President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) has injured himself riding a bicycle. Rumors are swirling that Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) will be fired due to heated remarks he made during a television appearance that angered the religious right. Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) is quite concerned about the political ramifications when he discovers that the woman he slept with the night before is a high-priced call girl. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) is furious about a plane carrying his personal physician being downed in the Middle East. After initially requesting a retaliatory attack that would kill a great many people, Bartlet's military advisors try to convince him to take a more cautionary maneuver. Journalist Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield) questions Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) about Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) having a relationship with a high-priced call girl. Having heard nothing about it, she confronts Sam about the issue and berates him for keeping her uninformed about such a dangerous political situation. Josh Lymon (Bradley Whitford) hires Charlie Young (Dulé Hill) to be the personal aide to the president. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

The staff must spend some political capital as the president is five votes short on a gun-control bill being voted on in the House. They must bargain with members of Congress, as well as Vice President John Hoynes (Tim Matheson), in order to get the needed "yea" votes. Communications Director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) appears to have an ethical problem after a stock he invested in becomes lucrative. On the home front, Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer) gets into a marriage-ending argument with his wife who is upset about the amount of time he spends working. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

The rumors continue to fly about Isaac's (Robert Guillaume) possible firing, which comes to a head when Isaac announces that tomorrow's Wall Street Journal will be featuring a story about his and CEO Luther Sach's ongoing feud. While the crew speculates what this will mean for Sports Night, Dan (Josh Charles) describes to Casey (Peter Krause) the beautiful woman named Rebecca (Teri Polo) he met on the elevator this morning and how Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd) said Rebecca thought he was nice and that he should call her. After accidentally running into Rebecca some time later, Dan learns Natalie was lying as Rebecca barely even remembers him -- while his ego takes a hit at the realization that he's not as much of a lady's man as he likes to think he is. After the article comes out the following morning, Isaac takes a meeting with network representative J.J. (Robert Mailhouse), who denies Mr. Sachs had any involvement with the story -- which leads Isaac to believe that perhaps J.J. may be complicit in this mess. Meanwhile, Dana (Felicity Huffman) begins to fret over her suspicions that Gordon is on the verge of dumping her, and Natalie suggests she go talk to Casey about her fears. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

Debuting September 22, 1999, NBC's multi-award-winning The West Wing was America's first truly successful political drama series. Producer Aaron Sorkin had allegedly created the property to make fuller use of the White House interior sets built for his 1999 theatrical film, The American President. Whatever the case, the weekly, hour-long series disproved the long-held theory that the American TV viewing public was bored stiff by fictional political intrigue. The series was largely set during the administration of U.S. president Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen), a Liberal Democrat (and a devout Catholic) from New Hampshire. The first lady was Dr. Abigail "Abby" Bartlet (Stockard Channing), who, though she publicly supported her husband in every aspect, privately expected him to hold to his promise that he would serve only one term. The Bartlets had three daughters, the youngest of whom, free-spirited Zoey (Elizabeth Moss), was a great source of consternation in many ways. President Bartlet was backed up by a fiercely loyal staff, including his venerable chief of staff, Leo McGarry (John Spencer); his blunt-talking deputy chief of staff, Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford); Josh's wisecracking assistant, Donna Moss (Janel Moloney); witty, idealistic press secretary C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney); deceptively unkempt-looking communications director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff); and deputy communications director Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe), who had trouble keeping his tempestuous private life from spilling over into his work. As originally conceived, Sam was to have been the main character, with President Bartlet merely a recurring presence. Rob Lowe left the series near the end of season four, reportedly distressed by his ever-diminishing screen time; it was explained that Sam had gone off to run for a seat in the House of Representatives. He was replaced by Joshua Malina as the new deputy communications director (and later the vice president's chief of staff) Will Bailey.

