I agree. Several instances come to mind that illustrate it. When Donna first heard that the President had multiple sclerosis, she was the only member of the staff whose first instinct was to ask if he was okay. Everyone else was so concerned about the political implications that they erased the President's humanity. When the motorcade left Donna, Josh and Toby behind in Indiana during the reelection campaign, Donna blasted Josh and Toby for making fun of the county fairs they had seen and their dismissal of the things that were important to the people they met. Aside from being the moral center of the show, Donna was the only character who was guided by human considerations ahead of political ones. It is interesting to consider C.J., in the epsiode "Galileo," announcing in the Oval Office that the American people can understand a lot of things, as if this was some grand revelation that had never occurred to any politician before. It wouldn't have been a revelation to Donna. If the others were surprised by that notion, it is because political considerations had dominated their thinking for so long that had lost touch with their humanity. Donna never did.
I am a TWW superfan, like many here, and when superfans continue to rewatch and analyze and find enjoyment and comfort in a fictional world , I can imagine that for the erstwhile creative team of any show or film, it is a call back to another life, a different part of a career, a bittersweet combination of feeling older while your younger self is frozen in time. You are so gracious in indulging your fans with photos, so grounded in appreciating your past while always moving into the next part of your future, and by covering up any sense of inconvenience or interruption you may sometimes feel. This seems to be a Venn Diagram where Donna’s and Janel’s personal smarts and sensitivities overlap. Thank you for your patience with your fans.
I’ve loved the West Wing since it’s first showing in the UK, and since then I think I’ve watched it back to back about 15 times. My wife and I are watching it again — currently on season three, even if she gets annoyed with me quoting it, in time, with the pauses (mainly Toby’s lines!) Reading your Substack posts really make me smile, and your recollections of filming the series are wonderful. Please keep it going!
“I know they want to be like Donna. And if I’m honest, maybe—what I want, what I really, really want—is to be like them. To be young and uncertain on a glorious day, with my whole stinkin’ life ahead of me.” You have a way of seeing life as more than just glass half full; like the future really is limitless even when life feels especially bleak. It’s something I see in Donna onscreen but reading it in your own words fills me with more hope maybe than Donna ever has.
Another amazing read. I felt physically lighter after reading this! I took so much joy out of watching Donna as she grew and matured. It is so interesting to read how you felt then and now, as you "made" Donna into the character we all loved!
For me, and I suspect many others, one of the great joys in reading your essays is getting a peek into what life is like for someone whose performances have entertained and elevated us. Someone for whom privacy is otherwise a much more significant issue than for the great majority of us. The flip side of having less privacy than most is the ability to impact positively the lives of others, something you're obviously aware of. Just ask Maddy.
I loved reading this. Honestly, did our flip phones even have cameras?? My son was a teenager when WW premiered, and we watch every show together, it gave us stuff to talk about. He was doing “model UN” at his school, and I think he saw himself as a bit of a Josh — but I always loved Donna. So glad you share these moments with us.
Shortly after I watched the show I started my first “big girl” office job and I felt so much like Donna going into it (and I still do!). I see so much of myself in Donna and I love how you talk about how she could have been seen as “ditzy” but you never thought of her that way, I never have either. I think she shows so much what it’s like to be a young woman learning and growing. I could keep going on and on, but I love this. And Maddy is an icon!
My "favorite" character(s) changes with each episode and sometimes multiple times in an episode, depending on the scene but I absolutely adore Donna in evwry episode. The obvious love she and Josh had, in their work relationship, friendship, and FINALLY when they ended up together.
I never saw Donna as ditzy, either; she had quirks that were uniquely Donna and just made her all the more relatable and lovable but some of my favorite Donna scenes were those of hwr feigning ditziness, at Josh's expense: every episode she made fun of him over his "fan club"; the episode Josh met Joey, wearing the yellow raincoat and pants are definitely up there as some of my favorites. But even more than those, I absolutely love her fierce loyalty to those she cared about: the episode Josh and Bartlett were shot, the episode Bartlett decided to step aside after Zoey's kidnapping and she talked Josh into leaving his office to see the gifts left for Zoey along the fence are in my top 5.
I proudly admit that if I were to ever find myself in Maddie's position, I would be star struck to meet "Donna" in the wild.
I’ve come to realize that Donna was the moral center of the WW
Interesting. They all had their moments though right?
