The West Wing icon reveals his favourite memories from the show: “It’s like civic porn”

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Can you believe it’s been almost 20 years since The West Wing wrapped up? As a huge fan of Aaron Sorkin’s writing, it feels like yesterday we were saying goodbye to President Bartlet and his team. It’s hard to believe that incredible show and its fictional administration are now firmly in the past.

As a huge fan, I still think it’s one of the best shows ever made! It’s not just the cool way they filmed it – those long, flowing shots where the camera follows characters as they walk and talk – and how quickly the characters talk to each other. It’s also because the show really digs into big ideas like believing in something, doing what’s right, and staying hopeful, especially when it comes to how our government works.

Bradley Whitford, known for his role as Josh Lyman on The West Wing, recently shared that the show still feels surprisingly forward-thinking and appealing to those who support left-leaning Democratic ideas – he jokingly described it as “progressive pornography.”

Whitford describes it as “civic porn” – a term for genuinely good, smart people passionately trying to improve the world, and finding the whole thing a bit overwhelming.

Even though Whitford, known for his role in the new movie Reminders of Him, has many great memories from his seven seasons on the show, he particularly remembers a performance by a guest star.

When asked about his favorite moments on set, Whitford immediately thought of the episode ‘Noel,’ where his character dealt with PTSD following a shooting. He said there were many great moments, but that one always stood out.

We were filming one day while Yo-Yo Ma played a gorgeous Bach cello concerto. He performed in the East Wing of the White House – a space we often used for events – and he played on his side of the room.

When filming, they can simply use a pre-recorded track. Yo-Yo Ma started by giving his cello to the crew and asking them to pass it around – he really wants to make classical music feel less stuffy and formal.

He was incredibly kind and giving to everyone. It was amazing trying to focus and find my mark while one of the most talented cellists of all time performed for me.

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The performance itself wasn’t the only memorable part of this scene. As he recalls, Dulé Hill, a remarkably talented tap dancer, began improvising between takes. Yo-Yo joined in, and the two of them tap danced together, creating a truly special moment.

Thinking about it now, I just feel so fortunate to have witnessed such a tight-knit cast – Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Rob Lowe, Janel Moloney, and the amazing John Spencer all together. They really felt like a family, and it was special to watch.

Whitford says they all fondly remember working on the show and feel incredibly fortunate to have been involved, describing it as a remarkable experience.

Reminders of Him is out now in cinemas.

Authors

Jess Bacon

Jess Bacon is a freelance writer who reviews and interviews people about film, TV, and pop culture – she’s a big fan of everything from Marvel and Star Wars to how women are portrayed in media. Her writing appears in many popular publications, including Rolling Stone, GQ, and The Guardian. She’s interviewed numerous stars like Zendaya and Brie Larson, and is currently working on her first non-fiction book, balancing that with keeping up with the latest TV shows and internet trends.

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2026-03-15 19:34