Argh!! This Can't Be Happening ('The West Wing')
07-24-02 | 09:14 AM
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Argh!! This Can't Be Happening ('The West Wing')
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._westwing_dc_3
das
'West Wing' Lets Lowe Go
Wed Jul 24, 6:59 AM ET
By Michael Fleming
NEW YORK (Variety) - In the latest behind-the-scenes drama involving the NBC series "The West Wing ( news - web sites)," Rob Lowe is quitting his role as White House deputy communications director Sam Seaborn.
Barring some unforeseen twist, his character will be phased out in an episode to air next March, the result of an exit strategy that has already been agreed upon by both parties. The show has just wrapped its third season.
Sources on both sides paint the pending exit as amicable but clearly, money is at the heart of it. The prime reason, said sources, is that Lowe was stung by the unwillingness of the show's producers to even discuss raising his per-show price of $75,000. This comes right after they tripled Martin Sheen's salary to $300,000 per episode and last season doubled the salaries of Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford after a protracted salary stalemate that ended when the quartet committed to a seventh season, each getting $70,000 an episode.
That left Lowe the only cast member to not get his first season salary bumped up. Warner Bros. TV, the show's producer, feels the show has evolved into Sheen's show, surrounded by an ensemble on equal footing. Sources on the show point out that all of the stars are Emmy-nominated this year except Lowe, who petitioned in the lead actor category, which is TV's toughest ticket.
They were unwilling to even open pay hike talks with Lowe's reps, Creative Artists Agency and veteran manager Bernie Brillstein. That left Lowe feeling hurt, after believing that his turn would come. Lowe is expected to wing his way back to features or star in another series. If he does the latter, Lowe, who got one Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations during his "Wing" run, will probably command a higher salary.
The show's makeup has changed since Lowe signed on for the pilot as the regular cast's most recognizable name. Back then, he cut a higher price quote that had been established in a previous Paramount TV deal. Sheen at the time was only supposed to serve as a diversion to the drama's core players on the White House staff. Sheen's participation grew while Lowe's scenes have progressively diminished.
Sources on both sides doubted this was another salary posturing exercise, and that the show would survive his exit, even if it does come as WB is working out a new license deal with NBC.
Wed Jul 24, 6:59 AM ET
By Michael Fleming
NEW YORK (Variety) - In the latest behind-the-scenes drama involving the NBC series "The West Wing ( news - web sites)," Rob Lowe is quitting his role as White House deputy communications director Sam Seaborn.
Barring some unforeseen twist, his character will be phased out in an episode to air next March, the result of an exit strategy that has already been agreed upon by both parties. The show has just wrapped its third season.
Sources on both sides paint the pending exit as amicable but clearly, money is at the heart of it. The prime reason, said sources, is that Lowe was stung by the unwillingness of the show's producers to even discuss raising his per-show price of $75,000. This comes right after they tripled Martin Sheen's salary to $300,000 per episode and last season doubled the salaries of Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford after a protracted salary stalemate that ended when the quartet committed to a seventh season, each getting $70,000 an episode.
That left Lowe the only cast member to not get his first season salary bumped up. Warner Bros. TV, the show's producer, feels the show has evolved into Sheen's show, surrounded by an ensemble on equal footing. Sources on the show point out that all of the stars are Emmy-nominated this year except Lowe, who petitioned in the lead actor category, which is TV's toughest ticket.
They were unwilling to even open pay hike talks with Lowe's reps, Creative Artists Agency and veteran manager Bernie Brillstein. That left Lowe feeling hurt, after believing that his turn would come. Lowe is expected to wing his way back to features or star in another series. If he does the latter, Lowe, who got one Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations during his "Wing" run, will probably command a higher salary.
The show's makeup has changed since Lowe signed on for the pilot as the regular cast's most recognizable name. Back then, he cut a higher price quote that had been established in a previous Paramount TV deal. Sheen at the time was only supposed to serve as a diversion to the drama's core players on the White House staff. Sheen's participation grew while Lowe's scenes have progressively diminished.
Sources on both sides doubted this was another salary posturing exercise, and that the show would survive his exit, even if it does come as WB is working out a new license deal with NBC.
Last edited by das Monkey; 07-24-02 at 09:17 AM.
07-24-02 | 09:28 AM
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From: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV)
That is upsetting. Double bad news to me beacuse I read today in USA Today that Mary Louise Parker (who plays Amy Gardner) is going to become a regular. I cannot stand her voice or her character.
07-24-02 | 10:17 AM
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From: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV)
Originally posted by Thrush
On a more positive note Emily Proctor (ainsley hayes) is also leaving.
On a more positive note Emily Proctor (ainsley hayes) is also leaving.
Positive note?
