The American political panorama is without doubt one of the most divided areas proper now, with Democrats and Republicans at odds, each making an attempt to mannequin the method of democracy inside the partitions of their parliamentary places of work in vastly differing methods.
Nonetheless, nobody workplace is as cloaked in drama, secrets and techniques, safety, and scandal as The White Home – the official residence of the President of America (POTUS).
The white columns of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C have housed its justifiable share of scandals all through historical past – together with wartime conferences, clandestine schemes, marital spats, and problematic tenants.
After all, it’s all underneath deep safety, so writers and TV present producers are left to their imaginations about what occurs within the White Home, particularly the enigma of the Oval Workplace.
With that in thoughts, we regarded up a few of our favourite TV reveals in regards to the White Home, to sate our curiosity and hopefully yours as properly!
Designated Survivor, Netflix (2016 – 2019)
There’s a very fascinating customized on the subject of the road of succession for the presidency of America referred to as the Designated Survivor – an individual elected to turn out to be president ought to there be a disaster the place the road is damaged.
This individual doesn’t attend occasions however is saved remoted, to protect the succession.
Within the present, we meet Thomas Kirkman, who turns into the Designated Survivor of the State of the Union handle.
Quickly what’s a customary title turns into very actual when an explosion kills everybody that might have been forward of him.
Immediately he strikes from a traditional Secretary of Housing and City Growth to the function of a lifetime – President of the USA!
As he juggles his new obligations amid a cacophony of chaos, he’s additionally tasked with uncovering the reality of the bombing – all whereas going through a deeply unsure future and a menace that has solely begun to develop.
Deeply riveting and such a singular have a look at the job of POTUS and the customs of the White Home.
The West Wing, NBC (1999 – 2006)
Some of the compelling reveals in regards to the internal workings of the White Home, The West Wing reigns supreme as among the best political dramas in historical past and has gained quite a few awards, usually rating as among the best reveals of all time.
A lot of the present takes place within the titular West Wing, showcasing the Oval Workplace and its presidential employees.
The present revolves across the intrigue of fictional democratic president Josiah Bartlet, performed by Martin Sheen, who walks a tough line together with his insurance policies, usually to the dismay of his rivals.
Working a rustic just isn’t a traditional 9 to five job, and the advisers, president, and employees members within the West Wing usually discover their private lives hopelessly entangled of their work lives.
Observe the 2 presidential phrases that put this group of staffers by means of their paces with threats, scandals, and the burden of being the chief of the free world.
Commander in Chief, ABC (2005 – 2006)
The POTUS is commonly referred to as Commander in Chief, making it an apt title for a TV present in regards to the job.
Meet President Mackenzie Allen, the primary feminine president of the USA, after she succeeded the sitting president Teddy Bridges when he suffers a cerebral aneurysm.
At first, she is met with skepticism and even strategies that she hand over the reins to a different male, however after assembly along with her would-be successor she realizes that he doesn’t have values that align along with her personal.
As a substitute, she steps up underneath intense scrutiny, decided to show the world mistaken about their views on ladies in politics, particularly the Oval Workplace!
Veep, HBO (2012 – 2019)
After all, it could actually’t all the time be drama within the White Home, and in Veep we’re given a extra satirical have a look at life in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Observe Selina Meyer, performed by the legendary Julia Louis-Dreyfus because the Vice President (or Veep), as she and her crew try and navigate the political panorama, though they usually discover themselves distracted by day-to-day drama and political video games.
Selina is totally reliant on her wacky crew and although she has her personal political machinations, she usually finds herself skating previous on pure luck and the talents of her crew.
The present follows her as she tries her finest to construct a good working relationship with the Commander in Chief, a faceless caricature we don’t get to satisfy for fairly a while.
What makes the present stand out and earn its quite a few awards is the expertise of the solid; who will usually rehearse their scenes with a hearty dose of improv for the writers who will incorporate these classes into capturing scripts.
This provides the characters a correctly lived-in really feel and ups the comedic worth.
Scandal, ABC (2012 – 2018)
Is there anybody you possibly can belief extra in a scandalous scenario than iconic TV heroine, Olivia Pope?
After switching careers from White Home Communications Director to her personal agency as a disaster supervisor, Olivia is what’s referred to as a “Fixer”.
The place there’s a disaster, Olivia has the means to make it go away, and her expertise have earned a fearsome repute within the trade.
For these with cash and energy, Olivia Pope and Associates can defuse repute bombs earlier than the ink has time to hit the morning papers.
As she and her crew face weekly crises, we the viewers develop with them, and see how dwelling in a continuing state of disaster management slowly eats away on the armor they so keenly put together earlier than heading into the workplace.
