It was hard saying goodbye to the character and harder saying goodbye to the actor. When rumours started going around that Rob Lowe might be leaving I got an email from Josh Malina asking if I'd be interested in an actor who was cheaper and not as good looking. I wrote back, "Always", and that was that.

When I write something, I want the best director to direct it. And that's not going to be me.

Elite is not a bad word, it's an aspirational one.

Trying to guess what the (mass) audience wants and then trying to satisfy that is usually a bad recipe for getting something good.

When I feel that something I'm writing is going well, everything in my life is good and the things in my life that aren't good are completely manageable. If it's not going well, Miss America could be standing there in a swimsuit handing me a nobel price and I wouldn't be happy about it

If I get an idea for a series that I really like, I'm sure I won't be able to resist coming back and doing it.

It's important to remember that, first and foremost, if not only, this is entertainment. 'The West Wing' isn't meant to be good for you.