I have to admit I think I might have seen... maybe one episode of West Wing. I'm not much for serious dramas, unless there's something in the show that draws me (character, concept, etc).

Any way, I agree characterization is important (and should always try to be done as closely to the real characters), but if you write only for the characters, it limits who your readers are and how far you can take the story. Obviously, if you are writing a quickie or drabble characterizations might be able to stand on their own. However, I think for a longer story, even one running several pages, characterization needs support from a well-developed plot and back story.