Allison Janney Discusses A 'West Wing' Reboot

In the heated political climate of 2017, people are turning to TV for solace and answers. With shows like Scandal serving up an alternate vision of the White House, it's unsurprising that fans of Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing are wondering if the series might make a return. While Netflix's House Of Cards has filled the gap left by the political drama, the NBC series that ended way back in in 2006 is still a fan favorite. Which is why it's so great thatVariety asked Allison Janney whether a revival of The West Wing could happen, so we can finally get some closure here.

Janney, of course, played White House Press Secretary C. J. Cregg on The West Wing, a character who went on to become Chief Of Staff in Season 6. Currently starring in Mom, Janney said of a The West Wing reunion, “Everyone wants to, but really, how could we do that? We’re all too old!”

While this excuse holds no sway with me, it's possible that returning to the lives of President Bartlet and the gang in 2017 might not be exciting enough, as truth appears to be much stranger than fiction. However, fans of the show are understandably excited by the mention of a revival, especially since so many popular shows have been rebooted in recent years.

Luckily, Janney still has a lot of love for the series and explored the idea of a revival in her interview:

“They could do it with a whole new cast, and Aaron should. I know everyone fell in love with our characters, and I love that, but it seems like West Wing should be filled with young, idealistic, visionary people. Maybe, I don’t know, they could give us some other jobs in the White House."

Already, The West Wing revival is taking shape. Combining the original cast with a selection of new characters sounds completely perfect, especially since the show will want to address the current political drama that's shaping the world. And that 2017 is the perfect time for a reboot isn't lost on Janney:

“But gosh, it would be just a great time for West Wing now, for whoever is disillusioned by what’s going on today. Those are the people you want working in Washington: People whose hearts are in the right place, people who reach across the aisle, people who want to do the right thing. It was a great show. I wish we could do it. Believe me, I wish we could.”

Janney's passion for the subject matter is enough to make any tear up. It doesn't sound like we're getting a revival of The West Wing anytime soon, but it may just be the perfect time to re-watch the original series. You never know. It might give you the impetus to run for office some day.