TV Presidents
filed in Media: Film & TV on Jan.10, 2006
I’ll preface this post by stating that I am an addicted viewer of The West Wing (Sundays 8/7c, NBC), starring Martin Sheen as the lame duck President Josiah “Jed” Bartlett. So, my opinion is jaded and one-sided. Deal with it.
What is prompting me to write this post is the recent – and quite shockingly shocking – discovery that several of my friends watch the “show” Commander-In-Chief (Tuesdays 9/8c, ABC), starring Geena Davis as President Mackenzie Allen.
These friends of mine are not the sort of people that I would expect to watch such drivel a program. It amazes me when I hear somebody not only watches this show, but watches it routinely, as if they actually enjoy it!
Now, certainly the whole idea of a TV show about the White House being as popular as The West Wing could easily be extrapolated into several meanings, one being the need for the American people to feel secure in their actor-president who seemingly has more control over things than our actual President… but I digress…
What makes The West Wing such a great show is the witty, intellectual writing, combined with a seasoned cast of verteran actors, combined with an intricate story line that expounds over each season – intertwined with smaller plot lines, of course. There is no better drama on TV.
Commander-In-Chief is a show who’s only draw is the novelty that a woman could be President of the United States. Each episode presents the leggy President with a huge problem of national security proportions. Donald Sutherland’s character tries to foil her up so that she will not succeed, but the smart Geena Davis will always outwit him in the end. Yawn.
Related Article: Chief Elects to be Unoriginal (New York Daily News)
Google Fights:
West Wing vs. Commander-in-Chief – Winner: West Wing
Martin Sheen vs. Geena Davis – Winner: Martin Sheen
January 10th, 2006 on 10:19 am
Now this is just unfair!
I told you I watched the show, and ejoyed it, not just for its entertainment value, but for its “meta-values.” I watch it and gain my enjoyment from thinking about all the things this show represents: making fun of Republicans, exposing the seedy underbelly of politics, wondering how much money Hillary’s camp gave to the producers…that sort of thing.
As a show, it kinda sucks. The characters, apart from Sutherland, are flat and uninteresting, but its the stuff BEHIND the show that makes me happy!
January 10th, 2006 on 10:22 am
No need to get so defensive Greg. You were just the latest in a growing line of people I know who watch this “show.” You aren’t my sole lab rat, don’t worry.
January 10th, 2006 on 12:17 pm
Whoa…Kenny way to get political!
If Geena Davis’ charecter (Mackenzie Allen) is the example of how we think a woman President would be, then I hope we don’t have one for a long time! In the few shows I have watched you have Madaam President walking around with these big doe eyes, surrounded by men who are waiting for her to get tough, but she still feels this conviction of being a mommy and wife. She isn’t Mary Tyler Moore but I feel like that’s the tone this show sets about a woman President. I fully expect to see a shot of her doing spins in the Rose Garden smiling up at the sky in a nice Presidential purple joggin suit.
I think the show does more damage to Hillary and I am sure she isn’t too pumped about it being on TV. Look, Donna Moss is ten times more sophisticated, intelligent, and with it than President Allen could ever be. Perhaps that is the writers fault, but come on if you are going to have a woman president don’t show her having sensitive pillow talk with her husband and getting all “worried” about their marriage.
If a woman is going to be President she is going to have bigger concernes than whether her husband takes a job in another town or if her kids do their homework or know that “mommy” will make them cookies! Please!
West Wing all the way!
January 10th, 2006 on 12:23 pm
Wha? Political? Who? Where?
January 10th, 2006 on 4:34 pm
I didn’t think your post was political at all, but apperantly somebody did.
January 10th, 2006 on 6:29 pm
I have been a big fan of Geena Davis the cinema star. Geena Davis the television star has been a disappointment.
We started to watch an episode because of Geena. We didn’t finish it.
OTOH, Martin, Alan, Jimmy and cast do make West Wing very watchable in first run. I find it less enjoyable in syndication. Certainly, it doesn’t run as well as Law and Order.