« Primary shift on The West Wing | Main | NCGA Blasts "The West Wing »
January 26, 2005
Alda, Smits hit campaign trail
By ALAN PERGAMENT
Buffalo News
HOLLYWOOD - "The West Wing" this season is giving viewers a political fantasy - two smart, likable and principled candidates running for president that supporters of either major party can embrace.
The candidates, played by a television icon, Alan Alda (Republican Arnold Vinick), and an actor on his way to becoming one, Jimmy Smits (Democrat Matthew Santos), get into full swing at 9 tonight on Channel 2. The strong episode follows them and Vice President Robert Russell (Gary Cole) on the campaign trail to Iowa.
No matter if Alda or Smits wins, "West Wing" and America can't lose.
"Our hope has always been in a small way to show how it can be and what we should be looking for," said Executive Producer John Wells.
Titled "King Corn," the episode includes a scene between the two all-star actors at a coffee shop. Surprisingly, one candidate reveals his true feelings about an issue after he compromised his beliefs by making a public statement that contradicted them. One doubts candidates would be that honest with each other, but Alda feels their friendship makes the scene more plausible.
"There's also an unspoken implication in that scene that people often in politics don't so much talk about the issue as they talk about positioning the issue and how it is presented," said Alda. "That gets to be the critical thing you evaluate."
That scene addresses one of the show's constant themes - the choice candidates make between expressing their honest feelings and telling the public what they want to hear to get votes.
"That is the central issue for campaigns," said Wells. "What are you willing to sacrifice? What of your integrity? What do you have to do to be politically expedient? The political professionals are telling you: "It doesn't really matter what you say. You are just trying to get votes and make a difference when you get elected.' That's a recurring theme.
"The disturbing thing about spending a lot of time with our political consultants about this, is the fact that you would even ask that question of them makes you an idiot."
Of course, critics have to ask network leaders a lot of idiotic questions. Such as will "The West Wing" be back for another season after making such a strong creative comeback this season?
Jeff Zucker, president of NBC Universal Television group, gave the series a vote of confidence here by noting that it remains the No. 1 show among upscale viewers and has huge value, but he stopped short of saying it was a sure thing, because it's expensive to produce.
"It is incredibly strong and a show that we would like to have back," said Zucker.
Wells is proceeding as if he were a political candidate with a 90 percent approval rating. He said the Republican National Convention will be this season's semifinal episode, the Democratic National Convention will be the season finale. The election campaign is planned for next fall, with the inauguration of the new president a year from now.
And Wells says he hasn't decided who is going to win. He adds no one should assume it will be Santos, the Democrat, because that would make it easier to keep the all-star, Emmy-winning cast. Tonight, Patricia Richardson of "Home Improvement" and Stephen Root of "News Radio" join Vinick's campaign as the chief of staff and campaign manager, respectively, suggesting they could remain aboard if Vinick wins.
"We want to keep in the audience's mind this question of not only who do you think would make the best president, but who are the people around that person who would make for the best administration," said Wells.
It is just about assured that Martin Sheen, who plays President Bartlet, will be around for the transition. The only actor whose contract lapses after this season, Sheen said he plans on returning next year through the inauguration and to deal with what a post-White House life would be for Bartlet. "A Jimmy Carter-type of ex-presidency would be ideal," said Sheen.
Wells says he's not being coy, that the presidential winner won't be decided until the writers see what happens between cast members and what's happening in the country, and then they'll "try and follow what makes the most story sense."
"It's really what's most compelling, what's most interesting, what's giving you the greatest amount of drama," said Wells, who adds he has purposely portrayed the two candidates "as people that you'd like to have a beer with."
The producer promises he won't sacrifice his integrity and appeal to the TV gods of demographics, which would favor the younger Smits.
"We have ignored the gods of demographics for many years, so it's a tradition," said Wells.
Sheen is evidence of that. As president, he wasn't exactly a demographic dream. He says Bartlet and his administration won't be exiting quietly. Sheen then told the story of a decent man who dies and was asked by St. Peter at the gates of heaven to show his scars. When he said he didn't have any, St. Peter replied: "Was there nothing worth fighting for?"
"I think we're going to leave with a lot of scars, but we're going to be standing up and committed to human rights and public service on different levels," said Sheen, who is committed to staying with one of the few NBC shows these days worth fighting for.
Posted by Jo at January 26, 2005 05:07 PM