USA network orders ‘Political Animals’, political drama set in Washington

USA network has ordered six hours of a drama series about a former First Family. Tell us if any of this sounds vaguely familiar:

In “Political Animals,” as the new series is called, the Fictional Former First Family  is “on the verge of falling apart.” At the epicenter of the drama is the divorced former First Lady, who’s the current Secretary of State. She’s struggling to keep her family together while simultaneously dealing with the crises of the State Department. Her name is Elaine Barrish.

The series, slated for this coming summer, is produced by Gerg Berlanti and Laurence Mark. Berlanti’s the co-creator/exec producer of that other “fictional (wink wink)” political drama series, “Jack & Bobby.” “J&B,” which debuted on WB in 2004, and was about two very Jack and Robert Kennedy-esque brothers, one of whom would become President of the United States, serving from 2041 to 2049. Their last name was McCallister.

Getting back to Former First Lady turned Secretary of State Elaine, she finds an unlikely ally in a famous D.C. journalist who has spent her career tearing down Elaine, named Susan Berg. Over six episodes it will expose the dark, human side of life, and the often disastrous effects of political ambition, exploring themes that resonate “in the current political landscape,” said the network owned by NBC Universal, which recently put Chelsea Clinton on the payroll.

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State of the Union address: White House mobilizes social media network

A virtual State of the Union address?

Not quite. But the White House is mobilizing its massive social media network to engage as wide an audience as possible for President Obama’s annual report to Congress next Tuesday.

President Obama is applauded by House Speaker John Boehner while delivering his 2011 State of the Union address (Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP)

White House press secretary Jay Carney said that Obama’s speech at 9 p.m. will be streamed live at whitehouse.gov and afterward administration officials will participate in an online panel discussion.

The officials will answer questions sent in by White House followers on Twitter, Facebook and Google-plus, Carney said. There also will be a live studio audience.

“We’re very excited about all the ways we’re trying to provide access to the State of the Union,” Carney said. “It’s a terrific opportunity for the president to describe his vision of where he believes this country needs to go.”

The Obama administration has used social media aggressively to promote the president’s agenda. The White House’s Twitter account has 2.6 million followers, and the president’s campaign account has another 12 million. Obama’s Facebook page has 24.6 million fans, and his page on the newer Google+ network has 274,000.

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