'WEST WING' New job for C.J. scares actress

Allison Janney said her character's job change shakes things up.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Allison Janney isn't ready for a promotion.
When "West Wing" boss John Wells told Janney that her press secretary C.J. Cregg would replace Leo McGarry (John Spencer) as the president's chief of staff this season, she freaked.
"There was silence for a full minute," Janney recalls. "I went, 'What? Are you sure? I don't know. This is kind of crazy.' I was terrified about taking over that job."
In last week's episode, Leo suffered a massive heart attack alone in the woods at Camp David, soon after he resigned over foreign-policy conflicts with President Bartlet (Martin Sheen).
Leo lives, and will continue to serve "an advisory role" for the staff, says an NBC rep. Spencer will remain with the show for all 22 episodes, his publicist says.
Tonight, Bartlet names C.J. to the post, passing over deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) and communications chief Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff), both more senior advisers.
"The more John talked to me, the more it actually made sense for C.J. to have this job," says Janney, 43, a two-time Emmy-winner for the role. "It creates so many new dynamics and conflicts. It shakes up the chemistry."
Preparing for next president
In its sixth season, "West Wing" needs shaking. It ranks 32nd on the Nielsen chart, averaging 12.3 million viewers.
Critics complain the show has grown tired. With the Bartlet administration winding down, new plot lines are preparing some of the main characters for the next occupant of the Oval Office.
"I knew they wanted to shake things up, but I thought C.J. would always be press secretary. John might as well have said that C.J. is going to be president. It's been a little daunting for me."
Josh and Toby are not thrilled by C.J.'s ascent. "They're above me in the chain of command, and now I'm their boss," she says. Also, C.J. "is still a woman in a man's world."
Ironically, Janney says she is nothing like the powerful women she plays.
"I'm the biggest wimp. I have a hard time saying no to anybody. I'm not the boss. I'm the team player. I'm very shy. I don't like to speak in front of people. I like to stay at home, not doing anything."
Contenders
On "West Wing," C.J.'s future may depend on Bartlet's successor.
Two contenders join the cast this season: Jimmy Smits as Matt Santos, a Democratic congressman from Texas, and Alan Alda as Arnold Vinick, a Republican from California. (Republican, California, Arnold. Get it?)
Smits debuts next Wednesday, but he doesn't declare until Jan. 5. Alda will premiere in early January, as a candidate.
Though C.J. "could go on to do other jobs in another administration," Janney says she's not counting on it for next season. "I don't know what John will do with all of us."