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The West Wing

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  Episode Information  
Title: Pilot
Also Known As: Les Foudres du ciel ( France)
Episode Number: 1
Season: 1
Season Episode #.: 1
Production Number: 475151
Original Airdate: Wednesday September 22nd, 1999
10/10 (1 Vote cast)
Other Release Dates: (Edit)
Country: Aired On:
France Jul 06, 2001
Episode Crew
Director: Thomas Schlamme
Writer: Aaron Sorkin
  Episode Summary  
The White House staff springs into action when they learn that President Bartlet was injured in a bicycle accident. During the President’s absence, chief of staff Leo McGarry must handle several crises including Cuban refugees trying to escape into Florida and the conservative Christians’ reaction to a comment made by deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman. Meanwhile, Sam learns that the woman he picked up at a bar was actually a call girl and Toby gets into an argument over the Ten Commandments.
 
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  Guest Stars  
Guest Stars
Allison SmithplayedMallory O'BrienRecurring (first appearance)
Annie CorleyplayedMary MarshRecurring (first appearance)
F. William ParkerplayedAl CaldwellRecurring (first appearance)
Janel MoloneyplayedDonna MossRecurring (first appearance)
Lisa EdelsteinplayedLaurieRecurring (first appearance)
Suzy NakamuraplayedKathyRecurring (first appearance)
Marc GrapeyplayedBill Kenworthy 
Co-Guest Stars
Dafidd McCrackenplayedMikeRecurring (first appearance)
Devika ParikhplayedBonnieRecurring (first appearance)
Jana Lee HamblinplayedBobbiRecurring (first appearance)
Kathryn JoostenplayedDelores LandinghamRecurring (first appearance)
Melissa FitzgeraldplayedCarol FitzpatrickRecurring (first appearance)
Mindy SeegerplayedChrisRecurring (first appearance)
Molly SchafferplayedSenior StafferRecurring (first appearance)
NiCole RobinsonplayedMargaretRecurring (first appearance)
Peter James Smith (3)playedEdRecurring (first appearance)
William Duffy (2)playedLarryRecurring (first appearance)
David SageplayedJohn Van Dyke 
Dean BiasucciplayedMan 
Diane MichellevoicedWoman 
Elizabeth Greer (1)playedFlight Attendant 
Hamilton MitchellplayedLuther 
Marcus BoddieplayedPolice Officer 
Marlene WarfieldplayedRuth 
Ossi TaylorplayedCollege Student #1 
Tressa DiFigliaplayedCollege Student #2 
Wendell WrightplayedFred 
Wendy BlairplayedFlight Attendant #2 
  Episode Notes  
This episode won numerous awards including the 2000 ACE Eddie Award for Best Edited One-Hour Series for Television, the 2000 Shine Award for Scene Stealing, and the 2000 Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting in Drama.
 
Some of the exterior shots of the White House were filmed at the South Portico of the Headquarters of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution which is located at 1776 D Street in Washington, D.C.
 
Martin Sheen (President Bartlet) was originally only set to appear in four episodes during season one. However, after the pilot was filmed, it was decided to make him a regular cast member instead.
 
Show Development:
- Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman) was originally offered the part of Sam Seaborn.
- Janel Maloney (Donna Moss) originally auditioned for the part of C.J. Cregg.
- Alan Alda, Sidney Poitier and Jason Robards were all considered for the part of President Jed Bartlet
- Eugene Levy was considered for the part of Toby Ziegler.
 
  Featured Songs  
ArtistSong TitlePlayed When
Bif NakedMoment of Weakness 
  Episode Quotes  
Leo: He was swerving to avoid a tree.
Donna: What happened?
Leo: He was unsuccessful.
 
Leo: Margaret, please call the editor of "The New York Times" crossword and tell him that "Khaddafi" is spelled with an "h" and two "d"s, and isn't a seven letter word for anything.
Margaret: Is this for real, or is this just funny?
Leo: Apparently, it's neither.
 
Van Dyke: Show the average American teenage male a condom and his mind will turn to thoughts of lust.
Toby: Show the average American teenage male a lug wrench and his mind’ll turn.
 
Laurie: Tell your friend POTUS he's got a funny name, and he should learn how to ride a bicycle.
Sam: I would, but he's not my friend, he's my boss. And it's not his name, it's his title.
Laurie: POTUS?
Sam: President of the United States.
 
Leo: True or false, if I were to stand on high ground in Key West with a good pair of binoculars, I'd be as informed as I am right now.
Josh: That's true.
Leo: The intelligence budget's money's well spent, isn't it?
 
Sam: Is that the same suit you wore yesterday?
Josh: Is that the same suit you wore yesterday?
Sam: Yeah.
Josh: Yeah.
 
Toby: You think the United States is under attack from 12,000 Cubans in rowboats.
Sam: I'm not saying I don't like our chances.
Toby: Mind-boggling to me that we ever won an election.
 
  Episode Goofs  
Sam mispronounces Toby's last name while he is talking to the fourth graders.
 
While talking to the kids, Sam tells the class that the Roosevelt Room is named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Mallory corrects him that it was named for Theodore Roosevelt. However, the room is named in honor of both men -- President Richard Nixon named the room in 1969 to honor Theodore Roosevelt for his work in building the West Wing and for Franklin Roosevelt for expanding it.
 
  Cultural References  
Sam: Alger Hiss just walked in with my secret pumpkin.

Alger Hiss is a man that was jailed for spying on America on behalf of the USSR. He kept the pages of notes he gathered while spying in a hollowed out pumpkin.
 
Character Name: Josh Lyman

The character of Josh Lyman comes from a character from the comic strip Doonsbury. The character in the strip also works at the White House and the strip can be seen in Josh's office.
 
Character Name: Toby Ziegler

The character of Toby Ziegler is a reference to Ronald L. Ziegler, President Nixon's press secretary.
 
Visual: Bartlet leaning on a desk with his head bowed during the opening credits

This shot of Bartlet is a reference to a famous portrait of John F. Kennedy taken during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
 
  Episode References  
 
  Analysis  
 
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