I thought her character was great. She should have been a regular. Her rebuttal to Sam about how the ERA was completely unnecessary was priceless.I guess in a sense it is positive because she will now be a regular on CSI: Miami which I plan on watching faithfully.
07-24-02 | 10:53 AM
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I'm really surprised that they would refuse to give Rob Lowe a raise or even discuss it with his management. Giving raises is standard when a show becomes a success. There must be something more to this. Maybe the producers don't like him.
07-24-02 | 12:25 PM
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From: MN
I also don't really don't understand this whole thing. I thought that his character was going to come a bigger part of this show, especially the line that he will make a great president one day. I just thought he was a great part of this show and should get a raise. Is he going to be replaced or is just going to be Toby doing the speech writing. I think it is going to have to be a good actor to step in to that kind of role because you need the good interaction that was there between Toby and Sam.
07-24-02 | 12:56 PM
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Argh. Terrible news for the show. The interaction between Sam, Toby, C.J., and Josh has always been the highlight of the show for me. And though there are plenty of cast members left, Sam will be sorely missed. I hope Sorkin doesn't come up with some lame device to get him off the show. Might we be seeing the return of Laurie?
It's always disappointing when stupid Hollywood politicking disrupts the dynamic of a top-notch show. I understand that Martin Sheen is a big-name actor, but he shouldn't be paid more than 4 times what the other cast members make. He's just another member of the ensemble, and he doesn't receive more screen time than anyone else. But given that Sheen received a raise, Lowe should have received one too, because he's always been billed as the lead actor for the show.
Also, I was reading some stories about Janney, Schiff, Spencer, and Whitford's holdout sometime back and saw that WB originally wanted them to commit to an eighth season but settled for seven. How can this show possibly have an eighth season given when it started and the two-term limit?
It's always disappointing when stupid Hollywood politicking disrupts the dynamic of a top-notch show. I understand that Martin Sheen is a big-name actor, but he shouldn't be paid more than 4 times what the other cast members make. He's just another member of the ensemble, and he doesn't receive more screen time than anyone else. But given that Sheen received a raise, Lowe should have received one too, because he's always been billed as the lead actor for the show.
Also, I was reading some stories about Janney, Schiff, Spencer, and Whitford's holdout sometime back and saw that WB originally wanted them to commit to an eighth season but settled for seven. How can this show possibly have an eighth season given when it started and the two-term limit?
Last edited by scrubneck; 07-24-02 at 12:59 PM.
07-24-02 | 02:09 PM
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well, i knew this day would eventually come and now it has. this show started out so great and has for the most part kept it up that i dreaded the day that one of the originals left the show. however, i didn't think that it would be this soon and i certainly didn't think it would be over money or lack thereof. for the producers to not even offer rob lowe a pay increase is one of the most idiotic things i have ever heard of. i hope that maybe the producers will wake up and realize what is going to happen here by march but somehow i am not too optimistic. 
07-24-02 | 02:16 PM
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Well the only possible positive scenario that can come out of this is if Sorkin gets one of the old Sports Night alums to fill his spot...now that would be pretty cool.
But this just sucks ass. Granted the show had moved from the Rob Lowe showcase to the Martin Sheen/Bradley Whitford showcase, it still seemed that the show was setting Lowe's character up for bigger things this coming season. (I say as I'm watching Wayne's World)
The part about not getting nominated for an Emmy is just a cop-out. This isn't some two bit barely renewed show, this is NBC's most critically praised and one of the highest rated, you can't find an extra 70 grand to give Lowe.
I'm not saying I'll stop watching......but there's a single moment in every shows life when you just get the sense that the show has started its downslide. This kind of smells of that.
But this just sucks ass. Granted the show had moved from the Rob Lowe showcase to the Martin Sheen/Bradley Whitford showcase, it still seemed that the show was setting Lowe's character up for bigger things this coming season. (I say as I'm watching Wayne's World)
The part about not getting nominated for an Emmy is just a cop-out. This isn't some two bit barely renewed show, this is NBC's most critically praised and one of the highest rated, you can't find an extra 70 grand to give Lowe.
I'm not saying I'll stop watching......but there's a single moment in every shows life when you just get the sense that the show has started its downslide. This kind of smells of that.
07-24-02 | 03:18 PM
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Thinking more about this, I think there must be something else behind this. There must be some bad blood between Rob Lowe and the producers. You just don't refuse to raise the salary of one of the major stars on your show when everyone else has got one. There is definitely something that is not being told.
07-24-02 | 03:56 PM
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Originally posted by scrubneck
Argh. Terrible news for the show. The interaction between Sam, Toby, C.J., and Josh has always been the highlight of the show for me. And though there are plenty of cast members left, Sam will be sorely missed. I hope Sorkin doesn't come up with some lame device to get him off the show. Might we be seeing the return of Laurie?
