This is a show that has a lot to say, and for the most part says it very well.
It's a shame that it didn't go down the route of "The West Wing", which though undeniably funny - often even absurdist - nevertheless projected the image of a grown-up, intellectual exploration into the shady world of politics, media, and the legislative process. Perhaps if it had, it may have lasted more than two seasons and been taken as seriously as it deserved. But unfortunately it makes the mistake of appearing to be a half-hour sitcom, rather than a one-hour primetime drama, and despite an impressive cast and good production values, it doesn't on the surface seem as thrilling or, let's face it, brilliant, as The West Wing. But it does have its moments. Plenty of them.
Unlike The West Wing, it lacks the ever-present intellectual wit and sophistication of Aaron Sorkin's genius pen, but there are some extremely well-written speeches that are very nearly as cutting and eloquent as Sorkin's work. And the basic premise of an ex-president who after 25 years away from office suddenly decides to rehabilitate his legacy is an excellent launch pad for a thoroughly satisfying political drama, with unlimited scope for political and social commentary. It just needed to be built on a more solid and respectable platform than that of a sitcom, which is inherently attractive mainly to an audience of the lowest common denominator, who won't "get" it. Hence cancellation.
The casting is sublime, with Nick Nolte offering up some of the best acting of his career. I don't think I've ever seen him perform so much from the inside, with such truth and subtle sincerity. His work in this show is verisimilitude personified. My only gripe is that his voice is so ravaged by years of drinking and smoking that he can barely utter a coherent line - and the dialogue in this show is so frigging important! However, the issue of his ruined voice is tackled head-on in one scene so unexpected and brilliantly played that it had me in fits of belly-laughter, and I was able to forgive it after that.
Nolte's newly hired assistant is played by Skylar Astin (channelling Steve Guttenberg), and though lovable at first, by episode three he was beginning to grate a little. Since Nolte's character was experiencing so many important epiphanies, and saying so many important things about so many important issues, having a hovering neurotic assistant constantly attempting to cover-up his "lapses" was an irritating distraction from things that needed to be said, and were already partially being lost due to Nolte's breathless and raspy delivery.
Nolte's young-adult daughter is played by Heléne Yorke, a pretty but troubled character sporting an attractive pair of nipples, which get plenty of exposure - for which I was most grateful - and a pleasant little camel-toe which is occasionally given its own close-up. Aside from her contributions as designated eye-candy, she is also a fine actress whose work becomes progressively less mammary-based as the show proceeds, and her character becomes considerably more three-dimensional (as it were).
The ex-First Lady, played by Sella Ward, is everything you would expect, both from the screen character and also the actress playing her. She would not be out of place in any of the various political dramas that have ever been made, including The West Wing, or more recently Madam Secretary. She is perfectly cast, and like Nolte is doing some of the best work of her career.
Rounding out the regular cast is Chris Lowell, making a late appearance as Nolte's troubled son, recently returned from war and seeking a new purpose in life, which he quickly finds as an angry, ranting TV pundit - giving the writers a fabulous opportunity to comment loudly and at length about whatever political or social gripe is in that episode's crosshairs. Lowell is an excellent young actor, and also balances his screen-sister's eye-candy quotient.
As season one progresses, it becomes increasingly more dramatic and serious, thankfully, and the season finale is a cracker! I haven't yet watched season two, but I'm already wishing it wasn't going to end so soon. This show is a surprise gem!
