The West Wing Weekly 3.22: Posse Comitatus (Live with Aaron Sorkin, Allison Janney, and Melissa Fitzgerald)
Sep 20, 2017
Aaron Sorkin, the creative mind behind The West Wing, joins Allison Janney, beloved for her role as C.J. Cregg, plus Melissa Fitzgerald for a lively discussion. They dive into the emotional weight of the Season 3 finale, exploring CJ's struggles and Simon Donovan's tragic fate. Sorkin offers insights into writing, what goes into impactful scenes, and the challenges of filming iconic moments. Janney recalls her intense performance and the behind-the-scenes dynamics, while Sorkin muses on the series' relevance in today's political climate.
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Behind The On-Set Shooting Scene
- Aaron Sorkin recounts shooting Mark Harmon's on-screen death and the tension around squib placement on set.
- He remembers crew assuring Harmon's survival while they set squibs and called the shots a 'flesh wound.'
Times Square Motorcade Shoot Memory
- Aaron describes filming the Times Square motorcade at 4 AM with multiple camera positions and rain.
- He realized mid-shoot his car was actually in the live shot and radioed the director, "We're rolling."
Death As Dramatic Necessity
- Sorkin explains Simon Donovan was written as a sacrificial character to satisfy dramatic rules of hubris and punishment.
- Bartlett needed to pay a price after ordering an assassination, which justified Donovan's death narratively.
