Post by First Lady on Jun 17, 2003 22:50:56 GMT
Political repercussions
With Sorkin's departure, what does 'Wing's' future hold?
By STUART LEVINE
So where do we go from here?
After four seasons -- the first three as Emmy drama champ -- "The
West Wing" heads into uncharted waters without its creative force,
Aaron Sorkin, and his consigliere, Tommy Schlamme.
Sorkin's ankling the show wasn't all that unexpected. After writing
practically every episode, Sorkin's penchant for delivering late
scripts became acute. That created costly budget overruns and
producer Warner Bros. TV no doubt pressured Sorkin to stick to
deadlines.
All of this came a few months after NBC signed a license fee deal
with WBTV, agreeing to pay the studio slightly more than $5.5 million
an episode for two more seasons.
Exec producer John Wells has been named showrunner for next season.
Wells or Warner Bros. hasn't commented on where the series goes from
here but he did say, "We always knew this day would come and have
been assembling a talented group of writers, directors and producers
to assist in this transition."
"It's a simultaneously crushing disappointment and exciting," says
Joshua Malina, a friend of Sorkin's since high school and the newest
full-time member of the cast. Malina came aboard midseason portraying
speechwriter Will Bailey, who helped ease Rob Lowe's character, Sam
Seaborn, out of the show.
"I heard Wells say that Aaron is irreplaceable and they won't create
a faux Sorkin voice," Malina says. "I think it's going to become a
more collaborative vision."
Ratings downturn
Ratings took a 20% dive last season. Reasons are many: The show went
head to head with reality powerhouse "The Bachelor"; the popular Lowe
left halfway through; the tone of American politics took a strong
turn to the right (Martin Sheen's President Bartlet is hardcore
Democrat); and, perhaps most important, political storylines often
overpowered the personal.
Even some diehard fans of "West Wing" would admit that policy wonking
doesn't necessarily make for involving primetime entertainment. Toby
Ziegler (Richard Schiff) talking about the environment doesn't
resonate with viewers as much as when he's in a hospital maternity
ward bonding with his newborns.
But political insight does make the series unique and raises it above
the he-loves-me, he-loves-me-not fare seen on many other dramas.
Thesps are concerned the relationship storylines might become too
prominent come the fall.
"I fear that," says John Spencer, who plays all-business chief of
staff Leo McGarry. "I love a healthy mix (of politics and
personalities). I think you have to balance it."
"Personally, I would like it to remain a policy show," says Malina,
who also starred in Sorkin's "Sports Night." "These people are so
devoted to their jobs that Aaron felt it wasn't important to tell you
who they're dating.
"But I think you need a touch of that. It's certainly possible more
of that would mean more people would watch, but I don't know if
that's good for the show."
The season's last four episodes -- generally considered the best of
the year -- certainly felt like the skein was leaning toward being
more character-driven, if not sensational.
First, the vice president (Tim Matheson) is forced to resign because
of an extramarital affair; a Secret Service agent is killed and the
president's daughter, Zoe, is kidnapped at a graduation party; and
Bartlet temporarily gives up his presidential powers to the speaker
of the House, a Republican heavyweight played by John Goodman, in the
season finale.
Says TV Guide's Matt Roush: "As one of the disgruntled former fans
doing a fair amount of the drubbing, I will agree insomuch as the
last few episodes were a major improvement on the rest of the season,
and the final hour was (as is the show's custom) fabulously executed.
But I didn't really buy it for a moment. It was way too melodramatic
for me, and if I sound hypocritical here, given my appreciation for
outrageous shows like '24' and 'Alias,' I would argue that this show
operates on a different standard."
Spencer, like the rest of the cast, was aware that viewership was
down but assures there was not a sense of dismay on the Burbank set.
"It's like camera direction; I don't really understand it," Spencer
says of the Wednesday night numbers. "We're all just worker ants
putting in long hours. I think if the show was hanging in the
balance, maybe we would pay more attention and there might even be
concern."
Close-knit group
The camaraderie among "West Wing's" actors is evident. Spencer,
Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney and Stockard Channing have
all taken home Emmys. On the podium, they're usually quick to credit
Sorkin with delivering the material that's earned them kudos.
Though they were often delivered just hours before the actors were
being called on set, Sorkin's scripts are now a thing of the past.
Time will tell if a more manageable schedule makes for a better show.
"If you ask me that the scripts be on time but the quality less than
Aaron's, I tell you with all of my heart that I would not prefer
that," Spencer says.
Adds Malina: "I had no problem with the way the show was run. If
anything, it added to the excitement."
The type of excitement that Warner Bros. and NBC obviously didn't
need.
