ABC Vetoes Commander In Chief
By Keith Boykin, in pop culture
Wednesday, May 3 2006, 4:55PM
There is no justice in the world.
President Bush can mislead us into war, run up record debt, abandon the people of New Orleans, hire the incompent and reward his cronies with no-bid contracts and government sweetheart deals, and there's not even as much as a congressional investigation, much less an impeachment.
President Mackenzie Allen, on the other hand, rescues American hostages in Latin America, avoids a nuclear catastrophe, and personally talks to a potential terrorist and prevents him from blowing up Air Force One. And what's her reward? Her TV show gets canceled.
ABC Cancels Commander In Chief
I'm mad at ABC. They've canceled one of my favorite programs on television. I'm talking about Commander In Chief. Where else in America do we get to see a woman president? In 230 years as a country, we've never had a female chief executive, even though women make up a clear majority of the American population. That's because sexist laws and patriarchal beliefs have placed a glass ceiling on the political aspirations of strong women.
I've written about Commander In Chief several times before on this site. I love the show. While "The West Wing" had to play catch up to add diversity to its cast, "Commander In Chief" started out with a black White House chief of staff (Harry Lennix), a female press secretary (Ever Carradine), and a gay HIV-positive aide to the president (Anthony Azizi). And that's not to mention the strongest character, President Allen herself, played masterfully by Geena Davis.
The show started strong in the ratings last fall but struggled to catch up after it faced off against the Tuesday night juggernaut of American Idol after it launched its new season in January. ABC put the show on hiatus for awhile and then reintroduced it on Thursday nights, but ABC didn't even bother to update the web site with new date and time for the show. No wonder the ratings were down. It's hard for fans and DVRs to keep up with a show that's always changing times and dates.
Better Than The Real President
Many commentators saw the show as an introduction to the idea of a female president, and they openly speculated that it might help Hillary Rodham Clinton and other female presidential candidates in the future. But now the show may be lost forever. And just when it was getting juicy. The vice president recently turned in his resignation, and the next scheduled episode of the show featured a new storyline where the president falls ill and has to cede power to her political adversary, the Speaker of the House.
I will miss "Commander In Chief." I hope ABC reconsiders its decision. I know there are millions of people out there who love the show and would watch it if they just knew when it was coming on.
Now that "West Wing" is ending and "Commander In Chief" is going away, there won't be any more White House dramas on network TV. That's too bad. Since the current occupant of the White House is so uninspiring, it was refreshing to get a dose of the way things could be if we had someone competent and intelligent living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Now we have to face up to the depressing reality of our real president, George W. Bush.
Comments conceal
Derrick from Philly
May 3 2006, 5:53PM
Didn't they change the timeslot from Tuesday nights. I used to watch it on Tuesdays, but then they changed it. Networks are so quick to change timeslots, but that's one of the ways you gain a loyal audience, I guess. Then again, F__k the networks, it's the cable giants who seem to be providing quality programming now. Once the courts stop that damn CAmcast from being a monopoly, I'll get cable... well, if it don't cost too much.
Rahshek
May 3 2006, 7:05PM
It was just last week that the Washington Post reported that leaders of Prince George's County had a bone to pick with the ABC and the writers of last week's "close to reality depiction of the crime rate climbing in P.G.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042802182.html?referrer=emailarticle
I certainly will be sad to see that show go off the air. So much for a woman President as of now.
Ron Lee
May 3 2006, 10:27PM
I never watched an episode of it;but I was suspious about the premise of a white female President. Art is immitating life more and more I believe the powers that be did not won't this show to continue. I do believe the show including the Star all won Emmies last year so it's cancellation is clearly not rational. On the flip side of that. We as Black Men should be proudly aspiraling for a Black Male President,hopefully that will happen before a woman. Right now there are several white females who are in the Senate because of the Black vote, if our progressive white friends want to help us maybe they would let us win the Senate seats that should be ours and we could spring board to the Presidency from there. But aslong as white woman stand in our way why should we elect one as President.
MadProfessah
May 4 2006, 1:39AM
Exactly right, Keith! It's pretty sad that both The West Wing and Commander in Chief are both being eliminated in the same season.
We need escapist political drama to stop us from going crazy obsessing over the antics of W!
ProfessorB
May 4 2006, 6:52AM
I was a fan of "Commander-in-Chief" as well. It usually spells disaster, but maybe another big network will pick it up.
tony
May 4 2006, 9:48AM
hey kieth im with you on this one, i can't believe that after all the hype commander and chief recieved at the Emmys, that they would be so quick to cancel it. I agree with Ron Lee, i think Bush may be envious of how great Gina is doing running the country on tv that he was like, Oh i can't have this woman making me look bad, Cancel that sh-t lol. i do hope its not totally canceled.
SkylarKD
May 4 2006, 1:58PM
ABC has a history of messing around with timeslots and than cancelling shows because of poor ratings. *sigh*
Well, it's not TECHNICALLY cancelled yet, so tell ABC what you think:
http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html
chris-leo
May 4 2006, 5:03PM
you're right on the money with this one, keith. Commander In Chief was a terrific show. i find it somewhat puzzling that more people are dubious of females in command, especially considering that most of us had mothers. i'd figure a female president would make us all feel warm and fuzzy and protected, but i guess not.
i hope the show can come back. i loved it.
