This has been a busy week in the United States, so busy that I am writing yet a fourth commentary of the goings on in Obamaland. Bloggers and would-be journalists, and yes, even real media types are falling over themselves and each other to comment on the new show on television, "As the White House Turns".
But just a reminder: this show was on TV back in the early 70s, and was cancelled on August 9, 1974, when in a fit of anger and melancholy, the star resigned suddenly because of a "disagreement" in style and substance with the producers and audience, AKA, the American people. His fans deserted him, to the point where the producers' representatives started to provide a list of grievances the producers had with the star and called it Articles of Impeachment.
So now, suddenly, White House Productions has decided 40 years later to try this show out to a new audience. Many of the same roles have been reprised and others have been combined to keep the cast smaller than in the original.
Unlike the original, which was a totally domestic production, the star and executive producer, Barry Obama, thought a foreign setting might add more drama to the show. So, the opening scene takes place at the consulate in Benghazi, Libya, rather than at the Watergate Complex in Washington DC.
Barry plays the part of Richard Nixon, a petulant, arrogant, nasty individual who thinks the republicans are out to get him, unlike Nixon, who thought democrats were hounding him. Nixon also had a media who disdained him, whereas, Obama had an adoring press corps. In order to get the media to treat him like it treated Nixon, he had Eric Holder, playing the part of Attorney General John Mitchell, bug the offices of the Associated Press.
The White House lawyer role of John Dean was changed slightly to CIA Director David Petreaus. Mr Petreaus also played the role of military chief of forces in Afghanistan in the previews, but the fans loved him, so he was recast when the show came to DC for the new version. And whereas Dean was allegedly a happily married man to his wife, Maureen, when he resigned at the end of winter in '73, it was decided, that right after Election Day in 2012, Petreaus' character should resign because he had an affair with an assistant, giving this production the sexual tension and drama missing in the original.
Hillary Clinton is playing Spiro Agnew, Joe Biden is playing Gerry Ford and John Kerry is playing Henry Kissinger. The role of Haldeman is played by Rahm Emmanuel, Erlichman will be performed by David Plouffe or David Axelrod. Obama Productions is still casting that role.
And of course, the part of Ron Zeigler as Press Secretary, has been given to Jay Carney, who has auditioned for this role and has out-Zeiglered Zeigler in his recent interpretations.
We will see the emergence of the IRS as a player, as it was in the original. Talk radio and Fox News together will vie for the role of the Washington Post. Perhaps one of them will be offered the part of The New York Times. It depends on the production company's budget. Again, this is an opposite production of the original.
The FBI and CIA will have major roles in the emails and talking points, and will be misused by the Obama administration, similar to the misuse of these agencies outlined in the original Watergate tapes and transcripts.
We are awaiting the associate producer, the Speaker of the House to cast the role of the Senate Select Committee in his chamber. And John Roberts will play Warren Burger, should the show last that long.
Right now, this show is a spring and summer replacement. Let's hope it doesn't last as long as the original. That was painful to watch, as this is as well. Let's hope Mr Obama does not drag it out to save his own skin like Mr Nixon did.
We really don't want history to repeat itself, at least not like this.
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