What's Next

The title tells the tale. I watched and enjoyed the series. Like the Gilmore Girls, it was also a fantasy of sorts during the Bush Administration.  

(The authors repeatedly speak of fans as Wingnuts without addressing the negative term "wingnuts.")

The co-authors are very gung-ho about how special the series and the people involved were. Don't expect much "dirt" here. Their positivity gets a bit much after a while though a lot of it is earned. 

There are many quotes from the cast and crew, including how they gave back. "Service" is an important theme, especially since both co-authors are deeply involved, focusing on veteran issues. We learn the causes of lots of people.

Melissa Fitzgerald is involved in "treatment courts." McCormack is also the sister of a former state judge, eventually the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. The gang got back together to promote her candidacy.  Multiple West Wing cast members have been involved in political campaigns up until today.  

Rob Lowe seems to be a bit of a blip here, perhaps given his desire to leave the show (the nerve!), though he did come back at the very end. He contributed if not as much as some other cast members.  

One person is basically forgotten -- she gets a single reference (plus a call list photo with her name on it) -- Moira Kelly. She was originally a main cast member (Donna, who might just be my favorite, originally was not) but her role petered out by mid-first season. 

An ensemble show with so many people is bound to result in some slippage. Still, it would have been nice if she got at least a bit more mention. 

The book -- over 550 pages long if quick reading with large margins -- is not meant to cover it all. People like John Laroquette are not mentioned. Still. Original main cast member. I think she deserved more than a passing mention. 

The authors love Martin Sheen. He is said to be a great guy, both personally and in his willingness to walk the talk (so to speak) regarding his liberal Catholic views. Lots of service in his life.

What's Next provides an optimistic and evangelical view of the power of the individual and government. Some people make fun of the West Wing as a fantasy. The makers of the show grant it is "too good to be true" but it is a window into what is possible.

And, many people in the government were and are inspired by the show. People cited include members of the Biden Administration and the Supreme Court (Justice Kagan was then a law professor). 

Drama is often not meant to be merely true to life. Dramatic license and all that. West Wing does have a lesson or two to teach us. 

Finally, I do think a show about the Supreme Court is possible. Two series, one a very short-lived Sally Fields version, and a second one with other familiar faces (even less realistic), didn't work out. Still, with so many platforms out there, why not? 

"What's Next" by the way is from the show. The show is famous for everyone always being on the move. Busy busy. Once one thing is dealt with, there is always something else. As the president constantly says, "What's next?"  

True enough. Time marches on.