The Bartlet administration, like many before it, had as many tribulations as triumphs. The first season ended with an attempted assassination, which turned out to be directed not at the president but at his personal aide Charlie Young (Dule Hill). During season two, it was revealed that Bartlet suffered from multiple sclerosis, a fact he kept secret from the public until the beginning of season three. Despite his illness and an unpleasant congressional investigation in which both the president and the first lady faced charges of conspiring in a cover-up, Bartlet handily won re-election at the end of the third season, trouncing his conservative opponent (played by James Brolin) and emerging more popular than ever. In other developments, Bartlet was forced to find a new vice president after the defection of John Hoynes (Tim Matheson), who had never truly liked his running mate; "First Daughter" Zoey was kidnapped, compelling Bartlet to briefly relinquish power to avoid conflict-of-interest charges, placing the government under the control of Speaker of the House Glenallen Walken (John Goodman), a hard-line Republican; Leo was sidelined by a massive heart attack; and at the end of Bartlet's second term, a battle royal ensued between Democratic candidate Matthew Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Republican senator Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) for the Presidency. Though decidedly left of center in its political viewpoint, The West Wing used advisors from both parties to ensure a modicum of accuracy. Many felt that the series' quality diminished after producer Aaron Sorkin left the show after season four, but The West Wing made a remarkable recovery, both in terms of its writing and its viewership, during its sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Toby (Richard Schiff) and Mandy (Moira Kelly) combine together to pass a commerce bill that would alter the way the country's census is taken. They must persuade Mr. Willis (Al Fann), a congressman who holds his seat because his wife (who had been elected to the position) died. Having trouble understanding the complexities of the census issue, C.J. (Allison Janney) gets a crash course from Sam (Rob Lowe). President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) has a stern discussion with Leo McGarry (John Spencer) about Leo's failing marriage. Josh (Bradley Whitford) and Sam get into a sticky spot while out on the town with Zoey (Elisabeth Moss). ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

As the holiday season approaches, Toby (Richard Schiff) attempts to arrange a suitable burial for a homeless Korean War veteran who died in the cold. Sam (Rob Lowe) and Josh (Bradley Whitford) attempt to extract information that would be embarrassing to political rivals from Sam's high-priced call girl friend (Lisa Edelstein) after said opponents began a political battle against Leo (John Spencer). C.J. (Allison Janey) must deal with an infamous hate crime, and with the continued romantic advances of reporter Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield). The president (Martin Sheen) attempts to finish up his Christmas shopping. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Dan (Josh Charles) is starting to sense that something bad is about to happen. First of all, Bobbi Bernstein (Lisa Edelstein) is back on the set for expanded coverage of the college basketball tournament and still maintains her story about having slept with Dan several years ago. Additionally, Dan ran downstairs to talk to Rebecca (Teri Polo), only to find her ex-husband Steve Sisko in the office with her. The rest of the crew has been half-heartedly working on a little welcome back party for Isaac's (Robert Guillaume) return from his extended vacation. While deciding on cakes, decorations, and whatnot, Casey (Peter Krause) and Dana (Felicity Huffman) continuously nitpick each other until they are forced to step outside and have the long overdue blow-up everyone has been waiting for. As Rebecca finally comes up to talk with Dan and reveal the true status of her marriage with Steve, the Sports Night crew begins to wonder why Isaac hasn't shown up on time. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

Still yammering about the recent bomb threat, Casey (Peter Krause) has now gotten to the point that every time he opens his mouth, the rest of the Sports Night crew feels like punching him. Since it has come out that Christian extremists were responsible for the hoax, Casey has started taking pot shots at the Rev. Jerry Falwell on air in his misguided effort to blame someone. Jeremy (Joshua Malina) has just learned that something extraordinary has happened in a cricket match, but since he has no idea what it means he can't prepare a report on it. While steadfastly holding to his story of having broken up with Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd) -- who just as steadfastly replies that he has not -- Jeremy and Natalie begin trying to figure out why ten wickets in one inning of cricket is monumental, which then leads Jeremy to rethink his desire to be single. On the other side of the studio, Dana (Felicity Huffman) orders Casey to cut the Falwell sniping, leading to the two having another showdown that ends with Dana's revelation that Gordon plans to propose to her and she intends to accept the proposal. And just before the show goes on, Rebecca (Teri Polo) shows up and finally tells Dan (Josh Charles) that she is going to try to patch things up with her husband -- a development Dan had hoped might not come about but expected nonetheless. Crushed, Dan and Casey each reflect on the last couple of days as they plot their next moves. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

A low-key news day makes Isaac's (Robert Guillaume) life hell when everyone comes to him with their myriad life troubles that he'd rather know nothing about. Dan (Josh Charles) discovers Casey (Peter Krause) had a one-night stand recently after Casey recalls how he left his favorite shirt at the woman's place. Since Casey won't reveal who the mystery woman was, Dan makes it his mission to find out and pulls the rest of the Sports Night crew into identifying Casey's conquest. With Gordon canceling another date the previous night, Dana (Felicity Huffman) once again suspects her relationship with the studly lawyer is drawing to a close. Meanwhile, Jeremy (Joshua Malina) is agonizing over the fact that he will be spending the Easter holiday with Natalie's (Sabrina Lloyd) family, partially because it is his first visit to Natalie's parents house and mostly because he is a Jew and isn't very familiar with the holiday. Eventually, Dan finds out that Casey slept with Dana's rival Sally (Brenda Strong), while Gordon (Ted McGinley) stops by the studio to pick up Dana -- and inadvertently tips off Casey as to the true reason Gordon stood up Dana the night before. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide