A Certified Hit
The West Wing didn’t really take off until the second season. Shows such as Friends, Will & Grace, ER and Law & Order were all doing much better than the political drama in its first season. In fact, it did not even rank as one of NBC’s top five shows during its first year. But demographics were strong, and it became a hit during the second year. Warner Bros. TV Executive Peter Roth recalled attending the television awards in May 2000, and the cast got a standing ovation. He told the Hollywood Reporter: “I’ve been doing this for 40 years; I’ve never seen that happen — nor do I ever expect to see it happen again.”
