The Hollywood Reporter has the news that actress-comedian and former Air America talk show host Janeane Garofalo will be joining the cast of Fox's "24" next season:
The political left and the political right are going to meet on Fox's "24" this coming season.
Actress-comedian Janeane Garofalo, an outspoken liberal, is set to co-star on the conservative-leaning real-time drama, whose co-creator/executive producer Joel Surnow jokingly describes himself as a "right-wing nut job."
On the Imagine TV/20th Century Fox TV series, Garofalo will play a government agent who is part of the team investigating the crisis befalling Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and company in the upcoming season.
Since her exit from Air America last year, Garofalo has been pretty quiet about politics, although (according to the article) she seems to have kept busy in Hollywood with voice-over work and other projects.
What's interesting here is how this fictional "conservative-leaning" show manages to balance out its conservative image by not only hiring outspoken liberal actors, but including liberal views within its storyline...while shows like MSNBC's "Countdown" (hosted by Keith Olbermann), which you might expect would feel obligated to do the same since they are news programs, do little to balance out the liberal views often espoused by the host and guests.
h/t: Lifelike Pundits
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Kiefer Sutherland is
August 21, 2007 - 13:43 ET by rbosqueKiefer Sutherland is liberal. Not really any off-screen conflict there.
Why Garofalo?
August 21, 2007 - 14:03 ET by RJI wonder what underlies this hire. She's not exactly a hot, in-demand property.
Could Keifer have insisted on another liberal to hold his hand the next time he's forced to "torture" a terrorist?
Good question. She doesn't
August 21, 2007 - 14:12 ET by balboaGood question. She doesn't seem to be the first pick. But then anyone could play those CT folks. They're not exactly a who's-who of Hollywood.
And I really thought she was poorly used during her stint on the West Wing.
heck, bal, it's such an odd choice...
August 21, 2007 - 14:30 ET by RJit's entirely possible that Kiefer specifically recommended her...buttressing his liberal creds and all that...
Think about why he felt it necessary to announce he's a card-carrying liberal....he could see this as necessary to help save his future in Hollywood....after all he plays a conservative and he might fear some liberals think it means he's really one of them....
Please tell me this isn't a
August 21, 2007 - 15:01 ET by motherbeltPlease tell me this isn't a sop, to try to take the "edge" off the reputation of "24" as a "conservative" leaning show!
Well, they're losing audience, aren't they?
August 21, 2007 - 15:06 ET by RJ...I suppose this could be a way to "reach out", while protecting Kiefer's future....
Up next....
August 21, 2007 - 15:16 ET by heldmywMichael Moore and Arianna Huffington in a cameo as "Maw & Paw".
I can't imagine casting
August 21, 2007 - 16:32 ET by balboaI can't imagine casting Janeane Garofalo will protect Kiefer in any way. She doesn't carry that kind of clout.
She will protect him with
August 21, 2007 - 16:39 ET by Hero SquadShe will protect him with kind deeds and warm thoughts.
*****
"Some people have a way with words. Other people, er, I don't know. Not have way, I guess." - Steve Martin
"She" doesn't protect him, bal
August 21, 2007 - 16:44 ET by RJ...but she does provide liberal Hollywierd "street creds."
As an approved liberal activist, she negates the conservative dust Kiefer has picked up by working on "that conservative show" for several years.
Eh...I think you're reading
August 21, 2007 - 16:45 ET by balboaEh...I think you're reading way too much into this.
You've already admitted she's an odd choice...
August 21, 2007 - 16:49 ET by RJ...and this is just speculation for the reasons behind it. I think it holds water.....got a better reason for this odd choice?
I thought Will Smith was an
August 21, 2007 - 16:53 ET by balboaI thought Will Smith was an odd choice, too, for the role of Bagger Vance, but I didn't think about it much further than that. :-)
non-responsive
August 21, 2007 - 16:54 ET by RJ:^>
Did you go back and add
August 21, 2007 - 17:00 ET by balboaDid you go back and add that question? Didn't see it the first time.
Hmm, better choice for the role of government agent investigating something? Hard to say without knowing more about what the character is supposed to do, interact, etc. But if they wanted surly, snippy, agents, then I would go with Jorja Fox.
Not what I asked, bal
August 21, 2007 - 17:04 ET by RJ...so I guess the answer is no, you don't have a better speculative reason for this odd choice.
Whoops. My bad. Perhaps
August 21, 2007 - 17:12 ET by balboaWhoops. My bad.
Perhaps there was a certain quality that they thought she could bring to the role? Maybe the producers like her? Maybe they were big fans of The Truth about Cats & Dogs?
i.e. "no I don't"
August 21, 2007 - 17:16 ET by RJ...but I'll temporize in my usual way....
