With the final episode of the smarmy “Mr. Sterling” show coming up this week, Dan Walters, the dean of California political journalists, memorializes its stupidity:
Perhaps one should not be surprised that “Mister Sterling” falls so short of even fictional relevance to real politics. “The West Wing,” after all, is more about what Hollywood liberals wish would happen in the White House, than what really happens, regardless of its occupant. In that sense, perhaps, it accurately reflects something basic to both entertainment and politics: Perception and image are always more powerful than reality.
He’s all for pulling the plug, which appears to be happening. The show trails everything else in its time slot in the ratings, so we should expect it won’t be back in the Fall. Good riddance.
UPDATE: NBC has axed Sterling from its fall lineup. Hoorah, the people have spoken and the network listened, although the rumors that it was going to be saved by adding “Baghdad Bob” to the cast were great fun.
Dear mr. Bennett,
Only a closed mind and self centered person would enjoy watching a show that educates and portray’s the political system as a place where not all politican’s are dirty, come to and end. As A young american i found the show refreshing and educating, it gave me a chance to better understand the inner working’s of the congress. I now can only hope that you are wrong and that it returns in the fall.
speak for yourself, mr. bennet. don’t speak for me.
Senator Sterling was a great show! My teenage son, who was not so interested in politics until he saw a show and got hooked on it (and got me hooked on it too!) is now very interested in the political process and what he can do to make government a better place. His friends now watch the show also! I bet that if NBC marketed this show to young people–college students and young professionals–the show would get a big following!!
Any person who can even think of down playing what “Mr. Sterling” has brought to american television, doesn’t need to have television. What would you rather have 24 hours a day worth of blood, guts, T&A, and more of the Sheen family bringing you fresh BULLSH*T on a silver platter? Put some real thought into what you are watching before making an assumption on what people will find believable and entertaing. The real problem lies in the fact that “Mr. Sterling” is probably more “reality TV” than most of the shows of that caliber. Mr. Walters and Mr. Bennett must find some other horrific outlet to astound everyone with their omnipotent wisdom, maybe Saddam’s information minister would care to listen, after all he is believable and truthful, right?
Mr. Sterling was the first show that I’ve ever scheduled my time to watch. That show was absolutely fantastic, and I couldn’t be more disappointed in NBC. 900 Channels on our satelite and 24/7 again there’s hardly a single single thing worth watching (save perhaps the original law and order).
With respect to the show falling “short of even fictional relevance to real politics”, last I checked the show wasn’t a documentary. Further I’ve learned more about the US senate through that show than ever before.
I’d love to see the show back again next fall, I’d be watching every episode once again. 10:1 says the american viewing public “votes” via ratings for another; (1) Law and order rip/spin off, (2) CSI in *insert new US city here*, or (3) “Real TV watch me for 10 weeks doing *insert stupid theme here*” .
This article must be linked on some Mr. Sterling fansite, judging by the recent upsurge of interest in it. A couple of points for Mr. Sterling fans to consider: I quote above from Dan Walters, a columnist with the Sacramento Bee who’s widely regarded as the leading political analyst in the state of California. When he says Mr. Sterling is nothing at all like real politics, you should believe him. So if you think you’re learning about the Senate from this TV show, think again, because you’re only learning about a very bizarre and completely fanciful spin on the Senate.
Given that this is a fictional show, the fact that it’s completely unreal isn’t necessarily a problem; The West Wing is also a load of bull, but people like it anyway. The problem with Sterling is that it’s a completely surreal look at the Senate, and poorly-written to boot. That’s why it was cancelled.
Now if they’d had Portia Rossi in it from the beginning, it might be a different story, but Streisand’s stepson is too much of a moron to carry off the role, and the staffers aren’t much better.
I’d like to offer a Canadian’s point of view. Republican vs Democrat has never meant much to me, and I’ve never been remotely entertained by politics. This show was amazing, and I believe Mr Bennett’s comment that it would have been better if “Portia Rossi…” had been “..in it from the beginning” reflects only that his tastes are generated more by libido than by brains. His remark about “Streisand’s stepson” being a moron was also way off the mark. His innocence and morality are what make him perfect and totally believable for the role (being gorgeous doesn’t hurt either), and he’s the reason I would like to see the show back. The US Senate may not be accurately reflected, but the processes and internal workings of US government are now more clear to me, and any TV show that can get me to enjoy politics cannot be all bad. NBC should listen to the people – get rid of the ‘reality’ shows and give us more entertainment. After all that’s why we watch TV.
Dems and Reeps aren’t hard to understand, even for a Canuck: Dems are your Liberals, and Reeps are your Reform. And while you may think you understand the US Senate, Lynne, you really don’t – you understand a fictional Senate that has very little to do with the real one. Real Senators don’t postpone trips for every incensequential floor vote, and they don’t let brain-damaged corpses chair committees. Thurmond was like a corpse in his last days, but he wasn’t a committee chair.
And NBC is listening to The People when it cancels shows with bad ratings; Sterling was in last place in its time slot, so the cancellation of that show is Democracy in Action.
If this show is cancelled, it’s a loss for me and my wife. We both found it worth watching. It uses a common man’s perspective and high ethic standards in the halls of rather stagnated power brokers, rather than the stilted West Wing approach of glitzy fast track people twisting power in ways they want.
