The Powers That Be

This was one of the funniest TV shows, ever. My husband and I loved it. When we found out it was going to be cancelled, I did something I had never done before, I called NBC to protest the cancellation. I was told that they had hoped it would succeed and tried a 2nd season but the viewership still did not improve. I told them I thought they should give it one more season and put it in a better time slot. I compare the loss of this show to the loss of "Arrested Development", another great show that middle America couldn't get it's mind around. I also would like to see "The Power that Be" again, its been 13 years since it ended. I hope NBC comes out with the DVD.

I looked so forward to watching this program each week. It was such a disappointment when it was canceled. The cast was wonderful and sharp. It is one of the funniest sitcoms I have ever seen. It's a shame it isn't available on video. I have commented on it often through the years to people. It makes me think of another sitcom that didn't play long either "Alls Fair". That is my first memory of Michael Keaton who was extremely funny in it. It can also be compared with "Spin City". There are so many ideas and angles that can be used in a political comedy. This one could easily have been as popular as "Seinfeld". Here's hoping I will see this in reruns on on video soon.

The network powers don't know a good thing if it came and bit them in the behind. Anyway, the main character is played by the wonderful John Forsythe who is a Washington Politician. He is married to the equally wonderful Holland Taylor who is so brilliant as his wife. David Hyde Pierce was here before his life changing role on Frasier. Robin Bartlett played the politician's illegitimate adult daughter. Joseph Gordon Leavitt was here before playing an alien on Third Rock from the Sun. The show had a solid cast, writing, and a good future but I guess networks don't care about quality as so much as the age of it's viewers. I remember this show and think it would have lasted given the opportunity but I guess network executives are smarter than the general public.

This series was a shining jewel and a white raven amidst an overload of mediocre US sitcoms. Intelligent, witty, and hilariously funny, it contained brilliantly absurd, unforgettable one-liners (like hysterical Caitlyn's desperate observation: "Ventriloquism is tearing this family apart!"). While the wife (Holland Taylor) is obsessively trying to promote the senator's position in society, an ambition constantly undermined by her dysfunctional family, the senator himself (John Forsyth in a fabulous parody on Blake Carrington) is more interested in dallying with his secretary and socializing with his extramarital daughter. Valerie Maheffey as his daughter Caitlyn created one of the funniest comedy characters ever.

I had the presence of mind to tape most episodes when this series aired. But I most sincerely concur with a previous reviewer in wondering why, with so much utter c**p issued on DVD, this is still unavailable. Could somebody please change that?

This was a wonderfully humorous (laugh out loud stuff) sit-com about a senator, his large smart/crazy family, his mistress, his "in" with the new administration---unfortunately being stuck on early Saturday primetime and going insufficiently viewed (I guess), so prematurely cancelled after around 12-15 episodes--check the great cast: JOHN FORSYTH, HOLLAND TAYLOR, DAVID HYDE PIERCE, VALERIE MAFAFFEY, ELIZABETH BERRIDGE, ETC. By all means see it if the opportunity presents itself.