;^>
Kiefer
August 21, 2007 - 18:35 ET by Two Strings LeftKiefer's a liberal, yeah, but he's got the most awesome collection of Gibson guitars - so I am willing to cut him some slack. Plus I like the way Jack kills arabs. Oooooh, sorry, I meant to say terrorists of any religious or national affiliation.
Garofalo will play a
August 21, 2007 - 13:51 ET by Darth DutchGarofalo will play a government agent who is part of the team investigating the crisis befalling Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and company in the upcoming season.
What do you think the odds are that Garofalo's character, since she'll be a government agent, will be corrupt?
Or, will they throw us a curve ball and make her a more right-wing character?
Dutch
What do you think the odds
August 21, 2007 - 14:04 ET by drillanwrWhat do you think the odds are that Garofalo's character, since she'll be a government agent, will be corrupt?
Or, will they throw us a curve ball and make her a more right-wing character?
Wait, DD ... In the eyes of Hollywood, the two statements you made are the same thing ...
Aside from the obvious, over-played corrupt right-winger nut-job, were GJ to actually play a real conservative republican-type ... Well, "That dog won't hunt ..." ... I doubt there is enough elastic in GJ for that stretch ...
"24", on very shaky ground last season with loyal fans/viewers, is about to bury itself in this coming season. Should be great fodder, however, for NBs.
she will be a protagonist,
August 21, 2007 - 14:10 ET by TruthMongershe will be a protagonist, a maverick, certainly left wing, of course a hero - fighting some evil conservative agency conspiracy - the bourne thingymajingy - you know...
Only in hollyweed could surnow be called a right wing nut job...
It's what normal people call a moderate liberal
Ah, you are correct. Either
August 21, 2007 - 14:18 ET by Darth DutchAh, you are correct. Either she will be the maverick leftleaning agent who tries to expose corruption, or she will be a right winger who is corrupt herself.
I'm sad, really. I, like many of you, have liked the past seasons of "24". I even liked parts of last season, but on the whole it was a dud. I'm a big enough fan that I will give the upcoming season a shot, but it's not looking promising.
Dutch
She couldn't play a
August 21, 2007 - 14:21 ET by TruthMongerShe couldn't play a conservative - it would make her skin crawl - well mine too if she did...
If she did it, it'd come
August 21, 2007 - 16:42 ET by Hero SquadIf she did it, it'd come across as phony as a Jimmy Carter dollar bill.
Like when Edie Falco uttered the line "I voted for George Bush," on The Sopranos. You could tell she had to work to get those words out of her mouth. Probably took 10 takes at that.
*****
"Some people have a way with words. Other people, er, I don't know. Not have way, I guess." - Steve Martin
Eco-Help
August 21, 2007 - 13:52 ET by mytwocentsThat's one sure way to help me reduce my carbon footprint. I'll just turn this crap off!!
24?
August 21, 2007 - 14:23 ET by iveseenitall24?--what's that? more mind -numbing nonsense on T.V.? Never watched it myself. Read a good book (of which many are also mind-numbing nonsense these days). Ah, the modern world. God help our grandchildren.
Garofalo?--Isn't she the nitwit from Air America? Why would anyone want to watch her performance.?
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Our grandchildren's world
August 21, 2007 - 14:29 ET by HelenSSpeaking of the modern world, to be occupied by our grandchildren, my brother sent me the following link:
This is a little presentation video called "Slide Show - Did You Know?" (look for it toward the bottom left of the video icons). It has some pretty amazing data in it!
Just one item: technology is growing at such an incredible speed that soon (now?) the information a first year college student learns will be obsolete by the time they're in their third year of college!
Some of the stuff they showed made me feel very tired (and old!) and I just wanted to go plant a garden somewhere and not worry about keeping up with all the technology (as if I stood a chance anyway!)
"Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war" - Shakespeare
I agree - read a book.
August 21, 2007 - 14:40 ET by fosstenI agree - read a book. I'll suggest some:
Unintended Consequences by John Ross
Patriots by James Wesley Rawles
The Black Arrow by Vin Suprynowicz
Enemies Foreign and Domestic by Matthew Bracken
This list will have a more profound effect on your thinking and need for entertainment than that stupid show ever could.
Forget 911, I dial 9MM.
Didn't you hear?
August 21, 2007 - 16:44 ET by Hero SquadDidn't you hear? Conservatives don't read books. Put down that book and read a good bumper sticker instead, ya libral! :-)
*****
"Some people have a way with words. Other people, er, I don't know. Not have way, I guess." - Steve Martin
So What?
