During an interview with House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey for NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, correspondent Cynthia McFadden noted: "A life-long Democrat, Spacey says he, like many Americans, is frustrated with Washington." Spacey proclaimed: "I think that what is truly unfortunate is when an entire party makes a decision that they're going to block every single thing that a president wants to accomplish. It's very – it's very hard to get anything done in those circumstances."
McFadden referred to Spacey's ruthless character in the Netflix series: "Even Frank Underwood would have trouble with that?" Spacey joked: "Oh, I'd just kill everybody, just kill them all."
Moments later in the segment recorded on the show's set in Baltimore, House of Cards creator and executive producer Beau Willimon argued the supposed lack of progress in Washington was the reason people enjoyed the show so much: "The ways he goes about it may be distasteful to you, but what do people relish in a Frank Underwood? A guy who gets things done. I think there's a certain deliciousness to that which they see in his journey that they don't see in the real Washington right now."
McFadden wrapped up the report: "Let's hope fiction doesn't inspire the real politicians."
Here is a full transcript of the February 22 segment:
11:19 AM ET
CHUCK TODD: Welcome back. Even Rudy Giuliani wouldn't call President Obama a calculating, murdering psychopath. That's the description that would fit another American president, but thankfully he's fictional. Kevin Spacey's Frank Underwood begins the new season of House of Cards on Netflix, having moved into the White House, believe it or not. NBC's Cynthia Mcfadden was granted some exclusive behind-the-scenes access. Take a look.
KEVIN SPACEY [AS FRANK UNDERWOOD]: Anyone can commit suicide or spout their mouth in front of a camera. But you want to know what takes real courage? Keeping your mouth shut no matter what you might be feeling.
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN: That's always been his philosophy. Frank Underwood, now president, is still the politician we love to hate.
SPACEY [AS UNDERWOOD]: Because I lack scruples and some would even say compassion.
MCFADDEN: Yes, Frank Underwood has made it to the White House. Star and producer Kevin Spacey gave me a tour of the new sets.
SPACEY: This is the White House press room.
MCFADDEN: This is great. A life-long Democrat, Spacey says he, like many Americans, is frustrated with Washington.
SPACEY: I think that what is truly unfortunate is when an entire party makes a decision that they're going to block every single thing that a president wants to accomplish. It's very – it's very hard to get anything done in those circumstances.
MCFADDEN: Even Frank Underwood would have trouble with that?
SPACEY: Oh, I'd just kill everybody, just kill them all.
[MCFADDEN LAUGHS]
MCFADDEN: The show captures the weird alchemy of the outlandish, and realistic.
BEAU WILLIMON: I think we're getting to the essence of what it means to contend with that much power in your hands.
MCFADDEN: One reason the scripts are able to skate on such a fine edge, the show's creator and executive producer, Beau Willimon.
WILLIMON: We're always pushing the boundary of plausibility, that everything that happens in the show is possible.
MCFADDEN: You actually worked in politics yourself.
WILLIMON: I did. Very low on the totem pole.
MCFADDEN: So did you come out of it a cynic about politics? Or-
WILLIMON: Absolutely not. No. Francis Underwood is an optimist. You have to be-
MCFADDEN: Hold it. You mean he's an opportunist, he's a lot of things, but an optimist?
WILLIMON: An optimist. The ways he goes about it may be distasteful to you, but what do people relish in a Frank Underwood? A guy who gets things done. I think there's a certain deliciousness to that which they see in his journey that they don't see in the real Washington right now.
MCFADDEN: A guy who gets things done by any means possible.
ROBIN WRIGHT [AS CLAIRE UNDERWOOD]: We're murderers, Francis.
MCFADDEN: Let's hope fiction doesn't inspire the real politicians. For Meet the Press, I'm Cynthia Mcfadden, Joppa, Maryland.
