TiVo Community Forums Archives - Rob Lowe on West Wing???

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Rob Lowe on West Wing???
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Posted by: Aces

Does anyone know about the situation with Rob Lowe and West Wing. Is his character being written off the show? I know there was a contract dispute, what was the final outcome?

Posted by: jsmeeker

He's gone. Left to run for congress out of the district in Orange County. The district that Will Bailey managed a campaign for a dead Deomcrat.

Posted by: Aces

I knew he was going to run for congress, so is next week his character's last episode?

Posted by: jsmeeker

not sure. He hasn't been on in weeks.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

The original plan was that he would leave the show in March. I heard that Lowe is unhappy about his absence and that his renewed presence starting next week is a response to that, but they said back when he left that the special election was in the spring, so I wonder if this isn't what they had in mind all along.

Posted by: JediCowboyD

My TiVo guide shows that the 2/19 episode is entitled "California 47th." Looks like we're going to find out rather soon what happens to Lowe's character -- whether he'll become recurring or if they are writing him out for good.

Posted by: grecorj

I believe next week's episode was filmed late last year.

Sorkin (writer/creator of WW) has said recently that he'd like Lowe to stick around, but given that Lowe has a drama pilot deal with NBC for the fall, this is unlikely.

The confusing thing has been that Lowe is still in the credits each week, despite him not appearing. I'm sure this a contractual thing and that after next week he will no longer be in the credits.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

Lowe was never happy with West Wing, which is kind of understandable, since he was hired when it was a starring vehicle for him, and then they turned it into an ensemble piece.

I think he still has a few eps, however...

Posted by: cmontyburns

It's too bad. I admit I had raised eyebrows about him when the show debuted, but I thought he was very good in the role. The show will miss him and his character. Joshua Malina paired with Richard Schiff is dour times two.

Posted by: Maui

My guess is that his contract runs through the end of the current season so they could have him on other episodes as needed (as evidenced by the upcoming episode)

I seem to remember that the dispute was money. Basically everyone got a raise except him. He made more than everyone except Sheen if I remember correctly. When contract time was coming up Sheen had his income raised I believe because he became more of a focal poin of the show than originally intended amd thus was working more.

The rest of the main cast (Josh, CJ, Toby, Leo) made somethng like 50,000 an episode while Lowe made 75,000 or so (I read the info a while ago so the numbers may be off). They raised everyone elses salary to Lowes level and left Lowe where he was.

I can understand both sides. All the other characters became just as important as Sam so why should they not make equal pay. On the other side I don't care if you are an actor or a mechanic or a garbageman it is very hard to accept that everyone else received raises for their work with the lone exception of yourself.

I think in the end they probably should have gave him a token raise to keep him happy but my guess is that the others may have been unhappy with him making more when their own roles had become just as important as his.

I hated when I heard that he was leaving but the new character of Will is very good also.

Posted by: sschwart

I heard much the same as Maui, though not specific numbers, and demanded a raise since everyone else got one, and was denied, since the raises were to bring everyone to the same level as him. So he made his decision to leave the show. I'm sad to see him go, but I think Josh Malina will do a very good job in his stead.

-Steve

Posted by: Jeff Edsell

I really like Joshua Malina, but I was worried about his character becoming permanent. ("Dour times two," as cmontyburns put it above.)

That is, until this last two-parter. Man, did Will grow a spine fast!

Now that they've shown he can hold his own, even with the President (and now he can quote Bartlet back at himself, which promises to be fun), it feels like he's really capable of being part of this team.

I liked Lowe, too, but I can't wait to see what happens now.

Posted by: Fustanella

Just got an email from Mr. Malina saying that Will Bailey is his dream role, not that he had any complaints about performing as Jeremy Goodwin. I can understand that.

Posted by: mjh

The last episode with Sam in it that I saw had him & Toby sitting at a bar bemoaning the fact that Sam's character was going to lose. It sounded like there was absolutely no question about it. Sam was NOT going to win the election. Which, if true, should have meant that Sam came back to his old job at the White House.

Did I miss an episode where Sam pulled a miracle and actually won the election?

Posted by: Tracy

quote:
Originally posted by mjh
Did I miss an episode where Sam pulled a miracle and actually won the election?

I was wondering the same thing. Weren't we left hanging there? I wonder if there is still a sliver of hope for a Rob Lowe return--although at this point I love Will. Maybe we could have them both! Eat our cake and have it, too.

Posted by: hawkamer

If I remember correctly, the deal was if Sam lost the congressional race he would be promoted to some "senior" level dealing with pure policy. It was to be a promotion. For the time being, I guess they'll just talk around his character, which would leave the door open for Lowe to return.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

I don't think the special election has been held yet, but I'm sure he'll win when it is...