S1.E1

Pilot

Name: Pilot
Genre: Drama
Released: 1999-09-22
Duration: 42 min
Rating: 8.5
Cast: Rob Lowe, Moira Kelly, Allison Janney

Episode aired Sep 22, 1999
TV-14
42m

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

2.1K

YOUR RATING

Drama

The West Wing staffers are introduced as each learns via phone or pager that the President was in a cycling accident. Josh faces the possible loss of his job after an on-air insult of a poli... Read allThe West Wing staffers are introduced as each learns via phone or pager that the President was in a cycling accident. Josh faces the possible loss of his job after an on-air insult of a political opponent, which Toby tries to prevent by having Josh make a personal apology. Sam's ... Read allThe West Wing staffers are introduced as each learns via phone or pager that the President was in a cycling accident. Josh faces the possible loss of his job after an on-air insult of a political opponent, which Toby tries to prevent by having Josh make a personal apology. Sam's fling the previous night with Laurie, who unbeknownst to Sam is a call girl, puts him in h... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

2.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Aaron Sorkin based the character of Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) on George Stephanopoulos, President Bill Clinton's Communications Director and 1992 campaign adviser.

Goofs
When Toby is irate about getting the names of the "damned commandments right," he states that "Honor thy Father and Mother is the Third Commandment." It is the Fifth Commandment - although in Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism is it the Fourth Commandment.

Quotes
Sam Seaborn: Ms. O'Brian, I understand your feelings, but please believe me when I tell you that I am a nice guy having a bad day. I just found out the Times is publishing a poll that says that a considerable portion of Americans feel that the White House has lost energy and focus. A perception that is not likely to be altered by the video footage of the President riding his bicycle into a tree. As we speak, the Coast Guard are fishing Cubans out of the Atlantic Ocean, while the governor of Florida wants to blockade the port of Miami. A good friend of mine is about to get fired for going on television and making sense. And it turns out that I accidentally slept with a prostitute last night. Now, would you please in the name of compassion tell me which one of those kids is my boss's daughter?
Mallory O'Brian: That would be me.
Sam Seaborn: You.
Mallory O'Brian: Yes.
Sam Seaborn: [realizing the ambiguity of the phrasing] "Leo's daughter's fourth-grade class."
Mallory O'Brian: Yes.
Sam Seaborn: Well, this is bad on so many levels.

Connections
Featured in The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2000)

Soundtracks
Moment of Weakness
Written by Bif Naked and Peter Karroll
Performed by Bif Naked

User reviews5

Review

Featured review

8/10

Welcome to the West Wing

This is a wonderful pilot episode of what became a wonderful show (well, at least for the first four years), penned by the incredible talent that is Aaron Sorkin.

To introduce and get us to like all those characters, even the minor ones, and establish the world that is the daily life of West Wing staffers, as well as trying to tell a story, was a huge task, but it's all carried off in style.

A lovely first episode.