August 21, 2007 - 14:10 ET by CaringwhiteguyYou guys wouldn't have much to do if you stopped watching entertainment programming because of the politics of the entertainer. This is totally harmless, and . . . . . it keeps her off the radio and it keeps her off the dole.
Wrong
August 21, 2007 - 15:31 ET by iveseenitallCaringwhiteguy---Fossten just proved you wrong. Many people don't need the idiots on the boob-tube and can find plenty to do.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
It's My Right...
August 22, 2007 - 12:06 ET by Pappadave....to boycott personally any actor/actress who can't concentrate on his/her job but has to voice their (usually completely uninformed) opinions on political matters to the extent that they damage the U.S. For that reason, I don't watch ANYTHING done by Hanoi Jane Fonda, Mike Farrell, Ed Asner, Babs Striesand, Martin Sheen, Janine Garofalo, Danny Glover, Susan Sarandon (OR her main squeeze.) I don't want to ever be accused of contributing to their incomes.
Might be my last season
August 21, 2007 - 14:11 ET by AshmanMight be my last season watching 24...With the Global Warming crap witht he show and now this crazy liberal on the show might make this my last season.....
I am double glad now that I
August 21, 2007 - 14:15 ET by bigtimerI am double glad now that I have never watched this show....
I loved it and and looked
August 21, 2007 - 15:10 ET by Sonny LykosI loved it and and looked forward to it each week. However, since they're gone "carbon credit" crap, I've decided not to watch it this fall, and when my wife finds out Garofalo will be in it, she wouldn't watch it either.
Since you've seen it all
August 21, 2007 - 14:21 ET by BeanManSince you've seen it all and are inclined to read a book may I suggest one by Thomas Sowell "Black Rednecks and White Liberals"
It is a book that should be read by every person in this country. If we all read it, the problems of race in this country would dry up i.e. Jesse and Al would be out of work.
Since government is coercion, politics is largely the exercise of deception regarding the intended use of coercion - George Orwell
Great choice
August 21, 2007 - 15:26 ET by iveseenitallGreat choice, Bean. Dr. Sowell is one of my heroes too. I'm white, he's black --go figure.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
The new two fold plot:
August 21, 2007 - 14:30 ET by Airforce_5_OThe new two fold plot: Battle Globle Warming and shutting Garofalo up. One in the same if you ask me.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
Janeane Garofalo
August 21, 2007 - 15:31 ET by CTGoodbye 24
At least she'll be out of the country!
August 21, 2007 - 15:41 ET by CrashThere aren't enough hours in a day to get me to tune in to watch that self-loathing fop. Ehh ... you did say Janeane Garofalo? Then I stand by fop.
What's wong with you people?
August 21, 2007 - 17:11 ET by Squalls BladeSeriously, this show has never been conservative, it doesn't have any political message if you ask me.
Anyway, I'm shocked that so many would dump this show just because they hire a well known liberal to be in it. Keifer Sutherland is a life long liberal whose gandfather wrote the public healthcare laws in Canada, so why did you start watching in the first place? Why didn't any of you quit watching when they hired Sara Gilbert to play Paula in S2?
Liberals are the ones who usually dump a show based on the political views of the actors, not conservatives. Conservatives should look past this stuff and enjoy the best show on T.V., not come on here whining like a litte girl.
The consumer has a right to
August 21, 2007 - 18:50 ET by KhyrisThe consumer has a right to advocate with thier dollar.
The consumer can choose to not buy the cheapest tuna which might not be "dolphin safe"
The consumer can also choose not to support any film/tv/radio with JG as they may not wish to support the overly comfortable lifestyle of the willfully stupid.
24
August 21, 2007 - 19:58 ET by pocomoco“Garofalo will play a government agent who is part of the team investigating the crisis befalling Jack Bauer…..”
What can we expect next, Kathey Griffen as CIA Director?
I Thought
August 21, 2007 - 20:22 ET by BondPlainBondJaneane Garofalo kept her promise and moved out of the USA - twice. Didn't she? What? She lied? She didn't keep her promise?
*chuckling*
Bad move by the ever more Left-leaning-to-be-seen-as-more-friendly Fox. Lost me as a viewer of the show, my family, and my friends with this Garofalo move. *shrug*
Stopped watching CBS's Jericho when it made the choice to make the Right out to be the insane, violent, greedy, murderous bad guys, too.
SHe'll be the GOTO for the quotes
August 21, 2007 - 22:33 ET by pbthinkerThere's little doubt she'll be the goto person for a quote on the show. Perhaps the producers don't want to be considered too conservative so they're looking for cover. Either way, we'll see if she's a better actress than talk show host.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.