Posted on 01/22/2006 11:18:33 AM PST by LdSentinal
NBC Cancels Emmy-Winning 'West Wing' After Seven Seasons, Makes Several Midseason Moves
PASADENA, Calif. Jan 22, 2006 — The new president on "The West Wing" will be a real short-timer: NBC announced Sunday it was pulling the plug on the Emmy-winning political drama after seven seasons in May.
NBC, struggling to regain its footing after the worst season in its history, also outlined several midseason schedule changes including the moves of popular dramas "Law & Order" and "Las Vegas."
"The West Wing" announcement wasn't much of a surprise. Although this season's story line with a presidential campaign involving a Democrat played by Jimmy Smits and Republican portrayed by Alan Alda has been strong critically, ratings have sunk with its move to Sunday nights.
NBC Cancels 'West Wing' After 7 Seasons Odds-On Oscar Favorites Emerge as Noms Near There She Is
The decision to cancel it was made before actor John Spencer, who played former presidential chief of staff Leo McGarry, died of a heart attack Dec. 16, said Kevin Reilly, NBC entertainment president.
"There's a point when you look at the ratings and say, it feels like it's time," Reilly said.
The series finale will be May 14, preceded by a one-hour retrospective. The campaign to replace the fictional Josiah Bartlet as president will be settled, NBC said.
Producers Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme, who created the show and guided it through its early years, will not be involved in the finale, Reilly said.
"The West Wing" won four Emmy Awards for best television drama in a row for its tales of political intrigue. At its prime, it also offered NBC two valuable benefits: critical acclaim and the most upscale audience on television, an important drawing point for advertisers.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Only to replaced with "Crossing Brokeback Cowboys".
i'm so saaaad
That's rather amusing. What do Kiwis consider to be propaganda within "The West Wing"?
lol
They get all their ideas from the newspapers, they won't run out.
The people who made "The Book of Daniel" chose to spend GE's money to advance their own anti-Christian agenda. In any other industry that would have managerial heads rolling.
If their ratings continue to tank heads will roll... they took one of their best shows (ER) and tried to make it political this year. I think they must have received complaints because they backed off, but for a few weeks they had Danny Glover guesting and it was painful.
Ah, so it's a science-fiction show.....
It needs to be in the Friday night Sci-Fi line up.
I love waking up to good news.
This may be a good week after all.
Never watched it. Heard about it, mostly on FR...
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
At least the Lefties still have what's-her-name as a President.
I keep hearing about that show, must have been good.
EXACTLY! I saw it about 10 times, and that pissed me of to no end when it happened. They would also show the Right's perspective, but not in total, and the Left view would win out. It was, however, very watchable for Conservatives. You just had to put up with 51% political idiocy
What is a "television drama in a row"?
Are they using "row" in the English meaning of "fight" or "argument"???
Back in the old days, most Freepers thought that true patriotism entailed "disrespect for the institutions of government." Like Reagan, they advoated the credo that "government is the problem, not the solution." Those days are long gone.
Last night's episode had a nuke scare in L.A. - close enough?
"Commander in Chief" is a trashy tabloid compared to "The West Wing" - so all of you who hated Martin Sheen on this were just getting started.
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