The Diplomat 1.04: He Bought a Hat

We hereby appoint the Honorable Debora T. Cahn, West Wing writer, for the position of Chief Guestice of The Supremes episode Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Rufus Sewell sits down with us in-studio to discuss his take on his character, his chemistry with Kerri Russell, and the biggest challenge of playing Hal Wyler: “his level of confidence.”For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-106. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Pivots, lit bits, and a hookup in a pond. Plus plenty of plenipotentiary, as Hrishi and Josh welcome Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones and her husband Don Ruschman to tell us what it’s really like inside the world of high stakes diplomacy. For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-105. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

You’ve said you’d listen to us talk about anything, and today we test this thesis. We touch on pigs, contractions, James Bond, and offscreen butts. And we still find time to discuss Russian mercenaries, a sudden death, and onscreen butt.For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-104. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We’re joined by director Andrew Bernstein to discuss his work on this episode (as well as his work on The West Wing)—and that fight scene between Kate and Hal!For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-103. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We’re digging into the dynamics of Kate & Hal, Eidra & Stuart, the breathless pace of the show, and its “no good guys” worldview. Josh has an important PSA about drugs. For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-102. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Our discussion of The Diplomat begins at the beginning with the creator of the series, Debora Cahn, who tells us about the show's origin story. For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-101. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We’re very excited to announce a new series here on The West Wing Weekly, discussing the Netflix hit political thriller The Diplomat, episode by episode. Coming soon!Join us LIVE in London for the season 1 finale, on Saturday November 14. Tickets here: thewestwingweekly.com/live Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We're discussing the 1976 Oscar-winning classic directed by Alan Pakula and written by William Goldman (one of Aaron Sorkin's screenwriting heroes). WOODSTEIN! If you'd like to watch the video version of this episode, subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/thewestwingweekly.Here are some extra tidbits: "Telling the Truth about Lies" - a featurette on the making of the film An article Gordon Willis wrote for American Cinematographer in 1976 about his work on the film, including his use of split diopters. Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later - which features Josh Malina in the role of Deep Throat Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Did you order the Code Red? You're goddamn right I did!—if by "Code Red" you mean an hour of Josh & Hrishi discussing this Aaron Sorkin / Rob Reiner classic. (We're not in the Marines, but we still like giving things code names.) We wanted to pay tribute to the late Rob Reiner and this film that, in some ways, would eventually lead to The West Wing. Plus, A Few Good Men was Josh's film debut, based on the play that was his Broadway debut, so he has lots of stories. We hope—we strenuously hope—you'll join us for this conversation about one of the all-time great courtrooms drama. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices