West WIng Recovery Thread (or who's the new VP?)

[Perky]

SO sad about John SPencer Passing so abruptly, we shall all mourn the loss of this fine actor.

So assuming election Night has not been shot yet, Who does Santos Tap?

No it will not be any regular cast member. CJ is not qualified.


SO Bing Bob? Hoynes? Nahh the Veep adds nothing to the ticket and Hoynes is also from Texas which is an electoral college no-no.

Of the people we know from the show My guess is that they would tap the Ed O'Neill Character "Governor Eric Baker"


For the WIng Officianados" He puts PA back in play. THe problem is he actuall is a pretty big actor and it is a bit role.

WHat about Congresswoman Andrea Wyatt played by Kathleen York...Toby's Ex,

[Longhorn]

1. Maybe bring back Rob Lowe?

Sam Seaborn could help him with California.

I like the idea of a female but I'm just thinking of present or past cast members with legislative experience.

[Perky]

6. Sam lost the OC race

I assume. THe last we saw him he was gugging TOby when Toby said he was going to lose by 20 points.

I though he was coming back for s series of cameos this year.


Beisde Santos=Seaborn... Two pretty boys ...would never be seen as believable.


Berryhill would also make sense. Sevretary of state... was passed over for Bingo Bob by Bartlet.

[Longhorn]

7. I never heard how it turned out.

I just assumed he won. I knew he was really behind but they've pulled off those things before in TV Land.

I agree that they're just too gorgeous together. ;)

[Perky]

13. They never saiud one way or the other.

I just figured if he won they would have mentioned in even if he was gone from the series.

[DaveinMD]

2. Toby's ex

couldn't be it because of Toby's upcoming prison sentence.

[bluestateguy]

3. I think they'll just have Vinnick win now

and close out the show on that note.

Santos is already down in the polls by a convincing margin. Leo was not in a few episodes this year anyway, so he could be written out. Usually, by custom, the presidential/vice-presidential ticket spends election night in separate cities if it definitely looks like they will lose (Dole/Kemp, 1996; Dukakis/Bentsten, 1988; Mondale/Ferraro, 1984). That's what they could do for the Santos/McGarry ticket. Just have it such that Santos is down in the polls by 5 or more points and the show would focus on Santos at headquarters, with McGarry in Chicago at another party.

That's what I would do, but we don't know how many episodes are "in the can" (Hollywood jargon), which would matter quite a bit.

[rainbow4321]

17. I may be totally wrong, but I can't see them just writing him out...

Wouldn't go over too well with the fans who have watched this show from the beginning and liked the character..would be so insensitive and wrong of them to just to make him disappear like that. Somehow they have to ackowledge that his character passes away and have a funeral...geez, gonna need a large tissue box nearby for that show.

I read somewhere that his birthday would have been Tuesday..so sad.
:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Ilsa]

4. You don't think they'll leave Leo in place and hire

another actor to play Leo?

[akarnitz]

8. Like Dick Sargeant for Dick York in Bewitched? NO!!!!!

That was "Jumping the Shark- Phase 1". Horrible idea. Sorry.

[Perky]

11. I agree

the Character is just too strong and the idea of writing himn out slowly becuse VPs are insignigicant won't work for the same reason

[Ilsa]

24. I was thinking along those lines just in case they needed a

few brief appearances in episodes until they can write him out with some dignity. Maybe very brief dialogue shot from afar. Maybe they could do a serious makeup job on someone who has a similar voice who can carry the story to a memorable conclusion. I don't know how I'd feel about the storyline just dropping him off like a hot rock, either.

No, no one could ever take Leo's place or John Spencer's place as Leo. Never.

[helderheid]

10. You ARE kidding, right?

[Ilsa]

23. I was thinking along those lines just in case they needed a

few brief appearances in episodes until they can write him out with some dignity. Maybe they could do a serious makeup job on someone who has a similar voice who can carry the story to a memorable conclusion. Maybe very brief dialogue shot from afar. I don't know how I'd feel about the storyline just dropping him off like a hot rock, either.

No, no one could ever take Leo's place or John Spencer's place as Leo. Never.

[WestHoustonDem]

5. It just sucks.`

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[akarnitz]

9. How's about Sargeant Shriver?

Wouldn't be the first time.

[saracat]

12. His alzheimers makes it problematic, even allowing for a TV "miracle cure"

[Perky]

14. Fitzwallis woiuld have been perfect.

but they killed the character off.

[MaineDem]

22. Exactly what I was thinking. (nt)

[ticapnews]

15. I think they have the next four episodes shot (some irony)

That still leaves them a month (several episodes) away from the election. Since this is the last season, I expected Vinick to win anyway. This seems to cinch it. They could just stop writing for Leo, but the fans (that are still watching) will want to see some kind of acknowledgement. It'll be interesting to see how they handle it.

Sam will be back for the series finale in May (or perhaps April since the ratings are so bad).

edit to add: In the next episode (January 8) Leo is in the VP debate and says, "By an overwhelming percentage, the first warning symptom of a heart attack is death. I'm fortunate to be here."

[question everything]

16. It will be very hard to watch it

I, too, think that Vinick will win.

In the last episode the Santos campaign conceded California. Honestly, I don't know how a Democratic candidate can win without California. The sad truth. Unless some miracle happens and all the dittoheads in the south and southwest all of a sudden can make a connection between their personal situation and the Democratic party.

[Perky]

20. Actually, I thought the Preacher

who was Vinick's opposition for the GOP nod was going to launch an independent run, given the Vinick has not been to CHurch in sometime.

THey sure hinted at that last year.

Has not happened and I think the calendar sas them in mid September....Might be too late to get on any ballot but he might launch a write-in campaign to thwart Vinick in the SOuth.


He may come out and say that He is going to endorses Santos because whuile he disagree with Santos on many issues at least Santos is a Christian, ITHis might be a more likely scenario.

[Spazito]

18. Given his character has suffered a heart attack previously

they will have a very realistic way to address the sad death of John Spencer and do it with dignity. They will not try and have another actor portray the McGarry character, imo. It will be interesting to see how they do deal with finding someone to become the VP candidate. My only question is: Will they drop some of the pre-taped episodes and do a work-up and shoot new ones encompassing the death of John Spencer/McGarry or will they continue using the episodes already taped before addressing the death of John Spencer via his character, McGarry.

[me b zola]

19. Wasn't the National Security Advisor a woman??

Gawd, I can't remember her name.


OK, OT, I love how they never use the Orwellian term "homeland security".
That term just gives me the creeps, like "the war on terrorism".

[Perky]

21. Nancy McNally

I never understood what happened with her her character. but Kate is the Deputy NSA