Argh. Terrible news for the show. The interaction between Sam, Toby, C.J., and Josh has always been the highlight of the show for me. And though there are plenty of cast members left, Sam will be sorely missed. I hope Sorkin doesn't come up with some lame device to get him off the show. Might we be seeing the return of Laurie?
Maybe there will be another shooting.
07-24-02 | 05:15 PM
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Going back to the way Rob Lowe's character was on the show I always thought he would be on until maybe I thought there would be a possible spinoff where he ran for senate or something, and basically got his own show with eventual crossovers with West Wing. This really doesn't make since either with Sheen making so much more it would be like one of the guys on Law and Order making 3 times more then everyone else(I would suspect that Jerry Orbach makes some more since his tenure on the show) it is definitly and ensemble show, and I honestly don't think that Martin Sheen is that important to the show I know you can't change presidents midshow but if someone else started as president it wouldn't make the show any less, although I think Lowe did make the show better.
07-24-02 | 05:23 PM
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This kind of thing just pi$$es me off. Lowe is an integral member of an ensemble cast, just like everyone else. None of the main cast should be snubbed in such a way - it is the performance of all of them that is so fantastic to watch. For Sheen to be given such a huge huge raise and the rest of the cast to get good raises while Lowe gets nothing is just a slap in the face. Honestly if I were him I'd want to leave too. I've never been a huge fan of him personally, but he's a great actor, as he has proven in The West Wing. His dry sense of humor and goofy delivery make me laugh every time. A big chunk of the fun of watching TWW is now gone. I too hate it when politics or outside forces with actors (like rehab or jail - though I support rehab 100% and want the people to get well) change the content of shows I love. Like when Downey left Ally - shouldn't have happened.
And this is so much worse, because the show was so much better. Shame on the producers for not even giving Lowe the same raise as the rest of the cast ($30,000 or whatever). It invites infighting and bad feelings when cast members have such disparate salaries - but when you start off with a spectrum of salaries among a cast, keep raises to the same ratio, or at least give a token raise with the caveat that when the rest of the ensemble catches up to your salary, your raises will be the same as theirs. While this won't feed your ego as "star" - it will emphasize the point that this is a team, and everyone is equally as important to the success of the show.
07-24-02 | 05:44 PM
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I'll still watch, but I'm ticked. Seaborn's a great character, and the show will be less without him. I hope Lowe finds an equally compelling role on another intelligent drama -- but I doubt it'll be the same.
07-24-02 | 07:39 PM
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something else i just thought of, i wonder how this will affect the rest of the show. let's compare this to er seeing as how they are both very similar. when er started to lose main characters, it wasn't felt too much because alot of the characters didn't interact with each other not only just every week but in a month. you wouldn't have all the doctors having scenes together a whole lot.
now on the west wing, usually there is quite a bit of everybody plays with everybody else. maybe not so much in the 3rd season but definitely in the first two and especially with the original characters. each person in the cast (to me) is just as important as any one else. true, i have my favorite characters, but they are all equally important. if ever there was an ensemble cast, this is it. they play off of each other so much and so well that i can't help but wonder not just if there will be a hole when rob lowe leaves, but how huge will it be and can things be the same on the show? let's face it, once the flood of er main characters started leaving, the show has gone downhill ever since.
i fear that what [b]clemente]/b] said is a distinct possibility. sorkin could save it cause he is a great writer and i love his work but i really hope this doesn't come back to bite the producers in the a$$ (and the rest of us too for that matter).
now on the west wing, usually there is quite a bit of everybody plays with everybody else. maybe not so much in the 3rd season but definitely in the first two and especially with the original characters. each person in the cast (to me) is just as important as any one else. true, i have my favorite characters, but they are all equally important. if ever there was an ensemble cast, this is it. they play off of each other so much and so well that i can't help but wonder not just if there will be a hole when rob lowe leaves, but how huge will it be and can things be the same on the show? let's face it, once the flood of er main characters started leaving, the show has gone downhill ever since.
i fear that what [b]clemente]/b] said is a distinct possibility. sorkin could save it cause he is a great writer and i love his work but i really hope this doesn't come back to bite the producers in the a$$ (and the rest of us too for that matter).
07-24-02 | 09:40 PM
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From: Rarezona
I wonder who will replace him as speech writer?
Anyways....I love it when a tv series gets all mixed up.
Specially a good one..Let see how really good this
series is without him.
Anyways....I love it when a tv series gets all mixed up.
Specially a good one..Let see how really good this
series is without him.
07-25-02 | 04:39 PM
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Aw, cmon, this isn't the end of the world. And, IMHO, it IS Sheen's show. He makes it, he is the president to the american public, and he deserves more.
