Bartlet4America News Archive

Lowe not the only unhappy one

By Dusty Saunders
Rocky Mountain News

HOLLYWOOD - Is The West Wing in turmoil?

Rob Lowe's announcement last week that he would leave the show 16 episodes into the new season triggered a variety of comments from industry sources and his co-stars, some of whom indicated there's a lot of unhappiness on the set of the award-winning drama series.

Syndicated columnist Marilyn Beck reports that a source closely connected with the NBC program said, "The show's in turmoil because scripts are not given to the actors until minutes before a scene starts and they usually have no idea when to report for work."

Beck also reported that Sheen cried upon learning Lowe would be leaving while adding that he understood the decision.

Co-star John Spencer told Beck he was "shocked" at the manner in which the story of Lowe's upcoming departure was leaked to the press. "I'm angry they've done that to Rob," Spencer said, indicating a spin was making Lowe the bad guy.

Other cast members reportedly were angry because Lowe did not receive a salary increase after being promised one by producers.

Lowe, who's been earning $75,000 an episode since the series premiered in 1999, is unhappy because he's the only cast member who hasn't received a raise. Also, his character hasn't had as high a profile during the past two seasons.

Last summer, co-stars Spencer, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff negotiated, as a group, new contracts that put their weekly salaries at $70,000. Meanwhile, Sheen makes a reported $300,000 per episode, several industry sources say.

Ironically, Lowe was the key star when the Warner Bros. series, created by Aaron Sorkin and former Denverite John Wells, was pitched to NBC. The initial concept had Lowe as a headline actor, with Sheen making "guest appearances" as President Josiah Bartlet.

However, the focus quickly changed after Sheen's strong portrayal in the pilot, and he became the lead performer, with Lowe and other cast members working in subplots around him.

In a written statement, Lowe said: "As much as it hurts me to admit it, it has been increasingly clear for quite a while there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn on The West Wing."

Lowe, professing his gratitude at having been on the show, added, "We were part of television history, and I will never forget it."

While neither Sorkin nor Wells were available for comment, several NBC program executives indicated that Lowe has felt like the odd man out on the series, particularly since he was the only member of the ensemble cast not to get an Emmy nomination this month.

His major cohorts were nominated, as they were during the two previous seasons. Also, Stockard Channing received her second nomination in the supporting-actress category, while Dule Hill and Janel Moloney were honored for the first time.

Whitford, a close friend of Lowe's, talked with the actor, advising him not to make an impetuous decision. "I wanted to make sure he thought all this out. Rob said he did," Whitford says.

No decision has been made on how Lowe's character, the White House deputy communications director, will be phased out, says NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker.

Before Lowe made his announcement, series producers had announced two cast additions: Mary Louise Parker, who gained an Emmy nomination for her guest-starring role as a women's-rights lobbyist, and Lily Tomlin, who portrayed a woman applying as Bartlet's secretary. Both will appear in 13 episodes in the coming season.

Lowe to Leave 'West Wing' Next March

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Actor Rob Lowe will leave NBC's "The West Wing ( news - web sites)" during the upcoming season, the network said on Wednesday.
The actor decided to leave after finding out that Martin Sheen received a raise that nearly triples his pay to $300,000 an episode, Variety and the New York Post reported, citing anonymous sources.

NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker wouldn't discuss the reasons for Lowe's departure, but confirmed he will be written out of the show in March.

"Rob has been a huge and great part of the program," Zucker said. "We're fortunate that he's going to be with us for virtually the entire year and after that, Sam Seaborn will move on to other things."

Seaborn is the White House deputy communications director that Lowe portrays on the Emmy-winning drama.

Lowe has made about $75,000 an episode since the series began in 1999. The other supporting players — Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford — banded together last year and negotiated a raise to about $70,000 per show in a deal that keeps them on through the seventh season.The 38-year-old Lowe has been nominated in the past for an Emmy and two Golden Globes for his portrayal of Seaborn. But last week, he was the only major cast member who didn't get a nomination for this year's Emmys, which will be given out on Sept. 22.

Sheen, who portrays President Jed Bartlet, was nominated for best actor in a drama; Janney is up for best actress; and Schiff, Spencer, Whitford, Dule Hill, Stockard Channing, Janel Moloney and Mary-Louise Parker were nominated in supporting categories.

When the show premiered, Lowe and Martin Sheen were the two cast members who attracted the most attention.

Actor Rob Lowe Leaving 'The West Wing'

By Steve Gorman
Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Martin Sheen's fictional U.S. President Josiah Bartlet may be getting a new secretary, but he's about to lose his speech writer.

A day after NBC announced that comedian Lily Tomlin is joining the cast of the Emmy-winning political drama "The West Wing ( news - web sites)" as Bartlet's new secretary comes word that actor Rob Lowe is leaving his role as White House deputy communications director Sam Seaborn.

Lowe's character will appear in 16 new episodes of "The West Wing," which begins its fourth season in September, then "amicably depart" the series in March, the show's producers at Warner Bros. Television said on Wednesday.

No reason was given for his impending exit, but sources close to the situation said Lowe, who reportedly earns $75,000 an episode, decided to leave after producers refused to even discuss his bid for a salary increase.

A separate statement from Lowe himself offered few clues to his departure but contained a note of bitterness.

"As much as it hurts to admit it, it has been increasingly clear, for quite a while, that there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn on 'The West Wing,"' he said. "However, Warner Bros. has allowed me an opportunity to leave the show as I arrived -- grateful for it, happy to have been on it and proud of it. We were part of television history and I will never forget it."

"The West Wing," which focuses on the political battles and personal intrigues of a White House staff in the fictional Bartlet administration, has become one of the most watched, and most acclaimed, shows on television. The show won the Emmy for best dramatic series for the past two years, and earned 21 [sic] more nominations this year, including another nod for best drama.

STANDING DIMINISHED WITH TIME

Lowe, 38, the only major "West Wing" co-star passed up for an Emmy nomination this year, originally was the biggest name among the leading cast members, apart from Sheen, when the show debuted in 1999. But as the series evolved and grew in popularity, Lowe's relative standing has diminished as he became more of an equal among the other players.

Still, the role marked a major career step for the "Brat Pack" alumnus following a period of off-screen antics, most notably his appearance in a privately made 1988 sex video with two women.

NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker shrugged off the news of Lowe's upcoming exit. "He'll be in 16 of 22 episodes this season," he said. "Listen, he's stayed on longer than most people stay in the real White House."

Sources said Lowe was unhappy that producers rebuffed his attempts to negotiate a more lucrative deal, leaving him the only cast member to remain at his first-season salary.

"This isn't about him leaving to do films," one source told Reuters. "They gave him no sense of value with continuing on the show."

Nevertheless, Lowe's current pay scale surpasses the package negotiated last season by the show's four other principal supporting players -- Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford -- whose salaries all were doubled to $70,000 per episode, according to Daily Variety.

The loss of Sam Seaborn is not the only personnel change facing "The West Wing." NBC announced this week that Tomlin, who made a guest appearance on the show last season, would return this fall as a series regular. Also, Mary-Louise Parker, a recurring character last season as women's lobbyist Amy Gardner, a love interest for Whitford's character, will join the regular cast this year.

The show begins its fourth season with a two-hour premiere on Sept. 25.

Lowe To Exit 'West Wing'

Zap2it.com

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - President Bartlet will need a new speech writer.

NBC announced Wednesday that Rob Lowe will be leaving "The West Wing" next March. No comment was made about the reasons behind the departure, but NBC Entertainment President, Jeff Zucker, says that Lowe's character, Sam Seaborn, would be written out of the show next season.

"Rob has been a huge and great part of the program," Zucker told reporters at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena. "We're fortunate that he's going to be with us for virtually the entire year and after that, Sam Seaborn will move on to other things."

The actor was nominated last year for an Emmy for best actor in a drama series, but was one of the only regular cast members of "The West Wing" not nominated this year. Martin Sheen got a nod for best actor in a drama, while Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Dule Hill, Stockard Channing, Janel Moloney and Mary-Louise Parker were nominated in supporting categories.