Madam Secretary, CBS (2014 – 2019)
Observe Elizabeth McCord in her function because the Secretary of State – one of many highest-ranking political jobs aside from being the POTUS.
In her day-to-day job, she faces immense political stress and workplace politics whereas deftly navigating the difficult water of worldwide diplomacy – with a tenacity that sees her slicing a nook or two to get the job carried out.
She usually employs her expertise as a former CIA analyst to stability the scales and has a flair for language and strategic pondering.
After all, a job this demanding does take a private toll and we additionally observe her marriage and three kids as they go on this journey along with her.
Finally she desires to turn out to be president herself and is decided to show her price and political expertise.
Political Animals, USA Community (2012)
In Political Animals we not solely see the familial toll of being the President of the USA however we additionally get a have a look at what it means to be a pushed lady in a world dominated by outdated gender insurance policies.
Meet Elaine Barrish (who may be very loosely primarily based on Hillary Clinton) the ex-wife of a very fashionable former president, Bud Hammond.
In her life post-White Home, she is making an attempt her finest to be a loyal mom to her fractured household, whereas additionally serving because the Secretary of State.
The present stars Sigourney Weaver and has garnered very constructive opinions, with some even hoping for it to be prolonged to a full season as an alternative of its present restricted run.
White Home Plumbers, HBO (2023)
Many bear in mind the “Watergate” scandal, and it permeates popular culture to this present day with many scandals having the suffix -gate added to the tip of their names corresponding to Spygate and Deflategate.
Now on this 5-part restricted comedy sequence, we have a look at the “true” story of Watergate and the political sabotage it entailed.
Meet E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy as they fail ahead by means of a sequence of occasions that finally sees them by accident toppling the presidency.
Because the titular White Home Plumbers, they’re the lads tasked with retaining political leaks out of the papers by any means.
After all, the present attracts closely from historical past however provides it a satirical spin within the fingers of the immensely proficient Woody Harrelson.
The Night time Agent, Netflix (2023 – current)
The Night time Agent is a newcomer to Netflix and is predicated on the acclaimed novel by Matthew Quirk.
This action-thriller introduces us to FBI agent Peter Sutherland, a person assigned to the distinctive job of guarding a telephone within the White Home basement that seemingly by no means rings.
Till it does.
This sends him right into a sequence of conspiracies that threaten the Oval Workplace and nationwide safety.
Peter is quickly tasked with safeguarding Rose, a cybersecurity professional who has greater than her justifiable share of assassins on her path.
The present is a basic political thriller, combining the intrigue of working for the FBI and the hazard of stepping foot into the political area.
Home of Playing cards, Netflix (2013 – 2018)
The most effective political thrillers to grace our display, Home of Playing cards is a slow-burning story of revenge dripping in sarcasm as thick as Frank Underwood’s Southern accent.
The present opens with the celebration of the election of President Garret Walker, as Frank prepares for his rise from Home Majority Whip to Secretary of State underneath the brand new presidential regime.
Nonetheless, the guarantees made to him are quickly revoked, and thus begins the sweeping saga as he units out to topple the White Home like a home of playing cards from the within out.
Each Frank and his spouse Claire are equally pushed and power-hungry, and use one another’s connections as a method to an finish by means of their mutual schemes – and but someway they appear deeply devoted to one another.
Whether or not they’re leaking articles to journalists, shifting individuals round like chess items, or committing homicide, the Underwoods will see themselves seated within the Oval Workplace at any value.
State of Affairs, NBC (2014 – 2015)
The president can not probably have time to remain atop all of the worldwide affairs and incidents in his personal nation with no trusted crew round them – enter Charleston “Charlie” Whitney Tucker, who’s accountable for making ready the President’s Every day Briefing on the State of Affairs together with probably the most urgent safety threats of the day.
This provides Charlie the insufferable duty of focusing on these threats by bringing them to the eye of the president’s workplace, usually resulting in ethical quandaries that she has to navigate – particularly as she is engaged to the president’s son!
Though it has just one season, it’s a fantastic woman-centered present as we see the primary feminine president place her belief in one other lady to maintain her and the nation secure.
Backstairs on the White Home, NBC (1979)
Once we image the White Home, we solely scan our reminiscence for presidents and politicians, usually forgetting the myriad of unseen employees who’re paid to see as little as potential and preserve the home operating.
Based mostly on the ebook My Thirty Years Backstairs on the White Home by Lillian Rogers Parks, the present tells the story of eight administrations, not by means of the eyes of politicians, however from the reminiscence of those that occupied the backstairs, working silently to serve the nation.
