1600 Penn Review

I began watching the TV series 1600 Penn with no idea of what it would be like. It was just an ordinary evening at home, and my husband and I were discussing what to watch on online TV. We watch 1channel, which has a free user service.  My husband wanted to try this series as it had a Whitehouse connection, and he is rather into US politics. I was not that keen, but thought it might be worth a go.

It surprised me by being a pretty good situation comedy. It was interesting, quite funny and the characters were rather engaging. The show is based on what seems a new concept – the first family as an ordinary family and the president as an ordinary family man. The show is refreshing in its take on presidential life and has a playful irreverency for the first family which I don’t often see on US television/media. It is something different. Perhaps that explains its  very mixed reviews.

The show was created by Josh Gad,  Jon Lovett, and Jason Winer. Gad is also one of the stars; the president’s adult son, Skip. Skip is a bit  naive, but well-intentioned and determined to be himself and impress people (his dad, the world, women) at the same time. Martha MacIsaac plays the President’s older daughter, Becca, who gets herself pregnant, during a one-night stand, or so she thinks… Bill Pullman plays the President, a role he also played in the movie Independence Day, but in a very different context. His smart, blonde wife, who struggles with the media to be taken seriously, is played by Jenna Elfman. She is the children’s step-mother.

I rate the show as definitely worth a look. I watched the whole series, finding it more interesting than my husband did, although he liked it well enough to keep watching too.