The West Wing's term of office at NBC open to debate (very bad ratings)

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1131186730295080.xml?etdwz&coll=2

Sunday, November 06, 2005

The polls don't open until Tuesday morning, but America already has cast its vote on White House dramas. No need to wait for Election Day. The ABC newcomer, "Commander in Chief," is the clear people's choice over NBC's aging Oval Office series, "The West Wing."

"Commander in Chief" is holding strong as a Top 10 show, averaging a 10.8 rating (percentage of all TV homes) through the first seven weeks of the season. "The West Wing," which was coping with audience erosion well before the move from Wednesday to Sunday, can't even make the Top 50 as it staggers through its seventh prime-time campaign year. It's polling less than half the "Commander in Chief" rating.

This is a do-or-die season for "The West Wing," and some believe the die already has been cast by network executives. Will this be the last term for the once-mighty NBC drama?

Executive producer John Wells is doing all he can to prevent being swept from office - and from the NBC schedule. When facing such intimidating odds, the programming rule book says to call for a stunt play...

[patricia92243]

1. Is COmmander in CHief Democratic or GOP

[VADem11]

3. Independent

Geena Davis's character (Mackenzie Allen)is an independent. She's chosen as the VP nominee by a repub to win over women and independents and later becomes VP and becomes the President when the President dies. It's the ultimate fantasy president. Commander In Chief isn't as realistic or compeling and I still like the west wing more.

[ElectroPrincess]

12. I never watch it because I can't stand Geena Davis

I could tolerate the overexposed Julia Roberts much more than that nasty and arrogant woman "actress". :puke:

[whatever4]

15. West Wing

How we wish our leaders thought and acted, along with the speedy lines and rapid understanding, knowing all the while its doesn't come close to a true portrayal. Such a nice but silly fantasy. These people don't make their own coffee, their own speeches or their own opinions. All for show. In that, it's real life.

[ncteechur]

4. She plays a democratic VP to a GOP president who becomes

president upon the death of the first prez. Left-leaning-they try to portray Templeton as a snake but they really don't get into party stuff. The show is too softball.

[AuntieM1957]

9. Nope, she's an independent

they may be playing softball - but you're missing the calls, pal.

Big point of discussion in each show to date that's she is INDEPENDENT.

It's harder to take someone seriously when they foul up the details, isn't it?

[ElectroPrincess]

11. But of course ...

Everything is "pablum" since our entertainment is ruled by a LAZY USA War-Profiteering Corporate Media. Heaven forbid anything encourage the sheeple into some sincere reflection and employment of those blessed critical thinking skills?

We "little people" should consider our lives *IDEAL* with just a few more girlfriends / boyfriends / lovers and a brand new IPOD for Christmas. :( Amen, and thank ya God and the Oil Industry! :puke:

[ncteechur]

2. The reason I believe is that the West Wing is too

intellectual for the average TV viewer. Now maybe it is now more than before because the West Wing used to get good ratings but the Commander in Chief is not nearly as heady as the West Wing AND
MacKenkie only deals with one issue per show. But I'm already tired of the show being about the weekly crisis with Nathan Templeton (speaker of house) always being the shadowy bad guy. The show, at least for me, is alreay stale.

The West Wing has real issues, the writing is better. Perhaps it is too close to reality for a lot of people. It is a shame because the show is good. There are not too many good intelligent dramas on TV--ironic isn't it?

[iamjoy]

5. West Wing Jumped Shark

With Zoey being kidnapped
or
Rob Lowe leaving
or
Aaron Sorkin leaving
or
Aaron Sorkin quitting drugs (hate to say it)

I still watch it, but it isn't as enjoyable. OTOH, I think the writing for Commander in Chief is atrocious (at least the one episode I saw)

[RazzleDazzle]

17. Yeah.....

that's kinda my take. It's been downhill since the first or at worse 2nd season. This year sucks. And I hate it being on Sunday for some reason.

[GCP]

6. I find the story-line in WW very hard to follow

If you haven't been following the show all along. I tried to get into it this season and I was lost almost from the get-go.
My other problem with it is that everybody speaks in perfect rapid-fire mini-speeches which are so different from real life as to be laughable at times.

[Todd B]

7. If anything killed TWW, it's NBC,

Shuffling it around to Sunday night and cutting the budget was a horrible decision (but, then again, since when do you need to have a brain to be a network executive?).

I've loved this season, so far.. sure it hasn't (and won't ever) be as good as the Sorkin/Wells era, but it's still the best show on television.

I just wasn't that impressed with CiC.. I watched it a few times and just couldn't get in to it. The West Wing is smart, intelligent, and witty - something that the Simple Life, Survivor watching crowd would know nothing about.

[SharonAnn]

8. The schedule change has had a huge effect. I still can hardly

remember to tune in on Sunday night and I'm a die-hard fan. I have all the DVD complete seasons, etc. and I keep forgetting it's now on Sunday night. Though I do remember on Wednesday nights that it's no long on then, and I get sad.

The budget reduction has shown in the reduced visual quality and complexity. It's just simpler and more cartoonish somehow.

I have always loved the complexity, the rapid-fire dialogue, the multiple story lines, etc.

I want my West Wing back!

[Skittles]

10. I'm glad to see Geena Davis having some success

I've always thought she is a good actress; I will have to check out the show

[ElectroPrincess]

14. Awe Skittles, that makes one of us ...

But some good people, such as yourself, really do think she has talent, so I just may have the wrong impression. Well, I may have. :-) :hi:

[Skittles]

16. well

I've never seen her a lot but as I recall, she was good in The Fly, Tootsie, Beetlejuice,......I find her entertaining, much more so that say the crappy acting on, say, "Desperate Housewives"

[RazzleDazzle]

18. She was stellar in Themla and Louise

I've not been terribly comfortable with her in this new property for some reason. Perhaps it's the directing I'm not liking. Even so, it's an interesting show.

[bklyncowgirl]

13. They shouldn't have moved it to Sunday

Somewhere back in my mind, Wednesday is still West Wing night. It's hard to remember to tune in on Sunday at 8:00 pm no less.

C'mon NBC this isn't a kiddie show.