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Inside Bartlet's White House: An Unofficial and Unauthorized Guide to the West Wing
With an all-star cast, including Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, John Spencer and Richard Schiff, The West Wing is the NBC network's biggest hit drama show in years. Keith Topping's indispensable guide to the series includes every episode of the first two seasons and covers the highlights of the episodes in categories such as American History X, Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll, A View from the Hill and Logic, Let Me Introduce You to this Window. Completely up to date, this is essential reading for every fan of the multi-award-winning drama. The West Wing is the NBC Network's biggest hit drama show in years Essential reading for fans.
- GenresNonfictionReferenceTv
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Keith Topping
69 books11 followersKeith Andrew Topping is an author, journalist and broadcaster most closely associated with his work relating to the BBC Television series Doctor Who and for writing numerous official and unofficial guide books to a wide variety of television and film series, specifically Buffy the Vampire Slayer.He is also the author of two books of rock music critique. To date, Topping has written over 40 books.
One of the leading players in British Doctor Who fandom's fan-fiction movement during the 1980s, Topping's first published fiction was the BBC Books "Past Doctor Adventure" The Devil Goblins from Neptune in 1997. The novel was co-written with his friend and frequent collaborator Martin Day.
The pair quickly followed this up with the acclaimed novel The Hollow Men in 1998. Following Day's move into TV scripting, Topping wrote the novels The King of Terror (2000) and Byzantium! (2001) solo. The latter novel is the only BBC Books Past Doctor Adventure to be set entirely within one episode of the television series Doctor Who — 1965's The Romans by Dennis Spooner. Topping also wrote the Telos Doctor Who novella Ghost Ship which was published in 2002 and proved so popular that it was one of only two novellas reissued as a paperback edition in 2003.
As well as writing fiction, Topping has also authored numerous programme guides to television series as diverse as The X Files, The Avengers, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Sweeney and The Professionals. These were all published by Virgin Books, and co-written with Martin Day and Paul Cornell. Cornell, Day and Topping also collaborated on the popular Doctor Who Discontinuity Guide, published by Virgin Books in 1995 and re-issued, in the US, by MonkeyBrain Books in 2004, a lighthearted guide to the mistakes and incongruities of the television series. The trio had first worked together co-writing two editions of The Guinness Book of Classic British Television (1993 and 1996 respectively).
Subsequently, Topping wrote The Complete Slayer: An Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Every Episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a number of related texts on this popular series as well as guide books to The West Wing (Inside Bartlet's White House), Angel (Hollywood Vampire), 24 (A Day in the Life) and Stargate SG-1 (Beyond the Gate), amongst others. According to the 2003 book Slayer Slang by Michael Adams (Oxford University Press), Topping was the originator of the word 'vampiry' (adj. "exhibiting features of a vampire") in the January 2000 edition of his book Slayer (pg. 26). In addition, Topping is a regular contributor of articles and reviews to several TV and genre titles including TV Zone, Xposé and Shivers and is a former Contributing Editor of Dreamwatch. He also worked as Project Consultant on Charmed: The Complete DVD Collection.
On radio, Topping was the Producer/Presenter of the monthly Book Club (2005-2007) and currently co-presents a daily television review slot, Monday to Friday, on The Simon Logan Show for BBC Newcastle. He has also contributed to the BBC television series' I Love the '70s, Call The Cops and The Perfect Detective and has written for Sounds, the Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times Culture Supplement and many other magazines and periodicals.
Topping writes, and occasionally performs, stand-up comedy and has written radio comedy sketches, an (unproduced) stage play and a TV pilot (with Martin Day) that is, currently, stuck in “Development Hell.”
Topping continues to live and work on Tyneside. He achieved a lifetimes ambition in 2005 when his book on The Beatles, Do You Want to Know a Secret was published by Virgin Books.
One of the leading players in British Doctor Who fandom's fan-fiction movement during the 1980s, Topping's first published fiction was the BBC Books "Past Doctor Adventure" The Devil Goblins from Neptune in 1997. The novel was co-written with his friend and frequent collaborator Martin Day.
The pair quickly followed this up with the acclaimed novel The Hollow Men in 1998. Following Day's move into TV scripting, Topping wrote the novels The King of Terror (2000) and Byzantium! (2001) solo. The latter novel is the only BBC Books Past Doctor Adventure to be set entirely within one episode of the television series Doctor Who — 1965's The Romans by Dennis Spooner. Topping also wrote the Telos Doctor Who novella Ghost Ship which was published in 2002 and proved so popular that it was one of only two novellas reissued as a paperback edition in 2003.
