View source for List of The West Wing episodes

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''The West Wing'' episodes}}
[[File:The West Wing (NBC TV series) logo.svg|right|frameless]]
''[[The West Wing]]'' is an American [[Serial (radio and television)|serial]] [[political drama]] [[television series]] created by [[Aaron Sorkin]] that aired on [[NBC]] from September 22, 1999, to May 14, 2006. The series is set primarily in the [[West Wing]] of the [[White House]], where the [[Oval Office]] and offices of presidential senior staff are located, during the fictitious [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[administration (government)|administration]] of [[Josiah Bartlet]] (played by [[Martin Sheen]]). {{Aired episodes|title=The West Wing|finished=all|seasons=7|specials=2}}

== Series overview ==
<onlyinclude>{{Series overview
| color1       = #0047E1
| link1        = <includeonly>List of The West Wing episodes</includeonly>#Season 1 (1999–2000)
| episodes1    = 22
| start1       = {{Start date|1999|09|22}}
| end1         = {{End date|2000|05|17}}

| color2       = #6C552E
| link2        = <includeonly>List of The West Wing episodes</includeonly>#Season 2 (2000–01)
| episodes2    = 22
| start2       = {{Start date|2000|10|04}}
| end2         = {{End date|2001|05|16}}

| color3       = #1A3E3A
| link3        = <includeonly>List of The West Wing episodes</includeonly>#Season 3 (2001–02)
| episodes3    = 21
| start3       = {{Start date|2001|10|10}}
| end3         = {{End date|2002|05|22}}

| color4       = #115373
| link4        = <includeonly>List of The West Wing episodes</includeonly>#Season 4 (2002–03)
| episodes4    = 23
| start4       = {{Start date|2002|09|25}}
| end4         = {{End date|2003|05|14}}

| color5       = #764E4E
| link5        = <includeonly>List of The West Wing episodes</includeonly>#Season 5 (2003–04)
| episodes5    = 22
| start5       = {{Start date|2003|09|24}}
| end5         = {{End date|2004|05|19}}

| color6       = #BFBFBF
| link6        = <includeonly>List of The West Wing episodes</includeonly>#Season 6 (2004–05)
| episodes6    = 22
| start6       = {{Start date|2004|10|20}}
| end6         = {{End date|2005|04|06}}

| color7       = #000000
| link7        = <includeonly>List of The West Wing episodes</includeonly>#Season 7 (2005–06)
| episodes7    = 22
| start7       = {{Start date|2005|09|25}}
| end7         = {{End date|2006|05|14}}
}}</onlyinclude>

==Episodes==
===Season 1 (1999–2000)===
{{main|The West Wing season 1|l1=''The West Wing'' season 1}}
{{:The West Wing season 1}}
<!-- To edit the episodes in this section, you need to edit the article listed above. -->

===Season 2 (2000–01)===
{{main|The West Wing season 2|l1=''The West Wing'' season 2}}
{{:The West Wing season 2}}
<!-- To edit the episodes in this section, you need to edit the article listed above. -->

===Season 3 (2001–02)===
{{main|The West Wing season 3|l1=''The West Wing'' season 3}}
{{:The West Wing season 3}}
<!-- To edit the episodes in this section, you need to edit the article listed above. -->

===Season 4 (2002–03)===
{{main|The West Wing season 4|l1=''The West Wing'' season 4}}
{{:The West Wing season 4}}
<!-- To edit the episodes in this section, you need to edit the article listed above. -->

===Season 5 (2003–04)===
{{main|The West Wing season 5|l1=''The West Wing'' season 5}}
{{:The West Wing season 5}}
<!-- To edit the episodes in this section, you need to edit the article listed above. -->

===Season 6 (2004–05)===
{{main|The West Wing season 6|l1=''The West Wing'' season 6}}
{{:The West Wing season 6}}
<!-- To edit the episodes in this section, you need to edit the article listed above. -->

===Season 7 (2005–06)===
{{main|The West Wing season 7|l1=''The West Wing'' season 7}}
{{:The West Wing season 7}}
<!-- To edit the episodes in this section, you need to edit the article listed above. -->

