Pretty much up until The West Wing, our leaders had always been portrayed in popular culture as either Machiavellian or dolts. But I thought, "What if we show a group of people who are highly competent, they're going to lose as much as they win, but we're going to understand that they wake up every morning wanting to do good?" That was really the spirit behind The West Wing.
Aaron SorkinOne of the biggest challenges in the past for me in working on the networks was that audiences have grown accustomed to television being something that keeps you company-background music, something that you have on while you're flipping through a magazine, cooking dinner, talking on the phone, putting the kids to bed.
Aaron SorkinTell me what you think and then tell me what the really smart person in the room who disagrees with you thinks.
Aaron SorkinThe real problem with all drugs is that they work. Fantastically. They're great, right up until the moment they kill you.
Aaron Sorkin