Martin Sheen to Join Nicole Wallace for The Best People Live-Taping

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It’s time to step back into the West Wing. 

Martin Sheen, also known as Ramón Estevez, famous for portraying fictional president Josiah Bartlet for seven years on the popular Aaron Sorkin series, is going to collaborate with MSNBC host Nicole Wallace in a live recording of her podcast, “The Best People,” scheduled in New York City on October 11. TopMob News has this exclusive scoop.

The veteran actor from ‘Apocalypse Now’, who is the father to Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez Jr., Charlie Sheen, and Renée Estevez, will be joining the host of Deadline: White House at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York for a live recording of her podcast during the MSNBCLIVE ’25: This Is Who We Are event. His wife, Janet Sheen, is also expected to be present.

Besides the exclusive interview with Sheen, the upcoming event will also feature live presentations from a number of Nicole’s MSNBC co-workers, which include Rachel Maddow, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Lawrence O’Donnell, Jen Psaki, and Ali Velshi.

Sheen’s participation in the live journalism event doesn’t come as a surprise for his fans.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: Beyond embodying a formidable political force alongside Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford on the Emmy-winning NBC series, at 85 years young, I’m not just playing the part. I’m deeply rooted in the political landscape as an outspoken Democrat, wholeheartedly backing Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign against Donald Trump last year. Regrettably, it was Trump who emerged victorious in that race.

In contrast to his left-leaning political views, Sheen stated that his role as President Bartlet on The West Wing was less about a personal affinity for politics and more about the show’s exceptional writing.

Back in 2020, he shared with Entertainment Weekly that this role was the most fulfilling of his acting career so far. He always reflects on it with a sense of gratitude and humility. When asked if he’d still take on the role even if the president had been a Republican, he answered just as he did 20 years ago – “If Aaron Sorkin wrote the character, I would play it.

In the role of portraying this fictitious U.S. leader, I found myself utterly captivated by the core traits that resonated deeply with me – a profound display of human empathy, an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and an endearing humility. These elements seem to permeate every episode, leaving an indelible mark on the character’s essence.

For a deeper look into The West Wing, keep reading… 

Martin Sheen didn’t keep this a secret, but he considered his seven seasons portraying the eloquent and principled President Josiah Bartlet as the most fulfilling acting experience in his career. He shared these feelings with Entertainment Weekly in August 2020, expressing that he often thinks back on it with a sense of gratitude and humility.

A declared Democrat, if his counterpart were a conservative instead, would still feel the same admiration. When asked if I would have acted similarly had the president been a Republican, my answer remains unchanged, as it was 20 years ago – ‘If Aaron Sorkin had penned him, I’d portray him.’ This is because the core qualities of the character that attracted me and are evident in almost every episode – humanity, compassion, an insatiable curiosity, and humility – still resonate strongly with me.

2. The idea behind the Bartlet administration originated during a casual smoke break. Having never considered television before, Sorkin shared with Empire in 2014 that he had this thought after his successful movies, “A Few Good Men” (1992) and “The American President” (1995). It was his agent who suggested a meeting with ER producer John Wells. As the evening before the meeting approached, friends were over for dinner. In the basement, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and Sorkin stepped out for a cigarette. Goldsman pointed at the “The American President” poster and said, “This could make a great TV series.”

As an over-the-moon fanatic, stepping into that restaurant the next day felt like walking into a dream. But boy, was it different from what I’d imagined! Aaron Sorkin shared that the casual meetup was anything but casual – John was surrounded by agents and Warner Brothers execs from the studio. My heart pounded as I sat down, when out of nowhere, John posed the question that would change my life: “So what do you want to do?” In a moment of reckless enthusiasm, instead of admitting I hadn’t thought through an idea for a TV series, I boldly declared, “I’ve got this brilliant concept for a TV show about the inner workings of the White House staff!” And just like that, my dream was becoming reality as John simply replied, “Okay, we’ve got a deal.

3. However, Bill Clinton nearly derailed the entire project. While Sorkin was diligently creating the pilot episode, using leftover material from the unproduced screenplay of “The American President,” President Clinton was involved in an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. As a result, it became difficult for many Americans to think about the White House without chuckling, as recalled by Sorkin in an interview with Empire. Additionally, a TV show centered around politics, set in Washington, had never succeeded before in American television. Consequently, the show was postponed for a year due to these circumstances.

