Will The West Wing go south without Leo?
Lucy Mangan
Tuesday December 20, 2005
Guardian
(snip)
But Leo McGarry was central to one of the show's main storylines, running as vice-president on the Democratic ticket with congressman Matt Santos. The campaign against Republican nominee Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) begins in season six, currently showing on More 4, and was due to be the central plank of the seventh, now being filmed. The writers and producers may be able to buy some time with technical wizardry - a digital Oliver Reed appeared frequently in Gladiator after he died halfway through filming; previously discarded footage kept the celluloid James Dean alive until they had finished cutting Giant; and in an even closer parallel, Nancy Marchand was given a posthumous final scene as Tony's fearsome mother in The Sopranos thanks to computer imagery, spare shots and a body double.
But sooner rather than later, the West Wing team are going to have to come up with a narratively satisfying end for McGarry that also constitutes a fitting farewell for Spencer. The most obvious option would be to use the established history of ill-health for the character to write in another heart attack, but this might hit too close to home for cast and viewers alike. Then again, Leo McGarry was ever the voice of reason when it looked like his president was about to make a sentimental choice instead of serving the greater good, so maybe his voice will guide those who this time have to find a real-life way between the two.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1671108,00.html