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Author
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Topic: "Goodbye Leo, you will be missed.."
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John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-17-2005 05:59 PM
   
Although there have only been a handful of "West Wing" episodes related to spaceflight..I wanted to post this to mourn the passing of John Spencer, Bartlet's Chief of Staff and current Vice-Presidential candidate Leo Mc Garry on the show. He was a terrific actor, and his portfolio of work will certainly stand the test of time.. |
Astro Bill
Member Posts: 1329
From: New York, NY
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 12-17-2005 07:42 PM
John Spencer was also a collector, but not of space memorabilia, according to the following story:
http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/john_spencer.htm [This message has been edited by Astro Bill (edited December 17, 2005).] |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-18-2005 06:22 AM
This is such sad news. I am a big west wing fan and by far he was the best person in it. This is certainly a shock. I do wonder though what will happen now. I am sure the election episodes have been filmed already. I wonder how they will deal with this. Will Leo step down? But this is incredibly sad. |
pad leader
Member Posts: 101
From: swadlincote, derbyshire uk
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 12-18-2005 07:20 AM
yes..sad news indeed, i love the west wing and rate it as my favourite tv program ever. he will be missed. yeh wonder how they will deal with it in the show. |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 12-18-2005 09:41 AM
Incredibly sad news indeed. I've been a massive West Wing fan since the original pilot episode and John Spencer's portrayal of Leo McGarry was nothing short of sheer acting brilliance. The West Wing will not be the same without him.- Derek |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-18-2005 02:44 PM
I ordered this the other day
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000B7KXI6/ Bill i love your post WITH THE LINK [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited January 23, 2006).] |
Mike Isbell
Member Posts: 551
From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 12-19-2005 05:15 PM
I also would like to express my sadness about the passing of John Spencer. While I sometimes watch West Wing, I better remember Mr. Spencer for playing the role of attorney Tommy Mullaney in the television series "L A Law".[This message has been edited by Mike Isbell (edited December 19, 2005).] |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 12-19-2005 08:30 PM
Machbusterman hits it right on the head: "...John Spencer's portrayal of Leo McGarry was nothing short of sheer acting brilliance. The West Wing will not be the same without him."
The intro of each show would begin, and I would cheer each of my favorite guys/gals on....but when John Spencer's name and picture would come on....it was "yeah ! Your're the MAN, Leo !".....
My brother taped the first season for me....I have never seen any of those....but I have seen most of the others.....and I continue to be fascinated by everything I see.
Many "critics" complained with the writers changing between seasons....sure there are differences, but John Spencer was brilliant.
It will be a real, however sad, treat seeing the rest of the "new" shows this season.EVERYONE with the show, must be think what we are.....how will this all be handled. They could EASILY use his passing as a reason to re-write and retape, no matter how expensive, being right in the middle of the campaign. I gotta think of his family and friends.....if we just mere fans of the show are this broken up....and I don't get too broken up over actors and actresses passings very often.....just imagine how they feel, and how much they need our kind thoughts and prayers that they get through this. One day I was watching an episode and I either was giddy or near tears at something that happened and my wife was sitting there watching me and my reactions.....and she said "It's only a TV show"....and I told her, "But it is as close to real as "I" will ever get to The West Wing", as much as I have always lusted for an office in the basement of The White House. Cheers and THANKS to an extraordinary television actor who brought REAL skills to THIS portrayal of a presidential chief of staff. GB [This message has been edited by spaceman1953 (edited December 19, 2005).] |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 12-20-2005 12:04 PM
There seemed to be a lot of space flight references on the show. I even recall seeing an Apollo photo on Leo's screensaver one time. Sad news, indeed.--John |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-26-2005 01:19 PM
I was just wondering. What do you think will happen to the storylines. Will Leo Still exist but you never see him or will he be killed off? |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-27-2005 11:13 AM