4. Initially hesitant about the idea following the lesser-known 1998 sitcom, Sports Night, NBC and Warner Bros. executives held reservations. However, after being proven wrong, they found themselves sitting with their errors. Undeterred, Sorkin persisted in creating the captivating political world that we now recognize.

In essence, the creator of “The West Wing” aimed to challenge traditional pop culture depictions of politicians as either manipulative or inept. Instead, he wanted to present a unique work environment – the White House – where staff members were just as skilled and competent as professionals on medical, police, or legal shows. These characters would have their fair share of victories and defeats, occasional slips, but they would always be characterized by two things: an unwavering confidence and a continuous drive to improve every day.

Sorkin and Wells disregarded several approaches when preparing for the filming of their pilot. In the first episode, while Deputy Communications Secretary Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) and Deputing Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) were trying to save a group of Cuban refugees, NBC requested that they get Sam and Josh into the water, as shared by Whitford.

One suggestion that was considered was basing Bartlet on Jesse Ventura, who was then governor of Minnesota and a former wrestler. The idea was that instead of portraying a liberal Democrat, they wanted a populist figure – someone like a wrestler, race car driver, or football player from outside the political sphere, causing an upheaval. However, they ultimately decided against this approach.

Whitford was initially offered the role of Sam in the show when Lowe was uncertain about joining. Whitford recalled receiving a call while at a gas station in Santa Monica saying he was part of the show, but he wasn’t pleased with being cast as Sam. He felt he should be portraying the character who confronts the Christian right instead.

In simpler terms, Aaron Sorkin didn’t prefer to cast Rob Lowe in the series. He felt that having a famous actor play the character Sam would disrupt the balance of the ensemble cast. After reading the first of three prepared scenes, Sorkin was so impressed that he offered Lowe the role almost immediately. The rest of the scenes were forgotten because Lowe had already secured the part by the end of the first scene. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, Sorkin explained this by referring to a character who was unaware that he resembled Rob Lowe. Upon seeing Lowe’s performance, Sorkin reportedly said, “Give him whatever he wants.

8. We almost had the opportunity to see CCH Pounder (later appearing as HUD Secretary Deborah O’Leary) portray press secretary turned chief of staff C.J. Cregg, a role eventually taken by Allison Janney. Additionally, Eugene Levy was cast as Communications Director Toby Ziegler and the legendary Oscar winner Sidney Poitier joined as Bartlet. However, Sorkin mentioned that it was too expensive for us to make this arrangement happen, as he put it, “it was simply beyond our budget.

9. At the time when I joined, it wasn’t the main character as it is now. As Sheen shared with Empire, initially it was only a minor role, with the emphasis being on the staff rather than the First Family. He mentioned that he signed up for just a few episodes each season. However, things changed dramatically when they filmed the final scene of the pilot where the president delivered a powerful speech and ordered the removal of his opponents from the White House, thereby establishing himself as a commanding character.

According to director Thomas Schlamme, Aaron was adamant about avoiding the grandeur associated with the presidency. He didn’t want everyone to freeze in respect and listen quietly as the President spoke. However, upon casting Martin Sheen, they found his warmth and approachability made everything feel genuine, rather than pompous or distant. Schlamme likened this show to a solar system, suggesting it fitting to end with the bright and central figure of Martin Sheen, symbolizing the sun.

Furthermore, according to what Wells revealed to _The Hollywood Reporter_, “Martin emerged as the top-scoring character in the pilot, significantly so. The network expressed, ‘We might prefer to feature him more often.’

10. Off-camera in that shot: Richard Schiff (Ziegler), struggling to keep a straight face. “That was one of our final scenes filmed, and it was my first encounter with Martin,” he shared. “When I initially saw him preparing for his scene entrance during rehearsals, both his cheeks were puffed out like a squirrel storing nuts: filled with food and oily. He had a piece of fried chicken in his hand, munching away. It was hilarious just looking at him. Then he delivered his grand entrance, ‘I am the Lord your God!’, and I could still see remnants of the makeup on his face that hadn’t been fully removed! It sent me into fits of laughter.

During each shot, whenever the camera moved away from him, he’d sprint over and try to suppress his laughter. “That was my first day working alongside Martin,” he reminisced, “and I can honestly say there wasn’t a single day in the following seven years that I enjoyed more than that one with him.