As well as writing fiction, Topping has also authored numerous programme guides to television series as diverse as The X Files, The Avengers, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Sweeney and The Professionals. These were all published by Virgin Books, and co-written with Martin Day and Paul Cornell. Cornell, Day and Topping also collaborated on the popular Doctor Who Discontinuity Guide, published by Virgin Books in 1995 and re-issued, in the US, by MonkeyBrain Books in 2004, a lighthearted guide to the mistakes and incongruities of the television series. The trio had first worked together co-writing two editions of The Guinness Book of Classic British Television (1993 and 1996 respectively).
Subsequently, Topping wrote The Complete Slayer: An Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Every Episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a number of related texts on this popular series as well as guide books to The West Wing (Inside Bartlet's White House), Angel (Hollywood Vampire), 24 (A Day in the Life) and Stargate SG-1 (Beyond the Gate), amongst others. According to the 2003 book Slayer Slang by Michael Adams (Oxford University Press), Topping was the originator of the word 'vampiry' (adj. "exhibiting features of a vampire") in the January 2000 edition of his book Slayer (pg. 26). In addition, Topping is a regular contributor of articles and reviews to several TV and genre titles including TV Zone, Xposé and Shivers and is a former Contributing Editor of Dreamwatch. He also worked as Project Consultant on Charmed: The Complete DVD Collection.
On radio, Topping was the Producer/Presenter of the monthly Book Club (2005-2007) and currently co-presents a daily television review slot, Monday to Friday, on The Simon Logan Show for BBC Newcastle. He has also contributed to the BBC television series' I Love the '70s, Call The Cops and The Perfect Detective and has written for Sounds, the Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times Culture Supplement and many other magazines and periodicals.
Topping writes, and occasionally performs, stand-up comedy and has written radio comedy sketches, an (unproduced) stage play and a TV pilot (with Martin Day) that is, currently, stuck in “Development Hell.”
Topping continues to live and work on Tyneside. He achieved a lifetimes ambition in 2005 when his book on The Beatles, Do You Want to Know a Secret was published by Virgin Books.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 2, 2022
A quick-and-dirty guide to the episodes in the first 2.5 seasons of The West Wing. The author gives a synopsis of each episode, along with his thoughts on it, and various tidbits categorized into sections such as "A View From the Hill" and "American History X" (for viewers not familiar with US government or history), "The Encyclopedic Mind of Josiah Bartlet PhD" (President Bartlet is a know-it-all geek), and "References" (references to pop culture, American history, consumerism, etc.), among others.
The book is a nice enough overview of each episode, but sometimes the overviews are *too* brief, leaving out major plot lines. Also, the "references" to pop culture are often merely sayings that were used in both the episode and some other piece of pop culture. Just because a song or movie used the saying also doesn't mean The West Wing is quoting/misquoting/referring to it. Also, the "Logic, Let Me Introduce You to This Window" continuity errors and plot problems section seems to have trouble sometimes separating reality from fiction -- yes, a country named in the episode is not a real country, but guess what? Jed Bartlet's not the real president, either. There has to be some leeway for creative license and imaginary worlds.
Other than that, the book is a nice way to reminisce about my favorite show (but I'm sure there are better books out there).
The book is a nice enough overview of each episode, but sometimes the overviews are *too* brief, leaving out major plot lines. Also, the "references" to pop culture are often merely sayings that were used in both the episode and some other piece of pop culture. Just because a song or movie used the saying also doesn't mean The West Wing is quoting/misquoting/referring to it. Also, the "Logic, Let Me Introduce You to This Window" continuity errors and plot problems section seems to have trouble sometimes separating reality from fiction -- yes, a country named in the episode is not a real country, but guess what? Jed Bartlet's not the real president, either. There has to be some leeway for creative license and imaginary worlds.
Other than that, the book is a nice way to reminisce about my favorite show (but I'm sure there are better books out there).
March 26, 2007
From a technical POV, the book should provide a better TOC and index than what is provided. In addition, there are many American idioms used routinely in the scripts, which the author is either unaware of, or has decided not to research.
However, aside from the online script database, it is complete (through the seasons covered) with airing data, actor lists, and good synopses.
However, aside from the online script database, it is complete (through the seasons covered) with airing data, actor lists, and good synopses.
February 28, 2011
It's not quite as well-edited and well-researched as Topping's "Buffy" and "Angel" guides...but only by a hair. It's still worth reading for the essay-style commentaries and critiques, and will be incredibly satisfying to anyone who loves "The West Wing". Such love SHINES from every page in this book.
May 17, 2010
My favourite TV show! This was a good companion guide to the first few seasons of The West Wing-covering the characters,the plot and lots of trivia.How I wished for more seasons of this wonderful show!
October 10, 2016
A good recap of the West Wing TV series. I think it makes a good companion to the actual TV series. Definitely a must read for any West Wing fan.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews