West Wing's been cancelled--dammit!!!

[KatyaR]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060122/ap_en_tv/tv_nbc_west_wing

Excuse me while I got beat the crap out of some NBC execs for giving them one of the worst spots on TV and then not giving them any support.

Thank god for DVDs . . . .

[wakeme2008]

1. That has always been the game in TV land

If you want to kill a show, put it where it would fail and when it does can it. :grr:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

7. They did that with "American Dreams." Still pisses me off.

They didn't even show a series finale. I'm hoping it'll come out if they ever release the last couple of seasons on DVD (they filmed it, but never showed it. How shitty is that?).

[Horse with no Name]

14. And Judging Amy

Seems they do it more often to liberal leaning shows...

[SPKrazy]

15. Judging Amy was on how many years?

and West Wing 7 years

come on, I'm sad to see West Wing go, but I don't quite buy into the idea that this is some conspiracy against liberals.

[Horse with no Name]

23. There are a lot of things

I don't "quite" buy into.
Most of them have to do with folks who claim to be liberal. Some just aren't believable.:)

[SPKrazy]

24. Am I missing something?

I didn't understand your message.

Are you saying you don't think I'm liberal?

Or am I missing it completely?

[Horse with no Name]

25. I never said such a thing

:)

[SPKrazy]

26. Okay Horse, I don't know what you said

but whatever:-)

[mandyky]

31. Judging Amy was CBS but both CBS and NBC cancel good shows

Mister Sterling - NBC - about the Senate
The Agency - CBS - about the CIA
First Monday - CBS - about the Supreme Court
American Dreams - NBC - about the Vietnam war era (60s)
Promised Land - CBS - about a family who was travelling the country, while religious in some ways was good family TV

Ratings aren't everything, educational programming is better than reality shows.

[antonialee839]

32. When they canceled Judging Amy it really pissed me off.

[mandyky]

39. Me too

I watch the reruns on TNT every weekday I can.

[Loge23]

2. Programming genius's killed it

Frankly, I have no idea when West Wing is on and if it's a new episode anymore.
That's a good way to confuse your viewers to the point that they no longer care.
The fact is, the programmers of today are nitwits.

[tulsakatz]

22. that's for sure!!

They always seem to find a way to screw with a good show!!

And what do they replace them with? Some boring sitcom with a laugh track!! Not my idea of entertainment.........

[drbtg1]

30. They'll replace it with the latest Jerry Bruckheimer bowel movement

the sad state of TV today.

[tulsakatz]

3. I'm sorry to hear that......

.....but at least Aaron Sorkin was treated better at NBC than ABC.

About a year before the West Wing began, Sorkin had another excellent show on ABC called Sports Night. ABC gave it 2 yrs before they cancelled it...........and that show had good ratings and many loyal fans!!!

[Blue Belle]

18. Sports night was cancelled far too early...

That was a great show.

[tulsakatz]

20. it was a fantastic show!!

I still have all of the episodes on tape!

ABC made a LOT of enemies when they cancelled that one!! Many, many Sorkin fans were upset over that one.........

[Mojambo]

4. It was time

7 years is quite a run.

The show was about the Bartlet administration and that administration is ending. So should the show.

I rather liked this last season.

[AngryOldDem]

11. I agree. I'd rather see it go out gracefully.

There would be no way it could continue. It would not be the same with either Santos or Vinick. The show was an examination of one administration, which it did brilliantly. Shows do not necessarily have to stay on the air for all eternity.

[johnfunk]

5. Have you seen "Commander-in-Chief" yet?

It's not quite as nuanced as West Wing, but Geena Davis and Kyle Secor do a great job as the President and First Dude.

That said, I'm glad to see West Wing going out after its Best Season Yet. Great casting, great actors, great writing. It's a shoo-in for a half dozen Emmys come August.

And it wouldn't have been the same without John Spencer anyway...

[KatyaR]

12. No, I haven't watched it.

I'm not a big Geena Davis fan and I don't watch that much TV anymore anyway, but WW has always been something to look forward to each week.

That said, I will admit that it's probably time to fold. If there was to be a new administration, I'm not sure I would have gone on watching because I'm so emotionally attached to the original cast. This season has been better than last year, and there are some loose ends I would like to see tied up before it's over. And yes, the show would not have been the same without John Spencer--Leo truly was the glue that held them together.

I attibute the West Wing, along with DU, with sucking me into the world of politics. Before them, I didn't care about politics at all.

I guess I'll just miss seeing my friends every week . . . .

[Silverhair]

34. C-I-C's ratings are sinking fast.

Unless ABC does something bold, it won't last long.

