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.
