Allison Janney's Nerves, Martin Sheen's McDonald's Shift, a Clinton Connection and More — Inside West Wing Book What's Next  

these West wing actresses take fans deep into political drama series.

Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, who played Carol and Kate, respectively, on the 26-time Emmy-winning show, joined forces to write What’s Next: A backstage pass to the West Wing, its cast and crew, and the service’s lasting legacy.

Created by Aaron Sorkin, West wing premiered nearly 25 years ago in September 1999 and remained on the air until 2006 as audiences followed President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and his hard-working White House staff.

Throughout the book, Fitzgerald and McCormack tell stories about auditions, the making of the pilot episode, guest stars plus secrets about fan-favorite episodes and key moments of the show. Despite going off the air nearly 20 years ago, the beloved political drama has a big rerun — especially during the election cycle.

Some A-list actors were nervous about appearing on the show. One of the former presidents enjoyed the show so much that he carried DVD copies of it everywhere. Plus, where did is that infamous Sorkin walk and talk formula coming?

Here are the biggest bombs from What’s Next: A backstage pass to the West Wing, its cast and crew, and the service’s lasting legacy.

Allison Janney was nervous about auditioning for CJ Cregg

Allison Janney as Claudia Jean ‘CJ’ Cregg.

James Sorensen/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Despite Allison Janney’s previous acting experience, she was nervous during her audition for CJ Cregg. When she arrived at the studio for the audition, there were more than 20 casting directors and dozens of actors (who had worked on other shows), all of whom Janney, 64, thought were up for it. West wing.

Kevin Scott, the casting director, recalled that she was a “nervous wreck” before her audition.

“Her eyes were, like, glazed over. “I had to hold her hand and reassure her in the waiting room, ‘It’s going to be okay, it’s going to be okay,'” Scott recalled, adding that he had to explain to Janney what she was going to experience. “You will go into the room and see John Wells,” he said, according to the statement What’s next. “You’re going to see Aaron Sorkin, you’re going to see [director] Tommy Schlamme.”

In retrospect, it was “comical” to think about Janney’s perspective. “When you think about how uniquely perfect she was for the role, to the point that it now seems like it was written for her, it’s hard to fathom the bout of insecurity she experienced after the audition.”

Rob Lowe arranged only one audition for West wing time

Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn.

James Sorensen/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

At the audition for Sam Seaborn, Rob Lowe’s manager Bernie Brillstein said he was only interested in one reading. Casting director John Levey said Lowe “wouldn’t read chemistry with other actors, wouldn’t test in a studio, wouldn’t test online.”

Lowe, of course, absolutely nailed the audition for White House Deputy Communications Director. Looking back on the audition more than 20 years later, Lowe said he “loved auditioning with Aaron… I couldn’t wait to do it. He and I immediately – I honestly don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say – fell in love.”

Aaron Sorkin’s famous Walk and Talk was inspired by the Bill Clinton administration and his staff

Aaron Sorkin; Bill Clinton.

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Slaven Vlašić/Getty

If anyone was wondering where the infamous walking and talking scenes came from, there’s an explanation that involves real people — including George Stephanopoulos!

Ago West wingdirector Tommy Schlamme and his family stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House. As he stood outside the Oval Office waiting to speak with then-President Bill Clinton, Schlamme “witnessed a moment that would define what he calls the ‘movement of the play.'”

“I remember the door opening and Stephanopoulos and other employees coming out, talking to each other, some going this way, some going that way,” he said. “It never stops, they’re constantly juggling, there’s never been any downtime,” he said. That continuous energy became an important part West wing formula.

Aaron Sorkin wasn’t sure if Bradley Whitford’s character would survive an assassination attempt in the West wing Season 1 finale

Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman.

NBCU/Getty Photo Bank

Even creator Aaron Sorkin wasn’t sure of the outcome of the pivotal moment West wing the first season finale, where Bradley Whitford’s Josh Lyman was shot.

Whitford, 64, said that during the filming of the episode involving the assassination attempt, no one knew who had been killed in the first place. While the show was on hiatus ahead of season 2, he got a call from Sorkin (63) who said “it’s you”.

“And he said it as if it were a compliment!” Whitford recalled. “At that point all I could think was that I was unemployed… But Aaron was quick to reassure me that Josh would survive.”

Sorkin also didn’t tell Schlamme about Lyman. Although they talked about several possible scenarios, no one knew exactly what happened in the finale until the filming of the second season.

Glenn Close was nervous about joining West wing As Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Baker Lang

Glenn Close as Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Baker Lang.

NBCU/Getty Photo Bank

What fans may not have realized was that Glenn Close was tense on set West wing for the first time as Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Baker Lang. Director Jessica Yu recalled a moment that surprised her while filming an episode of season 5.

“Everyone introduced themselves, and [Glenn] sat down and said, ‘I want you all to know that I’m very nervous,'” she recalled. “She wasn’t trying to disarm everyone else.”

“[A West Wing episode] is another thing — the pace of filming, these speeches you have to learn… the pace of the scenes themselves… She was nervous,” Yu added.

Martin Sheen once drove to McDonalds after filming on location West wing

Martin Sheen as President Barlet.

James Sorensen/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Makeup artist Greg LaCava shared an unforgettable moment from West wing which included Martin Sheen. One of the many anecdotes the book includes is a visit to McDonald’s that turned into a shift driving for the on-screen president.

While they were filming Barlet in the presidential parade, they passed a McDonald’s and Sheen went inside. “Martin — being Martin — went inside to greet everyone, which means, of course, he got to get everyone’s name,” LaCava said.

The actor then asked the restaurant employees if they needed “any help driving,” and he joined their shift. “All of a sudden, he’s working the window, taking orders — he even has a headset! You should have seen them when they stopped to get their burgers and fries,” LaCava recalled.

“That’s how it is with Martin,” he continued, “regardless of the job, na West wing or on the freeway, that’s an occupational hazard — he just likes meeting new people.”

President Obama was such an A West wing A fan that watched the series throughout its 2008 campaign

Barack Obama campaigning for the presidency in 2008.

Win McNamee/Getty

Former assistant to former President Barack Obama Reggie Love revealed that Obama (63) loved West wing so much so that he used to bring seven seasons of it on DVD (remember those?) when he was on the campaign trail.

I carried him throughout the campaign because he would watch an episode or two every night, Love said.

He also joked that he would be tired the next day after staying up long watching West wing. “And it would be [times] where you say, ‘Dude, you’re dragging your feet’. Today we have a big day. Did you stay up watching five episodes West wing last night?'”

When Obama was elected president and moved into the White House, he and Love would watch the show together. The former assistant still has the DVDs.

Jessica Lange, James Earle Jones were among the actors considered for President Bartlet

Jessica Lange; James Earl Jones.

Felix Hörhager/Image Alliance via Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty

While it may be hard to imagine anyone but Sheen as President Bartlet, the names of many other actors and actresses have been considered for the role.

Jack Lemmon, Bruce Dern, Donald Sutherland, Colin Powell, Johnny Carson, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Sidney Poiter, James Earl Jones, Clint Eastwood, Tom Brokaw, Walter Cronkite and Alan Alda were candidates for the role.

Meanwhile, Helen Mirren, Blythe Danner, CCH Pounder, Glenn Close, Alfre Woodard, Stockard Channing, Jessica Lange, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Carol Burnett were among the actresses considered for dating the female president.

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What’s Next: A backstage pass to the West Wing, its cast and crew, and the service’s lasting legacy it is available now, wherever books are sold.

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Source: HIS Education