I'm shocked. My favorite character on the show by far. Rest in peace, John.

John Spencer, who played VP Candidate Leo McGarry, dies

I don't watch The West Wing but i do remember him from LA Law. RIP

Goombah, as your fellow Wing-nut, I was so very sad to see this news. John Spencer was a great actor, and Leo will be missed immensely. Leo has been the glue that has held this cast together and I can't imagine WW without him. My favorite Leo moment?? The one with Josh, after Josh has spent the day with the psychiatrists for his PTSD, and he finds Leo waiting for him. Leo then tells him the story about the man in the hole, and finishes with, "As long as I've got a job, you've got a job."

To be completely selfish, I wonder what will happen with the storyline? I'm sure that they have Santos/McGarry as the victors of this election, and I'm sure that this season has already been filmed. As a matter of fact, I think that the next episode is supposed to be the debate between the VP candidates. What are they going to do? Who will the new VP be?? How is Jed going to deal with Leo's death??

SB

I agree. The moment you listed was vintage Leo. I also liked the flashback to when they all met during the one where Bartlett was shot. The exchange between Jed & Leo about why Leo thought Jed could win was excellent.

John Spencer's death, coupled with the fact that the show is on Sundays, both make me less interested in this show. The writers have an interesting decision of how to work it into the story. I agree with you SB - I think Smits will win but I don't know what they'll do to replace Leo.

Is Toby's character gone for good?

If this season is already filmed, maybe they'll have Alan Alda win instead. Apparently the NBC producers did their own polls, and found out that the younger demographic liked the Republican in their debate.

Wasn't his name Tommy on that show?

How sad.


Don Cardi

Goombah, I agree. "They say that a good man can't be president. I want to prove them wrong." "When you speak, you're going to lift whole houses off the ground. Whole houses! " ITSOTG, Parts I and II are the best ever filmed. Who could forget CJ falling into the pool and yelling at Toby to avert his eyes?! Thinking back on those episodes makes you nostalgic for the pre-Wells days.

I heard that Richard Schiff didn't like the way that Toby was being written, and decided to leave the show. He was on two weeks ago, in an excellent exchange with Josh, but since he will be indicted, I'm sure that he'll have to go. Can't have the tainted man around the White House or a campaign, I guess.

The writers would never have the guts, but it would be perfect to send off Leo a la Nelson Rockefeller.

Since Leo was, in essence, the father figure for the show, originally recruiting them all to work on the campaign, giving counsel, standing by them no matter what, then he deserves the best send-off ever. I have no idea how the writers might handle it, but it made me so sad to see John Spencer in Sunday night's episode.