« 'West Wing' cast ready for takeoff | Main | 'West Wing' hits ground running »
October 20, 2004
'West Wing' returns with changes, additions
by Ron Wynn
Nashville City Paper
Few returning shows will be more closely scrutinized this season than The West Wing (Wednesdays, WSMV, Ch. 4), which finally debuts tonight with a special two-hour edition at 7 p.m. But the first hour is merely a reprise of last year's season finale, with NBC opting to protect the actual launch episode by not putting it in direct competition with Lost (WKRN, Ch. 2, 7 p.m.), a program that's quickly emerged as a major hit.
Despite winning yet another Emmy award recently, the producers have planned some major changes and additions this year on the show, notably adding Jimmy Smits and later Alan Alda to the cast. There have also been rumors about some significant deletions as the season focus shifts to the final days of the Bartlet administration. Tonight's premier spotlights the president's surprising decision not to retaliate in the wake of violence and his decision to begin peace talks involving both the Israelis and Palestinians. The show will also reveal the fate of injured staff member Donna (Janel Moloney), who was last seen being rushed into surgery.
Though no one wants to admit it, The West Wing hasn't been the same since creator Aaron Sorkin left the premises, and it may just be time for everyone involved to turn the lights out after this year. But for now, NBC desperately needs the program to generate some decent measure of lead-in audience for Law & Order, whose own ratings have dipped since the debut of CSI:NY.
Posted by Jo at October 20, 2004 08:04 AM