(Variety-Date in print: Fri., Jun. 13, 2003)
With Sorkin's departure, what does 'Wing's' future hold?
By STUART LEVINE
So where do we go from here?
After four seasons -- the first three as Emmy drama champ -- "The
West Wing" heads into uncharted waters without its creative force,
Aaron Sorkin, and his consigliere, Tommy Schlamme.
Sorkin's ankling the show wasn't all that unexpected. After writing
practically every episode, Sorkin's penchant for delivering late
scripts became acute. That created costly budget overruns and
producer Warner Bros. TV no doubt pressured Sorkin to stick to
deadlines.
All of this came a few months after NBC signed a license fee deal
with WBTV, agreeing to pay the studio slightly more than $5.5 million
an episode for two more seasons.
Exec producer John Wells has been named showrunner for next season.
Wells or Warner Bros. hasn't commented on where the series goes from
here but he did say, "We always knew this day would come and have
been assembling a talented group of writers, directors and producers
to assist in this transition."
"It's a simultaneously crushing disappointment and exciting," says
Joshua Malina, a friend of Sorkin's since high school and the newest
full-time member of the cast. Malina came aboard midseason portraying
speechwriter Will Bailey, who helped ease Rob Lowe's character, Sam
Seaborn, out of the show.
"I heard Wells say that Aaron is irreplaceable and they won't create
a faux Sorkin voice," Malina says. "I think it's going to become a
more collaborative vision."
Ratings downturn
Ratings took a 20% dive last season. Reasons are many: The show went
head to head with reality powerhouse "The Bachelor"; the popular Lowe
left halfway through; the tone of American politics took a strong
turn to the right (Martin Sheen's President Bartlet is hardcore
Democrat); and, perhaps most important, political storylines often
overpowered the personal.
Even some diehard fans of "West Wing" would admit that policy wonking
doesn't necessarily make for involving primetime entertainment. Toby
Ziegler (Richard Schiff) talking about the environment doesn't
resonate with viewers as much as when he's in a hospital maternity
ward bonding with his newborns.
But political insight does make the series unique and raises it above
the he-loves-me, he-loves-me-not fare seen on many other dramas.
Thesps are concerned the relationship storylines might become too
prominent come the fall.
"I fear that," says John Spencer, who plays all-business chief of
staff Leo McGarry. "I love a healthy mix (of politics and
personalities). I think you have to balance it."
"Personally, I would like it to remain a policy show," says Malina,
who also starred in Sorkin's "Sports Night." "These people are so
devoted to their jobs that Aaron felt it wasn't important to tell you
who they're dating.
"But I think you need a touch of that. It's certainly possible more
of that would mean more people would watch, but I don't know if
that's good for the show."
The season's last four episodes -- generally considered the best of
the year -- certainly felt like the skein was leaning toward being
more character-driven, if not sensational.
First, the vice president (Tim Matheson) is forced to resign because
of an extramarital affair; a Secret Service agent is killed and the
president's daughter, Zoe, is kidnapped at a graduation party; and
Bartlet temporarily gives up his presidential powers to the speaker
of the House, a Republican heavyweight played by John Goodman, in the
season finale.
Says TV Guide's Matt Roush: "As one of the disgruntled former fans
doing a fair amount of the drubbing, I will agree insomuch as the
last few episodes were a major improvement on the rest of the season,
and the final hour was (as is the show's custom) fabulously executed.
But I didn't really buy it for a moment. It was way too melodramatic
for me, and if I sound hypocritical here, given my appreciation for
outrageous shows like '24' and 'Alias,' I would argue that this show
operates on a different standard."
Spencer, like the rest of the cast, was aware that viewership was
down but assures there was not a sense of dismay on the Burbank set.
"It's like camera direction; I don't really understand it," Spencer
says of the Wednesday night numbers. "We're all just worker ants
putting in long hours. I think if the show was hanging in the
balance, maybe we would pay more attention and there might even be
concern."
Close-knit group
The camaraderie among "West Wing's" actors is evident. Spencer,
Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney and Stockard Channing have
all taken home Emmys. On the podium, they're usually quick to credit
Sorkin with delivering the material that's earned them kudos.
Though they were often delivered just hours before the actors were
being called on set, Sorkin's scripts are now a thing of the past.
Time will tell if a more manageable schedule makes for a better show.
"If you ask me that the scripts be on time but the quality less than
Aaron's, I tell you with all of my heart that I would not prefer
that," Spencer says.
Adds Malina: "I had no problem with the way the show was run. If
anything, it added to the excitement."
The type of excitement that Warner Bros. and NBC obviously didn't
need.
(Variety-Date in print: Fri., Jun. 13, 2003)