Numerous critics consider Aaron Sorkin one of the foremost writers of this generation: his seminal series The West Wing garnered 26 Emmys during its broadcast, he received the 2010 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Social Network, and a succession of nominations and accolades followed him consistently.
Consequently, Sorkin has developed a regrettable reputation for being variably irritable to excessively domineering, particularly towards his colleagues and subordinates.
Sorkin’s exit after the fourth season of The West Wing was an unexpected and tumultuous event, eliciting various viewpoints on the reasons for his leaving at the peak of his cultural prominence, and reassessing the incident evokes divergent and intricate thoughts on Sorkin himself.
Aaron Sorkin Reportedly is A Challenge to Collaborate With
Among Sorkin’s less commendable instances in recent history is his flippant reaction to criticism regarding the casting of Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz in his biography, Being the Ricardos. Sorkin faced criticism for endorsing Netflix’s choice to retain comedian Dave Chapelle’s contentious specials containing transphobic material.
In 2014, Alena Smith, a member of the writers’ room for Sorkin’s The Newsroom, claimed that Sorkin “screamed” at her after she opposed an episode concerning sexual assault. The episode was contentious upon its release, eliciting extensive criticism for its derogatory tone toward the college campus rape pandemic.
Sorkin asserted that Smith would not “move on” from her issues, prompting him to send her home for the day. Smith then had the position of showrunner for the critically praised series Dickinson on Apple TV+.
In 2014, released emails from the Sony Pictures hack disclosed that Sorkin believed it was simpler for female actresses to secure awards, as masculine roles required greater work and, by extension, talent. Similarly, the author has consistently faced criticism for his portrayal of female characters.
Sorkin has commendably elaborated on his previous challenges with addiction. In 2001, during the second season of The West Wing, Sorkin was detained by authorities for illicit cocaine possession. “My primary apprehension upon ceasing drug use was the concern that I would lose my ability to write,” he disclosed to Men’s Journal.
“As a writer experiencing a productive phase, particularly while under the influence, one is disinclined to alter their working methods.” As of 2023, Sorkin has maintained sobriety for over two decades.
Sorkin Focused on Writing 99% of ‘The West Wing’ Episodes
Since the series ended in 2006, numerous performers from The West Wing have commented on their leader’s scrupulous oversight of the series’ artistic trajectory. Sorkin authored or oversaw nearly every script in the initial 88 episodes of The West Wing.
Considering the traditional schedule of 24 episodes per season, with one season produced year, this presents an insurmountable challenge for an individual. Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, a notable guest performer on The West Wing, described her tenure on the series as a “profound experience” and commended the excellence of Sorkin’s dialogue.
However, she saw that none of the actors modified their lines or engaged in improvisation during the situations. As a political polling analyst, her responsibilities included intricate mathematical calculations, prompting her to request Sorkin to modify her lines for a more accessible translation into sign language, given that Matlin is deaf.
Sorkin stated that she needed to adhere precisely to the script. Matlin appears unfazed by this incident, however it illustrates the authoritarian control Sorkin exerted over his staged domain.
Sorkin failed to meet written deadlines, episodes consistently exceeded budgetary constraints, and production days were suspended due to a lack of material to film. In a retrospective with The Hollywood Reporter, Sorkin disclosed that he and executive producer Thomas Schlamme first considered departing during the third season.
“It was an untenable decision,” Sorkin stated, although he and Schlamme recognized it was prudent and timely to explore alternative career opportunities.
John Wells, an executive producer and showrunner of the series after Sorkin’s departure, said Empire Online that Sorkin had been “exhausted” since at least the third season due to the monumental effort required to create each episode.
NBC Wanted to Change ‘The West Wing’ Due to Sorkin’s Delay
It is perhaps predictable that NBC network management want to restrict Sorkin’s esteemed power. This objective was clearly unacceptable for Sorkin, which is somewhat comprehensible under specific circumstances.
Numerous writers can affirm that permitting somebody to exert influence over their creations is challenging, peculiar, and even daunting. Nonetheless, it was rational from NBC’s corporate standpoint to streamline production and adhere to budgetary limitations.
Season 4, in particular, witnessed significant conflict between Sorkin and NBC. Wells stated that “the network was quite displeased with Rob [Lowe]’s departure and urged Aaron to develop more substantial narratives to persuade him to remain.”
Sorkin, a writer known for his dialogue-centric approach, declined to evolve from his distinctive style of characters engaging in discussions about moral and sociopolitical matters. At the conclusion of season four, Sorkin assembled his principal cast in the Oval Office set following the filming of the cliffhanger ending to announce his departure.
In recent interviews, Sorkin asserts that he and Thomas Schlamme resigned voluntarily. Wells claims the writer inadvertently resigned during a meeting with NBC executives.
The Consequences of Sorkin’s Exit
The outcome was disastrous for the cast. Josh Malina remarked that “there were numerous tears and considerable protestations” following the event; Richard Schiff was also astonished but ultimately comprehended and endorsed Sorkin’s choice.
“If I were Aaron, I would not desire to alter my work methodology,” he stated to Empire Online. Allison Janney, a four-time Emmy winner for The West Wing, conveyed to The Hollywood Reporter that “it was a terribly sad day, and I am certain I will never fully comprehend all the reasons why it occurred.”
Thomas Schlamme provided no sign of ever disclosing the rationale behind his and Sorkin’s decisions. The situation may have resulted from a convergence of multiple variables, encompassing various viewpoints and emotions related to the narrative.
Sorkin’s exit from The West Wing was intricate, acrimonious, and continues to be somewhat enigmatic, regardless of the definitive truth.
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