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April 01, 2006
THE WEST WING
The acclaimed White House drama comes down to its final hours
ANDREW RYAN
Globe and Mail
The end is near for The West Wing, but the show appears intent on going out with a bang, not a whimper.
The West Wing has spent seven seasons depicting life behind the scenes at a fictional White House. Viewers have become very familiar with the various movers and shakers in the administration of Democratic president-elect Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen). The show has won multiple Emmys (including Best Drama wins for its first four seasons) and has changed dramatic focus as often as it's changed producers and timeslots (it currently airs on Sunday nights). And since The West Wing has long adhered to the strict procedural confines of U.S. politics, the show is ending its run by putting a new man in the Oval Office.
The long goodbye begins with this Sunday's show, which marks the beginning of an extended prologue leading up to the finale on May 14. The West Wing has devoted much of the past season to the mounting presidential showdown between staunch Republican candidate Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) and idealized Democrat hopeful Matt Santos. The two men are diametrically-opposed political opposites, with appropriately polarized viewpoints.
Titled Election Day, the episode takes place the night before voters head to the polls. As with most outings of The West Wing, a good deal of screen time is devoted to the key members of the ensemble cast. Josh (Bradley Whitford), who has been running Santos' campaign, is already fretting about voter turnout and returns, while C.J. (Allison Janney) is fielding job offers from people who aren't even in office yet. There are likewise quantum life shifts in store for original West Wing character Charlie (Dule Hill) and relative newcomer Annabeth (Kristin Chenoweth).
More importantly, the weeks ahead will see the re-entry of a considerable contingent of West Wing regulars. Most notable is the return later this month of Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn, the savvy political insider he played from 1999 to 2003. Sam is the prodigal son.
Also scheduled to return is Mary-Louise Parker a recent Best Actress Emmy winner for the cable drama Weeds who will reprise her role of women's-right advocate Amy Gardner (who had a hot-and-heavy relationship with Josh over two seasons of the show). The closing weeks will also see the return of former recurring West Wing characters played by Emily Proctor, Marlee Matlin, Timothy Busfield and Tim Matheson and Gary Cole as, respectively, the good and bad vice presidents.
The final days of The West Wing should provide a respectful sense of closure for the fans who've stuck with the series' through its innumerable ups and downs over seven seasons. The finale will be preceded by an hourlong retrospective that will include a tribute to recently-deceased cast member John Spencer, who portrayed Leo McGarry.
At the same time, The West Wing has to make room for the arrival of a new president in the next few weeks, and NBC has promised the series will not close doors before the election results are revealed.
Posted by Jo at April 1, 2006 04:46 PM