The Powers That Be

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.

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.

In a TV world catering to the lowest common denominator, this show was a giant. It was intelligent humor at its best. While the characters were largely stereotypes and the skits often not original, the delivery was superb. David Hyde Pierce as the mumbling unlikely Congressman was especially wonderful.

I strongly urge Columbia and Sony to make the series available on DVD, I'd buy it and I've never bought a TV show before. Unfortunately, I suspect that the media moguls consider the commercial potential of a re-release in the context of the original shows popularity, so it may be a cold day in hell before "The Powers That Be" are in the store.

Furthermore, in our politically correct world, maybe it's now a violation of the Patriot Act.

This was a brilliant mix of satire, slapstick, and flat-out silliness. In tone it resembled some British sitcoms more than many American ones--that might have helped it fail (along with its incredibly lousy, undeserved time slot). It should have succeeded; I still find people who remember it and laugh. Fantastic cast, hilarious plots, and educated, witty writing (similar to "Frasier")...I wish one of the cable channels would pick up the episodes and show them again! I'd also be willing to pay for the set of episodes, just don't know where to find them.

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.