Almost 20 years after it aired its last episode, The West Wing stays one of the rewatchable TV sequence and conjures up near-constant appeals to Aaron Sorkin for brand spanking new episodes. Through the years, there haas been loads of commentary and behind-the-scenes tales from the actors who made up Jed Bartlet’s senior employees. Nevertheless, I can safely say that I wasn’t in any respect anticipating to see Rob Lowe pull out the “Lacking Particular person” milk carton that he apparently distributed to his colleagues when he exited the sequence.
Rob Lowe was one of many unique stars — and simply the largest title in the primary forged — of The American President-inspired sequence when it premiered in 1999. He starred as deputy communications director Sam Seaborn, a significant cog within the White Home machine. After a number of seasons, nonetheless, behind-the-scenes stress resulted in Lowe leaving The West Wing towards the tip of Season 4. Simply how unhealthy did issues get for the actor? Take a look at his TikTok:
OK, first off, I’m actually interested by what’s occurring on this video. Is Rob Lowe having a storage sale? Is his storage only a museum of TV and film memorabilia from a 40-plus-year profession that’s strewn about in order that the actor can simply occur upon these outdated gems just like the milk carton?
Secondly, we’ve acquired to speak about this milk carton. This can be hands-down probably the most petty factor I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’m not mad at it. The audacity Rob Lowe needed to not solely style a milk carton together with his headshot however then to ship it out to everybody concerned within the present is mind-blowing.
He mentioned within the video:
There have been some difficulties. At one level that they had form of written me off the present. I didn’t really feel like I had quite a bit to do, so I made these and I despatched them to everyone affiliated with the present — the community, the studio, producers, everyone. It’s a milk carton. I despatched these to everyone.
The milk carton then went on to listing his peak, weight and when he was final seen (Christmas episode, 2002). How’s that for communication out of your deputy communications director?
Nevertheless, I’m unsure it’s fully honest for Rob Lowe to say he was written off the present. It’s not like he vanished with no clarification like Mandy, although I suppose his position was diminished in his last Season 4 episodes.
Reportedly, cash was the problem behind his exit, and the actor himself admitted in his e book Tales I Solely Inform My Mates that tensions rose between him and his castmates when he requested for a increase that producers refused to offer him.
Rob Lowe allegedly signed onto The West Wing at $70,000 an episode, with the remainder of the primary forged making lower than half of that. When the present was successful, the opposite actors’ salaries had been reportedly raised to equal Lowe’s, and when he couldn’t safe a bump as nicely, he allegedly mentioned there was “now not a spot” for Sam Seaborn and left the sequence.
No matter the way it all went down 20 years, it’s good that we will all giggle about it now, as Rob Lowe appears fairly tickled by his actions again then.
You possibly can proceed to take pleasure in his days as Sam Seaborn — and all those that got here after — by streaming The West Wing with an HBO Max subscription. Quickly, followers will even have the ability to see Allison Janney reunite with former co-star Bradley Whitford, who is about to affix The Diplomat Season 3 as Janney’s character’s husband. The primary two seasons may be streamed with a Netflix subscription.