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March 17, 2006
Lowe Reflects on 'West Wing' Return
Rob Lowe talks about returning for the final days of 'The West Wing'
By Daniel Fienberg
http://www.zap2it.com
Although his new comedy, "Thank You For Smoking," is about the intersection of Hollywood and Washington, Rob Lowe sticks to the Tinseltown side, as a smarmy agent. Lowe is, however, ready for a return to the Beltway.
"I did the bulk of it last week and I think I have one more quick appearance," Lowe says of his scheduled return to NBC's "The West Wing," a cameo set to coincide with the Emmy-winning show's pending series finale.
From 1999-2003, Lowe played Sam Seaborn on the political drama, earning an Emmy nomination in 2001 and picking up a pair of Screen Actors Guild awards as part of the series' decorated ensemble. A speechwriter and deputy communications director at the White House, Sam went off to run in a California special congressional election, allowing Lowe to depart. Neither of his subsequent television gigs -- "The Lyon's Den" and "Dr. Vegas" -- made it through even a half-season.
In addition to those series projects, Lowe had done several telefilms and features. One thing he apparently hasn't been doing is keeping up with his old show.
"I've been off the series for so long I don't really have a sense of what they've been doing, really," Lowe says in response to a question about whether or not this is the right time for "The West Wing" to be calling it quits. "I haven't watched it enough to know how the show really is since my departure."
Now, as "The West Wing" prepares for its last episodes this May, Lowe is one of several long-absent vets -- including Mary-Louise Parker and Marlee Matlin -- slated for returns.
"It was like going back to high school," Lowe says of his "Wing" visit. "You go, 'I thought my locker was bigger than this.'"
Lowe is reticent to offer any specifics on what Sam's been doing since he left or what brings him back to the White House.
"I cannot. It's not a huge thing -- I don't land in a spaceship on the South Lawn -- but it is a sort of fun return."
He admits, though, that being on the "West Wing" set without John Spencer, who died in December, made the experience bittersweet.
"It was very sad," he says. "I kept going to the trailers thinking he was going to come out and go 'Kid, I've missed you so much.'"
"Thank You For Smoking" is now in theaters. "The West Wing" finale will air on May 14, though its unclear which closing episodes will feature Lowe.
Posted by Jo at March 17, 2006 05:19 PM