COMMANDER IN CHIEF: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The pilot in this drama series about America's first female president, Mackenzie Allen. The episode begins at a Paris elementary school assembly where Vice President Mackenzie is informed by White House Chief of Staff James Gardner Jr. and U.S. Attorney General Melanie Blackston that President Teddy Roosevelt Bridges has a bleeding aneurysm in his brain. When Mackenzie asks about taking the oath of office, they tell her that she should resign so that Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton -- someone more in line with Teddy's ideals -- can replace her. Mackenzie is shocked by Jim and Melanie's pleas but takes them under advisement. On the Air Force Two flight back to Washington, Mackenzie wonders what would happen politically were she to become president. Meanwhile, secret service agents gather Mackenzie's children -- Horace, Rebecca, and Amy -- and return them to their residence at One Observatory Circle. Later, Mackenzie speaks with General Pollock, telling him to make some naval maneuvers which include preparation for the extraction of Oria Mehdulla, a Nigerian woman sentenced to death for adultery. Jim is shocked by Mackenzie's behavior in taking over the military. Back at home, Mackenzie speaks with her husband and chief of staff Rod Calloway and three children about possibly becoming president. Then, Mackenzie speaks with her staff about her next move, wondering how to deal with the Nigerian situation. Then, Mackenzie meets with a now-lucid Teddy, who tells her that he will not resign until she does. Mackenzie recalls two and half years earlier when Teddy asked the university chancellor -- and political independent -- to be his running mate. Then, Mackenzie inform Kelly Ludlow, her communications director, that she is going to resign and needs a speech written. However, Vince Taylor, Mackenzie's chief aide, is furious with Mackenzie's decision, thinking that ultra-right wing Nathan would make a horrible president. Then, with Mackenzie still unsure about her decision, Teddy experiences a bout of massive bleeding in his brain and dies. Later, with Nathan present and Mackenzie now "technically" the president, she is pushed even harder to resign. Mackenzie speaks privately with Nathan, who tells her it's not possible for a woman to run the world at this point in time. He further tells her that she was only vice president as a "stunt," just like her current efforts in Nigeria. Then, Mackenzie takes the oath of office, officially becoming president. The next morning, Mackenzie convinces Jim to stick around to help in her transition, while a few of Teddy's other cabinet members offer their resignations. Meanwhile, Rod ponders becoming America's "first gentleman," meeting with the former first lady's chief of staff, Norah Woodruff, to discuss his future plans and duties. After her first cabinet meeting, Mackenzie asks Jim to be her permanent chief of staff. Then, Mackenzie meets with former First Lady Grace Bridges, who tells her to "honor" her husband. Afterward, Mackenzie meets with Nigerian ambassador Manute Obama, informing him that the U.S. is soon to militarily extricate Oria. Later, Rod confronts his wife, humiliated that he has been "demoted" from her chief of staff to first gentleman. Meanwhile, the conservative Rebecca continues to rebel against her mother's new presidency. In Lagos, Nigeria, Oria is recovered by the U.S. Navy. That night, Mackenzie gives her first speech to a joint session of Congress, having to ad-lib when the teleprompter goes on the fritz, causing Nathan to sport an all-knowing smile. However, Mackenzie barely misses a beat and delivers a heartfelt message about continuing the nation's legacy. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 27, 2005 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:55
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:88065
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Politicians; Women in politics
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2005-2006
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "A History of Violence" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "In Her Shoes" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "North Country" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "The Greatest Game Ever Played" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - ASPCA organization
- TV - Commercials - American Express cards
- TV - Commercials - American Heart Association
- TV - Commercials - Ameriquest mortgage specialists
- TV - Commercials - Aveeno moisturizer
- TV - Commercials - Careerbuilder.com job search website
- TV - Commercials - Chase cards
- TV - Commercials - Cingular cellular phones
- TV - Commercials - CoverGirl makeup
- TV - Commercials - L'Oreal Vive hair care
- TV - Commercials - MADD organization
- TV - Commercials - Monster.com job search website
- TV - Commercials - National Partnership for Immunization
- TV - Commercials - Olay skin care
- TV - Commercials - Quiznos restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Royal Caribbean cruise lines
- TV - Commercials - Sprint wireless
- TV - Commercials - Subway restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Well Patch pain relief
- TV - Commercials - Women's Sports Foundation
- TV - Promos - "Alias"
- TV - Promos - "Boston Legal"
- TV - Promos - "Hope & Faith"
- TV - Promos - "Invasion"
- TV - Promos - "Lost"
- TV - Promos - "Night Stalker"
CREDITS
- Marc Frydman … Executive Producer
- Rod Lurie … Executive Producer, Director, Created by, Writer
- Geena Davis … Co-Executive Producer
- James Spies … Producer
- Alex Shevchenko … Associate Producer
- Larry GroupŽ … Music by
- Geena Davis … Cast, Mackenzie Allen
- Harry Lennix … Cast, Jim Gardner
- Kyle Secor … Cast, Rod Calloway
- Ever Carradine … Cast, Kelly Ludlow
- Matt Lanter … Cast, Horace Calloway
- Caitlin Wachs … Cast, Rebecca Calloway
- Jasmine Anthony … Cast, Amy Calloway
- Julie Ann Emery … Cast, Joan Greer
- Kristen Shaw … Cast, Norah Woodruff
- Anthony Azizi … Cast, Vince Taylor
- Leslie Hope … Cast, Melanie Blackston
- Talia Balsam … Cast, Ruth
- Mary Page Keller … Cast, Grace Bridges
- Ato Essandoh … Cast, Manute Obama
- Will Lyman … Cast, Teddy Bridges
- Donald Sutherland … Cast, Nathan Templeton
- Dean Shelton … Cast, Sam Wilkins
- Greg Cooper … Cast, Mark
- Ted Porter … Cast, Limo Agent Elderson
- Anthony R. Jones … Cast, Staffer One
- Shireen Crutchfield … Cast, Staffer Two
- Al Brown … Cast, General Pollack
- Donald "Spec" Campen, Jr. … Cast, Sergeant-at-Arms
- Hans Josephson … Cast, Chief Justice
- Stephen Zaleski … Cast, Honor Guard Commander
- Kevin Peterson … Cast, Pilot
- Jackie Ling … Cast, Reporter #1
- Juan Conde … Cast, Reporter #2
- Sherri McKinney … Cast, Reporter #3
- Ricardo Young … Cast, Reporter #4