Yes, they should've given a token raise, but even as is Lowe was making more money then the rest of them, and as many of you have pointed out, it's an ensemble show of equals...
The show will survive just fine as long as the writing remains good. There are plenty of talented actors out there who just need good scripts. Lowe is one of those actors, but he's not the only one...
Yes, they should've given a token raise, but even as is Lowe was making more money then the rest of them, and as many of you have pointed out, it's an ensemble show of equals...
The show will survive just fine as long as the writing remains good. There are plenty of talented actors out there who just need good scripts. Lowe is one of those actors, but he's not the only one...
07-25-02 | 05:03 PM
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Originally posted by LurkerDan
Aw, cmon, this isn't the end of the world. And, IMHO, it IS Sheen's show. He makes it, he is the president to the american public, and he deserves more.
Yes, they should've given a token raise, but even as is Lowe was making more money then the rest of them, and as many of you have pointed out, it's an ensemble show of equals...
The show will survive just fine as long as the writing remains good. There are plenty of talented actors out there who just need good scripts. Lowe is one of those actors, but he's not the only one...
Aw, cmon, this isn't the end of the world. And, IMHO, it IS Sheen's show. He makes it, he is the president to the american public, and he deserves more.
Yes, they should've given a token raise, but even as is Lowe was making more money then the rest of them, and as many of you have pointed out, it's an ensemble show of equals...
The show will survive just fine as long as the writing remains good. There are plenty of talented actors out there who just need good scripts. Lowe is one of those actors, but he's not the only one...
As for Lowe, true, he's just another cast member, but remember he was hired at that higher salary because he was an established celebrity with a "name" that they could list in the opening credits. Now that the show is successful, they are giving out raises, and regardless of his current paycheck, if he did his job, he deserves a raise. Giving everyone a raise except one particular integral cast member is a slap in the face, even if he's making more money than the other supporting characters. The right thing to do is bump him to something like $100,000 and double the others to $70,000. Then the next time raises come around, bump him to $150,000 and double the others to $140,000 or whatever. Everyone else can get a larger percentage, but he should not be penalized for his higher base. He earned that base. If my boss gave everyone a raise but me because I have a high base salary, I'd kick him in the nuts on my way out the door.
das
07-25-02 | 05:38 PM
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I really love The West Wing but I'm not as broken up about Lowe's exit as everyone else. This show thrives because of great writing and like Law & Order the show will survive a revolving door of cast members as long as the writing remains consistent (and the acting doesn't completely fall apart). If Sorkin can replace Lowe with another talented actor, the show will be fine.
07-26-02 | 09:14 AM
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Originally posted by Snake Plissken
I bet you they'll make Lowe's character turn republican.
I bet you they'll make Lowe's character turn republican.
07-26-02 | 02:20 PM
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Lowe has been a d*ck to the crew, actors and producers since the show began. He has always caused production problems, pulled celebrity stunts, etc. No one likes him except for Sheen because of the connection with his kids. Wells and Sorkin asked the cast about it before the decision was made and they all voted to drop him.
I actually respect Wells for not rewarding bad behavior as so many do in this town.
Remember, Lowe didn't create Seaborn, Sorkin did. Someone else will come in, the show will go on, the world will spin.
I actually respect Wells for not rewarding bad behavior as so many do in this town.
Remember, Lowe didn't create Seaborn, Sorkin did. Someone else will come in, the show will go on, the world will spin.
07-26-02 | 02:37 PM
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Originally posted by BoatDrinks
Lowe has been a d*ck to the crew, actors and producers since the show began. He has always caused production problems, pulled celebrity stunts, etc. No one likes him except for Sheen because of the connection with his kids. Wells and Sorkin asked the cast about it before the decision was made and they all voted to drop him.
Lowe has been a d*ck to the crew, actors and producers since the show began. He has always caused production problems, pulled celebrity stunts, etc. No one likes him except for Sheen because of the connection with his kids. Wells and Sorkin asked the cast about it before the decision was made and they all voted to drop him.
das
07-27-02 | 12:13 AM
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Originally posted by das Monkey
If true, that makes sense. As others have said, if this salary crap is just spin, it's understandable; because unless you're trying to push him away, you give the guy a raise. It's a shame if that's what went on, because Lowe was really an inspired casting choice for that role.
das
If true, that makes sense. As others have said, if this salary crap is just spin, it's understandable; because unless you're trying to push him away, you give the guy a raise. It's a shame if that's what went on, because Lowe was really an inspired casting choice for that role.
das
Such behavior shouldn't be rewarded (if it's true). But the fans shouldn't have to suffer either - it was a fantastic role, Lowe did a fantastic job, and there was fantastic chemistry on-screen.