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March 17, 2005
NBC Keeps "Wing," "Joey," "Jordan"
by Bridget Byrne
E!Online
Mar 17, 2005, 12:00 PM PT
It's not a shocker of Dewey-defeats-Truman proportions, but The West Wing has just been reelected for a seventh term.
A day after the Hollywood trades suggested a deal was imminent to bring the Emmy-winning political potboiler back for a swan-song season without longtime President Josiah Barlet (Martin Sheen) in the Oval Office, NBC confirmed as much Thursday, announcing The West Wing had been reupped for the 2005-06 season, along with Joey, Crossing Jordan, Las Vegas and, as previously reported, ER, which was picked up through 2008.
Of that group, The West Wing has the lowest ratings, averaging 11.3 million viewers in its Wednesday, 9 p.m. slot. Impacted by Fox's American Idol and the failure of NBC to establish a good lead-in, the White House drama is down from 11.7 million viewers last year. In its glory days back in season three, The West Wing averaged 17.1 million and was a top 10 fixture.
But with NBC struggling in the Nielsens after losing Friends and Frasier last year, the Peacock is holding on to proven properties, especially ones like The West Wing, which still appeals to upscale viewers and is therefore advertiser-friendly.
"We can do better," NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly told advertisers Thursday as he announced the renewals, according to Broadcasting and Cable. "I am acutely aware that we need the next generation of hits."
Under its current deal, which includes price rates tied to ratings fluctuation, NBC pays about $6 million per episode for The West Wing. Inside sources suggest next season's episodes will only cost about half that, but it's not known whether the deal is pegged to Nielsens. If so, the fee could rise if audience interest picks up as the race for the presidency gathers momentum. With Bartlet terming out, the leading contenders include Republican Senator Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) and Democratic Congressman Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits). This year's season finale on Apr. 6 will decide the Democratic candidate, but our money's on Smits edging out rivals Vice President Robert "Bingo Bob" Russell (Gary Cole) and former Vice President John Hoynes (Tim Matheson).
Speaking to TV critics in January, Reilly and NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker were asked who they would like to see take over for Sheen's Bartlet. Reilly joked that Zucker "likes [Alan] Alda" and "I like [Jimmy] Smits." Zucker added, "I like whomever [executive producer] John Wells likes."
Wells has refused to divulge plot points or future timeline for the election episodes, but he and Sheen have both indicated that Bartlet will maintain a presence on the show. Sheen said he "will be present up until the inauguration of the new president, whoever that might be" and that Barlet will have "a Jimmy Carter type of ex-presidency" role.
With Sheen and his high-salaried White House staffers likely only around part time, Wells & Co. would be able to trim costs and keep the show profitable for NBC and Warner Bros., the show's production base. And while Variety reported Wednesday that next season would be Wing's last, NBC declined to confirm.
As for the other pick-ups Thursday, the Jill Hennessy medical drama Crossing Jordan, which averages 12.1 million viewers, will be back for its fifth season; Las Vegas, starring James Caan and a bunch of good-looking young cohorts keeping a casino free from crime, will be back for a third season after averaging 11.7 million viewers this year; and Matt LeBlanc's Friends spinoff Joey, which hasn't been the huge hit NBC anticipated but still manages to draw a solid 11.6 million viewers, will be back for season two. ER has been extended for two more seasons, even though Noah Wyle might not return, at least on a full-time basis. The network had previously announced that The Apprentice, Medium and three of its Law & Orders--the mothership, Criminal Intent and Special Victims Unit--would return next season.
NBC will unveil its full fall schedule in May at the advertiser upfront meetings.
Posted by Jo at March 17, 2005 10:41 PM