NBC Cancels 'The West Wing' Retrospective

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:32am

Maybe this is old news, but I just wanted to pass it along....


When NBC announced in January that it was canceling the political drama after seven seasons, it said the final episode in May would be accompanied by a retrospective on the series' history.

Instead, NBC is airing a repeat of "The West Wing" pilot on Sunday prior to the final episode, where the Democrat portrayed by Jimmy Smits is inaugurated as the next president.

NBC had no official comment on the switch of plans. However, the network couldn't reach an agreement with the show's cast on what — or if — they would be paid to gather one last time and reminisce about their experience, said a person close to the show who would speak about the negotiations only on condition of anonymity.

Showing the very first episode of "The West Wing" costs NBC nothing because the production was long-since paid for.

It's a sad ending for the show, which won four consecutive Emmy Awards as television's best drama. Its final season was marred by declining ratings and the death of actor John Spencer, who played vice presidential candidate Leo McGarry, although many critics considered it a strong season creatively.

[RobbO]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:34am

this decision, will, if anything, only serve as a reminder of how much quality has suffered on this once great show by showing the pilot followed by the finale.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:34am

I love this show the first few seasons, then it was moved and I have not watched it since.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:38am

I was very disappointed in what was supposed to be their tribute show to John Spencer a couple weeks ago. I don't know why NBC hyped it so much. What a shame.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:42am

i gave up on it when they found the daughter pretty much unharmed after her aaron sorkin-esque drug binge kidnapping. then the whole donna and josh thing...yeah, trading amy gardner for your assistant? and cj to chief of staff? please.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 10:47am

Addy, I read on MSN yesterday that it was about money (being paid for the retrospective episode).

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:01am

That is really too bad, especially since it was about money. I mean haven't they all been paid enough over the past seven years to sit around and talk about it for a little bit without getting paid?

And I think showing the first and the last side by side will be great. I think that this past season it has gotten a lot better and back to what the show used to be.

Of course I won't watch the first one because I know it by heart and have seen it about 20 times (that is not an exaggeration)

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:02am

Cait, I was thinking the same thing. But then from their perspective, someone would be making money off of it, so why shouldn't they?

I think I'm one of the few people who never watched this show.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:05am

See I think they should have made a retrospective and made it a REAL tribute to John Spencer by taking all profits of said episode and giving it to a charity he supported in his name.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:06am

nbc would probably rake in the ratings and the advertising dough for a retrospective. why shouldn't the actors be paid for their part in helping nbc rake in a last minute bonanza? now if they were in looney toon land of saying, "we want a million bucks a piece, b*tches!" then i understand nbc's reluctance. i wouldn't have watched it anyway.

[RobbO]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:08am

you voted for alan alda didn't you, papa?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:50am

vote for hawkeye? no way, robbo. i wrote in glenallen walken as part of my protest that they ever gave bartlett back the keys.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 11:54am

Do you think they will cancel the Will and Grace retrospective as well? I believe it's due to air the hour prior to the final episode.

[starletta8]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 1:39pm

This saddened me a lot, since I've been a big TWW fan since the beginning.

There are different reports about the money issue. The actors were supposedly seeking compensation around their normal rates for this work. SAG rules state that they have to be paid for their work, so it's not like they can do this special out of the goodness of their hearts!

Another angle: If your boss had fired you, would you agree to work your last day for less money? I'd think not. NBC essentially fired the cast by cancelling the show.

[RobbO]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 1:53pm

i believe the will and grace retrospective is in the can, as they say.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:08pm

You really need to write spoilers in the thread title. I'm at school and don't have time to watch West Wing, so I have about a month's worth of episodes sitting on a tape, waiting for me to come home. I've managed not to get any spoilers so far, but now thanks to this carelessly titled thread, you've basically ruined the end of the season for me.

[RobbO]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:12pm

here's a helpful hint from heloise: if you haven't seen a show don't click on a thread about a show. see if they teach you THAT in college!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:13pm

The 'careless' title was the title given to the article released to news organizations.

I don't believe there was any "content" in the title which could be considered a 'spoiler', but, I'm sorry if reading the thread ruined it for you...

Updated On: 5/10/06 at 02:13 PM

[starletta8]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:14pm

Just asking, but...

If something is reported in the media through an article/press release from the network, is it really still a spoiler?

I've always heard that it wasn't considered a spoiler once mainstream media picked it up, especially if the wording came from the network.
Updated On: 5/10/06 at 02:14 PM

[RobbO]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:16pm

the only thing that could be considered a spoiler is that jimmy smits is the president-elect - something that happened weeks ago on the show, if i am not mistaken. so, after it airs, it really is common knowledge and if your situation is as described you should avoid any and all things related to the show.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:16pm

And it's about the retrospective - not the show itself. But look on the bright side - now you have all that time to frolic in the sunshine instead of being pent up in front of the TV.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:18pm

ElphabaRose told us, now didn't she!

That's what I was thinking RobbO.

[starletta8]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:18pm

Tbe election was decided over 2 episodes, April 2&9. So yes, it's been a month.

Ellen is having the full cast on her show tomorrow, so perhaps we'll get a bit of the retrospective we wanted.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:33pm

thanks to this carelessly titled thread

f*ck me runnin'! the retrospective was gonna make the series finale for ya? you inconsiderate sh*ts! how can you live with yourselves knowing that you ruined, ruined i say, the series finale. oh and elp*uckeduprose, if that bothered you, it'll probably really kill you to know that this is the last episode that will ever be produced! they cancelled the show! oh horrors of horrors.

Posted: 5/10/06 at 2:34pm

so elphabarose, you didn't know John Spencer died?
Updated On: 5/10/06 at 02:34 PM