‘West Wing’ coming back for 7th season on NBC

“The West Wing” has been re-elected to a seventh term by NBC.

The White House drama will return for the 2005-06 season, the network announced. So will dramas “Crossing Jordan” and “Las Vegas” and, despite lackluster ratings, the sitcom “Joey.”

The medical drama “ER,” now in its 11th season, received a two-year pickup that will keep it on the air through the 2007-08 season.

Although “West Wing” ratings have slipped, it continues to draw the kind of affluent audience sponsors want.

The big unknown: Who will follow President Josiah “Jeb” Bartlet (Martin Sheen) when his second term ends next season?

Among the contenders: Republican Sen. Arnold Vinick, played by Alan Alda, and Rep. Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Vice President Robert Russell (Gary Cole), both Democrats.

Martha movie

Martha Stewart will be coming into your living room in a new CBS movie, based on the last six years of her life.

“The story begins the day her company goes public and it ends the day she’s released from prison,” said Tom Patricia, executive producer of the film. “Our opinion is that it is probably one of the most memorable comeback stories ever.”

Cybill Shepherd starred in NBC’s “Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart” in 2003. The Los Angeles Times has reported that Shepherd also may play the role for CBS; Patricia said casting hasn’t been completed.