Bye Bye The West Wing

It was announced today that NBC was cancelling the show and the news doesn't surprise me. TWW while acclaimed critically was never a big sucess rating wise. The move to Sunday nights was a kiss of death. I even forget the show is on half the time, Wednesday nights had become such a routine.

I watched the show the length of its run but not religiously. There are five or more episodes a season I've missed. The show's liberal politics didn't bother me. The lack of realism like Foreign affairs being done by The Press Secretary and Communications Directors did. Another thing was the stupid errors, started on the first show when one character talks about an 18 month old L-1011 when those planes haven't been made in 20 years. Oh and North Korea is a tropical rain forest in February.

It didn't stop me from watching the show. Bon Voyage The West Wing.

Open Post- Basil's Blog, Jo's Cafe, Right Wing Nation, Wizbang,

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- 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.