Lillian performs as the primary protagonist, retelling her 30 years as a maid behind these historic white partitions.
Going all the way in which from President Taft to President Eisenhower, historical past is defined by means of unnoticed witnesses which might be usually taken without any consideration.
The Comey Rule, Showtime (2020)
Lately, writers needn’t look to fiction to conjure up an excellent political drama, as the acute divide and clashes of political ideologies have been ramping up greater than their very own imaginations can sustain.
Based mostly on the ebook A Larger Loyalty: Reality, Lies, and Management by former FBI Director James Comey, The Comey Rule follows him through the 2016 election and the primary few months of the controversial presidency of Donald Trump.
As their extraordinarily totally different personalities lead them in the identical route, Trump and Comey are on a collision course that may alter each of them endlessly.
It begins with the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails, and within the second half, we see Comey grapple with Trump’s erratic first few months in workplace.
It’s a very well-written and compelling present that pulls again the veil on the White Home and what could also be one of the crucial contested, speculated, and reported presidencies in historical past.
That’s My Bush!, Comedy Central (2001)
Comedy so usually attracts from actual life, and in That’s My Bush!, the intelligent writers at Comedy Central turned their gaze to the White Home to create a satirical sitcom that pokes enjoyable at politics and the normal sitcom formulation generally.
The present is centered on a fictionalized model of President George Bush and his first woman, wacky secretary, sassy housekeeper, and weird next-door neighbor – who lives subsequent to the White Home of all locations!?
Though the present usually took on severe matters corresponding to abortion and gun management, it did so by fully upending the concept of what a “household sitcom” must be.
Don’t anticipate a daily political satire when tuning in, however search for a couple of popular culture references in between, as creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are recognized for.
Mr. President, Fox (1987 – 1988)
Taking issues again a couple of a long time, Mr. President is a Carson Productions sitcom that follows the fictional Samuel Arthur Tresch, his spouse, and two kids ages 16 and 12.
The present famously tagged itself as “a have a look at what it’s prefer to be within the President’s sneakers nd slippers”, and appears at what household life within the White Home is like – drama, laughs, household issues, and all.
Hail to the Chief, ABC (1985)
Meet Julia Mansfield, the primary lady to step into the Oval Workplace because the President of America of America.
After all, she takes on the function throughout a politically making an attempt time and consistently has the sword of nuclear conflict hanging over her head.
With that apart, she nonetheless has to handle her private life, spies who need to deliver her down, non secular leaders out to destroy her repute, or perhaps a intercourse scandal!
The intrigue by no means ends on this sitcom, and although the matters are severe, the strategy most actually isn’t.
What makes the present distinctive is that the storylines are sometimes open-ended, very like a soapie, creating a really fascinating satire of the soap-opera style.
The First Household, MyNetwork (2012 – 2015)
It’s no simple feat being The First Household and that’s precisely what President William Johnson is about to study after being sworn in because the forty fifth President of America.
Collectively together with his First Girl, Katherine, and their 4 kids, the Johnson Household is shifting into the White Home.
After all, no first household exists in a vacuum and there are sure to be a couple of wacky members of the family who come out of the woodwork.
Right here we meet Pauletta, the invasive sister-in-law, and the President’s father Alvin – who regardless of their fixed bickering are sometimes concerned in varied hilarious schemes inside the partitions of this prestigious handle.
1600 Penn, NBC (2012 – 2013)
Each household has their oddballs, however what occurs when these oddballs discover themselves inside the partitions of the White Home?
Within the sitcom 1600 Penn, we meet Standrich Dale Gilchrist, the sitting President of the USA – and his dysfunctional household.
Standrich is left to stability his public picture and the absurdity of his residence life together with his overachieving however pregnant daughter, his second spouse who some contemplate a trophy, and his slacker son who lately moved again residence – what a sofa to crash on proper!?
And that’s just some of the solid members to deal with. It is a wild journey of a present, and what makes it so absurd is the setting all of it takes place.
Cory within the Home, Disney Channel (2007 – 2008)
How do you go from hanging out together with your psychic teen icon sister to dwelling within the White Home?
That’s simply Cory In The Home – a by-product from the hit present That’s So Raven.
Younger Cory Baxter strikes from San Francisco, California to Washington, D.C. to observe his dad, the brand new White Home Govt Chef.
Throughout his time there he butts heads with the President’s daughter whereas additionally working varied schemes to get wealthy shortly – schemes that inevitably collapse with hilarious outcomes.
The present is understood for its quick-witted plot and a revolving roster of visitor stars, together with Dwayne ” The Rock” Johnson himself!