==Ratings==
{{Television ratings graph |no_graph=y
| title        = The West Wing
| country      = U.S.
| color1       = #0047E1
| color2       = #6C552E
| color3       = #1A3E3A
| color4       = #115373
| color5       = #764E4E
| color6       = #BFBFBF
| color7       = #000000
| width       = 1255
|-
<!-- S01E01 -->| 16.91
<!-- S01E02 -->| 13.71
<!-- S01E03 -->| 14.41
<!-- S01E04 -->| 12.32
<!-- S01E05 -->| 12.41
<!-- S01E06 -->| 13.37
<!-- S01E07 -->| 13.66
<!-- S01E08 -->| 12.92
<!-- S01E09 -->| 12.37
<!-- S01E10 -->| 14.23
<!-- S01E11 -->| 13.65
<!-- S01E12 -->| 13.96
<!-- S01E13 -->| 14.92
<!-- S01E14 -->| 14.18
<!-- S01E15 -->| 13.48
<!-- S01E16 -->| 12.41
<!-- S01E17 -->| 15.76
<!-- S01E18 -->| 14.24
<!-- S01E19 -->| 13.97
<!-- S01E20 -->| 12.89
<!-- S01E21 -->| 14.33
<!-- S01E22 -->| 13.30
|-
<!-- S02E01 -->| 25.05
<!-- S02E02 -->| 25.05
<!-- S02E03 -->| 16.80
<!-- S02E04 -->| 17.12
<!-- S02E05 -->| 18.47
<!-- S02E06 -->| 18.49
<!-- S02E07 -->| 18.47
<!-- S02E08 -->| 17.49
<!-- S02E09 -->| 18.99
<!-- S02E10 -->| 18.28
<!-- S02E11 -->| 17.66
<!-- S02E12 -->| 18.02
<!-- S02E13 -->| 18.20
<!-- S02E14 -->| 18.40
<!-- S02E15 -->| 16.43
<!-- S02E16 -->| 18.09
<!-- S02E17 -->| 17.17
<!-- S02E18 -->| 16.56
<!-- S02E19 -->| 16.78
<!-- S02E20 -->| 16.62
<!-- S02E21 -->| 17.01
<!-- S02E22 -->| 20.72
|-
<!-- S03E01 -->| 23.65
<!-- S03E02 -->| 20.79
<!-- S03E03 -->| 21.47
<!-- S03E04 -->| 17.78
<!-- S03E05 -->| 19.48
<!-- S03E06 -->| 19.89
<!-- S03E07 -->| 16.73
<!-- S03E08 -->| 20.86
<!-- S03E09 -->| 18.42
<!-- S03E10 -->| 18.38
<!-- S03E11 -->| 19.05
<!-- S03E12 -->| 19.12
<!-- S03E13 -->| 18.14
<!-- S03E14 -->| 16.36
<!-- S03E15 -->| 19.49
<!-- S03E16 -->| 16.95
<!-- S03E17 -->| 17.26
<!-- S03E18 -->| 17.40
<!-- S03E19 -->| 17.26
<!-- S03E20 -->| 15.54
<!-- S03E21 -->| 16.64
|-
<!-- S04E01 -->| 18.16
<!-- S04E02 -->| 18.16
<!-- S04E03 -->| 16.70
<!-- S04E04 -->| 15.99
<!-- S04E05 -->| 15.91
<!-- S04E06 -->| 15.73
<!-- S04E07 -->| 16.22
<!-- S04E08 -->| 15.79
<!-- S04E09 -->| 15.03
<!-- S04E10 -->| 14.28
<!-- S04E11 -->| 15.39
<!-- S04E12 -->| 13.96
<!-- S04E13 -->| 14.45
<!-- S04E14 -->| 13.03
<!-- S04E15 -->| 13.59
<!-- S04E16 -->| 12.23
<!-- S04E17 -->| 14.01
<!-- S04E18 -->| 11.70
<!-- S04E19 -->| 12.72
<!-- S04E20 -->| 13.65
<!-- S04E21 -->| 13.18
<!-- S04E22 -->| 13.37
<!-- S04E23 -->| 13.79
|-
<!-- S05E01 -->| 18.33
<!-- S05E02 -->| 16.33
<!-- S05E03 -->| 13.43
<!-- S05E04 -->| 12.06
<!-- S05E05 -->| 13.13
<!-- S05E06 -->| 12.48
<!-- S05E07 -->| 12.42
<!-- S05E08 -->| 13.49
<!-- S05E09 -->| 12.77
<!-- S05E10 -->| 13.28
<!-- S05E11 -->| 11.86
<!-- S05E12 -->| 10.84
<!-- S05E13 -->| 11.64
<!-- S05E14 -->| 11.43
<!-- S05E15 -->| 11.21
<!-- S05E16 -->| 11.43
<!-- S05E17 -->| 10.76
<!-- S05E18 -->| 10.95
<!-- S05E19 -->| 11.11
<!-- S05E20 -->| 11.94
<!-- S05E21 -->| 10.76
<!-- S05E22 -->| 11.03
|-
<!-- S06E01 -->| 12.27
<!-- S06E02 -->| 11.86
<!-- S06E03 -->| 13.82
<!-- S06E04 -->| 15.26
<!-- S06E05 -->| 12.41
<!-- S06E06 -->| 11.76
<!-- S06E07 -->| 13.28
<!-- S06E08 -->| 12.33
<!-- S06E09 -->| 12.53
<!-- S06E10 -->| 11.74
<!-- S06E11 -->| 11.88
<!-- S06E12 -->| 10.92
<!-- S06E13 -->| 10.69
<!-- S06E14 -->| 9.62
<!-- S06E15 -->| 10.17
<!-- S06E16 -->| 9.93
<!-- S06E17 -->| 10.66
<!-- S06E18 -->| 10.10
<!-- S06E19 -->| 9.75
<!-- S06E20 -->| 8.96
<!-- S06E21 -->| 9.88
<!-- S06E22 -->| 11.62
|-
<!-- S07E01 -->| 8.90
<!-- S07E02 -->| 7.66
<!-- S07E03 -->| 7.95
<!-- S07E04 -->| 8.07
<!-- S07E05 -->| 7.85
<!-- S07E06 -->| 8.51
<!-- S07E07 -->| 9.58
<!-- S07E08 -->| 7.26
<!-- S07E09 -->| 8.13
<!-- S07E10 -->| 7.40
<!-- S07E11 -->| 6.36
<!-- S07E12 -->| 7.71
<!-- S07E13 -->| 7.02
<!-- S07E14 -->| 8.07
<!-- S07E15 -->| 7.93
<!-- S07E16 -->| 7.27
<!-- S07E17 -->| 8.39
<!-- S07E18 -->| 8.29
<!-- S07E19 -->| 8.42
<!-- S07E20 -->| 8.34
<!-- S07E21 -->| 7.94
<!-- S07E22 -->| 10.11
}}

