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General discussion

Fake President's approval ratings down

Apr 29, 2006 12:30AM PDT

and the show's in a little hot water!

Starring Role in ABC Drama Leaves Pr. George's Fuming
Focus on Crime Called Unfair and Racist


ABC's prime-time drama "Commander in Chief," starring Geena Davis as the president, ignited an explosion of anger in Prince George's County yesterday as community leaders denounced an episode as offensive and racist for portraying the county as crime-ridden and in need of a federal takeover.

In the episode that aired Thursday night, called "Ties That Bind," Davis's character, Mackenzie Allen, watches a segment on the local news about civil unrest in Prince George's during a protest over the high homicide rate and a lack of police protection. She then goes to the Prince George's city of Hyattsville and gets out of her car in front of a restaurant advertising sweet potato pie, pork chops and chitlins.

After listening to people talk about slain loved ones and a lack of police, Allen sends 40 U.S. marshals into the county to quell the crime.


The folks over at NRO noticed a mention on the show. With scintillating dialog such as this, it's no wonder this show has gone down the tubes!

'CINC' MENTIONS NATIONAL REVIEW

President Geena: How can The Wall Street Journal call me a ''bleeding heart liberal'' on the same day the National Review calls me an ''ultraconservative''?

Chief of Staff: That's the dilemma of the independent. The press only sees black and white in the political spectrum.

Attorney General: Well, here's a keeper. The bloggers are calling us ''fascists in jackboots.''

President Geena: I always wondered how I'd look in a pair of those.

Discussion is locked

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Send in US Marshalls to act as local police. Is that legal?
Apr 29, 2006 12:40AM PDT

Sounds like the civil libertarians should be up in arms, and the left accuses President Bush of forming a police state?

Shake head. Mutter, mutter.

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I'm amazed ...
Apr 29, 2006 12:43AM PDT

... that there seemed to be so little concern over this part in the few accounts I've read. Maybe it's because so few people watch the show anymore, but it's supposed to be realistic (some thought even "real"!)

Evie Happy

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Largely due to ABC's mishandling of the show, Evie.
Apr 29, 2006 1:03AM PDT

It's had a change in creative team (mandated by ABC), has had its time slot moved (It's now opposite ER and Without a Trace, both of which have very loyal fans), was on hiatus for at least two months, and even before that was much more on-and-off in its appearance than most shows. Given all that, it's a miracle the ratings are as high as they are -- they're largely a tribute to the strength of Geena Davis, who's a truly terrific actress. I hope ABC gives it another year and leaves it the heck alone, except to promote it! ER is getting long in the tooth, so there's a major opportunity for the ratings to improve.

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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I've heard a few clips
Apr 29, 2006 1:13AM PDT

I don't suppose that Gina Davis' odd speech pattern or the utterly lame dialog had anything to do with it!

The Shield should suffer far worse than CINC if the issues you raise were really at play. With all the hype and fanfare, including Geena Davis' Golden Globe (surely not for her acting!), those excuses are really just that ... excuses.

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Could not imagine watching that show....
Apr 29, 2006 1:12AM PDT

From the ads it just looked far-fetched and the usual network pap.

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I heard a few audio clips ...
Apr 29, 2006 1:19AM PDT

... now granted these were out of context and sans video, but I just don't think I could sit through a whole scene of Davis'. I find Holly Hunter's voice to be only slightly less annoying Wink, and coupled with lame dialog her speech patterns would be unbearable!

Evie Happy