The West Wing

Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii I would like to thank The British Academy, for supporting this project with a Small Grant Award. Those who have read and provided helpful criticism of this book in manuscript form have been essential to its thinking and rethinking. I am particularly indebted to Kim Akass, Stacey Abbott , and Deborah Jermyn for advice and encouragement in the initial stages. In addition, Michele Hilmes and Philippa Brewster offered invaluable comments on sections of this work. I am grateful to Stefania Carini and Joana Amaral Cardoso. I also extend my deepest gratitude to Eli Attie, Dermot Horan, head of acquisitions and scheduling at RTÉ, and Francesca Ginocchi , communications director at NBC Universal Global Networks Italia, for giving generously of time and answering my questions with patience and clarity. This book has benefited immeasurably from their input, for which I am truly indebted. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the readers of the manuscript and editors of the TV Milestones Series, Barry Keith Grant and Jeannette Sloniowski, for encouraging me to clarify my ideas, as well as streamlining the prose and improving the work. In addition, Annie Martin, acquisitions editor at Wayne State University Press, has shepherded 00 McCabe FM.indd 7 9/12/12 9:21 AM viii Acknowledgments me with unfailing support and become a good friend along the way, as well as Jennifer Backer for her sterling efforts in preparing the final manuscript. As usual, I owe a colossal debt to Mike Allen, for his wise counsel and help with the images while I furrowed my brow. I also thank him and Olivia for giving me enough space to write this book. 00 McCabe FM.indd 8 9/12/12 9:21 AM ...