The West Wing: The Official Companion: Amazon.ca: Warner Bros.: Books

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First Sentence
In the bar of the Georgetown Four Seasons Hotel, Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) is having a drink with his friend Billy (Marc Grapey), a reporter. Read the first page

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Concordance

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews

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4 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable, historically evocative setting., Jan 4 2008

By	M. J. Fenn (Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The West Wing: The Official Companion (Paperback)

This book, as the official companion to the TV series, has a remarkable, historically evocative setting.

That being said, I keep being made aware of the liberal-tinted glasses through which issues and personalities are seen, and, indeed, created, because this is, after all, fiction.

This creation is a 'what you see is what you get' affair: much to commend it, but you know where it is coming from.

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5.0 out of 5 stars I am so hoping for a sequel to this book!, Feb 18 2004

By	mrshvd3 "mrshvd3" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The West Wing: The Official Companion (Paperback)

I have seen the "West Wing" books that feature scripts from selected episodes. But this book includes every episode from the first two seasons, told in story form. Plus chapters on each of the actors and their characters, the background on the making of the show -- if you're a fan, this is a "must have". I just hope that there will be, at some point, additional volumes to cover the third, fourth and fifth seasons -- and so on.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Jam-packed with Trivia for the Serious Wingnut, Jul 6 2003

By	Janefpl (West Orange, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The West Wing: The Official Companion (Paperback)

I thumbed through this book in a bookstore and by the time I got home, I realized I had to own it and I was online ordering my own copy. This book is more than just a rehash of the first two seasons. We are treated to a real behind-the-scenes tour of what goes into filming the show. Talk about your West Wing trivia!

The asides from the actors on the characters they play are filled with gems of inside information. For instance, what do Brad Whitford and Janel Moloney think the roles of Josh and Donna are all about; how does Martin Sheen get the cast to treat him like the President and why is this adulation so important; and why is Allison Janney everyone's favorite? We are treated to a tour of the West Wing to fully understand the layout of the staff's offices and the dynamics of the characters in relationship to each other. Then, the decorations in the offices are explained, and nothing is so minor to be included by chance.

Sorkin claims he doesn't have a political agenda. He asks his staff to write a pro-con memo on each episode, and he is most comfortable when two people disagree. If the points are good, he incorporates them into the show's dialogue. You have to be a West Wing fan, and a pretty serious one at that, to fully appreciate this Official Companion, which brings to light the fine points of all that went into creating the first two seasons of this amazingly written and performed show.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting way of covering the show's first two seasons
I know that there is a collection of scripts from the first two season of "The West Wing," including the the Emmy Award-winning episode "In Excelsis Deo," but... Read more

Published on April 22 2003 by Lawrance M. Bernabo

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for an excellant program
This inside look at my favorite program gives a background to the characters, the storylines, and other information. A must have for all "Wingnuts" as we're called. Read more

Published on Feb 25 2003 by michael d. chlanda

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
This book is fantastic! It is beautifully set out and it has really clear pictures of the cast and the sets. Read more

Published on Dec 27 2002 by Cat

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing once over lightly.
As a WW fan I waited expectantly for what I had thought was a more in depth retelling of my favourite episodes. Read more

Published on Jul 16 2002 by masonx