‘West Wing’ ponders who will fill its Oval Office next season

Published 9:00 pm Monday, October 18, 2004

LOS ANGELES – The prospect of a change in the White House tends to draw a strong reaction, pro or con.

Not from “The West Wing” executive producer John Wells, though. He seems unfazed by the coming end of Democratic President Josiah “Jeb” Bartlet’s tenure – and maybe even a Republican successor.

“We were a year and a half into the administration when we started the show,” Wells said of the NBC drama entering its sixth season. “We have term limits in this country and so, on our electoral schedule, Bartlet’s second term would end a year from this coming January.”

That fact foreshadows a hybrid season when “The West Wing” returns at 9 p.m. Wednesday on KING-TV. Bartlet (Martin Sheen) grapples with his legacy while others fight for the chance to replace him.

Among them are contenders played by two familiar actors: Jimmy Smits (“NYPD Blue”), who’s a potential Democratic candidate, and Alan Alda (“M*A*S*H”) vying for the GOP nomination.

Also in the running is Vice President Bob Russell (Gary Cole), with talented staff member Will Bailey (Josh Malina) at his side.

Could Wells envision “The West Wing,” if re-elected by NBC to a seventh season, with a Republican president?

“I really could,” he said. “What we’ve tried to put forward in the Bartlet administration is a Democratic presidency that was a bit of wish-fulfillment of what you’d really want your Democratic president to be.

“I don’t think there’s any reason you wouldn’t want to see that show with a Republican.”

Is he concerned that the show, called “The Left Wing” by those who find Bartlet’s politics grating, might be seen as making the move to pander to conservatives?

“I think it depends on who the Republican candidate is and how you feel about the candidate by the time he or she is elected,” he said.

A new commander-in-chief, from either party, would mean wholesale changes in the White House staff and the cast. But said last week that he hopes current stars would be able to remain – although that’s less likely with a Republican administration.

He’s also hoping that Sheen, whose contract is up this year, decides to come back for another season and maybe for post-presidency appearances.

“There are substantial changes in the White House at the beginning of the season, within the first two episodes,” Wells said.

Involving the White House staff that viewers know and love? “In the staff that we know and love, things are happening,” Wells said, with vague discretion that would make a bureaucrat proud.

After the dust settles, the latter part of the season will focus on the campaign trail with Smits’ and Alda’s characters and on how Bartlet delivers his swan – or lame-duck – song.

Politicos returning as advisers for the season include former Clinton press secretary Dee Dee Myers and Laurence O’Donnell, who worked for the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Two newcomers are former Clinton economic adviser Gene Sperling and Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein.

They’re all crucial to the series, Wells said.

“The most important thing about writing the show, as far as political issues go, is having arguments. We have to have people in the room to argue both points – and they do,” he said.

“It’s a load of fun. It’s actually my favorite part: You get to sit there and listen to these people harangue each other.”