Published reports cited anonymous sources that the departure was due to a salary dispute. Lowe reportedly makes around $75,000 an episode, the same amount since he began the series in 1999. Since then, fellow cast members have seen their salaries increase. Janney, Shiff, Spencer and Whitford negotiated a raise last year, upping their salaries to $70,000 an episode, while Martin Sheen's recent contract renegotiation saw his salary triple to $300,000 per show.

When the show debuted, Lowe was the most famous regular character. Martin Sheen was originally supposed to have a minor role on "The West Wing," but as time passed, President Bartlet has seen more screen time while Sam Seaborn has seen less and less.

The snubs appear to have wounded Lowe, who released this statement, "As much as it hurts to admit it, it has been increasingly clear, for quite a while, that there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn on 'The West Wing.' However, Warner Bros. has allowed me an opportunity to leave the show as I arrived … grateful for it, happy to have been on it and proud of it. We were a part of television history and I will never forget it."

Lowe To Exit 'West Wing'

Zap2it.com

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - President Bartlet will need a new speech writer.

NBC announced Wednesday that Rob Lowe will be leaving "The West Wing" next March. No comment was made about the reasons behind the departure, but NBC Entertainment President, Jeff Zucker, says that Lowe's character, Sam Seaborn, would be written out of the show next season.

"Rob has been a huge and great part of the program," Zucker told reporters at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena. "We're fortunate that he's going to be with us for virtually the entire year and after that, Sam Seaborn will move on to other things."

The actor was nominated last year for an Emmy for best actor in a drama series, but was one of the only regular cast members of "The West Wing" not nominated this year. Martin Sheen got a nod for best actor in a drama, while Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Dule Hill, Stockard Channing, Janel Moloney and Mary-Louise Parker were nominated in supporting categories.

Published reports cited anonymous sources that the departure was due to a salary dispute. Lowe reportedly makes around $75,000 an episode, the same amount since he began the series in 1999. Since then, fellow cast members have seen their salaries increase. Janney, Shiff, Spencer and Whitford negotiated a raise last year, upping their salaries to $70,000 an episode, while Martin Sheen's recent contract renegotiation saw his salary triple to $300,000 per show.

When the show debuted, Lowe was the most famous regular character. Martin Sheen was originally supposed to have a minor role on "The West Wing," but as time passed, President Bartlet has seen more screen time while Sam Seaborn has seen less and less.

The snubs appear to have wounded Lowe, who released this statement, "As much as it hurts to admit it, it has been increasingly clear, for quite a while, that there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn on 'The West Wing.' However, Warner Bros. has allowed me an opportunity to leave the show as I arrived … grateful for it, happy to have been on it and proud of it. We were a part of television history and I will never forget it."

"West Wing": Low Pay Sparks Lowe Exit

It's another Lowe blow for White House deputy communications director Sam Seaborn.

E! Online
By Mark Armstrong

In a surprise development for The West Wing, actor Rob Lowe is quitting his role on the Emmy-winning NBC series following an apparent salary dispute with the show's producers.

NBC and Warner Bros., which produces the show, announced Wednesday that the 38-year-old costar will make his exit during the upcoming fourth season--in an episode next March that both sides have agreed upon.

"We regretfully confirm that Rob Lowe will amicably depart The West Wing ( news - web sites) in March after completing 16 episodes," Warners and producer John Wells say in a joint statement. "We appreciate his numerous contributions to the success of the series and wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Lowe's camp has so far remained mum about his departure.

While no official reason was cited for Lowe's exit, the issue clearly came down to money.

Earlier this month, Lowe reportedly became upset when he heard that the show's star (and President), Martin Sheen, received a hefty salary boost to $300,000 per episode, about triple what he was making previously. Lowe, meanwhile, was rebuffed by producers when he approached them about raising his current salary of $75,000 per episode.