11. Apart from Schiff, other cast members like Richard and Allison frequently struggled with fits of laughter. As Sorkin explained to THR, “They were the ones who broke most easily. If they shared a scene, they’d maintain their seriousness for three takes before collapsing into giggles. It became such an issue that during single coverage, we would sometimes have to move one of them out of the room. Many of the best moments featuring Toby and C.J. were actually Toby conversing with the Script Supervisor.

12. When it was apparent that his role would become permanent, Sheen presented two requests in regard to his character. He expressed, “I wanted Bartlet to be made a Catholic, as I believed he should base all his opinions on moral principles, and since I’m a Catholic myself, this was my perspective. Also, I requested that he be a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. Aaron accepted both conditions, making them defining aspects of the character.”

13. To him and those who elected Barlet, his character receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis came as quite a shock.

During a 2016 ATX Television Festival panel, Sorkin shared that a significant plot point originated from his desire to create an episode focusing on the president taking a day off due to illness. To make the situation compelling enough, he felt it necessary to introduce circumstances so serious that they would promptly call for the First Lady, Dr. Abigail Barlet, to rush back to the president’s side.

Sorkin clarified that whatever symptoms the character might be showing – whether it’s a common cold or flu – should also hint at concerns about another issue that Abbey has expressed worry over. Not too long after his decision, he found himself in deep waters. At a TCA event, he remembered, “Several people raised their hands and asked, ‘Aaron, what’s the direction with the multiple sclerosis storyline? Where is this heading now?’

The NBC series wasn’t merely a prestigious role for an actor. In fact, several key figures from Washington D.C., including Dee Dee Myers (Clinton press secretary), Marlin Fitzwater (George H.W. Bush press secretary), Gene Sperling (Clinton economic adviser), and Peggy Noonan (Ronald Reagan speechwriter), contributed as consultants, with some even joining the writer’s room.

On their initial day, the presence of advisors like Jimmy Carter’s aide Pat Caddell, Al Gore’s speechwriter Eli Attie, and co-executive producer Kevin Falls made for an imposing atmosphere, causing nervousness. As Kevin explained to THR, “The room was filled with individuals who had once held positions that required answers from American presidents. The only topic I felt comfortable discussing was when we would take a break for lunch.

15. After landing her role as Donna Moss in “West Wing” following an audition, Janel Moloney initially chose not to abandon her regular employment. She explained to The Hollywood Reporter that she continued working at an Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills called Il Pastaio and maintained her job there initially. However, by the third episode, she was certain they wouldn’t let her go.

16. Donna’s romantic future with the boss was hinted at long before it was fully resolved in season seven. As she explained at the 2016 ATX Festival, “My character from day one was deeply and completely infatuated with Josh, to the point of being willing to die for him.” Every contract she signed, every question about policies she asked, conveyed a message of her profound love for him, ready to do anything for him at any given moment.

The actress shared with Entertainment Weekly that many political figures have confided in her, expressing how playing C.J. Cregg impacted their careers. She stated, “C.J. is my favorite character I’ve ever portrayed because she’s someone I admire greatly. She’s a remarkable character who isn’t afraid to challenge authority. As a woman in a predominantly male environment within the White House, she managed to gain the president’s trust. It’s a powerful role that champions women’s rights. C.J. is the kind of person I aspire to be, and at the same time, I feel furthest from. She’s truly an exceptional character.

Mastering Cregg’s lengthy dialogues wasn’t always a breeze for the seven-time Emmy winner, but “The Jackal” was something she had memorized flawlessly. As Richard Schiff and she often found themselves with idle time between work, they came up with amusing distractions. They even went as far as making foolish antics in her trailer, such as playing air guitar and lip-syncing to absurd tunes. They persuaded Aaron to witness their rendition of “The Jackal,” which later ended up in the show. (This version attempts to maintain the original’s tone while simplifying some phrases for easier understanding.)

Those who don’t envision themselves taking C.J.’s place at the podium may find themselves in Josh Lyman’s familiar footsteps, but it comes with a price, Whitford humorously remarked. He once recounted to Entertainment Weekly that a young, worn-out political staffer approached him in D.C., confessing his admiration and stating, “You’re the reason I got into politics,” only to follow up with, “I’m tired, I’m broke, and I don’t think I’ll ever get to kiss Mary-Louise Parker.

