Starring Role in ABC Drama Leaves Pr. George's Fuming(Commander in Chitlin's Swan Song)

Washington post ^ | 4/29/06 | Allison Klein and Ovetta Wiggins

[rmgatto]

ABC's prime-time drama "Commander in Chief," starring Geena Davis as the president, ignited an explosion of anger in Prince George's County yesterday as community leaders denounced an episode as offensive and racist for portraying the county as crime-ridden and in need of a federal takeover.

In the episode that aired Thursday night, called "Ties That Bind," Davis's character, Mackenzie Allen, watches a segment on the local news about civil unrest in Prince George's during a protest over the high homicide rate and a lack of police protection. She then goes to the Prince George's city of Hyattsville and gets out of her car in front of a restaurant advertising sweet potato pie, pork chops and chitlins.

[rmgatto]

This is absolutely hilarious. Prince George's County, MD is home to a thriving economy and I suspect has one of the richest Black populations in the country. Their crime problem is unremarkable for a diverse urban county (unlike, say, Durham NC). The county is home to the University of Maryland at College Park (very close to Hyattsville), the 35,000+ student flagship for the Maryland University System and a leading public university.

Commander in Chief has jumped a school of sharks on its deserved trip to Davey Jones' locker. Maybe the vertically talented Ms. Davis can be a basketball player in her next life.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Truth hurts. PGC is a sh!thole of crime, racism and corruption, much like DC.

[nvcdl]

PG has some wealthy blacks but the crime rate is well above DC's other suburbs.

[FreeManWhoCan]

Geena Davis to staff "No running inthe halllway!"

That was a great white shark jump.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Of course, a "federal takeover" of PG County would only make it worse than the chaotic hell hole that it already is in many, but not all, areas. All of Maryland's citizens are defenseless due to the leftist Democrat control of the state and PG borders some of the worst areas of D.C. and so the Third World status of that city has bled over.

[JennysCool]

ABC's statement is a hoot:

"While we used the name of the community, and we researched crime statistics related to the area, we also embellished the reality to enhance the story. Our goal was to create a more compelling drama for our viewers, not to portray the actual community or its citizens, law enforcement, or civic leaders in a negative light," the statement said.

"Embellished the reality." Just like the News Division.

[Democratshavenobrains]

Yeah but I think in the show, the Governor of Maryland is a Republican. They never said it but they did portray him as a states rights supporting white guy, so I just assumed.

[Emmett McCarthy]

There is a Republican governor, but he's up against the numerous Dem wackos sent to the legislature from both the suburban D.C. and Baltimore areas.