*INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

A behind-the-scenes look into the creation and legacy of The West Wing as told by cast members Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, with compelling insights fromcast and crewexploringwhat made the show what it was and how its impassioned commitment to service has made theseries and relationships behind it endure.

Step back inside the world of President Jed Bartlets Oval Office with Fitzgerald and McCormack as they reunite the West Wing cast and crewin a lively and colorful backstage pass to the timeless series. This intimate, in-depth reflection reveals how The West Wing was conceived,and spotlightsthe army of people it took to produce it, the lifelong friendships it forged, and the service it inspired.

From cast member origin stories to the collective cathartic farewell on the shows final night of filming, Whats Next will delight readerswith on-setand off-camera anecdotesthat even West Wing superfans have never heard.Meanwhile,a deeper analysis ofthe shows legacy through American culture, service, government, and civic life underscores how the series envisaged an American politics of decency and honor, creating an aspirational White House beyond the bounds of fictional television.

Whats Next revisits beloved episodes with fresh, untold commentary; compiles poignant and hilarious stories from the shows production; highlights initiatives supported by the cast, crew, and creators; and makes a powerful case for competent, empathetic leadership, hope, and optimism for whatever lies ahead.