Caught Commander in Chief last night. Anyone else see it? Geena Davis plays a US vice-president who comes to the top job after the previous president dies of a brain aneurysm. Female to the chief!
It was alright, as far as American TV goes when it's aimed at families. (It was aimed at families, wasn't it?) Tight, with no mucking around setting up the series, it got you into the swing tout suite. But by fuck they laid on the shmaltz! The youngest daughter was very annoying in the honey department, the fuckin' snookums, out of the lips of babes and all that crap. And Davis' maiden speech as president before congress was your typically trite TV melodrama.
Bible toting bad guy Donald Sutherland is also heavy on caricature, delivering some farcical lines. (Although I liked his closer.) But you'd hope an experienced actor like him would be able to adjust his performance to a more sensible tone. Then again, Sutherland the long-time activist, might just see this as a chance stick it to the Republicans, pulling out all ham to make them look like a bunch of lunatics.
Which brings me to the political business - it's not as if you can miss it with things being set in The Whitehouse and all. The show is, to be blunt, fiercely left wing. But, funnily enough, that's not something that bothers me these days because, well, I'm used to it. How often are TV Republicans portrayed as good guys? Not very often, I'd suggest. It would be more than a little surprising if the president and his staff were a bunch of well-intentioned GOP grandees, and the vile schemers a hoard of rabid Tammany Hall headkickers.
I'll watch it again next week, and probably for a few weeks after that, too, but unlike West Wing which was grouse for at least a couple of seasons, I've a sneaking suspicion I'll be tuning out before the end of the season. Not sure why, just a hunch.
PS: Does anyone remember Patty Duke as president in a TV show called Hail To the Chief? I only ever saw it once or twice and rather liked it, despite it being a bit of a fuck-up. But with a cast including Murray Hamilton, Dick Shawn and one of my all-time favourite actors, John Vernon, it was a bit of a giggle. As far as I can remember, anyway - it may well have been utter rubbish.
Briefs, now breasts?
For once I can closely align our blog content.
I'm enjoying it while it lasts.
Posted by: gav | 28 February 2006 at 15:57
It's Lewd Week here at the AGB, Gav.
Posted by: Tony.T | 28 February 2006 at 16:03
Just so you know, this is going to be completely off topic.
I was watching Lord of War yesterday, and lo and behold, there are no less than 2 references to 32 in all of 45 seconds.
Posted by: anne | 28 February 2006 at 18:37
Tony,
Hail To the Chief only ran for 7 episodes and was cancelled for no reason, according to Patty Duke.
You obviously don't have mass appeal tastes.
http://www.tv.com/hail-to-the-chief/show/1499/summary.html
Posted by: youcancallmemeyer | 28 February 2006 at 22:35
Obviously, we didn't need to watch this shite to know it's message..........(s)....there's no way that Hillary will be president, men think women r full of something other than blood'n'guts, and americans are............., better off watching 'Supernatural.'....
Posted by: sophie | 01 March 2006 at 01:47
Anne: Lord of War - noted. Ta.
Meyer: You're right, I don't.
Soph: I always check 'em out before I shitcan 'em.
Posted by: Tony.T | 01 March 2006 at 13:25
I don't....can never have too much of a good stereotype...
Posted by: sophie | 03 March 2006 at 22:59
True. This blog would be buggered without them.
Posted by: Tony.T | 06 March 2006 at 12:06