[FreedomAngel82]

36. Right

I would've loved though to see Santos as president. But it would've been sad without Spencer. :( He was my favorite. I am loving "Commander in Chief." Both my parents and I love the show.

[Cleita]

6. Actually, I wish Sorkin would get HBO interested in

a project. I would really like to see them do something on the last five years since Bush was elected. HBO is uncensored and pretty much anything goes. I would love to unleash a talent like Sorkin in that market where he doesn't have to worry about censorhip or corporate suits walking all over him.

I'll bet he could do a show or even a movie about how the media became corporate whores and commercials for the Bush administration.

[tulsakatz]

21. that's a good idea...........

When they cancelled Sports Night, there was some talk of moving it to HBO but at the time, I think Aaron wanted to put more of his time into The West Wing.

So now that West Wing has been cancelled, maybe he'll do something at HBO now.

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Too bad he couldn't move WW to HBO

[GrumpyGreg]

8. When NBC cancelled "I'll Fly Away" I learned never to really

depend on a series again.

I always know that the rug will be pulled out from me.

I have low expectations from TV therefore I am rarely disappointed.
.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. I know what you mean

The first show I ever got into and watched it all the time (even reruns) was "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The show was on about as long as WW and I was really sad of course. But there are boxsets and stuff. Now I'm waiting for "Charmed" to go off. I think they're in the eight season now which is a good long time. I used to be into "7th Heaven" but missed episodes and never kept up so I just lost interest. My dad has bad luck with shows too. Whenever he likes something (he loved "American Dreams") it shortly goes off the air (like two/three years later or something).

[DS1]

9. It's been over for awhile

[onenote]

10. sad but true

I would've like to see if they could revive it with a "new" administration, but its been down in the ratings for a while even with the addition of new players. I suspect that with John Spencer's death even the cast is ready to try something different.

onenote

[AnnieBW]

13. Now You Know How It Feels

To be a science fiction fan! All of our favorite shows get cancelled, and very few of them have had seven-year runs like WW has. I suggest that you consult the fandoms for "Firefly", and "Farscape" for tips on how to save a show. Also, the "Save Enterprise" group really had some good ideas, but unfortunately were not successful.

[liam_laddie]

16. more shows left!

Last week, I think it was Lawrence O'Donnell, said there were five shows in the can (cassette?) before
John Spencer's death. So those will be aired. I know that the winter Olympics pre-empt it Feb 12, 19 & 26
There is an episode scheduled Mar 19. Will be missed, but I think other posters are right, a new admin.
would be difficult to absorb; plus after a 6-7 year run, the actors may have been tiring of their roles...

[Garbo 2004]

17. West Wing was an expensive show which was another factor for NBC. n/t

[Blue Belle]

19. Plus it's easier to dumb down the public with

more "reality" shows. Why learn about the political process when you can watch desperate people eat meal worms!! :eyes:

[NYCGirl]

27. If it makes anyone feel better, Aaron Sorkin has a new show starting on

NBC in the fall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_7_on_the_Sunset_Strip

[derby378]

28. Nooooooo!! Say it isn't so!!

And of course, GE and NBC cancelled The West Wing just in time for - hold on to your hats - the 2006 elections. Wow.

[drbtg1]

29. At least Mr. Spencer won't have to be recast

John Ritter. Phil Hartman. Redd Foxx. Too many examples of shows that tried to go on after a loss with dubious results.

I know there are exceptions. Nicholas Colasanto is the one that stands out in my head the most. And, sure, this is a great cast that would have had excellent potential to thrive. But, no doubt, it is uphill.

As political commentary, we're definately worse off. As a work of art, maybe it's better this way.

Plus, if there's any writing left for Mr. O'Donnell for the remainder of the season, well, there's no holding back now.

You will always be missed, Mr. Spencer.

[Progressive4Life]

33. This sucks!

I love "The West Wing". It's my hour-long refuge from reality. I just hope Bravo keeps showing the reruns.

[FreedomAngel82]

35. I'm so sad about it

:cry: It's one of my favorite shows and I was so wanting to see Santos as president.

[LizW]

40. It has been a great show and had a good run.

I sort of expected they would end with this season. It seem like the natural time.

Seven seasons is a really long time for a drama, and there are great people in the cast who would probably like to explore other things.

"Two Cathedrals", the season finale of the second season, was the best hour of television I ever saw. It was beautifully written, beautifully acted, and beautifully shot. In the very last frame, Martin Sheen's face was frozen in profile with a window in the background. For just a split second before the screen went black, an American flag outside the window billowed out in the wind. It was breathtaking.

I really need to start buying West Wing DVDs.