ou could have fooled me. Honestly, the set of the White House, constructed for the series Commander-In-Chief, is so realistic that had I been blindfolded prior to entering, I would have been convinced, initially, that this was the real thing; the Oval Office, the situation room, the Cabinet Room and several ante-rooms look precisely as I remembered them from the couple of occasions that I hosted my talk show from the West Wing. Yesterday I had the pleasure of playing the role of a BBC News Anchor, Michael Jackson, in an episode scheduled to run some time in May. I don't pretend to be an actor..or maybe I should have said I do "pretend" to be an actor and with each small guest part that I play, I gain respect for the working, and non-working, thespians here in Hollywood. It's a hard job, a tough profession and most of those in the TV and film industry, whatever their level of success, would, in all likelihood, take exactly the same career path if they were starting all over again.
The show is finishing its first season and when the hiatus is over the second season commences. Steven Bochco has one of the finest track records when it comes to presenting quality TV series. As most people know the star is Geena Davis, a star of vast experience and as good and convincing as she is playing the first female Chief Executive, for me she will always be Thelma (or was it Louise?).
Most of the small talk I had with the crew was about the President. Or perhaps I should have said another who plays the role of President. Geena does it most convincingly with style and strength and honesty. I can't say the same about the other in the Oval Office. I wish I could. Perhaps next time.