The West Wing: News

BURBANK, Calif. (NBC) -- March 14, 2003 -- Matthew Perry, who has starred for nine seasons on NBC's "Friends" (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m ET), will make a dramatic turn when he guest-stars in two episodes of NBC's "The West Wing" (Wednesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET) as a promising candidate for the position of White House associate counsel.

The episodes will be broadcast on Wednesday, April 23 (9-10 p.m. ET) and Wednesday, April 30 (9-10 p.m. ET). In the storyline, Perry portrays Joe Quincy, an attorney who interviews for the job in President Bartlet's Democratic administration previously held by Ainsley Hayes - a fellow Republi can.

"We are thrilled that Matthew will bring his tremendous skills to yet another stage on the Warner Bros. lot," said Jeff Zucker, President, NBC Entertainment. "Matthew has seen every episode of ÔThe West Wing,' and he will now bring that great knowledge to a great storyline in the spring."

Filming on Perry's "The West Wing" episodes will work around his production schedule on "Friends."

Perry stars as Chandler Bing on "Friends." His next feature film is "The Whole Ten Yards," which will be out in October and is the sequel to the hit comedy "The Whole Nine Yards" in which he starred with Bruce Willis and Amanda Peet. Perry will be making his stage debut in London this spring in the play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago."

"The West Wing" is from John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Aaron Sorkin is the creator and executive producer. Thomas Schlamme and John Wells are executive producers.