i saw this just now on cnn. for me, this doesn't bode well for the series. putting this many new people on the show screams of desparation. this show was so good for so long with just the core cast in place i was afraid the day would come when they would do this. i guess this also means that they can finally get cj and danny together now.

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{b}Alan Alda joining 'West Wing'[/b]

Actor to play Republican senator

Monday, August 23, 2004 Posted: 8:53 AM EDT (1253 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- Alan Alda is returning to series television.

The five-time Emmy winner will join the cast of NBC's White House drama "The West Wing" next season, playing a Republican from California with presidential aspirations.

Also joining the series is Marley Shelton ("Uptown Girls"), who will play a former feature reporter mentored by Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield) who becomes White House deputy press secretary.

Mary McCormack (USA's "Traffic"), who guest-starred in several episodes last season as the brash new Deputy National Security Adviser, will return as a permanent fixture. Jimmy Smits, meanwhile, is in talks to come on board the series.

Playing a Republican senator is familiar territory for Alda. He plays Maine Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster in Martin Scorsese's upcoming Howard Hughes biopic "The Aviator."

The "West Wing" role marks Alda's first major series commitment since his award-winning run on CBS' "M*A*S*H." In 1999, he did an Emmy-nominated stint on "ER," which is executive produced by "West Wing" producer John Wells.

In March, Alda will begin rehearsals for the Broadway production of David Mamet's play "Glengarry Glen Ross," which will also star Liev Schreiber.

I had heard Jimmy Smits was supposed to be up for this role. Guess not.

Jimmy Smits plays a different Senator.

Now that's a classic right there.

Nearly all of last season's West Wing is still sitting on my TiVo. I've been too busy this year, and without AS it fell to a lower priority item...

But it looks like the E.R.-style revolving-door casting has finally begun in earnest. Knew it would. I suppose it's more realistic, since the President's staff & advisors do change constantly in real life, but I dunno... I really liked the original staff. Wonder how many'll be back now that they're shaking up the casting?

Was Ted McGinley unavailable?

Because that's believable.

I know, California isn't ALL liberal democrats. Despite what this may look like, I am not attempting to troll. I am attempting to crack a joke.

Save yourself the time and watch one episode - The Supremes. Delete the rest.

He already played a semi-recurring role in the first 2 seasons as Mark Gottfried, host of Capitol Beat.