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January 24, 2005
'West Wing' cast differs on a viewer vote for president
By Gail Shister
Philadelphia Inquirer
Should The West Wing's next president be the people's choice? It's a split vote.
Several cast members support an interactive voting system that would allow viewers to choose the successor to Democrat Jeb Bartlet when his second term ends in May. (Eight years, six seasons - White House math.)
Martin Sheen (Bartlet) votes nay. So does executive producer John Wells. But Alan Alda (GOP Sen. Arnold Vinick) and Jimmy Smits (Democrat Rep. Matt Santos), the two leading contenders, say yes. Ditto for Allison Janney, Bartlet's chief of staff, C.J. Cregg.
"Why leave it up to a couple of Hollywood writers?" Alda said in an interview during the TV critics' winter meetings Friday. "They shouldn't run the country. We should rely on the values of the American people."
Wells, a Hollywood writer, will create his own storylines, thank you. Besides, Wing's production schedule couldn't accommodate an interactive feature, he says.
Wells hasn't decided on the victor. No rush - the election won't take place until next season, with the inaugural targeted for January '06, he says. Alda and Smits are signed for next season, as are Sheen and Janney.
"I think it would be a kick just to see how the rest of the country would vote," she says. "I'm curious to see what the people out there are thinking."
With or without official sanctioning, there will be voting among Internet bloggers, Alda says. "It will happen spontaneously, by itself. I'm a geek, so I know you can put software that allows for voting on any Web site.
"It will be interesting to see how the [Wing] writers respond."
Alda is no stranger to the Oval Office. He played the president in Michael Moore's 1995 comedy Canadian Bacon, and was the national security adviser in Murder at 1600 in '97. He was a senator in '79's The Seduction of Joe Tynan.
To Smits, a viewers' vote is cool "if it's better for the show. I'm easy. I guess it's possible for them to shoot two or three different endings." (Smits has a development deal with ABC for next season, but it can be rolled over, he says.)
Sheen, who hopes his character's post-presidency will be modeled on that of humanitarian Jimmy Carter, says the decision on Bartlet's successor is not up to viewers, although they may not know that. "A great writer makes the people think they made the choice."
An outspoken liberal, Alda has no problem portraying a conservative Californian. Mostly, it bothers his M*A*S*H fans, he says.
"It's not a stretch for me at all. I play all kinds of humans. I have voted for Republicans. I'm not a one-idea person... . We don't need to get so wrapped up in these opposing points of view. Bush is our president now. He's everybody's president. If [Sen. John Kerry] had won, he'd be everybody's president.
"This political gridlock is not helpful. Maybe some small effort will be made when West Wing shows Republicans and Democrats debating, arguing, working things out, and behaving like statesmen, not like steamrollers."
Like true steamrollers, er, politicians, Alda and Smits both insist their characters should be the next commander-in-chief.
Alda: "My guy would be better for this great country of ours."
Smits: "My guy's ideals come from a very pure place in this jaded political landscape. There's still room for finding this purity."
Posted by Jo at January 24, 2005 07:23 PM