March 16, 2005
'West Wing' Re-Elected; 'Watch' Cloudy
By Cynthia Littleton and Nellie Andreeva
Reuters
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "The West Wing" is coming back for a seventh term on NBC, sources said.
The fate of another NBC drama, "Third Watch," is less certain as the network heads into the home stretch of pilot development for the 2005-06 season.
Sources said the show is considered a long shot to be renewed, but the decision will hinge on how many new shows NBC picks up in the spring for its fall lineup.
Reps for NBC and Warner Bros. declined comment on "West Wing" and "Third Watch."
Now that NBC has exercised its option to pick up another 22 episodes of "West Wing," the Emmy-winning White House drama is poised to undergo a regime change after centering on Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet since its debut in 1999. Much of the story line this season has concerned the campaigning between two powerful lawmakers -- played by Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits -- one of whom presumably will win the election by season's end.
Sources said the show's producers have the contractual option to bring back Smits and Alda next season. The show also has core cast members (and Bartlet administration staffers) Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff and John Spencer under contract for the upcoming season.
After bottoming out last season, viewership of "West Wing" has rebounded slightly this season with the introduction of Alda and Smits. For the season to date, the Wednesday 9 p.m. drama is averaging 11.4 million viewers.
"Third Watch," airing at 9 p.m. Friday, has won its time slot in most airings this season, with an average of 9.4 million viewers.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