Lowe remained the only West Wing cast member to not get a raise from his first-season salary. Last July, costars Allison Janney, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff had their salaries doubled to about $70,000 per episode after they teamed up and walked off the set for several days. The foursome eventually agreed to contracts keeping them on the series through its seventh season.

But in Lowe's case, the feeling at Warner Bros. Television, according to Variety, is that the series has changed to where it's centered primarily on Sheen--and that Lowe has joined the rest of his costars in receiving equal status in the ensemble.

When the show first debuted, Sheen and Lowe were the highest paid stars because they were the biggest names. But after three seasons and a pile of Emmys, things have changed.

Still, the news marks the second tough blow to Lowe's ego in the past week. Last Thursday, he was snubbed for a lead-acting Emmy nomination--while the rest of his costars (nine of them, to be exact) each scored nods in their respective categories. (Sheen and Janney both scored lead-acting nominations, and Stockard Channing, Janel Moloney, Mary-Louise Parker, Dulé Hill, Schiff, Spencer and Whitford each grabbed supporting nods.)

All told, The West Wing once again cleaned up at last week's Emmy nominations, scoring 22 nods (or 21, depending on who you ask), including Outstanding Drama Series.

In a separate numbers dispute, the discrepancy arose when the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences opted not to count The West Wing's Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Class Program for its documentary episode as part of its overall series total. NBC and Warner Bros. Television, meanwhile, insist it was part of the show--and therefore, The West Wing received 22 nominations. So there.

Rob's Lowe Blow

NOT BAD FOR A WEEK'S WORK: Rob Lowe got peeved when he learned what Martin Sheen makes, a source says.

By Don Kaplan
NY Post

Rob Lowe has voted himself out of "The West Wing."

Lowe - who plays White House deputy communications director Sam Seaborn on NBC's hit drama - and producer Warner Brothers are discussing just when his term will end.

The reason appears to be money.

A high-ranking source on the show said Lowe became disgruntled a few weeks ago when he learned Martin Sheen - who plays President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet - won a whopping salary increase to $300,000 an episode, almost tripling what he was paid last season.

"Martin got his raise and Rob wants to be on par with Martin," the source said.

"But Rob is not viewed as being on the same level as Martin, he's viewed as being part of the ensemble. He's a valuable part of the show, but not more valuable than those other players and will not be paid more than they are - they are all making the same amount of money."

Most of the main characters on "The West Wing" - including Lowe - are paid about $70,000 per episode.

When "The West Wing" debuted in 1999, Sheen and Lowe were the two best-known actors in the cast, and the best paid.

But almost every other regular cast member - except Lowe, who agreed to take a pay cut from his usual big-bucks asking price when he first joined the show - has been given a raise as "The West Wing" has grown more popular.

"It's hard to work where you're underappreciated," a source close to the show said.

Another source said, "Rob kept saying, 'I want this much' and they kept saying, 'Forget it.' "

Warner Bros., NBC and Lowe's personal representatives declined comment yesterday.

"The West Wing" has been something of a second chance for Lowe.

His career was infamously sidelined after a grainy video surfaced of him having sex with a minor during the 1988 Democratic Convention in Atlanta.

This is the second consecutive summer that the show's actors have been involved in a contractual dispute.

Last year, co-stars Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, John Spencer and Richard Schiff refused to report to work until they received raises.

'West Wing' Lets Lowe Go

By Michael Fleming
Reuters

NEW YORK (Variety) - In the latest behind-the-scenes drama involving the NBC series "The West Wing," Rob Lowe is quitting his role as White House deputy communications director Sam Seaborn.

Barring some unforeseen twist, his character will be phased out in an episode to air next March, the result of an exit strategy that has already been agreed upon by both parties. The show has just wrapped its third season.

Sources on both sides paint the pending exit as amicable but clearly, money is at the heart of it. The prime reason, said sources, is that Lowe was stung by the unwillingness of the show's producers to even discuss raising his per-show price of $75,000. This comes right after they tripled Martin Sheen's salary to $300,000 per episode and last season doubled the salaries of Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford after a protracted salary stalemate that ended when the quartet committed to a seventh season, each getting $70,000 an episode.