Terrence
May 4 2006, 5:08PM
ABC screwed this one up royally. What do they expect from a show when they put it through three showrunners, an extended hiatus and a timeslot where they have only had one or two victories in a span of atleast ten years??? ABC should be ashamed of themselves. It is another slap in the face for their audience, and this one in particular, who has just gotten around to forgiving them for cancelling "My So-Called Life" (I know, I am reaching back on that one) and for the nail in the coffin for their just as excellent "The Practice" when they moved it from Sunday to Monday nights. Geena Davis, the show and the audience deserved much better from ABC.
Terrence
May 4 2006, 5:08PM
ABC screwed this one up royally. What do they expect from a show when they put it through three showrunners, an extended hiatus and a timeslot where they have only had one or two victories in a span of atleast ten years??? ABC should be ashamed of themselves. It is another slap in the face for their audience, and this one in particular, who has just gotten around to forgiving them for cancelling "My So-Called Life" (I know, I am reaching back on that one) and for the nail in the coffin for their just as excellent "The Practice" when they moved it from Sunday to Monday nights. Geena Davis, the show and the audience deserved much better from ABC.
liquid fonts
May 4 2006, 5:39PM
I always that the spirit of that show was great but I could also see how it would get cancelled too, something was missing.
Ken
May 4 2006, 9:31PM
Didn't like the program. Didn't like the premise. Just as I don't like the notion of voting for a woman President, simply because she's a woman. It's Stupid. Personally I was rather enjoying this last season of the West Wing (a real White House drama) and I'm sad to see that go. But 'Commander' just wasn't cutting it in the ratings, simple as that. ABC is running a business, not a left-wing propaganda machine. The fact is America doesn't want this premise crammed down their throats, and they didn't watch as a result. Simple as that. Personally I'm glad to see the show go, I was so very tired of the hoopla.
mark
May 4 2006, 9:59PM
I hate to say it, but the show was doomed from the start. America is not ready for a female president, not even a fictional one. I don't personally know one dude that watched the show. America is just not ready for this concept.
Dwayne
May 5 2006, 4:32AM
Hello Keith, ABC really got this one wrong, and I am upset. This was one of the best new show on TV and they put it in a crazy unannounced time slot. I agree with one of the other emails that I read on your site. The show and it's viewers deserved much better than this. Not to mention that Gina Davis played the hell out of that role.
With that being said, Keith lets change history.....what can we do as viewers to get it brought back. (Call the Network, Start a Website, Call Radio Shows....whatever it takes) I think that's it's time for some good TV, I mean it seams as though they push all of these reality shows in our faces, with hardly any choice in the matter. My email address is deleven4U@aol.com, would you and anyone else that wants to help bring this show back email me and lets get this show back on the air. I have never been so serious about something in my life! Hope to hear from you soon.
Bahian Heat
May 5 2006, 7:56AM
I was pissed. I watch only 3 network shows, West Wing, 24 and Commander. It is amazing that both West Wing and Commander that now features a women and a Hispanic President are both cancelled. It sounds like a conspiracy to me.
Derrick from Philly
May 5 2006, 3:14PM
"...vote for her...simply because she's a woman."
Who gon' do that? If she's qualified and shares your political beliefs whould you NOT vote for her simply because she's a woman? Be careful, Ken. Homos who are misogynist sometimes disappear in the night. They wake up in a women's prison, with women guards, a woman warden, and not a dingdong in sight.
Twan86695
May 5 2006, 10:13PM
Very sad...sad...sad......I look forward to seeing the woman President and I loved the show. The acting was great..a woman President a Black MALE chief of staff; it was inspiring..and they even had a Arab gay male...I thought it was sensational. Oh well...."the good always die young"..in the case the good was "C.I.C"
CommanderFan
May 6 2006, 7:47AM
Show your support for "Commander in Chief" by posting a comment @
www.CommanderABC.blogspot.com
Bill from the Keys
May 18 2006, 8:32AM
My wife and I love this show & feel strongly that it is a Bush conspiracy to reduce the probability of Hillary as president! It is really NOT a farfetched concept. Consider what Bush just did to Oprah ...... He basically stole all the extensive advertising Oprah did for her special show which was to appear Monday 5/15 at 8pm when he placed his presidential address in that time slot. Bush knows the power of the media and he and his Republican buds did everything they could behind the scenes to disassemble Commander.
monica
May 22 2006, 9:21AM
My son was looking online at the list of cancelled shows, then he turns to me with a look, you know the look - like someone just died. I said, "what"? They cancelled your favorite show. Now I'm an up and coming author, have a bridal and consulting business, but when commander in chief is on...nothing else exists. I felt like she was the President of the USA, my little dip out of reality, but it felt good. Something has to be done. This is the absolute best show that I have watched in YEARS!
timber
May 31 2006, 11:02PM
this show is one of the best --no reason to cancel this
Teri
September 8 2006, 8:03PM
I can't believe this show was canceled. It seems as if trash tv is what is allowed on ABC network. What a GREAT family show.
Matthew Hunt
January 2 2007, 4:23PM
I am watching this show in the UK. I beg ABC not to cancel it. I just love it. I never had the chance to watch the west wing and regret that bhgut this show is fantastic. Great acting and actors and great scripts. Bring it back