"His death could not have come at a worse time for the show," writes Toni Fitzgerald of John Spencer, the 58-year-old "West Wing" actor who died of a heart attack last Friday. With "the show's future
already very much in doubt because of sinking ratings and rising salaries," the loss of a principal player--Spencer's character was running for vice president this season--will challenge the series'
writers and producers. Although "The West Wing" is in its seventh season, it has gone through several cycles in the ratings; originally a huge hit, the well-written show wandered for a while, losing
a huge percentage of its audience. And while critics have applauded the way "The West Wing" has snapped back, at least artistically, it has never regained its earlier footing. How to deal with
Spencer's death? Writer Fitzgerald suggests several options, including incorporating his sudden death into the storyline.
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