That left Lowe the only cast member to not get his first season salary bumped up. Warner Bros. TV, the show's producer, feels the show has evolved into Sheen's show, surrounded by an ensemble on equal footing. Sources on the show point out that all of the stars are Emmy-nominated this year except Lowe, who petitioned in the lead actor category, which is TV's toughest ticket.

They were unwilling to even open pay hike talks with Lowe's reps, Creative Artists Agency and veteran manager Bernie Brillstein. That left Lowe feeling hurt, after believing that his turn would come. Lowe is expected to wing his way back to features or star in another series. If he does the latter, Lowe, who got one Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations during his "Wing" run, will probably command a higher salary.

The show's makeup has changed since Lowe signed on for the pilot as the regular cast's most recognizable name. Back then, he cut a higher price quote that had been established in a previous Paramount TV deal. Sheen at the time was only supposed to serve as a diversion to the drama's core players on the White House staff. Sheen's participation grew while Lowe's scenes have progressively diminished.

Sources on both sides doubted this was another salary posturing exercise, and that the show would survive his exit, even if it does come as WB is working out a new license deal with NBC.

"West Wing" Prez in the Money

By Bridget Byrne
E! Online

The buck really does stop in the Oval Office.

No, we're not talking about George W. We mean The West Wing prez Martin Sheen.

The New York Post reports that Sheen has received a huge raise for portraying President Josiah Bartlet on the Emmy-winning NBC drama.

His pay scale has tripled since last year and will now be $300,000 an episode (President Bush , on the other hand, makes a relatively paltry $400,000 per year), according to the newspaper, which refers to the new contract as "a sweet deal."

And how. In addition to his substantially larger paycheck, Sheen's perk-filled pact reportedly includes an office suite on the Warner Bros. lot, a production deal with the studio, guaranteed days off each week (for his own political activities perhaps?) and a recurring role for his daughter, Renee Estevez.

Estevez has previously appeared on the show as Nancy, a staffer who served as an assistant to presidential secretary Mrs. Landingham, who was killed off in a car crash during May sweeps, apparently jeopardizing Estevez's part.

But, if the Post is correct, Sheen's deal guarantees her return. NBC said Wednesday it has not yet been determined whether she would serve under the new secretary, to be played by new cast member Lily Tomlin, or would get another White House assignment.

A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Television, the show's production company, confirmed that Sheen had negotiated a new deal, but would not discuss any details. However, a source close to the production implied the Post story had exaggerated the terms.

Of course, Warners doesn't want Sheen's raise to make waves on the set of The West Wing, especially since supporting players Allison Janney, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff staged a walkout last year over what they viewed as unfair treatment. They wound up getting substantial raises, each making about $75,000 per episode last season as compared to the approximately $100,000 per pulled in by Sheen and Rob Lowe. There are usually a minimum of 22 episodes per season. (Coincidentally Whitford's real-life wife, Jane Kaczmarek, just got a hefty raise from Fox's Malcolm in the Middle.)

If the Post's source is on the money, then Sheen's pay hike would rank him up there with ER's Noah Wyle as one of the top-compensated stars of a TV drama. Wyle pulls down about $400,000 per episode.

But that's still pocket change compared to the salaries earned by NBC's top sitcom stars. Frasier's Kelsey Grammer makes more than $1.6 million per episode of his sitcom and second banana David Hyde Pierce makes about $1 million per. That's about the same salary the six stars of Friends will earn for their upcoming final season.

Lowe and Behold

As the movie set bustles around him, heartthrob Rob Lowe talks about stardom, his children, and the real reason he jogs

By MARLA CRANSTON
canada.com

Hollywood heartthrob Rob Lowe jokes around on the set of a TV movie being shot in downtown Dartmouth.

Even with the pros, things don’t always go as planned on a movie set. Rob Lowe is fumbling with the door handle of the grey Mercedes he’s supposed to climb into on Portland Street, but it’s unexpectedly locked, so director Andy Wolk yells “Cut!”

