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Veep Showrunner: Our Writers Weren’t Clairvoyant, Just ‘Had Our Fingers on a Very Sad Pulse’

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Veep Showrunner: Our Writers Weren’t Clairvoyant, Just ‘Had Our Fingers on a Very Sad Pulse’

As someone who grew up watching the idealized portrayals of presidents in films like “The American President” and “Independence Day,” I was taken aback when “The West Wing” gave way to shows like “Don’t Look Up,” “Long Shot,” and “Vice.” The shift from figures of wisdom and gravitas to jokes, and often bad ones, left me feeling disillusioned.

An intriguing turn of events: The momentous timing of Aaron Sorkin’s publication in the New York Times, just hours before President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from re-election race on Sunday, made for an unexpectedly humorous contrast. In this op-ed, Sorkin, renowned for “The West Wing,” suggested a surprising solution to the Democratic Party’s predicament: “Let’s choose a Republican for our nominee.”

Instead of saying “That is not what transpired,” you could express it as “However, that wasn’t what actually occurred.” As Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Vice President Harris for the nomination, there was a noticeable shift on social media from discussions about “The West Wing” to “Veep.” On X (previously Twitter), NBC News correspondent Sahil Kapur posted a TikTok clip of the HBO political satire, featuring Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) informing her team that “The president is stepping down, he’s not seeking reelection.” Kapur humorously commented, “Veep is a true-to-life account.” Pop culture writer Sophie Ross also shared a clip of Meyer whispering “I’ll be president” to an aide and wrote, “Can’t believe we’re experiencing the ‘Veep’ storyline in real life.”

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but share an intriguing observation. My sixteen-year-old daughter recently exclaimed, “Veep is trending on TikTok!” With a chuckle, I find myself reflecting on the unexpected surge of nostalgia for this beloved series. I, David Mandel, took over as showrunner for Veep after its fourth season when Armando Iannucci departed. It’s fascinating to see the renewed interest in our quirky political satire. When it originally aired, Veep didn’t quite match the ratings of blockbuster shows like Game of Thrones. But now, it seems poised for a resurgence? Let’s admit it, Veep was never a ratings powerhouse back then. However, in today’s climate, it feels like it could be?

Mandel explains that the connection between current events and “Veep” storylines isn’t due to psychic abilities but rather the result of a team of skilled comedy writers. They aimed to create the most absurd and hapless politician character, and unknowingly, Donald Trump emerged as a real-life match. It was an unexpected surprise when we realized our fiction mirrored reality.

As a long-time political junkie who has followed the ins and outs of Washington politics for years, I cannot help but be intrigued by the recent shift in tone between two beloved TV shows: “The West Wing” and “Veep.” Having grown up with the utopian vision of the former, where idealistic characters navigated the halls of power with intelligence and dedication, I have come to appreciate the gritty realism of the latter.

In the past, portrayals of the presidency leaned towards the uplifting and idealized image, showcasing wise and serious leaders in the White House through movies like “Dave,” “Independence Day,” “Deep Impact,” and “The American President.” However, with the arrival of more recent films such as “Don’t Look Up,” “Long Shot,” and “Vice,” the presidency is now frequently depicted as a subject of mockery and derision.

I discovered the show “Veep” back in 2012, towards the end of Obama’s initial term. The administration at that time was known for its optimistic outlook, or as some would put it, a hopeful brand. However, “Veep” presented a stark contrast to this image. In my perspective, the world seemed ideal during Obama’s presidency – peaceful and contented. Therefore, “Veep” served as a counterbalance. It was almost like asking, “What if things were different? Thank goodness we have who we have in the White House instead.” Unfortunately, when circumstances changed, it all became a reality.

The bleak outlook of the program was influenced by its maker’s upbringing and perspective. Born Scottish but long-term English resident, Iannucci held an innate suspicion towards politics and those in power. In a recent interview with Politico, he shared, “We’ve never been overly deferential to politicians. The president is both head of state and government, which means there’s some respect for the office. But we don’t have that here. Our monarch resides elsewhere in a palace.”

In other words, the cynical perspective towards politics and politicians, displayed in the shows “The Thick of It,” “In the Loop,” and “Veep,” was deeply ingrained from the start. These series depicted career politicians and their advisors as self-centered individuals who were willing to do anything for power and influence. Although these portrayals were insightful and foreshadowed future events, Mandel recognizes that “Veep” is a product of its time and could not debut now because reality has surpassed even the satire of its earlier seasons.

As a seasoned political analyst with years of experience under my belt, I have closely observed the evolution of characters like Selina Meyer from shows like “Veep.” In the early seasons, there was an intriguing air of mystery around Selina, as if there were two sides to her – the public persona and the private one. It felt like we were catching glimpses of what she truly thought and said behind closed doors, only for those moments to be inadvertently exposed.

If Mandel and the “Veep” writers have accurately predicted our current political situation, what might they foresee for the future? Are you asking if he’s bold enough to share his predictions? “Well, I understand you’re looking for a witty response, but I’m not quite sure I have one,” he admits. “However, in these past 48 hours, I’ve sensed an unusual intensity. Things can change in the blink of an eye, but I believe we’re on the brink of some truly intriguing developments. And it seems Trump is in for an unexpected turn.”

Following Emily Maitlis’ analysis, if the “Veep” storyline were to be directly copied, it would result in Kamala becoming president through inheritance, facing a tied electoral college and house vote, necessitating the Senate to decide the tie-breaking candidate, ultimately leading to J.D. Vance as the President of the United States. I inquired Mandel about the likelihood of this specific sequence of events unfolding.

“He previously didn’t succeed with Trump, but in my opinion, J.D. Vance might be defeated by him unexpectedly.” Following this, he amusingly quips, “Isn’t that an intriguing twist?”

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2024-07-24 19:06

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