There are only a few real-life figures which have been depicted on-screen as the varied Presidents of the US, however loads of films and TV reveals have additionally created their very own characters to undertake these titles. From long-running political dramas to extra short-form comedies within the style, the White Home has at all times been a well-liked location for TV reveals to take over. Among the finest political thrillers of all time have centered themselves across the US authorities, utilizing the POTUS as a lens by way of which to discover wider society.
Netflix’s current sequence Zero Day is one other addition to this style, following Robert De Niro’s former President George Mullen, as he investigates a devastating cyberattack that has drastic penalties for US nationwide safety. Whereas Zero Day has opened to blended evaluations, it successfully proves one necessary factor: audiences won’t ever develop bored with reveals that carry them behind the scenes of the White Home.
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Matt Santos – Performed By Jimmy Smits
The West Wing (1999-2006)
The West Wing is arguably the defining political drama of this century, so it’s no shock that a few of the present’s fictional presidents are nonetheless remembered fondly right this moment. Whereas Matt Santos isn’t the perfect president from the present, he was nonetheless a superb addition to the forged whose dynamic with the prevailing ensemble actually introduced these later seasons to life. He was undeniably match for the function, exemplifying all of the stoic management that residents would count on from the President of the US. Jimmy Smits gave a wonderful efficiency that managed to maintain The West Wing alive regardless of many seasons.
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9
Conrad Dalton – Performed By Keith Carradine
Madam Secretary (2014-2019)
Madam Secretary doesn’t at all times get the popularity it deserves for its wealthy, layered exploration of American politics, however one side of the present that’s broadly praised is Keith Carradine’s portrayal of President Conrad Dalton. Whereas the sequence principally centered on protagonist Elizabeth McCord and her work as Secretary of State, Carradine’s supporting function was nonetheless an enormous spotlight. Though Madam Secretary wasn’t renewed for a seventh season, it’s nonetheless remembered as one of many strongest and most practical depictions of White Home politics in current reminiscence.
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Mackenzie Allen – Performed By Geena Davis
Commander In Chief (2005-2006)
There’s heaps to be admired about Commander in Chief, from its progressive tackle gender stereotypes in American politics to its sharp, exact writing that continually stored audiences on the sting of their seats. The present adopted the fictional administration and dysfunctional household lifetime of Mackenzie Allen, the primary feminine President of the US. The present did a superb job of interweaving private drama with extra world, worldwide politics that managed to whet the appetites of many alternative audiences. Davis’ fictional president was a particularly robust one who confronted numerous challenges within the present, however at all times survived.
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Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III – Performed By Tony Goldwyn
Scandal (2012-2018)
Scandal was one other vastly profitable drama that explored each day life within the White Home by way of numerous fascinating characters and complicated relationships, actually bringing to life the stress concerned with this line of labor. Whereas the present centered on the president’s former media advisor Olivia Pope, Grant nonetheless performed an enormous function within the story all through its many seasons. Whereas many audiences are calling for Olivia Pope to return in one other present, Scandal wouldn’t have labored half as effectively with out Goldwyn’s supporting function – and a brand new mission would wrestle to recapture that vitality.
6
Charles Logan – Performed By Gregory Itzin
24 (2001-2010)
Whereas Charles Logan actually isn’t a “good” president in an goal sense, he introduced a lot stress and intrigue to 24 that basically elevated the present after a few seasons that struggled to seek out their function. He was the successor to Geoff Pierson’s President Keeler, who was sworn in after the previous suffered a crucial harm by the hands of a terrorist group. This subplot is definitely considered one of 24’s most fascinating overarching narratives, and Logan’s character improvement all through the later seasons is fascinating to look at.
5
Selina Meyer – Performed By Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Veep (2012-2019)
Whereas a number of of TV’s most iconic presidents are both sworn in instantly within the present’s later seasons or serve within the White Home for the complete present, the beauty of Veep is that audiences get to look at Selina Meyer climb the political ladder in real-time. She doesn’t turn out to be President of the US till the third season, by which level viewers have already come to like her because the Vice President. This makes the present a lot extra compelling, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ critically acclaimed efficiency makes this much more partaking.
4
Tom Kirkman – Performed By Kiefer Sutherland
Designated Survivor (2016-2019)
It’s arduous to debate the best fictional presidents with out a minimum of mentioning Designated Survivor; the present launched a complete new viewers to political thrillers, cashing in on Kiefer Sutherland’s iconic standing as Jack Bauer and bringing him to the opposite aspect of the Oval Workplace. The present follows his protagonist Tom Kirkman as he’s instantly promoted to POTUS after a devastating assault on the White Home that leaves each different candidate useless. Designated Survivor does a wonderful job of navigating the tough selections that American politicians make each day, specializing in the impact this has on Kirkman’s household.
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Claire Underwood – Performed By Robin Wright
Home Of Playing cards (2013-2018)
Home of Playing cards was the most important present on Netflix for a very long time, and stays probably the most influential political thrillers within the historical past of the style. The present adopted Kevin Spacey’s protagonist Frank Underwood following his appointment as Secretary of State, the place he works alongside his spouse Claire to climb the political ladder and get revenge on those that tried to sabotage his profession.
Robin Wright’s portrayal of Claire Underwood was a shining beacon that stored the present alive in its darkest moments.
Whereas each Frank and Claire tried their palms on the presidency all through Home of Playing cards, the latter was undeniably the stronger candidate for the function. Whereas Frank’s politics have been usually shrouded by ulterior motives and private vendettas, Claire was a way more utilitarian chief who in the end proved herself to be the winner of the complete present in its closing season. Though followers criticized the present’s closing seasons so closely that Home of Playing cards’ showrunners in the end needed to apologize, Robin Wright’s portrayal of Claire Underwood was a shining beacon that stored the present alive in its darkest moments.
2
David Palmer – Performed By Dennis Haysbert
24 (2001-2010)
The exact opposite of 24’s different president Charles Logan, the present’s first POTUS David Palmer was a wonderful addition to the forged whose fiery dynamic with protagonist Jack Bauer created a lot of the intrigue and stress of the primary few seasons. Not solely was Palmer an integral a part of the story, however Dennis Haysbert’s charismatic efficiency made him any individual that audiences cared about even when he wasn’t on-screen. He’s initially sworn into workplace after Jack Bauer prevents his assassination, resulting in a pointy camaraderie between the 2 characters that lasts till the latter’s loss of life in season 5.
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Probably the most attractive factor about David Palmer all through 24 is that he represents the target good of American politics. The place many dramas would shrink back from a personality that represents democratic values so cleanly and overtly, 24 realizes that you simply don’t want a morally ambiguous president to make tensions within the White Home boil over. Even essentially the most well-intentioned individuals can fall sufferer to political bother, and that’s precisely what occurs to Palmer.
1
Jed Bartlet- Performed By Martin Sheen
The West Wing (1999-2006)
The West Wing is a political drama at its core, nevertheless it’s shocking how lengthy it took the writers to comprehend that Martin Sheen’s president was undeniably essentially the most partaking a part of the present’s early seasons. His portrayal of Jed Bartlet was every little thing audiences needed from this sort of sharp thriller, along with his witty stoicism and fierce integrity that when once more displayed the purest a part of American politics.
Lots of The West Wing’s finest episodes are these that concentrate on Bartlet’s struggles to maintain his insurance policies on the White Home flooring, combating towards the Republican majority in his congress. It’s a quite simple character arc that doesn’t require too many difficult concepts or tangential subplots, nevertheless it works due to Aaron Sorkin’s wonderful writing and the charisma exuded by Sheen’s fictional president.
