There aren't many TV shows that get to go out the right way. After seven seasons (that's eight years or two presidential terms in TV land), 'The West Wing” got the opportunity to do just that. Many shows, like this year's ill-fated 'Reunion,” get cancelled midseason before they even have a chance to offer closure on an ongoing storyline. There's no great way to end a sitcom (ask 'Seinfeld”), and procedural shows like 'NYPD Blue” have it just as tough. For a show about the president and his staff, however, there was a storybook ending.

            Amid declining ratings and several changes in timeslots, 'The West Wing” presented a new twist to its usually steady storyline in season six. After his first four years in television office, President Bartlett's reelection was basically a guarantee, but after eight years, many wondered in what direction the show would head. Would they ignore the 22nd amendment (which should only pertain to actual presidents), or would they do what no successful show is ever allowed to do and simply fade to black?

            What 'West Wing” producers chose to do instead, and what put the show on a path to its two best seasons ever, was to have some episodes cover President Bartlett and his administration and have others follow the election campaigns of Alan Alda's Senator Arnold Vinick of California and Jimmy Smits' Congressman Matthew Santos of Texas. This gave viewers the opportunity to see what goes on behind a presidential campaign (including an atrocious live debate episode) and gave NBC the option of creating a spin-off.

            Santos eventually won the campaign (just by the hair of his chinny-chin-chin), but by that time NBC had already announced that there would be no eighth season or spin-off.

On May 14 'The West Wing” ended simply and poignantly. It ended at the height of its creative success instead of, like most shows, by jumping the shark. While television usually provides a prolonged snapshot into the life of someone or some place, 'The West Wing” was actually able to capture an entire process—from President Bartlett's first day in office to his last—with a sensible beginning and a sensible ending.

Over the course of its seven season-run, 'The West Wing” was nominated for 89 Emmy Awards (it will also be eligible for the Emmys this coming August). Its 25 wins include four straight Best Drama victories. It resuscitated the careers of Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe and John Spencer, and made real actors out of Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff and Allison Janney.

While Washington has a 'decider,” Hollywood had a president who seemed to always know what to say (and the dramatic background music always strengthened his message). President Jed Bartlett survived an assassination attempt and a scandal surrounding his multiple sclerosis, he cooled down a crisis between India and Pakistan and brought the country back from the brink of World War III in Kazakhstan. Now, with his departure, television's Commander-in-chief is '24”'s President Logan. That evil, evil man.

Insiders will argue over how accurate the show actually was, but for fans the answer is irrelevant. 'The West Wing” gave us an opportunity to watch TV and feel intelligent at the same time. Hail to the chief!