Fearing The Show Would Be Too “Liberal”
Garth Ancier, President of NBC Entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter that The West Wing had one of those rare pilot episodes that absolutely had to make it to air. However, there were some internal politics at the network and those who were concerned about the show’s content. Senior management was “dead set against it,” believing it was “too liberal.” They also feared a collaboration with Aaron Sorkin, feeling he was difficult to work with. They eventually approved the pilot, but Ancier had to meet with Sorkin and John Wells to assuage Bob Wright’s fears, who was particularly perturbed by a Jerry Falwell look-alike in the pilot episode who didn’t understand the Ten Commandments.