I agree. Several instances come to mind that illustrate it. When Donna first heard that the President had multiple sclerosis, she was the only member of the staff whose first instinct was to ask if he was okay. Everyone else was so concerned about the political implications that they erased the President's humanity. When the motorcade left Donna, Josh and Toby behind in Indiana during the reelection campaign, Donna blasted Josh and Toby for making fun of the county fairs they had seen and their dismissal of the things that were important to the people they met. Aside from being the moral center of the show, Donna was the only character who was guided by human considerations ahead of political ones. It is interesting to consider C.J., in the epsiode "Galileo," announcing in the Oval Office that the American people can understand a lot of things, as if this was some grand revelation that had never occurred to any politician before. It wouldn't have been a revelation to Donna. If the others were surprised by that notion, it is because political considerations had dominated their thinking for so long that had lost touch with their humanity. Donna never did.
Always felt Donna represented America. Actual Americans. EASY in DC bubble to forget the every day American. Donna was the constant WW reminder.
I am a TWW superfan, like many here, and when superfans continue to rewatch and analyze and find enjoyment and comfort in a fictional world , I can imagine that for the erstwhile creative team of any show or film, it is a call back to another life, a different part of a career, a bittersweet combination of feeling older while your younger self is frozen in time. You are so gracious in indulging your fans with photos, so grounded in appreciating your past while always moving into the next part of your future, and by covering up any sense of inconvenience or interruption you may sometimes feel. This seems to be a Venn Diagram where Donna’s and Janel’s personal smarts and sensitivities overlap. Thank you for your patience with your fans.
So good. I miss you!!!
Thanks babe. Love you and miss you always. xxxxx
Janel,
I’ve loved the West Wing since it’s first showing in the UK, and since then I think I’ve watched it back to back about 15 times. My wife and I are watching it again — currently on season three, even if she gets annoyed with me quoting it, in time, with the pauses (mainly Toby’s lines!) Reading your Substack posts really make me smile, and your recollections of filming the series are wonderful. Please keep it going!
Thank you,
Gareth
Homeschoolers rise up!
“I know they want to be like Donna. And if I’m honest, maybe—what I want, what I really, really want—is to be like them. To be young and uncertain on a glorious day, with my whole stinkin’ life ahead of me.” You have a way of seeing life as more than just glass half full; like the future really is limitless even when life feels especially bleak. It’s something I see in Donna onscreen but reading it in your own words fills me with more hope maybe than Donna ever has.
Another amazing read. I felt physically lighter after reading this! I took so much joy out of watching Donna as she grew and matured. It is so interesting to read how you felt then and now, as you "made" Donna into the character we all loved!
For me, and I suspect many others, one of the great joys in reading your essays is getting a peek into what life is like for someone whose performances have entertained and elevated us. Someone for whom privacy is otherwise a much more significant issue than for the great majority of us. The flip side of having less privacy than most is the ability to impact positively the lives of others, something you're obviously aware of. Just ask Maddy.
Thank you Mike.
I'm so happy you joined Substack!
Me too!
I loved reading this. Honestly, did our flip phones even have cameras?? My son was a teenager when WW premiered, and we watch every show together, it gave us stuff to talk about. He was doing “model UN” at his school, and I think he saw himself as a bit of a Josh — but I always loved Donna. So glad you share these moments with us.
Shortly after I watched the show I started my first “big girl” office job and I felt so much like Donna going into it (and I still do!). I see so much of myself in Donna and I love how you talk about how she could have been seen as “ditzy” but you never thought of her that way, I never have either. I think she shows so much what it’s like to be a young woman learning and growing. I could keep going on and on, but I love this. And Maddy is an icon!
Maddy is a special version of all of the Donna’s! Love that you’re sharing your journey here!
My "favorite" character(s) changes with each episode and sometimes multiple times in an episode, depending on the scene but I absolutely adore Donna in evwry episode. The obvious love she and Josh had, in their work relationship, friendship, and FINALLY when they ended up together.
I never saw Donna as ditzy, either; she had quirks that were uniquely Donna and just made her all the more relatable and lovable but some of my favorite Donna scenes were those of hwr feigning ditziness, at Josh's expense: every episode she made fun of him over his "fan club"; the episode Josh met Joey, wearing the yellow raincoat and pants are definitely up there as some of my favorites. But even more than those, I absolutely love her fierce loyalty to those she cared about: the episode Josh and Bartlett were shot, the episode Bartlett decided to step aside after Zoey's kidnapping and she talked Josh into leaving his office to see the gifts left for Zoey along the fence are in my top 5.
I proudly admit that if I were to ever find myself in Maddie's position, I would be star struck to meet "Donna" in the wild.
This is so lovely. Thank you for sharing it!
Also, you have no idea how much I’m fangirling right now; if we were in proximity I’d probably ask for a picture!
That scene with the interpreters was hysterical.
Omg i love your maddy's anecdote. it was a sweat moment to read i enjoy it.