Discover the most popular TV show the year you were born

382936 01: Cast members of the NBC drama ‘West Wing’ from (l-r) Richard Schiff as Communications Director Toby Ziegler; Allison Janney as Press Secretary CJ Gregg, Dule Hill as aide Charlie Young, John Spencer as Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet, Rob Lowe as Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn, Janel Moloney as Assistant Donna Moss, Bradley Whitford as Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman. which airs Wednesdays on NBC (9-10 p.m. ET). (Photo by James Sorensen/NBC/Newsmakers)

2000: The West Wing

The West Wing was a political drama that was broadcast on NBC from 1999 to 2006. The show was set in the West Wing of the White House, during the administration of the (fictional) President Josiah Bartlet. The West Wing is widely regarded as one of the best political dramas in television history.

Even though the series was not completely accurate, it was still praised for its realism, and for offering a glimpse into the complex world of the White House. The series dealt with a lot of real-world issues, including storylines that were compared to the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The fact that they weren’t afraid to tackle real issues made it a critical favorite while it was on the air.

The show won a whopping 87 awards over its seven seasons, including 26 Emmys, two Golden Globes, and seven SAG awards. The show also won four Emmys in a row for Best Drama Series starting in 2000. The show has influenced political dramas ever since it first hit the airwaves, and that was made possible by the amazing performances of the show’s stars, like Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, and Stockard Channing, who all received prestigious nominations (and wins) for The West Wing.