# VEEP: New HBO series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 24, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809 "2012-04-24T15:25:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/21 "2012-05-01T17:33:37Z")
> [@I'm Not Dennis Bergkamp](#): > > It’s tempting to think of JLD’s character as Palin, but I don’t think that’s the intent. Judging solely by the first episode, it seems more like a commentary on the irrelevance of the VP position than a knock on the VP herself, who seems pretty bright, although with a Larry David-esque penchant for getting into awkward situations. Yeah, that’s how I took it, too. I’ve seen the first two episodes now and am kinda underwhelmed, I have to say. Good cast, but it just hasn’t clicked for me. I’ll watch a few more just to see how it goes. Two things I noticed: In the first episode, on the wall behind the black receptionist’s desk is a wooden cutout of the state of Maryland. The end credits say the show is being filmed in Maryland. And Elaine Benes’s home state was…? Also, they keep showing an establishing shot of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where the Veep’s office is. This suggests that she doesn’t have an office in the West Wing anymore, as has been customary since, IIRC, the Carter Administration. Just one more way to underscore how irrelevant and powerless Meyer is. > **[Eisenhower Executive Office Building](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenhower_Executive_Office_Building)** > > The Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), formerly known as the Old Executive Office Building (OEOB), and originally known as the State, War, and Navy Building (SWAN Building), is a United States government building that is now part of the White House compound in the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. The building houses various agencies that comprise the Executive Office of the President, such as the White House Office, the Office of the Vice President, the Office of Management and Budget... ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/22 "2012-05-01T20:46:48Z")
I’m a bit underwhelmed as well. It’s a solid cast and the writing seems ok, but the comic timing between all the cast members just hasn’t meshed yet. I’m having a tough time beliving that Julia Louis-Dreyfuss’s character could be so inept. Not idiotic, but clueless. From her “official” website: > [@](#): > > Selina Meyer, born and raised in Chevy Chase, Maryland, has been a public servant for twenty years, most recently as Senator of the great state of Maryland > **[Derwent Howard](https://www.selina-meyer-veep.com/)** > > Australian Traveller I understand they want to beat us over the head with how powerless the Vice President really is. The thing is, you don’t get to be 22 years into office including a US Senator, without understanding how the game is played and how to play other people. She’s having meetings with previous colleagues as if she’s never been behind closed doors with them before. Have her bumble around with the press? OK. She can’t string two words together in a sentence? fine. But she’s got to have some politlcal prowess to have made it this far. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/23 "2012-05-02T00:55:01Z")
I loved how they didn’t let her take the pen from the situation room. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/24 "2012-05-02T02:55:40Z")
I think it’s great so far, but it might be because I’m a big fan of _The Thick Of It_. They’ve done a great job capturing the feel of that show - but I don’t know if they are just plain making a good show. I like how the younger staff is funny, I think that was a big part of _Thick Of It_ (uh I am hopelessly in love with Chris Addison tho). I also love Tony Hale (Buster Bluth) and I think JLD is doing a great job not playing Elaine so I am into it pretty hard. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/25 "2012-05-02T12:18:47Z")
I just hope it doesn’t turn into “Curb Your Vice President”, because there are some hints it’s going in that direction, and that could get old fast. The payoff to the yoghurt store bit was \*really \*forced. The store had to stay open late waiting for the VP, so they ran out of every flavor except vanilla? And the vanilla has been sitting out unrefrigerated? That doesn’t even make sense. But I do like the cast and the writing is generally pretty sharp. If they hit a stride they might just have something special here. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/26 "2012-05-02T12:40:48Z")
I’m liking the supporting cast, especially Michael Showalter and the guy who plays the office prick. “You gay Irish fireman … You’re okay, actually.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/27 "2012-05-07T13:21:37Z")
“Do you realize that everything you say emasculates me?” “Yes.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/28 "2012-05-22T01:44:48Z")
The thing I’m enjoying the most about the show is the open hostility between Dan and everyone else and between everyone and Joshua. I know people who are like this, but they don’t take such open relish in showing it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/29 "2012-05-22T01:54:08Z")
“I’d have more power in my hands if I joined one of those moronic Segway tours of D.C.” !!! Yes! Every time I see those Segway groups I say to my wife, “Hey, look, Segway morons.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/30 "2012-05-22T02:07:02Z")
Plus, anyone who says “Potus” or “Scotus” is a douche, so I’m really loving hating on these guys. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/31 "2012-05-22T13:43:06Z")
I’m still watching it, but not digging it as much as I wish. Just not as much funny per half hour as I think it ought to have. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Plus, anyone who says “Potus” or “Scotus” is a douche, so I’m really loving hating on these guys. You must have liked the FDOTUS line, then. First Dog of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/32 "2012-05-22T14:18:04Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > You must have liked the FDOTUS line, then. > > First Dog of the United States. Yes, that one made me giggle. Total douchebaggery. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/33 "2012-05-22T20:42:22Z")
I wish I’d written down all of the Internet nicknames for Meyer: Selina Meh, VPILF, Viagra Defeater, etc. etc. And the First Lady’s alleged slur, “Creepy Veepy,” of course. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/34 "2012-05-22T21:12:02Z")
Mammary Meyer, piss face ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/35 "2012-05-22T21:37:54Z")
I loved how when she first heard “Viagra Defeater,” she thought it was a good thing, then she grew increasingly offended when she realized it wasn’t. Also liked the bit where Mike was talking to the back of an empty chair. But they’ve made his character so incompetent that it’s hard to understand why she’d keep him around. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/36 "2012-05-22T21:39:39Z")
The riffs on nicknames were particularly funny. I especially liked Selina’s exasperated response to “piss face”–not so much insulted as bemused by the lack of cleverness (in comparison to the others)–and the detailed analysis of “Viagra Preventer”. IMO the series should stick with these more generic complaints of political power. Things seem to grind to a halt when they start getting into the details of the legislative process. I know the series is trying to keep Selena’s political affiliation ambiguous and I think that’s a pretty good decision, but that fiction will get harder to maintain the more you have her working on specific legislation. There are only so many initiatives that can plausibly be attacked/defended by either side of the aisle… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/37 "2012-05-23T03:06:35Z")
I know they’re trying to keep it ambiguous, but my son and I have pretty much decided that she’s a Democrat. How many top national Republicans care about green jobs these days? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/38 "2012-05-23T12:29:25Z")
Yeah, if you are trying to portray a moderate, she’s going to come off as a Democrat. Contrast _Yes, Minister_, which was written by a two-person writing team, one of whom was Labour and the other Conservative. Hacker was supposed to be a quasi-Thatcherite critic of the old-boy system, but many of his policies were what we consider leftist. You could have true ambiguity in that situation. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/39 "2012-05-23T21:51:16Z")
The last two episodes have really impressed me with this show. The first few felt too much like a generic office comedy with political buzzwords. The last two seemed much more focused on the politics of politics, which is vastly more interesting to me. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809/40 "2012-05-24T02:55:31Z")
I was a little sad when Selena had to vote against her own project, and it’s a tad unclear to me why she would have been pushing for it at all if she knew POTUS was adamantly opposed. Has a Veep ever tie-broken in favour of legislation to have POTUS later veto it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veep-new-hbo-series/619809.md?page=3)