April 06, 2005
Stars, better scripts highlight 'West Wing' season
BY MIKE DUFFY
Detroit Free Press
Jimmy Smits is well aware of the special kick actors enjoy.
He isn't a cop. But he famously played one on "NYPD Blue."
He isn't a lawyer. But he sure looked like he knew his way around a courtroom on "L.A. Law."
And Smits has never been a presidential candidate either. But he has been having a blast pretending to be one on "The West Wing" this year. As the White House political drama comes to the conclusion of what has been a compelling sixth season at 9 tonight on NBC, Smits and his newest acting alter ego, Congressman Matthew Santos, is battling to become the Democratic nominee for president.
"The writing's just top notch. I consider myself so fortunate in hooking up with a show that has something to say about what's going on in the world," says Smits. "It's really been a civics lesson for me in a lot of ways."
Coming into this season, it looked as if "The West Wing" might be permanently stuck in its own policy wonk purgatory, ratings fading along with the show's once distinctive, Emmy Award-winning dramatic zing. Executive producer John Wells ("ER") had taken full control of the tales of President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and his White House staff after the departure of series creator Aaron Sorkin in the spring of 2003.
But in their first year of running "The West Wing," Wells and his writing staff were left standing in the formidable shadow of Sorkin. They struggled to maintain "The West Wing's" creative energy. And there were negative comparisons to Sorkin, whose brilliant ear for fast, literate political repartee gave the show its unique feel.
So many were speculating that this season might be the last.
And then Wells & Co. shook everything up at President Bartlet's White House, rediscovering the show's entertaining creative mojo all over again on the campaign trail, eventually earning NBC's approval for a seventh and likely farewell season next year. No, the writing didn't all of a sudden start sounding Sorkinesque again. Only Aaron Sorkin can do that.
But the shrewd addition of Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda to the cast has worked wonders.
Both actors are big-time TV stars who have flourished in their new political environment.
Alda vividly captures Sen. Arnold Vinick, a moderate Republican in the same intelligent, forthright spirit as moderate Democrat Jed Bartlet. Last week, Vinick wrapped up the Republican nomination for president with a stirring acceptance speech that wowed even the Bartlet White House.
That leaves Smits' Matt Santos in a tight nomination competition with Vice President Bob Russell (Gary Cole) and Gov. Eric Baker (Ed O'Neill) of Pennsylvania as the Democratic National Convention heats up tonight's season finale. And since both Smits and Alda are returning this fall when the election is held, it looks like the prime time Democratic Party of "The West Wing" may have its first Latino presidential nominee.
"That's something that John Wells and I talk a lot about," says Smits, who spoke with reporters during a recent teleconference. "Is this country ready to see a minority candidate aspire to that level of office?"
The additions of Smits and Alda weren't the only big changes this season.
With his administration in its final months after two terms, President Bartlet has become increasingly concerned with his legacy, a concern fueled by chief aide Leo McGarry (John Spencer). Having recovered from a major heart attack, Leo's been serving as the Oval Office's chief legacy consultant and all-purpose scold.
Meanwhile, top White House aide Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) went off in search of his liberal bliss to run the Santos campaign. And Josh's former assistant, Donna Moss (Janel Moloney), teamed up with Will Bailey (Joshua Malina) on Vice President Russell's run for the presidency.
All of that has added new spice, conflict and energy.
Wells and his creative crew also infused "The West Wing" with some extra vigor by adding outspoken Republican and conservative politicians to the Beltway character mix.
"I like the fact that this season we're hearing strong voices on both sides of the aisle," says Smits. "It was a good move that John Wells made to have a character -- with an actor as appealing as Alan Alda -- that has that strong Republican voice."
So will it be President Vinick or Santos?
Stay tuned. "The West Wing" will have its presidential election fling this fall.
