Post by Forever Xena on Aug 4, 2005 5:49:40 GMT -6
'Chief' concerns: Family first
By Paul J. Gough
Both the creator and star of ABC's upcoming dramedy "Commander in Chief" are acknowledged Democrats, but they pledge that the new ABC drama is more of an "East Wing" type of show.
"Commander in Chief" stars Geena Davis as a married mother and independent vice president who is thrust into power after the death of the Republican president, battling concerns by her predecessors' advisers and cabinet as well as her family and associates. Creator/executive producer Rod Lurie said there will be politics in the series but it's not the only focus of the show.
"We're going to deal with East Wing stuff, residential stuff," as well as the presidential issues, Lurie said at the Television Critics Assn.'s summer press tour Wednesday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton. Lurie called "The West Wing" "one of the great shows in the history of television" but its focus is more political than the family values that will be embodied in Davis' character.
He said that "Commander in Chief" wouldn't spend as much time on the arcane that "The West Wing" does; Davis' TV family, including her husband, played by Kyle Secor, are a big part of the show. Donald Sutherland plays her nemesis, who believes he should be president instead of her. The show will air at 9 p.m. Tuesdays beginning in September.
Lurie, who directed the 2000 feature "The Contender" starring Joan Allen as a female politician who becomes vice president, said he's staying away from political statements on the show, though he said he is a Democrat. He said there wasn't a temptation for Davis' character to be anything other than an independent because he wanted someone who isn't beholden to the party structure.
"We don't want to be caught on the left side of the world at all," Lurie said.
Davis, who later said she was a Democrat, joked: "I'm involved in the politics of making sure that ABC and Touchstone are very happy with this show."
Lurie said he hopes that it won't become a blue state/red state sort of show; he said Davis' character will have some conservative views, including support of abstinence education.
While "Commander in Chief" won't include Iraq, there will be some mention of such real-life White House occupants as Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The pilot mentions the name of Vice President Dick Cheney. But Lurie said he's not sure about the chances of a woman becoming president anytime soon; he said it's unfortunate that the odds are stacked against women in the primaries. Davis said she wasn't modeling her character against any real-life politician.
"I didn't really base my characterization on anybody. I don't really work that way when I play a role," Davis said. "I really more find the parts of myself that the character has. I believe that we have everything within us, the ability to be a killer or the girlfriend of an insect (two roles she's played in the movies)."
Parts of the pilot are being reshot; the second episode will feature Davis' character's search for a vice president. ABC said Peter Coyote ("Erin Brockovich") has been hired to play a vice presidential nominee beginning in the second episode; former "Third Watch" actor Jason Wiles will play a deputy press secretary.
Meanwhile, ABC on Wednesday announced a casting addition to its hit show "Lost." Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje ("Oz") is joining the series playing Emeka, a mysterious man dwelling on the island whose intentions are revealed in early episodes of the second season. Akinnuoye-Agbaje also has enjoyed a busy film career with roles in "The Mummy Returns" and "The Bourne Identity." He will next be seen in "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," the film starring Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson that recently wrapped production.
By Paul J. Gough
Both the creator and star of ABC's upcoming dramedy "Commander in Chief" are acknowledged Democrats, but they pledge that the new ABC drama is more of an "East Wing" type of show.
"Commander in Chief" stars Geena Davis as a married mother and independent vice president who is thrust into power after the death of the Republican president, battling concerns by her predecessors' advisers and cabinet as well as her family and associates. Creator/executive producer Rod Lurie said there will be politics in the series but it's not the only focus of the show.
"We're going to deal with East Wing stuff, residential stuff," as well as the presidential issues, Lurie said at the Television Critics Assn.'s summer press tour Wednesday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton. Lurie called "The West Wing" "one of the great shows in the history of television" but its focus is more political than the family values that will be embodied in Davis' character.
He said that "Commander in Chief" wouldn't spend as much time on the arcane that "The West Wing" does; Davis' TV family, including her husband, played by Kyle Secor, are a big part of the show. Donald Sutherland plays her nemesis, who believes he should be president instead of her. The show will air at 9 p.m. Tuesdays beginning in September.
Lurie, who directed the 2000 feature "The Contender" starring Joan Allen as a female politician who becomes vice president, said he's staying away from political statements on the show, though he said he is a Democrat. He said there wasn't a temptation for Davis' character to be anything other than an independent because he wanted someone who isn't beholden to the party structure.
"We don't want to be caught on the left side of the world at all," Lurie said.
Davis, who later said she was a Democrat, joked: "I'm involved in the politics of making sure that ABC and Touchstone are very happy with this show."
Lurie said he hopes that it won't become a blue state/red state sort of show; he said Davis' character will have some conservative views, including support of abstinence education.
While "Commander in Chief" won't include Iraq, there will be some mention of such real-life White House occupants as Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The pilot mentions the name of Vice President Dick Cheney. But Lurie said he's not sure about the chances of a woman becoming president anytime soon; he said it's unfortunate that the odds are stacked against women in the primaries. Davis said she wasn't modeling her character against any real-life politician.
"I didn't really base my characterization on anybody. I don't really work that way when I play a role," Davis said. "I really more find the parts of myself that the character has. I believe that we have everything within us, the ability to be a killer or the girlfriend of an insect (two roles she's played in the movies)."
Parts of the pilot are being reshot; the second episode will feature Davis' character's search for a vice president. ABC said Peter Coyote ("Erin Brockovich") has been hired to play a vice presidential nominee beginning in the second episode; former "Third Watch" actor Jason Wiles will play a deputy press secretary.
Meanwhile, ABC on Wednesday announced a casting addition to its hit show "Lost." Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje ("Oz") is joining the series playing Emeka, a mysterious man dwelling on the island whose intentions are revealed in early episodes of the second season. Akinnuoye-Agbaje also has enjoyed a busy film career with roles in "The Mummy Returns" and "The Bourne Identity." He will next be seen in "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," the film starring Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson that recently wrapped production.
Source Hollywood Reporter