West Wing, The

US television drama series 1999–2006. Broadcast by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) network, it depicted the working lives of the US president (played by Martin Sheen and his top staff at the West Wing and the Oval Office of the White House. Fast-paced and irreverent, It followed complex political issues and personal relationships, and enjoyed both critical acclaim and high ratings.

The series was produced and directed by John Wells (1956– ), also responsible for the NBC hit series ER, and was created by Aaron Sorkin (1961– ). During its first season the series was awarded the most Emmy awards ever won by a single series in a season.

A strong cast of characters led by Sheen as President Josiah ‘Jed’ Bartlet included John Spencer (1946– ) as chief of staff Leo McGarry, Bradley Whitford (1959– ) as deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman, Richard Schiff (1955– ) as communications director Toby Ziegler, Allison Janney (1960– ) as press secretary C J Craig, and Stockard Channing (1944– ) as first lady Abbey Bartlet, all of whom won Emmy awards for their performances, as well as Dulé Hill (1974– ) as the president's personal aide Charlie Young, Janel Moloney (1969– ) as Josh's assistant Donna Moss, and Joshua Malina (1966– ) as speech writer Will Bailey.

Sheen, best known for his role in the classic film Apocalypse Now (1979), plays a well-respected, socially liberal president who became one of the most popular characters on US television.