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January 24, 2006
'West Wing' will end its run in character
by Gail Pennington
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Janel Moloney asked for waterproof mascara. Bradley Whitford seemed to choke up momentarily. The "West Wing" cast might agree that it's the right time to go, but saying goodbye won't be easy.
With ratings in continuing decline, "The West Wing" will end its run on May 14, NBC announced Sunday. Hours later, producers and cast met with visiting TV critics to talk about the show's legacy and to celebrate their friend and colleague John Spencer, who died Dec. 16 of a heart attack.
This season, the parallel America created by Aaron Sorkin is preparing to elect a new president to replace Martin Sheen's Josiah Bartlet. The change of administrations seemed like a natural place to end the series, executive producer John Wells said.
"One of the things that's most dramatic about American democracy is the peaceful passing of power from one leader to another," he said. "We thought that was a really wonderful way to conclude our storytelling."
Nine episodes leading up to the finale are still set to air, with a break for the Olympics. Spencer, who played vice presidential candidate Leo McGarry, will be seen in one more episode and mentioned in another. Then a newly written episode will deal with his death, apparently of a heart attack, just before the election.
A day before NBC announced the series finale, the "West Wing" cast gathered at a memorial service for Spencer.
"I walk on the set every day since his ... you know, since his death, and feel a great loss," said Allison Janney, who like Spencer, is an original cast member. "It feels like a very organic ending to the show with him gone because I just can't imagine doing it without him."
Whitford said, "It's very hard. John was the biggest enthusiast for this show. He was the guy always saying this is phenomenal, relish this."
Moloney didn't need the waterproof mascara she asked for, but she dug in her handbag for a tissue later when talking about Spencer and about the finale.
With so much new business, "I think it's the first time nobody asked a Josh-and-Donna question," she said.
So what about Josh, played by Whitford, and Donna, his former assistant? In the few episodes left, will they finally get together?
"I won't tell you that," Moloney said, putting her tissue away. "But I will tell you that I think viewers will be, um, satisfied by the outcome of their story."
Posted by Jo at January 24, 2006 04:07 PM