PASADENA, Calif. – 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 in May after seven seasons.
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.
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.
NBC's revamped schedule offered veteran Law & Order producer Dick Wolf good and bad news. NBC is putting Wolf's new drama Conviction, about young prosecutors in New York, on Friday's schedule starting March 3. But it is moving Law & Order up an hour to Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Dallas time – competing directly with ABC's blockbuster Lost.
Wolf, who has had at least one show on NBC's schedule for 21 years, shrugged when asked about the move.
"It's like a long-term marriage," he said. "There are stresses and strains intermittently, but we are kind of stuck with each other."
NBC is also moving Las Vegas from Monday to Friday starting in March. Donald Trump is changing addresses again, with The Apprentice moving to Monday where it will be preceded by the Howie Mandel-hosted game show Deal or No Deal.
The network has two more midseason shows: Heist, a cops-and-robbers drama from the director of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Teachers, a comedy about a high school English teacher.
The Office will go off the air at the end of March so star Steve Carell can film a movie, Reilly said. He said he also hasn't figured out what to do with the ill-fated Friends spinoff Joey, which has 12 new episodes done but no place on the schedule.
"NBC is stable and our vital signs are encouraging," Reilly said. "Most predictions were that we were going to go from bad to worse this year, and that hasn't happened.
NBC cancels 'The West Wing'
Moderator: S2k Moderators
- TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
- wx247
- S2K Supporter
- Posts: 14279
- Age: 42
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2003 10:35 pm
- Location: Monett, Missouri
- Contact:
And the spin continues!!! NBC has tanked. The only bright spots in their ratings have been Deal or No Deal and My Name Is Earl.
0 likes
Personal Forecast Disclaimer:
The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or storm2k.org. For official information, please refer to the NHC and NWS products.
The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or storm2k.org. For official information, please refer to the NHC and NWS products.
-
- Category 5
- Posts: 15941
- Age: 57
- Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2002 8:11 am
- Location: Galveston, oh Galveston (And yeah, it's a barrier island. Wanna make something of it?)
wx247 wrote:And the spin continues!!! NBC has tanked. The only bright spots in their ratings have been Deal or No Deal and My Name Is Earl.
Those are bright spots?? I guess I just don't get Earl (nor The Office). But at least NBC went back to the four-comedies-and-one-drama lineup for Thursday nights. As much as I liked Apprentice, I didn't like the break-up of the traditional Must-See-TV formula.
My Peacock Network is struggling.

0 likes
-
- S2K Supporter
- Posts: 38117
- Age: 37
- Joined: Sun May 16, 2004 10:30 pm
- Location: Tulsa Oklahoma
- Contact:
They announced the new schedule for after the Olympics yesterday.
Deal or No Deal will begin airing Mondays at 8 beginning February 27th(5-night event at 8pm that week)
The Apprentice 5 premieres Mondays at 9 on February 27th
Law and Order moves up an hour to face Lost and Criminal Minds on Wednesdays while Heist premieres at 10pm.
Las Vegas moves to Fridays at 9 while Conviction premieres on Fridays at 10.
Still no word on Joey, but I suspect it'll go to Tuesdays in one of Scrubs slots and die. It can't air twice a week til May.
Deal or No Deal will begin airing Mondays at 8 beginning February 27th(5-night event at 8pm that week)
The Apprentice 5 premieres Mondays at 9 on February 27th
Law and Order moves up an hour to face Lost and Criminal Minds on Wednesdays while Heist premieres at 10pm.
Las Vegas moves to Fridays at 9 while Conviction premieres on Fridays at 10.
Still no word on Joey, but I suspect it'll go to Tuesdays in one of Scrubs slots and die. It can't air twice a week til May.
0 likes
#neversummer
-
- S2K Supporter
- Posts: 38117
- Age: 37
- Joined: Sun May 16, 2004 10:30 pm
- Location: Tulsa Oklahoma
- Contact:
DoctorHurricane2003 wrote:This is what happens when you remove Friends in Frasier in the same year from your schedule. Your ratings go kaput.
That reminds me...
‘Friends’ Returns to TV
By WENN|Sunday, January 22, 2006
HOLLYWOOD - Seminal sitcom Friends is returning to television after each of its six stars agreed multi-million dollar deals to star in four one-hour specials.
In a secret meeting before Christmas, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry reportedly agreed a $5 million apiece deal with NBC bosses in Los Angeles.
Scriptwriters have already started penning lines for the four double episodes, which are due to air next year.
Aniston, who has filmed a string of movies since the final Friends episode, was the last to agree to the new deal.
An NBC insider says, "She's the one who had been holding out. But she's now agreed to reprise Rachel (Green).
"Bringing them back is a dream come true. Ratings will go through the roof."
Network bosses have also hinted at a second spin-off of the hit comedy, following the disappointing performance of Matt LeBlanc's show Joey. The new program will see the three male stars--Perry, Schwimmer and LeBlanc--pilot a series called It's A Guy Thing.
An NBC spokesperson confirms, "Negotiations on future projects are going on all the time."
Article Copyright World Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.
http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3477372

0 likes
#neversummer
- Stephanie
- S2K Supporter
- Posts: 23843
- Age: 63
- Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2003 9:53 am
- Location: Glassboro, NJ
nholley wrote:This is a shame as it is such a great show, but Martin Sheen played such a huge part in the success of the show it was always going to be impossible to carry on without him as president.
I agree. It could've worked though with another President, etc., but I did stop watching it about 2 years ago myself. I think the Sunday night move was the final nail in the coffin.
0 likes
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests