Television serial drama "The West Wing" will go live with a presidential debate between Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits, on November 5.

Alan Alda, who plays Senator Arnold Vinick, the Republican presidential nominee, is preparing himself for a televised debate with Smits's character, Congressman Matthew Santos, the Democratic presidential nominee. And, according to close friends, both Alan and Jimmy are excited about it.

Alda says: "I love that sense of danger. The only training I had as an actor was as an improviser. It kind of fits with my aspiration to be as spontaneous as I can be.
In fact, when I was a young man on the stage, if another actor missed an entrance and I was alone on stage, I thought, 'Oh boy, is this great? I can make up my own play now!'
So the opportunity to do a presidential debate, although it's scripted, it'll be live, and there'll be a certain amount of uncertainty - my blood is up for that."

"The West Wing" is a popular and widely acclaimed American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin for NBC, that has aired since 1999 and is currently scheduled to start its seventh season on September 25, 2005 in its new time slot, 8pm on Sundays.

The show is set in the White House-which serves as the residence of the President and his family-during the fictional Democratic administration of Josiah "Jed" Bartlet.
The West Wing of the White House is the location of the President's Oval Office and the offices of most of his senior staff.
The show is produced and co-written by John Wells.