BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Good ideas sometimes don’t last.
That could be the sad reality for “Commander in Chief,” ABC’s sweeping new drama about Mackenzie Allen, who becomes the first female president after the existing president dies of a sudden illness.
The creative mind behind the show is Rod Lurie, who wrote and directed the movie “The Contender,” about the first woman to become vice president, in 2000.
In the show, Oscar winner Geena Davis plays Mackenzie Allen, an independent who is chosen as the running mate of a Republican who was looking to balance the ticket. When the president falls ill, Allen is asked by virtually everyone, including the dying president, to resign as vice president and allow the Republican speaker of the House, played by Donald Sutherland, to move into the White House.
She ignores their pleas and moves in herself.
It’s a decent idea, and the pilot shows promise for some interesting story lines. But there are too many obstacles in the way.
The first and most obvious is NBC’s “The West Wing,” which already deals with the presidency on television. “West Wing” has lost steam in recent seasons, but could get interesting again in the year to come – both bad propositions for “Commander.”
But Lurie thinks his show is different enough.
“We have an extremely different president in office,” he said. “If I was just throwing on the air another middle-aged white man as the president of the United States who is a Democrat, then, no, there would be no reason to do it.
“Because I think ‘West Wing,’ in my humble opinion, is one of the great shows in the history of network television.”
Lurie said “West Wing” is more political than his show will be and focuses more on the process of getting laws made and resolving conflicts. His show will take larger looks at hot topics such as the death penalty, stem-cell research and drugs in America, while looking further into the East Wing, as far as how President Allen balances her home life with being the leader of the free world.
Lurie, a Democrat, also promised that the show will not be his personal soapbox. His President Allen is an independent, and one of her main detractors, Sutherland’s character, is a Republican who will win some of their arguments from time to time, Lurie said.
But the final and perhaps ultimate hurdle is the show’s time slot, 9 p.m. Tuesdays, which is rife with a very good and broad range of shows.
Fox’s medical drama “House” and CBS’ reality hit “The Amazing Race” will be there. And NBC’s comedies “My Name is Earl” and “The Office,” both of which should break out this season, will be there, too.
It all suggests that President Allen might not stay in office for a second term.
Seen and heard
Davis, talking about her role as president in “Commander in Chief,” referred to her runaway wife character in 1991’s “Thelma &Louise,” saying, “For Thelma to be the president, I think, is just delightful.”
Victor Balta is on assignment at the TV Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles, filing dispatches on the fall TV season. E-mail him at vbalta@heraldnet.com.
On the blog
In addition to his daily dispatches in The Herald, TV columnist Victor Balta is blogging live from Los Angeles, offering even more news tidbits, juicy insights and interviews with the stars from the TV Critics Association press tour. Here’s a look at what’s new online at www.heraldnet.com/ blogpopculture.
* “Dancing With the Stars” producers and winner Kelly Monaco react to the grand-finale controversy.
* A moment with Eric McCormack of NBC’s “Will &Grace.”
* A moment with Steve Carrell of NBC’s “The Office” and Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”
* Cybill Shepherd talks about her new Martha Stewart TV movie and her time on “Moonlighting” with Bruce Willis.
* Martin Sheen could join his son Charlie Sheen on CBS’ “Two and a Half Men” this season.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
