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On the award-winning television series The West Wing, we had a president (played by Martin Sheen) many have considered ideal. The authors of What's Next are both former cast members: Fitzgerald portrayed Carol Fitzpatrick, assistant to Allison Janney’s press secretary C. J. Cregg, and McCormack played deputy national security advisor Kate Harper. Their lively, engaging book takes a deep dive into the series, including its origin, creators, casting, key episodes from its seven seasons, and more. In an authors’ note, Fitzgerald and McCormack write that the book is “also about what the world of the show, and the characters who inhabit it, represented: a dedication to service.” Many of the actors who portray those characters have also shown a dedication to service off-screen, and throughout the book are “service stories” in which they discuss their backgrounds and the service organizations they support. Fans of the series (aka “Wingnuts”) will enjoy these on- and off-camera stories, and those who have never watched an episode will find out what they’ve missed.

Publishers Weekly
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Actors Fitzgerald and McCormack—who played Carol Fitzpatrick and Kate Harper, respectively, on The West Wing (1999–2006)—deliver an entertaining history of the show grounded in extensive interviews with its stars, writers, and crew. The authors recount how creator Aaron Sorkin largely improvised his pitch for The West Wing after realizing that what he had assumed was a friendly dinner with ER producer John Wells was actually a development meeting. Elsewhere, Fitzgerald and McCormack explain that the show’s signature walk-and-talk shots stemmed from pilot director Thomas Schlamme’s efforts to recreate the hustle and bustle he witnessed while visiting Bill Clinton in the Oval Office, and that Glenn Close confessed to feeling nervous about keeping up with the show’s frenetic production schedule when guest starring as a Supreme Court nominee. The insider stories amuse, and meditations on the show’s legacy highlight its influence on real-life politicos (Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow quips, “We accept that our day-to-day is Parks and Recreation... but we always aspire to be The West Wing”). This will be catnip for fans of the show. Agent: Matt Latimer, Javelin. (Aug.)