Sunday, September 11, 2005

New Show About Black President Marketed Like Science Fiction

The new television drama, "He's the Chief," is a wild-eyed, fantastical journey through a dream-like, futuristic landscape, according to press releases. The premise of the show? A black man becomes President. "This show will boggle your mind," said studio executive Walt Evans. "It's going to be like the X-Files, only even more unbelievable. When you first get a glimpse of the President sitting in the Oval Office - and he's black! - you're going to know you're in an alternative universe." Some critics have questioned whether the show's premise is just too fantastical for audiences to accept. "It reminds me of that Max Headroom show back in the '80's," said Variety reviewer Bernie Wallace. "Critics loved it because it was so challenging and innovative, but audiences couldn't get their heads around the concept. Science fiction doesn't usually reach a wide audience." Some viewers were already looking forward to the premier, however. "I think it's going to be one of those cult things, like Twin Peaks," said Melodie Fairchild of Seattle. "I mean, it might be a little weird, but you have to hand it to these guys. A black President? Sometimes the craziest ideas make the best shows."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this real or did you invent this? Is there really a show called He's the Chief and if so do people really think it's mind boggeling? If this is true then America is more fucked up than I thought.

weazoe said...

This story is barely a joke. The actual show coming out is about a *woman* becoming President and it is depicted just the way I've described. It's supposed to be this shocking, sci-fi concept: my God! A female President! And they had to come up with a plot device that she's an unqualified, token female who suddenly gets the job after the real President has a stroke. Like it couldn't just be that she wins an election like a man would.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear! I am glad I don't have a TV to know this is all happening. I try to sheild myself from such stupidities. America IS as fucked up as I thought. Or maybe it's not America so much as it is its media (cf with your "worst of the worst" problems)?
I guess the rationale behind the plot is that an unqualified woman in the presidential office is more bizarre than say an unqualified man (cf. George W. Bush) in office?

weazoe said...

Yes, Small Edith, I believe you're right about "Commander In Chief." The idea of a female President is apparently supposed to be more bizarre than the reality of a partisan hack and failed oilman suddenly endowed with awesome, emperor-like powers, declaring a war against the rest of the world as if by divine fiat. You really have to see the ads to believe them.