Grab your pizzas (you might want to call ahead) and settle in for a top-notch night of political drama because the
West Wing reunion trailer is here, and it’s giving fans some serious vibes.HBO Max dropped the preview on October 8, a week before the scripted special airs on October 15.
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote reunites Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney, and Richard Schiff, while adding Sterling K. Brown in the role of Leo McGarry (original actor John Spencer passed away in 2005 of a heart attack while the final season was in production).Judging from the trailer, the actors all seem to be pretty comfortable in their roles despite the fact that the show has been off the air since 2006. Of course that could also be because they’ve tackled this episode, “Hartsfield’s Landing,” before—back in season three. “This isn’t just a staged reading,” promises the official trailer description. “It’s a call to action.”
There are also lots of fun throwbacks for fans to swoon over in the trailer as excitement builds for the release. Everyone is in full-on character, including hair and makeup, as the theme song plays, C.J. (Janney) stands behind that famous press podium, and Sam Seaborn (Lowe) welcomes the President (Sheen) back. Basically it’s the feel-good content that politicos need after some pretty
disastrous debates (not to mention
a random fly) as America heads into the November 3 election.And speaking of real-world politics, fans can definitely expect them to seep into this special. The entire point of the reunion in the first place was to raise funds and awareness for When We All Vote, a non-profit and nonpartisan organization that is co-chaired by Michelle Obama. Fittingly, Obama, along with Bill Clinton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Samuel L. Jackson, are all scheduled to make special appearances during the act breaks. Elisabeth Moss, who starred in the series as President Bartlet’s daughter, Zoey, is also listed as a special guest star although it’s not clear in what capacity she’ll appear.
The West Wing special filmed at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angles over several days, with original creator Aaron Sorkin producing and Thomas Schlamme directing. Some of the COVID-19 protocols that were put in place for the event are even featured in the trailer, for sure setting a mood.The “Hartsfield’s Landing” episode of
West Wing originally aired on February 27, 2002. The installment involves a high-stakes game of chess, war games, and important votes in a remote New Hampshire town. Meanwhile, during its seven-season run, the NBC series won 27 Emmy awards and changed the way many other TV shows are now filmed, including some of the walk-and-talk scenes and fast-paced dialogue that viewers are now more used to seeing.“This is the first time we’ve done this in 20 years,” Sorkin previously told
Entertainment Weekly of the reunion. “Never before have we gathered the cast onto [the show] logo in front of [W.G.] Snuffy Walden’s music and done something as
The West Wing. … I don’t think anybody would argue that right now, if you have any capital at all, spend it.”[video_embed id='2050310']RELATED: Alfonso Ribeiro spills on that 'Fresh Prince' reunion[/video_embed]
