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January 25, 2005
Decision '05 sure to shake up West Wing
West Wing folks want a lively clash
by Rob Salem
Toronto Star
If only life really did imitate art (or at least TV), America would have Martin Sheen preparing to step down after a long and successful two-term presidency, and a choice between Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits for who would succeed him in the White House.
But alas, it's just The West Wing, which in its sixth successful season is working toward a shake-up that eclipses even the departure in 2003 of its writer/creator, Aaron Sorkin.
Martin Sheen will be giving up the Oval Office next season. "You know, I would do, like, another term," the activist actor allowed. "That can't happen. So I'm going to have to live vicariously through one of these guys."
Sheen is currently in negotiations for at least a partial run next season. "We're currently very close to a complete deal for the new year," he said. "But my presence will only be strong the first half of the year. We'll see where it goes from there.
"We're planning on ... primarily being present up until the inauguration of the new president, whoever that might be, and then after a glimpse into what sort of post-White House life that Bartlet might get involved in. A Jimmy Carter-type ex-presidency would be ideal."
Producer John Wells would seem to agree. "I think we're very interested as writers in the idea of how does someone who we've become so fond of, Jed Bartlet, how does that character re-enter the world as a citizen, and decide to engage himself as a citizen in the world and make a difference."
And the change-over in administrations does provide a unique opportunity "to explore different points of view and express in two actors, who I think we respect and we like very much, different ideas that have been difficult to express on the show. Because we are in a Democratic administration, so the Republicans are usually the enemy, no matter how favourably, or with how much compassion, you try to present the other point of view.
"We now have a contest in which there's a discussion that's going on in which both points of view are presented, and oftentimes the Republican point of view sounds very, very compelling ... particularly coming out of Alan Alda's mouth."
Ironically, Alda was one of the original candidates (along with Sidney Poitier and Jason Robards) considered to play the Democrat, Bartlet.
"Anything to turn this great country of ours around," he grins.
"There are good ideas on both sides of the aisle, and this program has the amazing ability not to deal with the daily events in the national debate, or the events that threaten us, but to deal with those core issues that throw light on those events."
"I think it's wonderful," agrees Smits, "that this affords the writers another opportunity to get two fundamentally different political points of view, with a full voice on either side."
Even when that voice may contradict your own perceived political leanings? "I'm an actor," shrugs Alda. "But one of the first things I'm asked, since I'm doing this program, is, `But we've seen you espouse points of view that don't seem to be Republican. How can you possibly play a Republican?'
"You know, I was never asked that when I played a murderer."
Posted by Jo at January 25, 2005 10:02 AM