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'The West Wing' reunion special is set for Oct. 15, and will urge you to vote

Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY
·2 min read

It's a good day for fans of "The West Wing."

The HBO Max streaming service and Aaron Sorkin, creator of the 1999-2006 NBC drama focused on White House employees, revealed the series plans a very special return October 15.

"A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote" will feature original cast members Rob Lowe (Sam), Dulé Hill (Charlie), Allison Janney, (C.J.) Janel Moloney (Donna), Richard Schiff (Toby), Bradley Whitford (Josh) and Martin Sheen (President Jed Bartlet) reprising their roles for a theatrically staged version of Season 3 episode, "Hartsfield's Landing."

The special will be co-produced by Sorkin, who wrote new material, and directed by Thomas Schlamme, a frequent director on the original series. Other stars are still to be announced.

Rob Lowe as Sam, Allison Janney as C.J. and Martin Sheen as President Bartlett in "The West Wing." The living original cast is reuniting for a staged reproduction of a Season 3 episode on HBO Max to benefit former First Lady Michelle Obama's nonpartisan get out the vote organization.
Rob Lowe as Sam, Allison Janney as C.J. and Martin Sheen as President Bartlett in "The West Wing." The living original cast is reuniting for a staged reproduction of a Season 3 episode on HBO Max to benefit former First Lady Michelle Obama's nonpartisan get out the vote organization.

The special is intended to raise awareness and benefit When We All Vote, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization co-chaired by former First Lady Michelle Obama, aimed at increasing voter participation for all elections. HBO Max parent WarnerMedia will make a donation to When We All Vote.

Instead of commercial breaks, figures including Former First Lady Michelle Obama, President Bill Clinton and Lin-Manuel Miranda will make appearances to offer commentary. Composer W. G. Snuffy Walden will open the special with a performance of the theme song on guitar, and the Avett Brothers will close out the night with their own performance.

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"Tommy and I are incredibly excited to be getting 'The West Wing' cast back together for this staged reading and to support When We All Vote in their efforts to get all of us involved in this election,” Sorkin said in a news release in August.

The "Hartsfield's Landing" episode, from the third season of "West Wing," is set during President Bartlet's reelection campaign. Josh is worried that early results from a tiny New Hampshire town will sway the press coverage of the state's primary. Bartlet plays chess with Toby and Sam, while debating with the former about how to present himself in the campaign and educating the latter in diplomacy. C.J. and Charlie engage in an escalating prank war.

The episode doesn't prominently feature Bartlet's chief of staff Leo McGarry, originally played by John Spencer. Spencer died in 2005, the show's final season. HBO Max did not say whether another actor will take on the role for the special.

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"A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote" will be filmed in October at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, following COVID Safe Way Forward production protocols recommended by Hollywood unions like the Screen Actors Guild.

The seven seasons of "The West Wing" are currently available to stream on Netflix.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The West Wing' cast reunites for HBO Max special October 15