Really, Now?

Four years ago, we had a Presidential election...on West Wing. There was no suspense--it was unimaginable President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) wouldn't be reelected. It was his show, after all.

Tonight, the winner of Republican Vinick (Alan Alda) versus Democrat Santos (Jimmy Smits) will be announced. I personally felt there wasn't much more mystery than last time--how could they not choose the Democrat? While both candidates are appealing to the Democrat-filled writing staff (Vinick is one of them maverick Republicans), how could the show possibly pick Alda--none of the show's regulars even work on his staff, while a few run the Santos campaign and the rest are rooting for him.

It's true, the show is due to be canceled, and a Republican taking over the White House would not only be a brave artisitic choice but, for a show with plots based on headlines, a realistic one. But I thought they simply didn't have the nerve.

Now a story comes out that the plan was for Vinick to win. However, when actor John Spencer, who played the potential Veep in the Santos campaign, actually died, the WW staff simply felt it would be too tragic to have Santos lose the race as well. So, he wins.

I read this just as I was about to write a piece taunting the show for having the Dem win yet again, even before I'd seen tonight's episode. That's how confident I was. So I have to wonder if this "new" ending is really new. We'll never know. In any case, West Wing ends playing it safe.