COMMENTARY
New sci-fi show ‘V’ has gained relevance
Obama’s rise revisited
It’s been so long since my season preview of ABC programs ran that you probably forgot how much I liked the pilot of “V.”
This is what I wrote back in September about the remake of the 1984 NBC science-fiction series about alien visitors to America: “Greatlooking aliens led by a beauty named Anna (Morena Baccarin) arrive in 29 cities around the world claiming to spread peace and technology, which wouldn’t lead to much drama. Cast includes Elizabeth Mitchell (“Lost”) as a cynical FBI agent and single mom of a difficult teenager and Scott Wolf as an easily co-opted TV newsman.”
I added that it would appeal to fans of science-fiction shows that send messages about the dangers of being devoted to causes without knowing much about them.
My conclusion: “The pilot takes a while to get off the ground, primarily because it introduces so many characters. But it has some terrific twists and some timely messages about politics, journalism and religion.”
It earned 3 and a half stars out of 4.
And I endorse this show about a disbelieving priest, a supportive TV newsman and a female FBI agent as much or even more now because what it says about journalism seems so current.
In tonight’s pilot, the slick TV newsman played by Wolf has to accept Anna’s edict to avoid asking tough questions or lose the interview. In other words, he wants the big “get” interview. She wants him to be a promotional tool to advance her claim that “we are of peace always.” A smart politician, she also is offering universal health care.
Back in September, I certainly wasn’t thinking about the recent controversy involving President Obama and Fox News. But you certainly can see the comparison.
The Obama administration wouldn’t go so far as to ask news organizations to avoid tough questions. But it was foolishly saying if you carry shows (like Fox does) that question our policies, then you’re going to be on our enemies list.
The journalism application is only one reason to enjoy “V,” which also speaks to how uncertainty can fuel religious intensity and how dangerous it can be to be devoted to leaders without knowing much about them.
“People are scared,” notes a young priest. “The world is in bad shape. Who wouldn’t value a savior now?”
Along with the allegory of our times, “V” also has at least two good twists. Of course, series like this require great week-to- week devotion. It’s hard to know how well “V” will hold up during what reportedly will be a four-episode fall sampling. But the pilot is scary good in more ways than one. “V” 3 and a half stars out of 4.
Speaking of adoration, HBO offers a behind-the-scenes love letter to the Obama presidential campaign at 9 tonight, “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama.”
Starting in the early stages of the campaign when he was a long-shot at best to win the presidency, the documentary, directed by Amy Rice and Alicia Sams, illustrates the tremendous influence the younger generation had on the “improbable journey” by following around one of the young, devoted Obama operatives.
While Sarah Palin made some campaign fun of then Sen. Obama’s work as a community organizer, the film suggests that organizing may actually have helped win him the presidency.
There is some humorous bashing of President Bush from private citizens in interviews, some creative dancing, and some predicting that is even worse than the dancing.
“By the People” is especially educational and enlightening in the first hour when the spotlight is on the Iowa caucuses, which fueled Obama’s early surge.
Along the way, candidate Obama is portrayed as an incredibly instinctive and likable politician who never got too high or too low and was able to weather several political storms about his pastor and his associations. Viewers also will get an early look at the adorable Obama children, who actually speak at times. And they will see a close-up tear streaming down the candidate’s right eye during a speech he gave on the night that his grandmother died.
The most compelling character in the two-hour film is chief strategist David Axelrod, a calm, astute political insider who is at his best reflecting about issues and analyzing the “search and destroy” plans of Obama’s rivals for the nomination (Hillary Clinton) and the presidency (Sen. John McCain).
Axelrod also has a dry sense of humor, best illustrated near the end of the film when anxiety was high on Election Day. “For all our anxiety,” deadpanned Axelrod, “when you have a black guy named Barack Hussein Obama, how can you lose?”
One of the more humorous —and perhaps a little scary— subjects in the film is a 9-year-old boy who is unwavering in his support for the future president.
The film is so adoring it is bound to please Obama’s supporters at the same time it is ridiculed by Obama’s talk show “friends” from Fox News and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. But the conservatives should realize that such adoration was practically assured by the outcome of the election a year ago.
“By the People: The Election of Barack Obama: 3 stars
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