== Specials ==
Two [[Very special episode|special episodes]] were produced to complement the series and broadcast on NBC. The first was a terrorism-themed episode produced in the wake of the [[September 11 attacks]]. The episode pushed the scheduled [[season premiere]] back a week and encouraged viewers to donate to charity—profits from the episode and cast members' weekly pay were also donated.<ref name="Special BBC">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1579439.stm|title=West Wing airs attacks show|date=October 4, 2001|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref> The episode "was written and produced in record time" – less than three weeks.<ref name="Special BBC"/><ref name="Time"/> Although timely and well-intentioned, the episode was criticized for being condescending and preachy.<ref name="Time"/> 

The second special interspersed the characters' fictional lives with interviews of real [[West Wing]] personnel, including Presidents [[Gerald Ford|Ford]], [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] and [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]]; press secretaries [[Marlin Fitzwater]] and [[Dee Dee Myers]]; presidential advisors [[David Gergen]], [[Paul Begala]] and incumbent [[Karl Rove]]; Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]]; Chief of Staff [[Leon Panetta]]; presidential personal secretary [[Betty Currie]]; and speechwriter [[Peggy Noonan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/04/22/west-wing-episode-acts-as-documentary-with-real-life-politicos-in-the-mix/|title='West Wing' Episode Acts As Documentary With Real-life Politicos In The Mix|author=Cox News Service|author-link=Cox News Service|date=April 22, 2002|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref> The documentary won a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] in [[54th Primetime Emmy Awards|2002]] for "Outstanding Special Class Program".<ref name="AC">{{cite web|url=http://www.theasc.com/magazine/mar03/westwing/index.html|title=The West Wing documentary special.|last=Zarchy|first=Bill|date=March 2003|work=[[American Cinematographer]]|access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref> Both episodes ran within the [[The West Wing (season 3)|season 3]] television season and were included on the season's DVD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.warnerbros.com/westwingtv/dvd_season3.html|title=The West Wing: The Complete Third Season|publisher=[[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros]]|access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref>

A third retrospective "clip-and-interview" special was slated to air in the hour before the [[series finale]]; however, it was axed and replaced with a re-run of the "[[Pilot (The West Wing)|Pilot]]" episode, as cast members were not contracted to do the special and there were disputes over pay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-westwingspecialcanceled,0,4337300.story?coll=zap-news-headlines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930082152/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-westwingspecialcanceled,0,4337300.story?coll=zap-news-headlines|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2012|title=Pay Concerns Scotch 'West Wing' Special|date=May 9, 2006|publisher=[[Zap2it]]|access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref>

