A woman in the Oval Office commands viewers' attention

Star Geena Davis and a well-conceived plot make ABC's 'Commander in Chief' a winner.

Date published: 10/16/2005

By ROB HEDELT

IS THERE something to the theory that having something happen in our national fiction makes it more likely to happen in real life?

If that's the case, ABC's new "Commander in Chief" may be paving the way for a woman to sit in the Oval Office, and doing a nice job telling that story, thank you very much.

The Tuesday, 9 p.m. offering is one of the bright spots in a fall TV season, both because of the talents of star Geena Davis and a political/dramatic backdrop that makes for captivating stories each week.

The premise is more than just having Vice President Mackenzie Allen (Davis) ascend to the presidency after the death of her running mate.

The plot is thickened by the fact that Allen, politically an independent, had been plucked from her job as president of the University of Richmond mainly to lure female voters to a GOP ticket.

Indeed, the two top officials' views were so divergent that before he dies from a massive stroke, President Bridges asks Allen to resign and let the speaker of the House (Donald Sutherland) assume the top spot.

Bridges' argument to Allen: The two of them have never seen eye to eye, and she doesn't share his political vision or that of the party that worked to elect them.

He argues that wouldn't be the case for Speaker Nathan Templeton, who we quickly see is power hungry and particularly adept at manipulating politics and people.

Doing a nice job to convey the odd mix of sadness, shock and ambition that swirls through her when she hears about her president's illness and, soon enough, his death, Davis makes Allen one of the more interesting characters on TV today.

She makes her bright and a quick study, someone who learns on the fly the power of power politics. She lets viewers understand that some of her character's talents were learned in a four-year stint in the House, a turn in the private sector and on the winning ticket in a tough presidential election.

But Davis makes this multilayered character about more than just work.

She's a warm, caring person, as well, coping with a range of personal concerns.

Follow us on

Date published: 10/16/2005