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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rob Lowe sent 'missing' milk cartons to 'West Wing' producers during on-set 'difficulties'
Lowe said "it's all good now," but it wasn't always. Has anyone seen Sam Seaborn? Rob Lowe, who played the idealistic deputy of communications at the White House on the first four seasons of NBC's acclaimed political drama The West Wing, asked that very question when he left the show as a regular cast member. Seaborn was been elected to office in California. "It's all good now, but there were some difficulties. At one point, they had sort of written me off the show. I didn't feel like I had a lot to do and so I made these," Lowe said, in a video on TikTok, as he held up a milk carton with a missing person ad for, yep, Seaborn. "I sent them to everbody affiliated with the show: the network, the studio, producers, executives." It was unclear if the recipients of his gift included costars, such as Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, Janel Moloney, Dulé Hill, Joshua Malina, and the late John Spencer, in the drama about the inner workings of a Democratic administration. The show won an impressive 26 Emmys over the course of its seven-season run, between 1999 and 2006. While the carton bit is funny now, the prank came during a pretty tense situation. Lowe had signed onto the show, created by Aaron Sorkin, with the expectation that Seaborn would be the main character. It ended up being an ensemble. Lowe has also explained that he had felt "very undervalued" and, during an August 2023 appearance on Stitcher Studios' Podcrushed podcast, gave an example from seeing his adult sons grew up. They were "getting to a certain age where I could see them having first girlfriends and being in a relationship that was abusive and taking it," Lowe said. "'She's the popular girl, everybody likes her, she's beautiful, it must be great' — all the things that people would say about making The West Wing to me. 'It's so popular, it's so amazing, it must be amazing.' But I know what it's like, and if I couldn't walk away from it, then how could I empower my kids to walk away from it?" He called his decision to leave "the best thing I ever did." In his TikTok, Lowe said that these days he has "love" for the show and "everybody in it." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rob Lowe Sent ‘Missing' Milk Cartons to West Wing Producers During Behind-the-Scenes Feud
Rob Lowe Sent 'Missing' Milk Cartons to West Wing Producers During Behind-the-Scenes Feud originally appeared on Parade. When The West Wing first aired in 1999, fans could not get enough of the political drama. The man who was supposed to be at the center of it all? The '80s heartthrob Rob Lowe. However, things spiraled behind the scenes due to Lowe noticing his character being slowly written off and pay disputes around his salary. In August 2023, the actor opened up about the experience on Penn Badgley's 'Podcrushed' podcast and likened it to being in a toxic relationship."I walked away from the most popular girl at school, but I also knew that it was a super unhealthy relationship, and it was the best thing I ever did," he said. However before he walked away, he admitted he did something gloriously petty. 'So a lot has been talked about my issues — such as they were — on The West Wing which I love, I love that show and everybody in it, it's all good now,' Lowe started. 'But there were some difficulties. At one point they had sort of written me off the show." "I didn't feel like I had a lot to do and so I made these [milk cartons] and I sent them to everybody affiliated with the show, the network, the studio, the producers, executives.' He plastered his face on the side like they used to do for missing kids, and added stats for his jilted character. 'It's a milk carton. I sent these to everybody,' Lowe continued. 'Let's see what the stats are. Sam Seaborn, 170 pounds. Eyes: blue. Missing since the Christmas episode 2002. Please call Bernie Brilstein (my manager), if you've seen this man.' Fans thought that the move was nothing short of iconic. "Who writes Rob Lowe off a show ??? But your response is hilarious," wrote one amused fan. "We need a New West wing with Sam as President," demanded another. "I loved you on WW and was devastated when they sent you to run for office in California," said another. "It was never the same without Sam." While things have since smoothed over since, it was still a pretty boss move to pull. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Rob Lowe Sent 'Missing' Milk Cartons to West Wing Producers During Behind-the-Scenes Feud first appeared on Parade on Jul 25, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
The Irish Sun
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Stars of iconic 00s drama reuniting on different show – but there's a twist