{{Episode table |background=#1A3E3A |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |prodcode= |viewers= |country=US |episodes=
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber   = S1<ref name="I&I"/>
 |Title           = [[Isaac and Ishmael]]
 |DirectedBy      = [[Christopher Misiano]]<ref name="Fahy2005">{{cite book|last=Fahy|first=Thomas Richard|title=Considering Aaron Sorkin: essays on the politics, poetics, and sleight of hand in the films and television series|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AvzQoYAMp7IC&q=Considering+Aaron+Sorkin:+essays+on+the+politics,+poetics,+and+sleight+of+...++By+Thomas+Richard+Fahy|year=2005|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|location=Jefferson, N.C|isbn=0-7864-2120-7|page=216}}</ref>
 |WrittenBy       = [[Aaron Sorkin]]<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,178042,00.html|title='West Wing': Terrorism 101|last=Poniewozik|first=James|date=October 4, 2001|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref>
 |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|03}}<ref name="Time"/>
 |Viewers           = 25.24<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41488562/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 1-7, 2001)|date=October 10, 2001|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 16, 2025|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref>
 |ProdCode=227206<ref name="I&I">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/episode_guide/47.shtml |title=Episode Guide: Isaac and Ishmael |work=[[NBC]] |access-date=September 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715013711/http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/episode_guide/47.shtml |archive-date=July 15, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 |LineColor       = 1A3E3A
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber   = S2<ref name="Emmy"/>
 |Title           = Documentary Special
 |DirectedBy      = [[Bill Couturié|William Couturié]]<ref name="Emmy">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=&program=&start_year=2002&end_year=2002&network=All&web_category=413&winner=All|title=Primetime Emmy Award Database: Outstanding Special Class Program – 2002|work=[[Primetime Emmy Award]]|access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref>
 |WrittenBy       = [[Eli Attie]], William Couturié & Felicia Willson (interview materials)<ref name="Emmy"/>
 |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|04|24}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/Bush-Refused-West-41201.aspx |title=Why Bush Refused West Wing Invite |last=Coleridge |first=Daniel R. |date=April 24, 2002 |work=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=September 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018185639/http://www.tvguide.com/news/Bush-Refused-West-41201.aspx |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref>
 |Viewers            = 15.65<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41469435/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (April 22–28, 2002)|date=May 1, 2002|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 16, 2025|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref>
 |ProdCode=227223<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov|title=West Wing : no. 227223, The special episode / directed by William Couturie|work=[[Copyright Catalog]]|publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]]|access-date=November 11, 2010}}<br />Search for : ''West Wing : no. 227223, The special episode / directed by William Couturie''</ref>
 |LineColor       = 1A3E3A
}}
}}

==="A ''West Wing'' Special to Benefit When We All Vote" (2020)===
{{main|A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote|l1=A ''West Wing'' Special to Benefit When We All Vote}}
"A ''West Wing'' Special to Benefit When We All Vote" is a reunion special that was released on [[HBO Max]] on October&nbsp;15, 2020. The special serves as a stage version of the season&nbsp;3 episode "Hartsfield's Landing". The special intended to raise awareness and support for When We All Vote, a [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit organization]] that helps increase participation in United States elections.<ref>{{cite web|last=Iannucci|first=Rebecca|date=August 25, 2020|title=The West Wing: Original Cast to Reunite for Staged Version of Season 3 Episode|url=https://tvline.com/2020/08/25/the-west-wing-reunion-original-cast-stage-version-hbo-max/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901164433/https://tvline.com/2020/08/25/the-west-wing-reunion-original-cast-stage-version-hbo-max/|archive-date=September 1, 2020|access-date=August 25, 2020|website=TVLine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.whenweallvote.org/about-us/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018001258/https://www.whenweallvote.org/about-us/|archive-date=October 18, 2020|access-date=October 18, 2020|website=When We All Vote}}</ref>
{{Episode table |background=#000080 |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| Title           = [[A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote|A ''West Wing'' Special to Benefit When We All Vote]]
| DirectedBy      = [[Thomas Schlamme]]
| WrittenBy       = [[Aaron Sorkin]]<br>[[Eli Attie]] (special material)
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|15}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #000080
}}
}}

==See also==
*[[List of characters on The West Wing|List of characters on ''The West Wing'']]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{refbegin}}
;General references <!-- These references will apply to most, if not all, episodes -->
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-west-wing/episodes/100534|title=The West Wing Episodes on NBC|publisher=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=January 1, 2012}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/showatch/west-wing/listings|title=Shows A-Z – west wing, the on nbc|publisher=the Futon Critic|access-date=January 1, 2012}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://tv.msn.com/tv/series-episodes/the-west-wing|title=The West Wing – Episode Guide|publisher=[[MSN TV]]|access-date=January 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818115745/http://tv.msn.com/tv/series-episodes/the-west-wing/|archive-date=August 18, 2010|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|url=http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/the-west-wing/episode-guide/EP00316991|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217205331/http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/the-west-wing/episode-guide/EP00316991|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2012|title=The West Wing: Episode Guide|publisher=[[Zap2it]]|access-date=January 1, 2012}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/episode_guide|title=The West Wing Episode Guides|work=[[NBC]]|access-date=January 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060803215426/http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/episode_guide/|archive-date=August 3, 2006}}
<!-- Do not include tv.com or imdb episode lists here. Tv.com and imdb are not reliable sources for episode information. -->
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb episodes|0200276|The West Wing}}

{{The West Wing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West Wing}}
[[Category:The West Wing episodes| ]]
[[Category:Lists of American drama television series episodes]]