The trade mag contends that Alda will star as a Republican senator from California with White House hopes while McCormack, who had guest starred last season, will sign on as a regular for the sixth season.
Alda, known for his Emmy Award-winning television work on "M*A*S*H," has appeared on the Broadway stage in the Art, QED, Jake's Women, The Apple Tree, The Owl and the Pussycat, Fair Game for Lovers, Purlie Victorious and Only in America. The actor recently marked his return to television with a 2000 Emmy nominated turn in a multi-episode story arc on NBC's hospital drama "ER."
McCormack has been seen on Broadway in Cabaret in the role of Sally Bowles. Her film credits include "Private Parts," "Deep Impact," "K-PAX," "Full Frontal" and the television mini-series "Traffic."
Smits, known for his work on television in "L.A. Law" and "NYPD Blues," recently made his Broadway debut in Anna in the Tropics. He has been seen Off-Broadway in Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Nightand Hamlet as part of The Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park series.
"The West Wing," which centers on the titular area of the White House, stars Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet. The show features many performers with stage experience including regulars Spencer (Glimmer, Glimmer and Shine), Allison Janney (A View From the Bridge), Dulé Hill (Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk), Bradley Whitford (A Few Good Men), Richard Schiff (The Exonerated), Joshua Malina (A Few Good Men) and Tony Award winner Stockard Channing (Joe Egg). Other recent (some recurring) guest stars have included Mary-Louise Parker (Proof), Lily Tomlin (The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe), Anna Deavere Smith (Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992), John Goodmn (Big River), Glenn Close (Sunset Boulevard), Joanna Gleason (Into The Woods), Harry Groener (Crazy For You), Kate Burton (Hedda Gabler), Cherry Jones (The Heiress), Dylan Baker (Eastern Standard) and Taye Diggs (Rent).
The hour-long drama "The West Wing" airs on NBC Wednesday nights at 9 PM (ET). Check your local listings. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/thewestwing.