STARS of an iconic noughties drama are reuniting on-screen nearly two decades later. Two former castmates from the beloved series are teaming up again, only this time they're swapping politics for power-coupling. 4 West Wing legends Alison Janney and Bradley Whitford are reuniting in another drama Credit: Alamy 4 They are swapping the corridors of power for domestic politics - playing a feuding husband and wife in The Diplomat Credit: Getty It's none other than The pair, who famously starred as press secretary C.J. Cregg and deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman in the iconic Only this time, they're ditching the corridors of power for domestic politics - playing a feuding husband and wife. Fans of The West Wing are already buzzing over the on-screen reunion - but seeing the duo lock horns in a rocky marriage is a far cry from their old dynamic in the beloved series. more on netflix TV royalty Alison Janney has spilled the beans on her long-awaited reunion with The West Wing co-star Bradley Whitford — and fans are in for a treat. The Hollywood duo are reuniting in season three of Netflix's hit political drama Speaking at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards in LA, Janney, 64, couldn't hide her excitement: 'I knew everyone who hadn't worked with him before was in for the treat of their lives. He's not only a brilliant actor - he's hilarious. He had the whole crew in stitches.' Showrunner Debora Cahn said the reunion has everyone on set buzzing: 'Seeing them work together again after all these years... it feels like we're doing something delicious.' Most read in Drama Season three of The Diplomat is expected to land on Netflix this autumn - and with two Emmy nods already, it's shaping up to be must-watch telly. Hit political drama The West Wing was a TV juggernaut, scooping 26 Emmys and even winning Best Drama four years in a row. The West Wing's Josh Lyman discusses nuclear war and a smallpox pandemic in season five The all-star cast, which also included The show was such a hit it raked in up to 17 million viewers per episode in its heyday and is still binged by fans nearly 20 years after it ended. Even Barack Obama was a superfan, with The West Wing praised for its feel-good, idealistic take on American politics. And with three Golden Globes and a Peabody Award under its belt, it's no wonder many still call it the greatest political drama of all time. The The Now fans are buzzing to see Allison and Bradley back in action. As it's the first time the TV favourites will have reunited on screen in years, viewers are eager to see if their chemistry is still sizzling. And with The Diplomat already a smash hit for Netflix, their reunion could send season three sky-high. 4 Fans are thrilled to see the TV favourites reunite on screen Credit: CLIFTON PRESCOD/NETFLIX 4 Hit political drama The West Wing was a TV juggernaut, scooping 26 Emmys and even winning Best Drama four years in a row Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Stars of iconic 00s drama reuniting on different show – but there's a twist
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) STARS of an iconic noughties drama are reuniting on-screen nearly two decades later. Two former castmates from the beloved series are teaming up again, only this time they're swapping politics for power-coupling. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 West Wing legends Alison Janney and Bradley Whitford are reuniting in another drama Credit: Alamy 4 They are swapping the corridors of power for domestic politics - playing a feuding husband and wife in The Diplomat Credit: Getty It's none other than West Wing legends Alison Janney and Bradley Whitford - back on our screens, but with a very unexpected twist. The pair, who famously starred as press secretary C.J. Cregg and deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman in the iconic White House drama, are reuniting in Netflix's hit political series The Diplomat. Only this time, they're ditching the corridors of power for domestic politics - playing a feuding husband and wife. Fans of The West Wing are already buzzing over the on-screen reunion - but seeing the duo lock horns in a rocky marriage is a far cry from their old dynamic in the beloved series. TV royalty Alison Janney has spilled the beans on her long-awaited reunion with The West Wing co-star Bradley Whitford — and fans are in for a treat. The Hollywood duo are reuniting in season three of Netflix's hit political drama The Diplomat, with Whitford joining the cast as Todd Penn - husband to Janney's character, Vice President Grace Penn, who suddenly becomes President following a shock White House death. Speaking at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards in LA, Janney, 64, couldn't hide her excitement: 'I knew everyone who hadn't worked with him before was in for the treat of their lives. He's not only a brilliant actor - he's hilarious. He had the whole crew in stitches.' Showrunner Debora Cahn said the reunion has everyone on set buzzing: 'Seeing them work together again after all these years... it feels like we're doing something delicious.' Season three of The Diplomat is expected to land on Netflix this autumn - and with two Emmy nods already, it's shaping up to be must-watch telly. Hit political drama The West Wing was a TV juggernaut, scooping 26 Emmys and even winning Best Drama four years in a row. The West Wing's Josh Lyman discusses nuclear war and a smallpox pandemic in season five The all-star cast, which also included Martin Sheen, became household names - with fast-talking scenes and walk-and-talk moments now iconic. The show was such a hit it raked in up to 17 million viewers per episode in its heyday and is still binged by fans nearly 20 years after it ended. Even Barack Obama was a superfan, with The West Wing praised for its feel-good, idealistic take on American politics. And with three Golden Globes and a Peabody Award under its belt, it's no wonder many still call it the greatest political drama of all time. The best series on Netflix The best movies on Netflix New on Netflix: What to watch this week Now fans are buzzing to see Allison and Bradley back in action. As it's the first time the TV favourites will have reunited on screen in years, viewers are eager to see if their chemistry is still sizzling. And with The Diplomat already a smash hit for Netflix, their reunion could send season three sky-high. 4 Fans are thrilled to see the TV favourites reunite on screen Credit: CLIFTON PRESCOD/NETFLIX
Chicago Tribune
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Untamed' review: Eric Bana investigates a Yosemite murder as an agent for the National Parks Service
In Netflix's 'Untamed,' Eric Bana plays a rugged, no-nonsense special agent for the National Parks Service working the mystery of a woman's death in Yosemite. The six-episode series isn't doing anything new, which tends to get a bad rap these days. The streaming era has prioritized breaking from, or at least playing around with, TV norms, but these kinds of meat-and-potatoes offerings can be as satisfying as shows with wilder ambitions. That said, 'Untamed' suffers from some object permanence issues; nothing about it stayed with me after watching it. But while it was on in front of me? A good (enough) time. A lot of that has to do with executive producer John Wells, whose vast array of credits include everything from 'ER' to 'The West Wing' to 'The Pitt.' He doesn't have a recognizable style like fellow super-producers Shonda Rhimes or Ryan Murphy, but he understands television in ways that have become increasingly rare. Here he's working with show creators Ellie Smith and Mark L. Smith (the latter of whom was the screenwriter of 2024's 'Twisters'). The series opens with two climbers ascending the vertical rock face known as El Capitan. Suddenly, a woman's lifeless body comes hurtling past them from above, getting caught in their ropes and nearly taking them down with her. The circumstances of her death become the show's driving plotline. When Bana's Kyle Turner arrives at the summit on horseback, a park ranger says with a mixture of envy and annoyance: 'Here comes Gary Cooper.' Turner is haunted by past mistakes, a broken marriage, a dead son and a tendency to find solace at the bottom of a bottle. 'What's with you tonight?' someone says. 'You're extra serious even for you.' That sums up his personality. The ranger assigned to assist his investigation is a rookie and that's because Turner has burned through everyone else with his stubborn insistence on doing things his own way. When an Indigenous character shows up, it's because Turner (and Turner alone) has befriended him. These are common tropes that can be tedious in the wrong hands — the dead child has become overused as a shorthand meant to add sympathetic texture to a character's backstory — but 'Untamed' is made with enough talent and skill that these pieces feel right, instead of hacky. Credit that to Bana's performance, which doesn't belabor the guy's issues nor his stoicism. The Gary Cooper thing isn't too far off. Lily Santiago plays Naya Vasquez, the inexperienced park ranger with whom he's paired. She's from the city and therefore not thrilled with the idea of jumping on the back of a horse to explore the area for clues, but Turner won't budge. 'This park's the size of Rhode Island. It's got five separate highway entrances bringing over 100,000 people a week,' and going off the trails, on horseback, is better than going in his truck. That she will eventually come around to him, and he to her, is a foregone conclusion. Sam Neill and Rosemarie DeWitt round out the cast as the seasoned head park ranger who looks out for Turner and Turner's amiable ex-wife, respectively. The series' premise is better suited to a movie. But at six episodes, it doesn't overstay its welcome. The wide open spaces and the occasional appearance of (CGI?) wildlife are as picturesque as you'd expect — it's one of the show's selling points — although filming took place not in California-based Yosemite but in British Columbia. I suppose one soaring, mountainous forest looks like another. The park rangers are stuck wearing unflattering uniforms, but Turner has too much swagger for that and is outfitted in jeans and a sand-colored work shirt worn with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The show's subtitle might as well be 'Untamed: Eric Bana's Forearms' Where other shows try to leverage the sex appeal of their male lead by having him doff his shirt within the first 20 minutes, 'Untamed' takes a different tack, and I like it. Hollywood has never really understood the appeal of a good pair of forearms. Now's as good a time as any. 'Untamed' — 2.5 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: Netflix