20. Warm our hearts: The special bond between President Bartlet and his body man Charles Young, portrayed by Dulé Hill, was forged through a touching initial gesture. “At that time,” Hill shared with THR, “I hadn’t done much television, and I was certainly overwhelmed. However, the first time I met Martin, he showed me the handshake that Laurence Fishburne had taught him during Apocalypse Now. The relationship between Charlie and the president began off-screen, between myself and Martin.

In simpler terms, Stockard Channing shared with THR that during her first day on set, she was unexpectedly called upon to join the show while in Calgary, dressed casually for a layover. She quickly changed planes and headed to Los Angeles, arriving late at night and being immediately thrust into an evening gown for filming the next morning. Upon meeting Michael Douglas (who played her onscreen husband), she had to descend a staircase and greet him, despite not having met him before. To her surprise, he responded as if they were already long-time married couple with three children. So, in essence, even off-camera, Stockard Channing was charmed by Douglas’s acting during their first encounter.

22. Moloney found walk-and-talk scenes just as enjoyable as the rest of us. She described them as “easy to film” because acting wasn’t required, she only needed to deliver her lines without bumping into the camera crew. In her words, it felt like she was naturally talented. (Paraphrased from EW)

As an utterly captivated admirer, every time Schlamme’s invention graced our screens, I couldn’t help but be absolutely smitten! I exclaimed to Empire, “I simply adored it!” You see, it was like being in a relay race. If you happened to falter on the third hallway handoff, it was a gut-wrenching moment – “Oh my goodness!” It was an incredibly thrilling game that perfectly maintained the show’s political edge, keeping it engaging, exciting, and fast-paced.

After successfully completing two seasons with reduced rates, many principal actors expressed a desire to renegotiate their contracts.

Just like their TV counterparts on “Friends,” they tended to work together rather than individually, as Aaron Sorkin shared with THR. John Spencer (Leo McGarry), Janney, Whitford, and Schiff preferred discussing terms collectively, and they all sought equal pay. Bradley Whitford stated, “I didn’t want to act alongside Allison knowing I was earning more than she was because I had a higher prior salary, and she did not.

24. Lowe’s decision to leave after season four (“It was one of those times when you can choose to remain the same or to grow, and both decisions are valid,” he shared with THR) was a significant setback. However, it provided an opportunity for Joshua Malina to step in as Will Bailey, which eventually led to his collaboration with Hrishikesh Hirway on their popular podcast, The West Wing Weekly.

In my pursuit of collaboration with pal Sorkin on “Sports Night,” I sent an audacious email proposition: “Could we consider a lesser-known, less charming actor who would gladly accept a smaller paycheck?” I shared this with THR. To my astonishment, Aaron’s reply indicated that he had previously discussed the idea with Schlamme. I rushed to meet him for lunch at the Four Seasons, and he revealed, “Here’s the character I have in mind for you.

Later, Schlamme and Sorkin left with Lowe, as Sorkin shared with THR that they knew it was time to pass on the reins to new creators and let the show evolve further.

Janney recollected that the news left everyone stunned. It was as if someone had punched us all in the gut. We felt betrayed, like orphaned children. We couldn’t grasp why it was happening, didn’t want it to transpire, and had no control over stopping it.

26. The youngest admirer of the series could potentially be Mary McCormack’s newborn daughter at the time. Since she was pregnant when cast as Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper, she went back to work only seven days after giving birth. Reflecting on this in EW, she mentioned that everyone supported her, “I held a rosary that Martin gave me during her birth. Then I returned and it felt like one big family. To this day, I still consider them my family. We’re constantly in touch, helping each other, attending events together such as funerals, weddings, and baby showers.

Despite all the cherished recollections from filming, the day-to-day work was incredibly challenging, as Whitford described it in an interview with THR: ‘The hours on that show were truly tough. I mean, absolutely grueling.’ Recalling those times, he mentioned to Tommy, ‘The unseen damage caused by the stressed wives and children who weren’t being read to is almost palpable.’

Despite joking that Brad might have thought of the line later and wished he had said it to him, Schlamme admitted that the demanding schedule, which kept them working long past midnight, wasn’t ideal. He humorously added that their children still remember those late-night filming sessions as “the West Wing years.”

As for unforgettable workdays, none could compare to those spent within the actual White House. One night, while shooting on location, someone recognized Brad and invited them to join a night shift in the situation room downstairs after wrapping up. By 2:30 am, they found themselves in the situation room, enjoying vodka together.

