Clooney's blend of fact and fiction has Capitol Hill abuzz

[Nottingham]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=451006

Clooney's blend of fact and fiction has Capitol Hill abuzz
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
08 October 2003


Along the corridors of Capitol Hill and in the offices of the Washington lobbyists who bid for influence there is a definite buzz. And it has less to do with who leaked the identity of a CIA operative than the chance of running into George Clooney or else making a cameo performance in the new television series he is producing.

Clooney is the executive producer of K Street, a new series that aims to do for lobbyists what The West Wing has done for those who work at the White House. In recent weeks Clooney, his co-producer Steven Soderbergh and their film crews have become a familiar sight on the streets of the nation's capital, in some cases bringing traffic to a halt in a city that generally likes to think of itself as terribly serious.

As with much that goes on in Washington, the show is creating more interest among political and lobbying types than with Americans in other parts of the country. Reviews and viewing figures have, so far, not been favourable for the show, the fourth episode of which was screened on Sunday night on the HBO cable channel. The buzz in Washington is not just about seeing the city get a Hollywood makeover, but in the real chance of getting a walk-on part. The show's aim is to combine fictional characters with appearances by real-life political figures, all centred on the biggest political news of the week.

"There is a lot of talk among the senators," said Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat who, in real life, recently called for an independent counsel to investigate the leaking of a CIA operative's name to the media. Mr Schumer - who appeared in the third episode of K Street playing himself - told The New York Times: "I was on all three national networks that night - the same night - and I got 20 times the feedback on K Street."

more.... I wonder if Clooney could find out who leaked the Name of Wilson's Wife :bounce:

[smallprint]

1. To me, this is just sad

It's all just a big dumb show. People are dying in the middle east and all over the world because of these fucks, and all they or anyone else cares about is getting their ugly mugs on tv.

[xxqqqzme]

2. I have been watching 'K Street'

waiting 4 it 2 get interesting or find a character I like but so far 'Six Feet Under' or 'Sex in The City' it ain't!

[henslee]

4. Rozf, I'd really like to know what do you think draws you

to a character and holds your interests...

[lovedems]

3. Are they going to glorify lobbyists?

If he got 20 times the feedback from K Street, that explains California and Arnold. It's official, a majority of americans vote for the candidate and not the issues. No wonder we have a dumbass for a pres. (but he is likeable, right? I am tired of that because I don't like him!)

[BadGimp]

5. There is somethign seriously creepy about K Street

I Tivo the show and watch it every week

it creeps me out


I wanna take a shower after watching it

[tjdee]

6. Doesn't it?

I can't miss it, but I don't know why.

maybe it's all the unknowns...I do like Roger Smith, though.

[oxycontinrush]

7. Watched it last week... disliked it

I don't like the 100% reliance on jittery hand-held shots. It gets real annoying after a while. It's supposed to make it seem like you are closer to the interactions, but find using it all the time is a serious distraction.

I wasn't very impressed with the writing either. There is a big difference between dropping headlines superficially into the conversations and having headlines affect the plot. Recent headlines have no effect on the plot. The real "plot" is not very interesting.