'West Wing' rushes special terrorist episode

Fans of "The West Wing" may have wondered how, or even if, events at the fictional White House would reflect the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast. The answer was not slow in coming. NBC announced late last week that Aaron Sorkin, creator and head writer of "The West Wing," had hastily authored a new episode, titled "Isaac and Ishmael," that will deal with "questions and issues currently facing the world" in the wake of the attacks. The episode will air Oct. 3. It's being called a "special episode"; the actual season premiere, in which President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) announces his plans to run for re-election, will now air Oct. 10. The Sept. 26 episode, which had been the scheduled premiere date, will now be a repeat. Sorkin's decision to write a "special episode" sent ripples through NBC's Wednesday night schedule. The network also moved the second season premiere of "Ed." It will be one week earlier than scheduled, on Oct. 10, leading into the season premiere of "The West Wing." This, in turn, means the last three episodes of NBC's reality series "Lost" will not air now. "Lost," which aired just once before the Sept. 11 attacks, resumes 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC (Channel 41). The third episode, which will show the contestants reaching New York City, their final destination, will air Oct. 3. The unaired episodes of "Lost" depict a different round-the-world trip with new contestants.