--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At 'The West Wing,' I cast newscasters…" description: "\"At 'The West Wing,' I cast newscasters, and when you put out a casting call for actors, half of the people who come in are real local L.A. newscasters...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/lawrence-o-donnell-1701_actor_at-the-west-wing-i-cast-newscasters-and_2127103.jpg" --- # At 'The West Wing,' I cast newscasters, and when you put… ![“At 'The West Wing,' I cast newscasters, and when you put out a casting call for actors, half of the people who come in are real local L.A. newscasters. Each time, I ended up hiring one of them, because they're better at it. Big surprise! A newscaster is better at playing a newscaster than an actor…” quote by Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/lawrence-o-donnell-1701_actor_at-the-west-wing-i-cast-newscasters-and_2127103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/lawrence-o-donnell-1701_actor_at-the-west-wing-i-cast-newscasters-and_2127103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/lawrence-o-donnell-1701_actor_at-the-west-wing-i-cast-newscasters-and_2127103.jpg) > “At 'The West Wing,' I cast newscasters, and when you put out a casting call for actors, half of the people who come in are real local L.A. newscasters. Each time, I ended up hiring one of them, because they're better at it. Big surprise! A newscaster is better at playing a newscaster than an actor is.” [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Casting real newscasters brings authenticity because they naturally embody the role, outperforming actors who must simulate the profession. **In simple terms:** Real newscasters make better newscaster roles. Key Takeaway Hire experts for roles that require specific expertise. Themes authenticity casting expertise Mood pragmatic insightful Type observational industry‑focused When to use this quote - TV casting - news segments - live broadcasts - training workshops Key Concepts media realism performance authenticity industry insight Questions to Reflect On - How does authenticity affect audience trust? - When should expertise be prioritized over acting skill? 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