What's Next

Praise

“Mary and Melissa succeed so brilliantly in capturing what it was like to be part of The West Wing. From the casting process to the table reads to our final night of filming, What’s Next is packed full of details, anecdotes, and secrets from behind the scenes. This is the book The West Wing deserves. –Allison Janney
 
“Dedication to service has always played a key part in The West Wing, and now it’s a key part of What’s Next. Full of a hopeful optimism, it’s a celebration of the past as well as an inspirational look to the future. What’s Next is the book we all need right now. –Dulé Hill
 
“Mary and Melissa have brought me back to those glorious days on the West Wing set with What’s Next.  A perfect storm of talented people lucky enough to find each other in a seminal moment of television history: this wonderful book remembers the 17 hour days and 80 hour weeks and the grind and glory of the impossible pursuit of excellence. We formed a tribe that adored each other and respected each other and elevated each other to heights we could not ever reach alone. What a joy to read from the memories of all our perspectives that bring us right back to stage 23 on the Warner Bros. lot.” –Richard Schiff
 
“What an amazing time to take a deep dive into the Bartlet administration! Any West Wing fan will adore this book, as will anyone who admires brilliant television and all that it takes to make it. Run and buy What’s Next for all the West Wingers in your life!” –Janel Moloney
 
“Being part of The West Wing was more than the creative experience of a lifetime. It was a show that celebrated public service and was a reminder that we don’t just get a democracy, we have to make one every day. I’m so proud of my West Wing family who continue to use the attention the show gave us to hold this country up to its spectacular, unfulfilled promise. And I’m so grateful to Melissa and Mary for highlighting the causes that are so important to each of us and how you can help. A joy and a MUST READ for all the Wingnuts out there!!!” –Brad Whitford
 
“What’s Next is the highest level of access you can get to The West Wing without a background check. I co-hosted a podcast about the show and there’s tons of stuff in here I didn’t know. Mary and Melissa take you inside the writers’ room, on the cast-and-crew road trips to Vegas, and behind the scenes of the series we all love. Buy the book and skip the chapter about Brad.” –Josh Malina

“What’s Next pulls back the curtain on the making of the iconic show, just in time for a pre-election rewatch.” –People

“A fun and breezy read.” –LA Times

“What’s Next offers a complete look at the making of one of TV’s most acclaimed dramas.” –Parade

“What’s Next revisits beloved episodes with fresh, untold commentary; compiles poignant and hilarious stories from the show’s production; highlights initiatives supported by the cast, crew, and creators; and makes a powerful case for competent, empathetic leadership, hope, and optimism for whatever lies ahead.” –Nerdbot

“West Wing’ alums give ‘backstage pass’ to beloved drama in new book… includ[ing] behind-the-scenes cast moments, photos and anecdotes from specific episodes of the show and real-life political encounters.” –The Hill

“[This] lively, engaging booktakes a deep dive into the series, including its origin, creators, casting, key episodes from itsseven seasons, and more… Fans of the series (aka “Wingnuts”) will enjoy these on- and off-camera stories, and those who have never watched anepisode will find out what they’ve missed.” –Booklist

“An entertaining history of the show grounded in extensive interviews with its stars, writers, and crew…the insider stories amuse, and meditations on the show’s legacy highlight its influence on real-life politicos.” —Publishers Weekly

“The authors gained excellent access to key figures on the show… plenty of insider trivia… [a] thorough exploration of a prestige-TV standard-bearer.”—Kirkus