The West Wing Weekly Tickets

The West Wing Weekly is a podcast hosted by actor Joshua Malina, who played White House Deputy Communications Director Will Bailey on the popular political drama, The West Wing. The show has gained a following for its in-depth discussions of individual episodes of the series, as well as interviews with cast members and behind-the-scenes personnel.

While The West Wing is not typically thought of as a comedy, the show certainly had its humorous moments. This was especially true during the early seasons, when creator Aaron Sorkin's snappy dialogue and quick wit were still guiding the series. The West Wing Weekly often acknowledges and celebrates this comedic side of the show.

For example, in the episode "A Proportional Response," Malina and co-host Hrishikesh Hirway spend some time discussing the scene where Toby Ziegler (played by Richard Schiff) loses his mind over a crossword puzzle. The hosts note that this moment may seem like a throwaway bit of comedy, but it actually serves to highlight Toby's obsessive personality and his frustration with being shut out of key decisions in the White House.

Similarly, in the episode "The Midterms," Malina and Hirway discuss the famous "Butterball hotline" scene, in which President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) prank-calls a turkey hotline. They note how this scene is both hilarious and also underlines Bartlet's folksy charm and ability to connect with everyday Americans.

The West Wing Weekly also occasionally devotes full episodes to discussing particularly funny or memorable episodes of the show. For example, they devoted an entire episode to season 2's "The Crackpots and These Women," which features some classic West Wing banter between characters.

Overall, The West Wing may be a serious drama about the inner workings of American politics, but it also had a strong comedic streak running through it. The West Wing Weekly does an excellent job of celebrating and analyzing this often-overlooked aspect of the show.