The Promise - Last Episode of Season Five
In the last episode of Season Five on The West Wing (which first aired on April 21, 2004):
Josh is troubled, on the eve of the President's controversial trade summit meeting in Brussels, when he learns that Bartlet will reverse his position about sacrificing American jobs to foreign lands.
C.J. is frustrated with a new Federal Communications Commission ruling allowing multimedia companies increased ownership of TV stations.
Meanwhile, the administration tries to downplay job-loss statistics, and Donna tells Josh about her dissatisfaction with her limited role on his staff.
In the midst of it all, Bartlet meets Kate Harper (recurring guest star Mary McCormack - K Street, Private Parts), the brash, new deputy national security advisor.
Series star Richard Schiff directed this episode.
At 9pm tomorrow and next Wednesday watch how the show's co-creator, co-producer John Wells wraps up on last season's finale.
Tomorrow's $2.2 million season premiere called "N.S.F. Thurmont" was directed by Alex Graves.
N.S.F. Thurmont stands for Naval Support Facility also known as Camp David.
The season's second episode is called "The Birnham Woods."
The titles of the next five episodes are:
"Third Day Story"
"Liftoff"
"The Hubbert Peak"
"The Dover Test"
"A Change Is Gonna Come"
And then?
In one of these or later episodes of West Wing this season, representing opposite sides of the political aisle, Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits join the cast.
Alda will play a popular GOP senator from California.
Smits' role as a Democrat is to portray a congressman and a former mayor of Houston.
Could John Wells Productions being setting up one of these two as a successor to President Bartlet?
We'll see.
Co-creator and producer, Wells said, "We will set up all the scenarios this season, but the election probably won't be held until season seven."
While the 2004-05 season is the last under the current contract between NBC and the Warner Bros. series, Wells told critics on a conference call: "I don't believe this will be our last season."
He acknowledged that The West Wing may not be extremely popular among the desired 18-to-49 age demographic. However, it pulls the high-end-income viewers that NBC also covets.
"The West Wing has a specialized audience," Wells said. "For many viewers, the show is appointment television. "It would be a mistake to cancel it," Wells added.
He feels the addition of Smits and Alda will add "a new cast vitality."
Wells noted The West Wing will have a programming continuity that often has been lacking during recent seasons.
Repeats won't exist.
NBC will broadcast nine consecutive episodes, beginning tomorrow.
The West Wing will be pre-empted during the holiday season, returning in January with 13 successive weeks of new hours before moving out of the schedule in late spring.
"Such continuity should please fans who have understandably been upset in recent years by the insertion of reruns," Wells said. "Continuity is a vital component for a series like The West Wing.
NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly told critics this summer, "I can't reveal too much; all I can tell you is it's not going to be business as usual."
"The one little thing I could say is that the Bartlet administration is clearly coming to the end of its term, and I think that's going to foster some really interesting developments. . . . So we're going to try to juice up that show creatively this year, and I'm excited about what I've heard," added Reilly.
After four years at the helm, co-creator, Aaron Sorkin left the show.
Nonetheless, Wells, who is also the creator of ER, created a role for Allison Janney spectacular enough for her to bring home a second Emmy.
Last month, she won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her part in the 2003-04 season as Press Secretary, C.J. Craig.
She also won the award for her part in The West Wing's 3rd season (2001-2002).
The 6' actress, who was discovered by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward while acting in a play at Kenyon College in Ohio, is planning a Christmas wedding to actor Richard Jenik. As long as she isn't going anywhere, Wells should have nothing to worry about.
Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford and John Spencer have also taken home Emmys. And the entire show won four Emmys in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 for Outstanding Drama Series.
This year's crew -- at least at the beginning of the season:
Martin Sheen as President Jeb Bartlet
John Spencer as Leo McGarry, Bartlet's Chief of Staff
Stockard Channing as Abigail Bartlet, The First Lady
Bradley Whitford as Deputy Chief of Staff, Josh Lyman
Janel Moloney as Donna Moss, Lyman's Assistant
Richard Schiff as Communications Director, Toby Ziegler
Dule (pronounced "Due-lay") Hill as Charlie Young, The President's Personal Aide
Allison Janney as Press Secretary, C.J. Cregg
Josh Malina as Deputy Communications Director, Will Bailey
followed by:
Jimmy Smits as Matt Santos
Alan Alda as Arnold Vinick
Tony Award-Winner, Kristen Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth as a media consultant
For further details on the cast, the producers and past episodes, go to:
WarnerBros.com
The complete third season on DVD will begin shipping on November 2nd. Order it now to get your copy.
Inspire & Be Inspired(R).
We hope to be.
Just glad we have TiVo come January. Family night with American Idol takes precedence then. At least until then, we'll be watching...
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and great drama living!
~ Jennifer Carolyn King
P.S. For a not-very-inspirational but thought-provoking article about The West Wing, go to:
Newsday.com
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