The cast and crew, including Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Allison
Janey, Janel Maloney, Kristen Chenoweth and producers John Wells, Peter Noah, and Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr. held a press
conference to talk about the end of the show and the death of John Spencer.
(Lots of spoilers follow, so read at your own risk.)
- They thought about reshooting the remaining episodes that John Spencer was in but finally decided that a better tribute would be to show them.
- They are writing the episode where Leo dies now. Leo dies five days before election. Wells says that it's not possible for a VP candidate to be replaced that close to an election.
- Rob Lowe has been asked to come back to the show.
- The last handful of episodes of the show will focus on various characters (C.J., Toby, Bartlet, Will, Charlie) and what will happen to them (that fast forward to the future in the season opener revealed that C.J. and Danny are married with children, Charlie is working in Congress, Will and Kate are together, and Toby is teaching at Columbia).
- Will Josh and Donna finally get together? Wells said that "one of the great things is when you know the show is ending you can actually do stuff that you probably wouldn't do if you thought the show was continuing." And millions of Josh/Donna fans across the country are now smiling.
- The final scene of the show? Either the new Prez walking into the Oval Office or Bartlet and Abby on Air Force One going back to New Hampshire. They'll film both.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-17-2006 @ 11:49AM
Katy Flood said...
I'd like to see resolution of the Charlie/Zoe thing, and yes, I want to see Donna and Josh ravishing each other -- it's meant to be. I can't bear the thought of John Spencer gone -- was there ever anyone better? I miss him and as I say that I'm watching him on a Bravo rerun. Please bring the show back -- it's so phenomenally wonderful and intelligent and challenging.
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3-01-2006 @ 12:30PM
Debrah Clarke said...
I can't believe the network is letting another great show slip away. I love my reality shows as much as the next person but soon it will be the only choice to watch! Enough. West Wing is an intelligent suspenseful and sometimes very funny show. The mix of fast-talking serious, sarcastic and comedic conversations were some of the best written dialogs on T.V. Although Commander In Chief wasn't in the same league as West Wing, that too, is being cancelled. Do the networks think the viewers can't handle the complex day to day politics of D.C? It's fasinating! I learned quite a few things about politics from West Wing over the years.
Please Please NBC don't take my West Wing away!
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3-02-2006 @ 6:05PM
David Blevins said...
I do believe that the West Wing is a show that sh
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3-02-2006 @ 6:09PM
David Blevins said...
Lets try this again. I do believe that the West Wing should be returned to the screen because it would take current events that were going on in the world today and present them in a manner that is not normally done. I also would love to see the show return with Aaron Sorkin as the writer director and have the original staff back. It will be good to see those like Sam and Nancy back to give the president some grief. Has anybody heard their roles in the upcoming episodes?
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5-10-2006 @ 10:54PM
James Garner said...
Does anyone think there is a chance for a spin-off?
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6-21-2007 @ 2:25AM
Benson said...
Without a show like Commander in Chief i would never have thought i could enjoy political shows... But man CiC getting cancelled was the best thing to happen... cause it was then i discovered West Wing. I've been flying through the episodes since that fateful day. Awesome! And a show ending at its peak was...........sad, but much better than dreading to watch the next episode.
I'm gonna miss the sharp dialogue, the frentic pacing though the halls, the quick but thoughtful interaction between the characters and most of all... the constant drama of politics... (which again i never thought could be enjoyed on TV).
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1-25-2006 @ 3:19PM
Captainmicahp said...
Where's Charlie, I feel like I haven't seen him all season (except for the opener) he was one of the best characters on the show. Since the only people left in the white hose are CJ Will and Kate and of course the Prez, it would be nice to see more of him.
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1-25-2006 @ 4:05PM
Brent McKee said...
Apparently Dule Hill's contract ended this season and the producers were only able to use him in five episodes. I suspect that's why you had the marriage of Ellie Bartlett and a character we never heard of before instead of Charlie and Zoe.
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1-25-2006 @ 4:35PM
RW said...
Nice article but Janel's last name is spelled Moloney not Maloney.
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1-25-2006 @ 6:11PM
Lisa S said...
I'm very pleased to hear that we'll be able to see all the work that John Spencer did. I think I'm liking the direction they're going to go with the closing of the show. I so love these characters, and peeking into their futures will (hopefully) be satisfying.
Josh and Donna - man. Enough's enough. Come on and PLEASE let me see them finally get together once and for all!
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1-26-2006 @ 10:14AM
Jarrod said...
Amazing! That is all I can say about the past seven seasons of 'The West Wing.' As a Republican, I never thought that I would be so inspired, so amused and so willing to learn from my counterparts across the aisle. Without John Spencer, this show loses a great deal of its sarcastic wit and underlying intensity so I am pleased this is how they are closing the door to the Oval Office. I only hope that we resolve the pain between President Bartlet and Toby before Air Force One departs.
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1-27-2006 @ 11:46AM
Marilyn Slovitt said...
West Wing was one of the only shows on television worth watching. It had a flavor of intelligence. So, of course, they would take it off the air. And they want to know why people are not watching television anymore.
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1-29-2006 @ 11:51AM
Jim said...
Josh and Donna?? Please no, no, no! Let's not see Josh completely lose his mind as the ending of the series.
It's such a shame that this show has been canceled now, just when it seems to be recovering from the misery that was season 6.
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1-31-2006 @ 5:11PM
Raul A. Marin Jr. said...
The West WIng is probably the best show on television in the last 10yrs. Losing John Spencer, is the saddest thing that has happened in the last 10yrs. He is one of the greatest actors to come out of this time.
But with all this happening, I think that the Producers should reconsider canceling the show, I am sure more & more people are going to be curious as to what will happen. This show has given people an idea as to what goes on in Washington, too bad that our real politicians are not like these characters.
Besides John, all the actors on the West Wing are fantastic & I would very much like to see this show continue. Instead of just killing it, I think the producers should watch & listen to what the fans want & mabe re-new this great great show.
Thanks '
Raul A. Marin Jr.
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