I am so glad to see so much discussion going on! WHY is TWW going off the air? It is making Americans really THINK about politics and public service again. I am sorry that not enough people watch for NBC's desire, but they ought to realize that this show, even if "A loss leader," is a great leader of thought where TV fare is concerned... IMHO

I think in the end, Vinick will be VP. Santos has been speaking so much of reuniting the country and of bipartisanship-- wouldn't this be the most unifying (if rather sentimental and unlikely) ending to The West Wing? It hasn't been as good a show since A. Sorkin left, but it is still a great show-- beautifully done, and with some understanding of Republican sentiment as well as Democratic ones (i.e. Ainsley Hayes, a remarkable character, for instance). In any case, I love Alan Alda, and he's been great as Vinick, who is a decent man-- and I would vote for a Santos/Vinick ticket if they ran for re-election in four years! And I'm a liberal Democrat!

The Paulberrers: Bartlet, Josh, Charlie, Santos, Goodwin, and..... Who's that last guy?

Great spoilers are up for the next two episodes:

http://westwing.bewarne.com/extras/spoilerblog.html

Toby can't call anyone in The White House or be near them. This will be a great sadness next week. Much like Schiff in real life (He was on the other coast doing a play) he can't grive with his friends. If Toby is there it will be unrealistic. But, the fact tha tt he'll want to go and can't. That's great conflict. He's not a paul bearer, that's barry goodwin.

Maybe Vinnick would be a good unity choice. Even if the Dems were pissed off, it could set off a whole crazy battle for the electoral college vote, Democrats might change their votes but so would some Republicans. Santos/Vinick vs. some last minute party-backed alternative.

Just to clear one thikng up from the main post. Josh does not ask Donna to make sure Mallory comes up to get his things, he tells Donna that he's already called housekeeping to make sure that Mallory doesn't have to see all the paramedics' garbage.

On that note, I was disappointed that Allison Smith wasn't in the ep. as Mallory.

For anyone that thought Vinnick would win needs to wake up. Working on the assumption that Americans aren't a bunch of sick racists, there is no way a former mayor and 3 term congressman wins the Presidency. It's a democrat show for democrates. The only way they allowed a close election is with a moderate California Republican. (By the way, in real life, the most electable candidate is an experienced California Republican.) Back to the show, remember though, it is a show and the characters we love need to remain. That's how a Press Secratary becomes chief of staff, a college drop out (Donna) pressumably will become a press secratary and democrate campaign manager runs a rebublican's campaign. Between Santos, CJ, Donna, Bruno and the others, it almost make President Jack Ryan look appropriate. (re: Tom Clancy)

I would ask Rev. Jonathan if he is a member of the Christian Right. That is, a follower of Pat Robertson, Fred Phelps, and those who forced the federal government to get involved in the Schiavo case. If not, then he wasn't included in those I called a moron.

next VP - Sam Seaborn.

I don't understand why anyone is asking about "waiting" until election day to reveal Leo's death: before John Spencer died in December, they had already filmed all the pre-election day episodes. "Election Day, Part I" was the first episode they filmed after Spencer died. If they wanted to wait until later, they'd have to deal with why the VP candidate, a major character in the show, was not around at all on election day.

(Granted, in Season 4, President Bartlet made his victory speech on election night with Hoynes nowhere to be found, but Hoynes is not the opening-credits character that Leo McGarry is.)

Next week's episode is apparently all about Leo. Counting that one (titled "Requiem"), there are six episodes left. I think they're all already in the can.