Mister Sterling

Mister Sterling
GenreSerial drama
Created byLawrence O'Donnell
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (1 unaired)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Bernadette Joyce
  • Garry A. Brown
  • Sandy Frank
  • Andrea Newman
  • Chip Vucelich
  • William Bradley
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseJanuary 10 (2003-01-10) –
March 14, 2003 (2003-03-14)

Mister Sterling is an American drama television series created by Lawrence O'Donnell for NBC. The series ran from January 10 to March 14, 2003. Starring Josh Brolin as an idealistic United States Senator, the series featured Audra McDonald, William Russ, David Noroña, and James Whitmore as members of his staff. Despite mostly positive reviews, the series aired on Friday nights. It was canceled after 9 episodes aired and the show ranked 58th in the yearly ratings (9.83 million viewers, 6.7/12 rating/share)

Although it had numerous similarities to The West Wing in style and tone (especially the show's idealistic attitude towards politics) and the unnamed president in the series is stated to be a Democrat, it was not set in the same universe as O'Donnell's other political show. It is unknown if a cross-over would have ever occurred had Mister Sterling not been canceled; however Steven Culp played presidential aspirant Sen. Ron Garland on Mister Sterling and House Speaker Jeff Haffley on The West Wing, and Democrats appeared to be in the majority in the US Senate on Mr Sterling, while in The West Wing consistent Republican control of both Houses of Congress was a key plot point.

James Whitmore was nominated for a 2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for playing former Governor Bill Sterling, the senator's father.

The series was produced by Bernadette Joyce, co-producer; Garry A. Brown, co-producer; Michael Dinner, co-executive producer; Sandy Frank, co-producer; Jim Hart, co-executive producer; Jeff Melvoin, co-executive producer; Andrea Newman, producer; Lawrence O'Donnell, executive producer; Chip Vucelich, co-producer; William Bradley, consulting producer.

Cast

Characters

Senator Sterling's office

  • Senator Bill Sterling (I-California)
  • Chief of Staff Jackie Brock
  • Legislative Director Tommy Doyle
  • Legislative Assistant Leon Montero
  • Secretary Pat Conway (Dale Raoul)
  • Deputy Press Secretary Derek Larner (Dean Cameron)

Senators

  • Senator Albert Bailey (D-CA)
    • Sterling was appointed to his seat after Bailey died of a heart attack.
  • Senator Burt Gammel (R-Louisiana)
    • Senate Minority Leader
  • Senate Majority Leader (D-New Mexico)
  • Senator Dan Wilson (D-Illinois)
  • Senator Jack "Thunder Hawk" Jackson (R-Arizona)
  • Senator Kate Robertson (Nevada)
    • Elected in 1998.
  • Senator Millman
  • Senator Ron Garland (R-Ohio)
    • Running for the Presidency.
  • Senator Bowles
  • Senator Dave Crandall (D-Delaware)
  • Senator Roger Morris (D)
  • Senator Andersen
  • Senator Buckley
  • Senator Burke
  • Senator Carver
  • Senator Gilmartin
  • Senator Lane
  • Senator Eaton
  • Senator Porter
  • Senator Preston
  • Senator Raymond
  • Senator Smith
  • Senator Stanton
  • Senator Stewart
  • Senator Taylor
  • Senator Trimble
  • Senator Troy
  • Senator Grayson

Governors

  • Governor Carl Marino (D-CA)
  • Former Governor William Sterling (D-CA)

Lobbyist

  • Barry Reed

Democratic leadership

Senate contenders

This is a list of candidates who are running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Bill Sterling:

Democrat

  • Anthony Marino, son of the Governor (D-CA)
  • Chuck Stanley, millionaire (D-CA)
  • G.M. Clooney, coffee maker (D-CA)

Republican

  • Sarah Burwell (R-CA)
  • Congressman Bob "The Bomber" Brennan (R-CA)

Other

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pilot"Tucker GatesLawrence O'DonnellJanuary 10, 2003 (2003-01-10)
2"Next Question"Michael DinnerLawrence O'DonnellJanuary 17, 2003 (2003-01-17)
3"Game Time"Randall ZiskLawrence O'DonnellJanuary 24, 2003 (2003-01-24)
4"Technical Corrections"Rick RosenthalLawrence O'DonnellJanuary 31, 2003 (2003-01-31)
5"Human Error"James Whitmore Jr.Sandy Frank & Paul HaggisFebruary 7, 2003 (2003-02-07)
6"Nothing Personal"Rick WallaceAlfredo Barrios, Jr. & Lawrence O'DonnellFebruary 21, 2003 (2003-02-21)
7"The Statewide Swing"Rick RosenthalAndrea NewmanFebruary 28, 2003 (2003-02-28)
8"Wish List"Elodie KeeneWillie Reale & Lawrence O'DonnellMarch 7, 2003 (2003-03-07)
9"Final Passage"Paul Michael GlaserPaul Haggis & Lawrence O'DonnellMarch 14, 2003 (2003-03-14)
10"Sins of the Father"Jessica YuStory by : Lawrence O'Donnell & Paul Haggis
Teleplay by : Paul Haggis		UNAIRED
A reporter from the New York Times reveals a history of bribe-taking by Governor Sterling Sr., leaving the Senator and his staff to deal with the repercussions.

References