Rob Lowe leaves NBC hit 'West Wing'

They say Washington, DC is always in transition, with Congress changing every two years, and a new administration coming into town at least every eight years. Yet two things have remained constant over the past few years: the Washington Redskins foundering and the main cast of The West Wing staying the same.

That will change this week, however, as the Redskins will win on Thanksgiving (yeah, right!) and the cast of NBC's hit drama will change on Wednesday as Rob Lowe, who plays the character of Sam Seaborne, will leave the show.

In the Hall of Fame of Worst Career Moves Ever, this one probably ranks near the top. The Magic Johnson Hour, Kevin Costner in Waterworld, Justin breaking up with Britney are a few other contenders for the spot. What possible career he thinks he might have outside of the show is unimaginable.

This is a guy who was a modest movie star in the 1980s, and whose greatest acting achievement in the '90s was being Chris Farley's fake brother in Tommy Boy. Mix in some controversy when he was videotaped with underage girls at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, and you have a typical washout Hollywood nobody.

Lowe made the announcement in mid-July that he would be departing from the show, supposedly because of his paltry salary of $75,000 an episode. While his salary has stayed the same for the first three years, his fellow cast members' salaries have increased threefold since the show's premiere to about $70,000. The show's star Martin Sheen surpasses them all with a $300,000 per episode stipend.

West Wing was originally supposed to feature Lowe's character as the leading force, with President Bartlet, played by Sheen, making a guest appearance once an episode, if even that often. As the show quickly evolved, however, Sheen became a more integral part of the cast and, eventually, the star of the show. Lowe was never happy with this arrangement, which could also be a reason for his impending departure.

Most likely, however, it is probably Lowe's titanic-sized ego that has caused his departure. Only a self-centered Hollywood pretty boy would find it necessary to earn more than his cast mates, in spite of the fact that he has the same amount of screen time and has been nominated for fewer awards than any of them.

Regardless of the possible sour grapes, West Wing creator and writer Aaron Sorkin has given Lowe a gracious and praiseworthy send-off. Over the course of the past few episodes, the plot line evolved so that Sam would run for a seat of Congress. While campaigning for President Bartlett in California, Sam dropped in on a House of Representatives race featuring a dead Democratic candidate against a very much alive Republican candidate in the very much Republican Orange County.

Headed by Will Bailey (Jeremy from Sorkin's other gem Sports Night) and Winnie from The Wonder Years, the campaign is dead set on victory, in spite of their candidate's lack of pulse. Sam promises the widow of the candidate that he would put his name on the ballot for the run-off election in the one to a million chance that the Democrats win the general election. As television magic would have it, the Democrats win, and with the blessing of his co-workers Sam is off to run for Congress. Tomorrow night's episode features Sam's exit from The West Wing, although don't be surprised if he comes back for a few guest appearances when Lowe realizes what an ass he's been.

This sudden departure over a salary squabble will leave him where he left off, nowhere. His life and career was salvaged by The West Wing, and the politeness he is being shown on his way out will be nothing like the treatment he will receive in the real world _ outside of Washington, DC _ where some things never change.