Can't kill him off..he's already been in an episode thats 7 years in the future at the "Bartlet Presidential Library".. I'm thinking they will write him out of the VP role due to a relapse and replace him with Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn on the ticket for the end of the series, season. |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-27-2005 02:52 PM
John i am not 100% sure. I just watched the bit in episode 1 in quetion and Leo was not in it. CJ is in california and She and dany have a baby, Will Bailley is a back bencher congressman, Toby is at comumbia university and was invited by the president even though he was fired by Jed Bartlet for giving classified info on the military space shuttle. Josh was ther but we do not know in what capacity(I predict he is Santos chief of staff). All very intreging. As for sam sebourne that is an interesting theory but i do not think that Rob Lowe will come back to The west wing although it would be amazing if he could. Only time will tll what will happen. I have heard rumors that this may be the last series of the west wing. It would be sad but the show would go out on a high. I hope it is no true though. I have starrted to watch all the episodes again starting with seson 1. It is still hard to watch though. But going back to Leo i think they will probably make him step down some ow. Health reasons of sort. It would cause too many problems to kill him off. I wish we never had to see this senario and that John Spencer was still alive. I cant wait however to see what will actually happen. The episode in which the election is could have already been fillimed. What do you all think will happen? |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-28-2005 01:23 PM
Rumors have it that Sorkin is writing the last few episodes, and that Rob Lowe is coming back at the request of Martin Sheen..and this is the end of the series.. |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-28-2005 03:04 PM
Oh my!!! The end of the season 7 or the end of the west wing? |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-29-2005 12:12 PM
most likely the Series demise.. It's not drawing ratings this year. |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-23-2006 03:01 AM
From imdb.com'The West Wing' Axed
Hit US TV show The West Wing will be axed when its seventh season draws to a close in May. American broadcaster NBC is disappointed with the program's recent ratings despite critical acclaim for the current series focusing on the election to find President Josiah Bartlett's replacement. The final episode will be broadcast in the US on May 14, preceded by a one-hour retrospective. The decision to pull the show was made before the death of actor John Spencer, who played chief of staff Leo McGarry, on 16 December last year. The West Wing joins hit Fox shows Malcolm In The Middle and That 70's Show in concluding in May.
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november25
Member Posts: 646
From: Douglas, Isle of Man, UK
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 01-23-2006 10:50 AM
THE WEST WING= The Sixth Season-Complete.
You can now buy from Amazon co.uk for the price of £27.97, in their sale. Saving £32.02 as list price is £59.99.
Thought you guys might be very interested in this.
Regards to John and Gareth,
from Brenda. |
HappyProudThrilled
New Member Posts:
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Registered:
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posted 01-27-2006 09:23 PM
So, the show is ending.....well, Josh and Donna better hook up, and fast! I've been waiting for the past 7 years!! |
Astro Bill
Member Posts: 1329
From: New York, NY
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-27-2006 11:34 PM
As a long time fan of The West Wing, watching it almost religiously every Wednesday night, I can personally list a few reasons why the show is being canceled. The late John Spencer's death had nothing to due with the cancelation IMHO. Spencer was a superb actor and he may have been the glue that held the show together. But in my opinion the reasons for the demise of the show are: The move to Sunday at 8PM. Whose idea was that? I could never remember that it was on at that strange time. Sunday is for football and shows like "Desperate Housewives." TWW required a little thinking and concentration and I am not ready to do that until work on Monday morning. Too many new characters. The original characters in the show (Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, John Spencer, etc.) were relegated to minor roles while the new administration was decided. However, this made the President (Martin Sheen) a minor character in the last season. He was seen very infrequently. Also, his MS illness, which was of major importance in the previous season, had suddenly disappeared. The president was healthy, but he had very little to do but watch Smitts and Alda battle it out in the conventions and campaign. The President was often seen as indecisive and the problems that he faced were unimportant and often not relevant to modern history. Viewers could not relate to the story lines because the writers did not want to offend anyone by taking a stand on contraversial subjects. No cabinet members or Supreme Court justices and very few leaders of Congress were given a recurring role in the show. The show was all about the President and his staff