DVD details for
"The West Wing" (1999) More at IMDbPro »

(1999-2006) All seven years of the show that made us want to believe in the American President once again (if only for an hour every week) are collected in this 45-disc set. Aaron Sorkin’s fast paced, smartly scripted, witty series debates real life contentious national issues and international conflicts amidst the flurry that is the President’s staff on any given day of his term. Martin Sheen is our commander-in-chief in this fantasy government, Stockard Channing our tough-minded first lady, and his first season staff includes Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, and Bradley Whitford. Lowe left halfway through the series (as did creator and hand-on writer/producer Aaron Sorkin) while new faces came and went (Emily Proctor), stayed (Joshua Malina and Mary McCormack), or just checked in from time to time (Oliver Platt, Marlee Matlin, Timothy Busfield, Tim Matheson, Lily Tomlin, Mary-Louise Parker, Anna Deavere Smith, Gary Cole, John Amos, Nina Siemaszko, Annabeth Gish, and many others). Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda joined in the final two seasons as contenders for the presidency. The case is designed as a small film box with a magnetic flap and separate removable file folders for each season.

The final season of the show that once again made us want to believe in the American President follows the Presidential campaigns of the Democratic candidate Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits), whose campaign is run by former administration member Josh (Bradley Whitford), and Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda). Meanwhile President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) prepares to pass the mantle of power to a new administration and mourns the death of his former chief of staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer, who died in real life during the season). The crack ensemble also features Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina, Mary McCormack, Janel Moloney, and Richard Schiff, with Kristen Chenowith and Teri Polo joining the cast for the campaign and Janeane Garofalo, Patricia Richardson, and Stephen Root making recurring appearances. Lily Tomlin continues in her recurring role as Bartlet’s secretary, and other returning recurring performers include Mary-Louise Parker, Anna Deavere Smith, Gary Cole, Marlee Matlin, Oliver Platt, Ron Silver, and Renee Estevez. But practically every actor to play a major character in the run of the series returns to pay tribute to actor John Spencer.

(2004-2005) Big changes in the sixth season as producer John Wells settles into his role as creative guide and puts his stamp on the show. C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) takes over as chief of staff from Leo McGarry (John Spencer), President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) suffers a debilitating attack of multiple sclerosis, and Josh (Bradley Whitford) leaves the White House to run the presidential campaign of young Democratic Senator Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) as the Republicans rally around Senator Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda). The crack ensemble also features (in credits order) Stockard Channing as the first lady Abbey Bartlett, Dulé Hill as President Bartlet’s aide Charlie Young, Joshua Malina as speechwriter Will Bailey, Mary McCormack as Kate Harper and Richard Schiff (and his eternally hangdog expression) as White House Director of Communications Toby Ziegler. Lily Tomlin continues in her recurring role as Bartlet’s secretary, and other recurring performers include Mary-Louise Parker, Anna Deavere Smith, Gary Cole, Nina Siemaszko, Annabeth Gish, Marlee Matlin, John Amos, Terry O'Quinn, and Renee Estevez. 22 episodes in a 6-disc digipack.