Who knew?

[RBBailey]

Imagine this. At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.

The news media swoons in admiration -- one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: "Why don't you show some respect?!" The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader's origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: "Embracing change is never easy."

So, does that sound like anyone you know? Oh, wait -- did I mention the leader is secretly a totalitarian space lizard who's come here to eat us?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-tc-tvcolumn-v-1102-1103nov03,0,7062976.story


Ha, ha! I haven't seen it yet, I recorded it, and I'll have to try to watch it some time.

What did you get out of it?

 

[2FUELS]

Christ...I thought you were talking about Dick Cheney for a moment.

 

[jhmover]

Rod Serling beat this idea by a few decades with the Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man"

Synopsis

A race of aliens known as the Kanamits lands on Earth and promises to be nothing but helpful to the cause of humanity. Initially wary of the intentions of such a highly advanced race, even the most skeptical humans are convinced when their code-breakers begin to translate one of the Kanamit's books, with the seemingly innocuous title, "To Serve Man."
Sharing their advanced technology, the aliens quickly solve all of Earth's greatest woes, eradicating hunger, disease, and the need for warfare. Soon, humans are volunteering for trips to the Kanamits' home planet, which is supposedly a paradise.
Not all is well, however, when a code-breaker discovers the Kanamits' true intentions: Their book, "To Serve Man," is a cookbook, and all their gifts were simply to make humanity complacent, much like fattening pigs or cows before they are slaughtered.
In the end, Michael Chambers (who's been narrating this story in flashback) is aboard a Kanamit ship, heading for their planet (and almost certain consumption). He looks at the audience and says, "How about you? You still on Earth, or on the ship with me? Really doesn't make very much difference, because sooner or later, we'll all of us be on the menu...'all of us'."

 

[RBBailey]

I'm just interested to see how far ABC is willing to take the Obama analogy, and whether there will be a twist in the end where Obama is vindicated -- analogously, of course.

 

[DiscoJen]

I saw that, too and was shocked that is was blatantly similar to our current state of politics. I was ready for the screen to go to color bars as the network was cut off...

 

[jhmover]

Now you can play the game.

http://www.usofearth.com/2011-obamas-coup-fails.php

 

[RBBailey]

I'm surprised -- the universal health care thing was very deliberately placed -- they could have had the same story line without specifically calling the murderous, reptilian aliens givers of hope via "universal health care". The whole Hope and Change message was quite pervasive as well.

 

[bri]

The V pilot was pretty fun. What did I get out of it? Well its timing is pretty good with terrorism, Obama and all, but....

ITS A TV SERIES! LOL. Entertainment in my book.

There is some pretty good sifi out there right now with Warehouse 13, Eureka and Mentalist. Glad to see it is coming back.

 

[n8thgr8]

Pretty sure this is a remake of an 80's cult tv show isn't it?

 

[Mantaray]

Pretty sure this is a remake of an 80's cult tv show isn't it?

Yes. same plot line, just twisted a little to make it more current being that the original is 20+ years old.

 

[DiscoJen]

The only thing that sucks is that there is only 1 network that I watch, everything else is all educational, NatGeo, History, Science, kinda stuff. That show is NCIS. And guess when it's on???? The same day and time as V. I am forced to make a choice.

 

[discopedro]

I loved the interview scene where the lady tells the reporter only to ask positive questions and he pulls the whole integrity thing, then eventually does the interview anyways just to get his face on tv. That part rang the most true of today's politics and reporters.

 

[RBBailey]

I knew I didn't want any of that swine flu vaccine...

 

[Discoinjapan]

Freaks....

 

[DiscoJen]

I knew I didn't want any of that swine flu vaccine...

I am cracking up at how blatant they are about meshing with current politics. And yet, it is still just an entertaining show.

 

[RBBailey]

Yeah, I think they are doing a fairly good job at keeping it interesting. A lot of new shows, especially dealing with aliens, would just degrade into an endless set in unconnected action sequences. This actually has a plot running directly from one to the other.

 

[bri]

There are a few shows that have good running plots these days. V is good thus far. I also like warehouse 13, eureka and the metalist. Other than sports, pretty much all I watch. With the exception of a few nature specials and sports.