members in the West Wing. This made it appear that the President had no contact with his cabinet members. Three things that often annoyed me about the West Wing are that it was shown in "director's cut" size and did not fill the TV screen; the scenes were often VERY DARK. Doesn't the President have any lights in the Oval Office? And finally, there was too much walking in the halls of the West Wing. Why didn't they change scenes like every other show? When this latest season started, I expected the election to already have been decided. It seemed to drag on longer than a real US Presidential election. John Spencer would have made a great Vice President on TWW and in real life. [This message has been edited by Astro Bill (edited January 28, 2006).] |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-28-2006 12:47 AM
Astrobill i completely agree. I think also that:-1) CJ should never have been offered the Cief of staff post. It Really doesnt work and she appears grumpy all of the time-Should have gone to josh 2)Josh was sidelined from major decisions in seasons 5 + 6. The first four seasons he was the mastermind behind all policys and was excellent. Why did they sidelnine him. 3)This season(7) there is no vice president or "meetings on the hill". This was an important part of the charm of the drama. I am rewatching every episode in order and have reached seasn 3 now. Season 4 is my favourite. |
Astro Bill
Member Posts: 1329
From: New York, NY
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-28-2006 08:52 AM
The West Wing seems to have been mishandled for some reason. It was the No. 1 program for several seasons, then the writing changed. They should have expanded the roles of the major characters instead of pushing them aside to make room for new characters. Something changed to cause this - either a change in writers or a change in Producer. In comparison, "Law and Order" has been on for many years. Thet have had many changes in cast members and they are still on. "The Sopranos" is another matter. They have been away from HBO for over one year and will return in March. Their viewers will still be there, but I am sure that viewers would have preferred a normal series of 16 episodes a year. [This message has been edited by Astro Bill (edited January 28, 2006).] |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-28-2006 10:36 AM
Cancellation can be attributed to one important thing..Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme both left and took their writing skills and directing skills with them..the show was never the same in terms of brilliance. |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-17-2006 03:43 AM
From IMDB.com'West Wing' Films Spencer's Funeral
The funeral scene for late The West Wing star John Spencer's character has been filmed. Spencer, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest last December, played Air Force veteran and White House chief of staff Leo McGarry in the hit TV series. The tear-jerking funeral episode, which employs a real Air Force guard of honour, will be aired in the US in April, the New York Post reports.
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Astro Bill
Member Posts: 1329
From: New York, NY
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 04-10-2006 08:21 PM
The latest episode of "The West Wing" was devoted both to the final election of a new administration (I will not say who won) and to the death of Vice Presidential nominee Leo McGerry (John Spencer). Spencer was one of the leading characters in this series. We are told that the next episode of TWW will be devoted to McGerry's legacy in the administration and to his funeral. It is appropriate that such a superb actor will be eulogized by his fellow actors. This should be a very memorable episode. |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 04-11-2006 11:13 AM
While the writing has been less than stellar over the past few years, the show has had some very high-water marks this season. It makes me wish they had 1 more season left in the tank to explore the new president's first 1000 days. I, for one, have been an ardent "West Wing" fan since it first came on the air. May 14th's hour long retrospective, and final episode will be one to remember I'm sure.. |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-11-2006 01:28 PM
I am quite confused about commander and chief. I have not seen it yet but is that not much of the same thing? |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 04-11-2006 06:24 PM
I, too have enjoyed The West Wing since its inception. I agree that the writing suffered, but didn't the creator leave the show a couple of years ago? But the show has such a great cast that even "less than stellar" writing was better than alot of TV on today.
I would like to see an annual TV movie covering the next administration. Next weeks episode dealing with Leo McGarry's funeral will be well done. Although one little "nit-picking" point. President Bartlett suffering from MS and using a cane would not serve as a pall bearer if this were real. Gareth- The West Wing is on NBC, while "Commander-In-Chief" (also about a US President) is on rival network ABC. Tim
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