Here's where the phrase "schedule subject to change" comes back to bite us.

In early versions of the Winter Press Tour Schedule, NBC's listed "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin and fellow executive producer Thomas Schlamme among those expected to attend the drama's panel. This brewed speculation that Sorkin and Schlamme might have a hand in creating the episodes following John Spencer's untimely death in December.

All the excitement amounted to naught, however, because final lineup contained no mention of the pair. (They are developing "Studio 7," a scripted comedy that goes behind the scenes of a fictional sketch series resembling "Satutrday Night Live.")

Besides, the bigger news is that "The West Wing" will end with the exit of Josiah Barlet's (Martin Sheen) administration. Sunday morning, NBC entertainment president Kevin Reilly officially announced the show would end Sunday, May 14, with a hourlong retrospective from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by the last episode at 8.

That may create a conflict in Bradley Whitford's household. Whitford, who plays Josh Lyman, Barlet's former deputy chief of staff, is married to Jane Kaczmarek, the mom on "Malcolm in the Middle." The Fox sitcom takes its last bow the same night, possibly in the same timeslot as "West Wing's" walk-talk-walk-talk down memory lane.

On the other hand, it wouldn't be surprising if on that very evening, Whitford and Kaczmarek found themselves sequestered on a tropical island for some much-deserved R&R.

As for your concerns, "West Wing" executive producer John Wells indicated the election will be decided during the April 2nd and 9th episodes, with the inauguration taking center stage in the finale.

Producers also are talking to Rob Lowe about returning for the finale. "Rob will have to decide whether he can make his schedule work and be able to come back for it," Wells said.

And Wells knows who's going to win but as one would expect, he refused to spill it.