Commander in Chief - The Inaugural Edition, Part 2 (Episodes 11-18)
It looks likeThe West Wing, it feels like24--it must beCommander in Chief. Created by critic-turned-filmmaker Rod Lurie (The Contender) and produced by Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue) and Dee Johnson (E.R.), the political drama reeled in the accolades and awards during its first year. Unfortunately, ABC bounced the show around so often, even pulling it from the schedule for a hiatus, that it failed to attract enough viewers to justify a second--let alone full--22-episode season.As the series continues, tensions between the US and North Korea have reached critical mass ("No Nukes is Good Nukes," the conclusion to a two-part episode from the first set). President Mackenzie Allen (a commanding Geena Davis) is doing what she can to extract an American submarine stranded in sovereign waters. If she can't come up with a plan in time, the crew will die. Worse yet, North Korea could declare war. In this episode, the Independent will also decide to run for re-election--against Republican Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland as a deceptively genial snake)--setting the stage for the rest of the year.Other developments include compromising photographs concerning Kyle Secor's First Gentleman ("State of the Unions"), the resignation of a key cabinet member ("Ties That Bind"), and a bout of appendicitis, which leads to Templeton becoming Leader of the Free World--for a day ("The Elephant in the Room"). The series ends with "Unfinished Business," in which Templeton makes his bid for the White House official and political consultant Dickie McDonald (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) reveals his true colors. Bonus features include deleted scenes, a blooper reel, and episode commentaries from Lurie and Johnson.--Kathleen C. Fennessy