'West Wing' Creator Refers to his Old Drug Habit

PASADENA, Calif. – Aaron Sorkin has a way with words, creating and writing "The West Wing" and now the new N-B-C series "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."

But Sorkin slipped on one word while talking with reporters about the state of television.

He said "when things that are very mean-spirited and voyeuristic go on T-V, I think it's bad crack in the schoolyard."

He waited a beat and then asked himself out loud: "Why did I use that word?"

"Crack" is not the best word for a guy like Sorkin to use. In 2001, he was charged with drug possession. He entered a drug treatment program after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and two felony counts.