Fake Television

This is the character of President Dalton as portrayed by Keith Carradine on the very thoughtful and largely apolitical CBS drama "Madam Secretary."   He is the President of the United States.

But, wait, I watch some other shows that feature Chief Executives.

Here is President Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) who rose to the office on "Designated Survivor" by literally being the last man standing after terrorists blew up the Capitol during the State of the Union address.

You want another one?

Here's President Keene (Elizabeth Marvel) the current sitting President on Showtime's "Homeland."  Her character is particularly interesting as it seems to envelop the very worst qualities of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. That's impossible to fathom.

I know there are other U.S. Presidents on television right now.  These three just happen to be on shows that I watch.   The interesting thing is what just happened to these three characters in the past three months.

In the plots for all three programs, all three of this Chief Executives just dealt with the prospect of the 25th Amendment being invoked.   You know, the Constitutional provision that allows for a sitting President to be replaced if his or her cabinet views them incompetent or unable to perform the duties of the office.

Dalton's woes started when he began to act irrationally.  As it turns out, he had a brain lesion that was making him be cuckoo.  After a little surgery and a few episodes off, Dalton reclaimed the office.

Kirkman's problems were a little deeper.  His wife, the First Lady, was killed in a car crash.   His resulting therapy grief sessions with a psychiatrist are leaked to the press and now everybody thinks he can't hold the office.

President Keene is a different issue altogether.   It seems nobody likes her and, oh, there might be some collusion with Russia.  Seriously.

So, what I am saying is that three different TV shows are using the very same plot line at the same time.  Uh huh.   Is that just plain coincidence?   Or are they trying to make a point.   And educate viewers about the 25th Amendment so that it can be used in the real world?

You be the judge.   I know television can form our viewpoints on a subliminal basis.   But this just might be the time when the whole medium jumps the proverbal shark.

Dinner last night:  Tortellini.