'West' May Be Forced To Wing It Next Season (WEST WING POLL, SHOULD IT STAY OR GO)

Metromix.com ^ | Wednesday, May 7, 2003 | Steve Johnson

[fight_truth_decay]

With Aaron Sorkin "voluntarily leaving" his show "The West Wing" and John Wells stepping in to replace him — a Very Bad Sign for the future of the slipping NBC White House series — it's probably now or never for the unveiling of my lyrics to the show's stately theme music. So here goes. It helps to read these while watching or, better, as I do, to sing them zestily aloud: "In D.C., there is a wing That's on the west side of a house It's not the east wing, or the south It's not the north wing, shut your mouth …" And that, despite years of trying to develop a second verse, is where I'm stuck. It's probably where I'll stay stuck because it's hard to imagine the series being worth much next season without Sorkin, it's creator, co-executive producer (with Wells) and writer of most of its scripts. Founding director Thomas Schlamme is leaving, too, It is indisputable that the series (8 p.m. Wednesday, WMAQ-Ch. 5) has developed a desperate air in the tail end of this season, throwing in unlikely, momentous events willy-nilly (Another White House shooting! A pending kidnapping!) in an attempt to either regain audience or mimic a daytime soap opera plot. What Wells is really known for, inside TV land, is being able to make the trains run on time. Sorkin's reputation is for holding up the trains as he pounds out the last few pages of a giddily literate script. Such indulgences were granted when the show was cleaning up in the ratings, winning three consecutive best drama Emmys, but this season, as the show has lost close to a third of its young-adult audience (mostly to "The Bachelor"), cost overruns apparently became more annoying. So prepare ye, "West Wing" fans, for a much more efficient television program next year, one where maybe the lows won't be so low, but the highs won't even come close. I'll be curious, yes, but I'll be a lot more interested in what Sorkin and Schlamme come up with next.

[patriciaruth]

until he's okay again and redeclares himself president.

Yeah, that's the loophole they left. Maybe they are just in contract negotiations with Sheen and are holding this over his head.

[patriciaruth]

Well, good, now we don't have to talk with our liberal sisters.

[jwh_Denver]

Having never watched the show, I hesitate jumping right in with an idea, but as this is FR, where everyone opines about thing of which they know not, here goes anyway...

Whatever dickwad Sheen's name is in the show gives one of his pompous puke speeches dozens of hand grenades come from everywhere and then come rockets through the windows. Many of his barfnoid staff are killed and smoke is everywhere. The Secret Service tries to find the "A**hole" in all the body parts. Investigation after investigation is done and the evidence points to..........doing the wonderful deed.

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Anyone have an idea for a grand finale ?

Assasination.

[LuisBasco]

We've never watched an episode.

Anything "starring' the clueless Martin Sheen is worthless.

[sarasota]

It seems that the focus on both Republicans cast was to feature the dungeon that pretended to be an office.

[sarasota]

One can only hope that assassination is featured. Excellent idea.

[GOPrincess]

"It seems that the focus on both Republicans cast was to feature the dungeon that pretended to be an office."

LOL!! I'm sure the symbolism isn't an accident...!

[carton253]

Actually, in last night's episode, the Republican Speaker of the House did become President. The Speaker is played by John Goodman...

[carton253]

I absolutely agree with your assesment. The show died when Sorkin wanted to prove that the Republicans were on a witch hunt during the Clinton years... so, he had his president "lie" about having MS. The only problem was that Barlett was guilty. So, Sorkin just let the issue die when he couldn't figure out a way to preserve Barlett's martyrdom.

Then it was time for the election -- and you mean to tell me that a censored President with a 33% approval rating would run unopposed in the primaries. Come on!

I did like the twist last night. Can the Speaker of the House refuse to step down as President after the crisis... Now that would be interesting.

[carton253]

He resigned because his daughter had been kidnapped by Islamic terrorists... and he felt that he was unable to judge the contingency plans correctly.

I agree with your assessment of the Goodman character. In Sorkin's worldview, Republicans are warmongers... which the Goodman character confirmed in the first 25 words he spoke.

[carton253]

The Vice President had to resign because he was having an affair and sharing classified information during the "pillow talk."

[TankerKC]

Nah...to unrealistic. Viewers would never go for it.

[Longlines]

I like the show, dislike Sheen's politics and DO NOT want them on the show. Dislike his attitude and most of the actors/actresses saying things about politics, they are actors/actresses, I could care less about what they think other than their shows/movies. John Goodman, I think, is going to be a real add to the show. *shrug* My thoughts for whatever they are worth.

[lizbet]

Tim Matheson was good as the VP on West Wing. I wonder why he doesn't have his own show? Maybe he is a Republican in secret???????

[SevenofNine]

Well you know what I don't think Marty is gone YET he has year on his contract according to NY Daily News

I don't know how they going explain that

Report are Marty want come back

Also Marty throwing DIVA fit on NY Post two weekend ago he is angry at NBC over giving Law and Order cast members

BIG FAT Pay raise

Claiming that none of actors are Oscar nominatees or winner

Neither are you Marty

SHUT UP DUDE

AHHH dude

They do have award winner

Jerry Orbach he is Tony award winner

And emmy winner

DUH

Get a clue Marty



WARRRRR DET LENNIE BRISCOE

You just angry that Twilight Zone kick your a*** in the ratings too

WARRR ROD SERLING

[WVNan]

I voted against the show, even though I've never even stumbled across it, much less watched it. I don't do networks.

[GOPrincess]

I was wondering...when the 25th Amendment has been invoked (didn't George W. briefly do that when he had a medical procedure?), has the "temporary" President actually been sworn in, as the Speaker was at the end of last night's show?

The other thing I questioned...unless, say, Cheney was sworn in in the circumstance above and it wasn't photographed...where was a White House photographer when the Speaker was sworn in in the Oval Office? Seems to me it was a historic moment a photographer would capture, along the lines of LBJ being sworn in while Jacqueline Kennedy was standing next to him in her bloodstained dress.

[GOPrincess]

Did you notice the commercials for the Martha Stewart TV movie with Cybill Sheperd? Tim Matheson is playing her husband, apparently...

I was sorry to see him leave TWW, his character was really interesting.