With The Diplomat set to return for a third season, there are other reasons to be excited about in the new season, apart from the brilliant storyline. For one, the updated cast means that Allison Janney’s Grace Penn will now have her husband, Todd, beside her, a role played by Bradley Whitford.
Whitford and Janney have quite a history in the previous political series they shared. Now, the duo answered who else they would want from The West Wing to appear.
Bradley Whitford jokes he wants a Josh Malina cameo in Netflix’s The Diplomat
Both Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney are no strangers to political shows. The West Wing, one of the best-regarded series in the genre, featured them both throughout its seven-season run.
Whitford and Janney are not the only connection between The West Wing and The Diplomat, either. Debora Cahn was a writer and producer on The West Wing, and she went on to create The Diplomat.
With both Whitford and Janney also confirmed for Season 4 of the series, Parade asked the stars who else they would want in Netflix’s The Diplomat from The West Wing.
Janney, taking a diplomatic stance, said, “Wow. There are so many. There are so many people. I think we’d have to draw names out of a hat.”
But Whitford had a completely different take on this question. He was very clear about who he wanted in The Diplomat. “I’d like to see Josh Malina just do a very deep background pass,” he said, “I want you to miss it.”
Janey also responded to this with laughter. “That’s the perfect answer,” she added.
This is a reference to Whitford’s long-standing feud with Malina, who occupied the position of the prankster on the set. He once used Whitford’s stationery to send flowers to new cast member Jimmy Smits, asking him to be his valentine. In response, Whitford made Malina say, “I can’t act. I’m a terrible actor,” in an episode that he wrote.
Over two decades later, the two men continue to poke fun at each other’s expense. Perhaps, if Malina joins The Diplomat’s cast, it will continue this tradition.
The Diplomat Season 3 premieres on October 16, 2025.
Originally reported by Sourav Chakraborty on ComingSoon.
