[jmcenanly]

It may just be a coincidence, but in the original V series, which ran at about the same time the original red Dawncame out , Lane Smith played a character named also named Bates, who collaborated with the Visitors. In that series, he was a businessman. In the current series, the collaborator is a reporter

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"In the current series, the collaborator is a reporter"

I would say that fits with the times....