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| Ready to rock the world's cradle, Sigourney Weaver and the cast of POLITICAL ANIMALS. Images: USA NETWORK. |
No longer fighting and flame-throwing gooey, bloodthirsty aliens in cramped, sweaty ventilation shafts and lightless, spooky corridors as brave and iconic Ellen Ripley, the versatile Sigourney Weaver takes on predators of an altogether more human, but often no less nasty, kind as the lead star of a hot and successful new six episode American mini-series from the USA NETWORK which we hope will come to UK shores in the not too distant future. POLITICAL ANIMALS is the story of Elaine Barrish, ambitious and distinctively bright former First Lady and ex-Governor of Illinois who becomes Secretary of State to current Presidential incumbent, Paul Garcetti (HEROES always politically adroit Adrian Pasdar), juggling a career, a frosty relationship with her powerful and corrupted ex-husband, Bud Hammond (ROME's Ciaran Hinds), and a fragmented family whose difficulties, resentments and back-stabbing very much blur into one another as she makes advanced plans to run for the Commander-in-Chief's job for herself...
Trailer: 'Political Animals' Trailer - YouTube
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| Weaver as series lead political heroine Elaine Barrish. |
Though it could easily have become the kind of LIVING TV movie of the week for stay at home mums to enjoy, Greg Berlanti and Laurence Marks series, though no THE WEST WING or WASHINGTON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, has received overall positive reviews in the way it shows us characters not able to give up that power is the drug quality about them within their daily lives of political duty, brought to life by an inspired Weaver, continuing to find quality roles in a weakened condition US film and TV industry, backed up with a very strong supporting cast the likes of Vanessa Redgrave, THE EVENT's Roger Bart, Dylan Baker (sooo good in the fourth season of DAMAGES) as the current Vice President, yummy Carla Gugino as a feisty and clever reporter/antagonist to Elaine, and Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn as Elaine's tough and frank mother, Margaret.
Behind every great man is an even greater woman... It's an old saying but it seems particularly prescient with regards to life and power in the Oval Office!
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| Character poster for the first series. |
Political Animals: "First Look with Sigourney Weaver" - trailer #1 - YouTube
