Mister Sterling(2003)

Mister Sterling is an American political drama that aired on NBC in early 2003. Josh Brolin stars as an idealistic U.S. Senator surrounded by a talented ensemble cast including Audra McDonald, William Russ, David Noroña, and James Whitmore. Created by Lawrence O'Donnell, the series shares stylistic DNA with The West Wing, exploring the inner workings of Capitol Hill with sharp dialogue and character-driven storytelling. Despite earning mostly positive reviews, Mister Sterling was cancelled after just 10 episodes, finishing 58th in yearly ratings. Whitmore earned an Emmy nomination for his role as the senator's father, former Governor Bill Sterling. The show's brief run left questions about how its political landscape—where Democrats controlled the Senate—might have intersected with O'Donnell's other political series.