As a dedicated follower, I joined Martin Sheen in the heart of Los Angeles during the 2000 Democratic National Convention, making our way towards the Staples Center, a walk that spanned a quarter-mile. Along the path, the atmosphere was electric as people recognized Martin – from construction workers to delegates – and Martin warmly responded to each encounter. He seemed to relish in the moment, almost believing he was president. Waving, signing autographs, immersing himself in the adoration of the crowd, it felt like a dreamy, surreal experience.

30. Alternatively, during the filming of the captivating, two-part episode titled “Two Cathedrals,” they filmed at the real National Cathedral itself.

During rehearsals, several clergy members were observing, according to Sorkin. He approached a priest who was close by and said, “Pardon me, Father? I wanted to let you know that in the upcoming scene, Martin Sheen is going to swear at God.” The priest smiled and replied, “I’m aware of it, and it’s going to be fantastic.

31. Indeed, they weren’t always the most organized group. In fact, Sorkin had already planned out the concept for the second season premiere months in advance. Starting from that point and working backwards, he created the shocking cliffhanger that closed out the first season.

31. To be honest, they weren’t always the most efficient team. In fact, Sorkin had already thought up the idea for the second season opener several months prior. By working backwards from there, he developed the jaw-dropping cliffhanger that concluded the first season.

As a devoted admirer, I couldn’t help but be caught off guard when I realized it was him – the one who always stood by Bartlet’s side – who ended up taking a bullet during the chaotic aftermath of the event.

In this paraphrased version, Schlamme was assigned to film a chaotic exterior scene in Virginia where white nationalists were attempting an assassination. Sorkin stated that the shooting had to be done in a way that it wouldn’t disqualify anyone involved. Instead of filming both the last scene of the final episode and the first scene of the initial episode simultaneously, Tommy had to return and recreate every inch of every frame in the scene separately. Margaret, Leo’s highly organized assistant, would certainly not approve of such a disorganized approach!

32. Indeed, Jimmy Smits’ portrayal of Matt Santos in 2005 drew inspiration from a then-rising senator named Barack Obama.

Wells shared with Empire that he consulted with political experts regarding a potential campaign for a minority candidate. They mentioned a young senator from Illinois who was gaining some attention at the time, and this individual turned out to be Barack Obama. The experts outlined the strategic approach they believed would be necessary for him to run for president. However, they consistently emphasized throughout their discussions that such an outcome was highly unlikely.

33. Regarding his counterpart, the pro-choice, moderate Republican Arnold Vinick (portrayed by Alan Alda), Wells stated that he resembled John McCain and several other potential centrist Republican candidates. The 2008 election was rather unusual; we contacted the political consultants we’d collaborated with before and exclaimed, “You all really did know what you were talking about!

34. Right up until the unforeseen conclusion, it transpired. With Leon McGarry, a former chief of staff and party veteran, as his vice-presidential candidate, Santos was expected to fall short against the charismatic California senator Vinick.

Up until Spencer’s passing in December 2005, Sheen believed the Republican candidate was set to emerge victorious in the election. However, following his death, the Republicans’ victory was called off, and against all expectations, the Democrats managed to maintain their momentum instead.

35. It was conceivable for a eighth season to unfold, featuring the initial phase of the Santos administration with Bartlet acting as an advisor. However, when John passed away, the idea was abandoned. “It simply ended,” Sheen stated. “There was no going back.

Instead of honoring Spencer and McGarry, the seventh season featured a tribute titled “Requiem,” where numerous past guest stars returned to attend a fictional funeral for the party giant character. As Hill explained to THR, this episode was significant because his character had passed away, leaving an empty casket – yet it wasn’t truly empty.

36. After departing the series following season four, Sorkin truly never looked back. Kinda. 

Larry David, who had departed from Seinfeld a few seasons prior to its conclusion, shared with Empire that he told him, “You can no longer watch The West Wing. Either the show will be brilliant without you, making you miserable, or it won’t be as good and you’ll still be miserable.” He recalled thinking, “Well, this is typical Larry David behavior – always professionally unhappy.” So, they sent him a tape of the first episode he didn’t work on. Upon watching it, he couldn’t even make it past 15 seconds before he jumped up and shut off the VCR, feeling as though someone was kissing his girlfriend.

Despite his departure earlier, he surprisingly showed up at home, gracing the stage during Santos’ inauguration for the final episode. Now, our curiosity is piqued once more – what comes next?

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2025-09-04 23:19