“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.”

American television anchor, author, and political commentator

Lawrence Francis O'Donnell Jr. is an American television anchor, political commentator, author, screenwriter, and actor. He is known as the host of The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, an MS NOW opinion and news program that airs on weeknights. O'Donnell has built a career across television and writing, moving between broadcasting, commentary, and scripted work. His public voice is most closely associated with political analysis and opinion, especially through his role on The Last Word, where he presents news and commentary in a nightly format.