The DiplomatShowrunner Didn't Want Allison Janney's Casting to Feel Like aWest Wing'Gimmick'

Mar. 15, 2025

Allison Janney; The West Wing.Photo:Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Warner Bros Tv/Shutterstock

Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Warner Bros Tv/Shutterstock

The Diplomatshowrunner Debora Cahn is setting the record straight.

Cahn previously worked as a writer on the political thrillerThe West Wing, which featured Janney starring as Claudia Jean Cregg — known as C.J. Cregg — from 1999 to 2006.

“I was worried that it was going to feel like a gimmick,” she said at the special event. “I was worried that it was going to be like, ‘Ooh, C.J. Cregg grew up and is Vice President.'”

Debora Cahn at PaleyFest event for The Diplomat.Courtesy of The Paley Center For Media

Courtesy of The Paley Center For Media

The seasoned writer continued to share that she was also concerned about “writing a character that would be distinct enough,” stating that writing for Janney in the older series helped her establish her own writing style.

“A lot of the way that I write, I learned from writing for Allison. So there are certain things that I hear that kind of come from her rhythms, So those are in all of these characters,” she said. “I just didn’t want it to feel like sort of all the same thing.”

Ultimately, Cahn found herself “scared” to write for Janney again.

“I went into a full-on immobilized panic for a number of weeks when the first big Allison episode was coming because it just felt like so much was riding on it and I wanted it to be good,” she said. “I wanted it to be good for her and I wanted it to be worthy of these guys in terms of what she brought to the table,” she said in reference to the show’s cast.

“I didn’t want it to be a stunt,” Cahn continued. “I wanted it to be a good part of the story for all of these characters. So, yeah, it was pretty stressful.”

The Diplomatpremiered in 2023 and follows the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Kate Wyler and her husband Hal Wyler as they try to prevent a global war.Keri RussellandRufus Sewellplay the political couple alongside a cast that includes Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh and David Gyasi — all of whom were also part of the Mara Webster-moderated panel at The Paley Center.

Inan exclusive interview with PEOPLEahead of the event, which included a special sneak peek of season two along with the conversation, series star Russell, 48, who also executive produces the show, opened up about her own nerves surrounding welcoming the Emmy winner to cast.

Keri Russell attends a special event for “The Diplomat” at PaleyFest 2024.Courtesy of The Paley Center For Media

The actress admitted she “was nervous, a little bit” about working with the series newcomer. “Just because she’s awesome and so good.”

Allison Janney as Grace in episode 205 of The Diplomat.Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Netflix

“I love her,” she added of Janney before noting that she’s a big fan of her performance in the 1998 comedyPrimary Colors. “There’s a scene she does inPrimary Colors— that movie is so good — where she does this physical comedy fall up the stairs. So I think I was a little nervous, but she’s everything you want her to be. She’s gracious and funny and smart and cool.”

Janney’s role in season two of the streaming series was first announced in January, withVarietyreporting that she had landed a guest spot as the vice president. The show’s season 2 teaser trailer, released in September,provided a glimpse at Janney’s characterand showed the political figure ominously turning around to face Kate while at a high-profile event.

The synopsis for the new season teases, “A deadly explosion in the heart of London shatters US Ambassador Kate Wyler’s world (Russell). Struggling to rebuild the lives that broke and the team that split apart, Kate’s worst fears unfold: The attack that brought her to the UK didn’t come from a rival nation, it came from inside the British government.”

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Season 2 ofThe Diplomatpremieres Thursday, Oct. 31 on Netflix.

source: people.com