There’s a lot to co-ordinate in this shot, with cars driving by on cue, snow to keep chilled, and a few dozen extras strolling along as Christmas shoppers, bundled up in winter coats and toques.

When Lowe finally gets into the car, it won’t start, so he pounds on the steering wheel, but that’s all part of the script.

“I play a guy who rediscovers, on Christmas Eve, through a chance meeting with a young boy, what’s important in life,” Lowe says on a quick break, while the crew sets up the next shot for the CBS holiday movie, The Christmas Shoes.

He steals a moment to light up a nice fat Cohiba, confessing Cuban cigars are one big bonus to working in Canada.

“We still have the Cuban embargo,” he says ruefully, obviously savouring his stogie.

Life’s little pleasures help keep things balanced when you’re travelling a lot, he says.

“Jogging and smoking. And you know what? I jog, so I can smoke. The yin and the yang.”

During his two weeks here, he’s checked out the city’s downtown cigar bars and, last weekend, toured around the province scouting possible locations for a coming-of-age script he wrote about some kids in a Pennsylvania suburb. He found our countryside “beautiful,” but thinks downtown Dartmouth might be perfect for the film.

Lowe scooted down to New York this week to host NBC’s Fourth of July special, with an all-star cast including Ray Charles, Harrison Ford, Mike Myers, Britney Spears and others.

“It was absolutely one of the highlights of my life,” he says. “I had a sense it was going to be emotional and memorable, but it surpassed anything I could have hoped. It was so moving, and people really seemed to like it.”

This weekend, he’s spending his free time here in Nova Scotia with his wife Sheryl and their sons Edward and John, who are nearly six and nine.

Having a family has affected his choices in film roles — in The Christmas Shoes, his character Robert Layton has a teenage daughter, played by Toronto’s Amber Marshall. And the chance meeting with tyke Nathan Andrews (Toronto’s Max Morrow) finds him helping the lad track down some special shoes for his dying mother. The film is based on a heartwarming story by the same name, which was inspired by a holiday song by Newsong that hit the Billboard charts last year.

“On a movie like this, where I’m predisposed to do it anyway because I like the script, the fact that I know my kids’ll like it and be able to watch it really sort of helps close the deal,” he says.

Sometimes his boys show signs of wanting to follow in his footsteps, and sometimes they don’t.

“I’m hoping for veterinarian and Supreme Court justice,” he says with a laugh.

Acting can be fairly tedious work, he says.

“It requires a particular type of concentration when the camera’s running, but a concentration to keep your focus during the amazingly long dull hours where you’re doing nothing but waiting, which is most of the day.”

He’s paying full attention to our chat, but also seems keenly aware of the bustling film crew on the periphery.

It’s the fourth co-production between L.A.’s Craig Anderson Productions and Halifax’s Magic Rock Productions.

“Is it time?” he asks, dashing back over to the Nieforth Furnishers storefront, the setting for Wilson’s Department Store in the fictional town of River City.

Today’s interior store shots take place at Mills Brothers on Spring Garden Road. At first, it seemed our interview might be over, but Lowe was happy to keep chatting when he returns, though I was a little tongue-tied by his blue, blue eyes. And he’s gracious when I sheepishly admit his picture hung in my high school locker back in his St. Elmo’s Fire days.

“Oh, I love it! Excellent! That’s so nice. I love to hear that.”

Quite a crowd of onlookers has gathered by this point, and shirtless men on nearby balconies swig beer as they watch — a strange sight with so much fake snow around.

The fame thing doesn’t seem to phase Lowe, who says it’s only a problem on days “when you’re just in a bad mood or you’re sick or you’re in a hurry.”

By the same token, he’s always astounded when people from China or other far-flung parts of the world know who he is. Recently, he was stopped by some people from Afghanistan who recognized him.

His hit TV show West Wing resumes shooting next week, as soon as Lowe departs Halifax.

He hints this could be a critical season for his character Sam Seaborne, the president’s deputy communications director.

“I think Sam fans should be at full attention. That’s all I could tell you right now,” he says.

At the Desk of ... Bradley Whitford