Finaly a show comes along and both my wife and I are amazed by the content and the style of the show, and NBC goes and cancels it. Why get rid of the only show on TV with any merit? Has NBC no shame? Maybe we are supposed to watch pap like Friends (gag)?
Too bad. Regardless of the reality of the show, my husband and I enjoyed the characters/actors and topics. We’d love to see it back and are sad to hear that it probably won’t be.
Is there anyway we can ask the network to bring back the show
I can’t believe they’ve cancelled this program. It was a must watch for our whole immediate and extended families. One of the best programs on all television.
What can we do to bring it back?
I can’t believe they’ve cancelled this program. It was a must watch for our whole immediate and extended families. One of the best programs on all television.
What can we do to bring it back?
There are a couple of things you can do to bring it back: a) improve the writing; and b) improve the acting. The rest of it was pretty good.
Certainly those of us who have no interest in those “reality” (really?) shows, or complete strangers making out on tv or “blood/guts and violence should be able to watch something to our liking. Mr. Sterling was a refreshing difference and I for one protest the cancellation of this show.
So what if it wasn’t factual…neither was Jefferson Smith ala Capra, but damn, this was decent TV.
It kind of gave you a glimmer of hope that somewhere, ensconced in some small office in Washington
there was an elected official that hadn’t sold out once they got there. Maybe the reason it didn’t make it
is the same reason people watch asinine reality shows that depict people degrading themselves for
money…..it’s called the Dumbing down of America…..and those that don’t believe that’s happening, just
turn on your TV.
We loved the show. It was nice to see a television show highlighting good morals and values. We need more shows like it instead of all of the violence, death and stupidity that’s on most other shows.
Well, you can add us us to the fray to. My husband and I must be a demographic the networks don’t want to appeal to, liberal with good disposable incomes,oops and Canadian, because we were consciously staying home Friday nights to see Mr. Sterling.
Mr Sterling was a favorite show for this family.
Can’t figure why it was cancelled.
I am sorely dissapointed that you apparently are cancelling the Mr. Sterling series. My Wife and I and many of our neighbors failed to miss it each week. We believe it to be one of the most refreshing series to be on tv. What is so wrong about having a character that is just trying to do the right thing. We rate it far superior to West Wing which we will no longer watch due to Martin Sheen’s failure to support America in it’s attempt to rid the world of evil.
Please bring back Mr. Sterling. Don’t cave in to the left wing element and do the right thing.
I suspect that this note will fall on deaf ears, but I do appreciate the oppornunity to give my opinion.
Tom Mayo
Las Vegas, Nv.
Another good show bites the dust. What are you
going to replace it with? another stupid
reality show
Mr. Sterling was the best show on TV this year.
I wish NBC would give it another chance.
WHAT HAPPENED to my favorite show Mr Sterling? The only thing wrong with it, was that it was on far too early. The show would shine if it came on around 9:00 pm rather than 7:00 as it was shown in the San Diego area. Come on, bring it back!
PLEASE! Duh.
Bring back Mr.Sterling,where do you get your surveys from?no one ever surveyed me or any one i ever new for the past 65 yrs.
We miss Mr. Sterling in our house. It was worth watching, which can’t be said of most TV programs. It was thought provoking, whether you think Mr. Walters is Dean of Politics, or just Dean of griping about politics. Whether you are Dem, Rep or don’t care, it made us think about the issues of our time, and provoked meaningful conversations. That’s good TV. Bring it back, NBC.
Please bring back Mr. Sterling! My husband and I LOVE this show. We have a relative that
works close to congressmen and senators and he informs us that this is a pretty accurate
show. At least list a time when the prempted season finale will air! Robin (Mathews, Virginia)
They canceled a very good show and replace it with crap
What are they afraid of ?
People see how the system works ?
While I’m not sure it will help, you can email [email protected] and tell them what you think.
Where they came up with their ratings for shows, and how they choose time slots is beyond me.
Of course I’m learning about the senate watching that show (whether it be directly or indirectly from what intrigues me to look for more). The fact that it’s so far from the truth is what makes the show so appealing. Returning to your quote:
“is more about what Hollywood liberals wish would happen in the White House, than what really happens, regardless of its occupant.”
How comforting that someone “who’s widely regarded as the leading political analyst in the state of California” has come to the conclusion that with respect to the senate and american politics, regardless of how you vote it amounts to the same thing. I saw a hilarious, and at the same time sad, bumper sticker last week while vacationing in Hawaii. “Democracy… was getting tired anyways”. How “funny” that some leading political minds are of the same opinion.
I really liked the show and both my husband and I are in our 70’s and remember Mr. Smith Goes to Washington–which wasn’t real either. This show gave us hope that maybe, just maybe, someone with personal intergrity would survive and triumph in D.C. Too bad that we can’t have two shows on TV that show “the way we hope things might be” Was this one leaning too conservatively?????
We just happened to stumble on this show-perhaps with more hype more people would have found it!
Where did it go? Weeks I have spent searching the channel on Friday night looking for what I felt was the best television show to be aired. I remember when Friday nights where filled with crap such as Erkle and other mind numbing antics. Then comes along Mr. Sterling… At first glance I though to myself that this was going to be another one of those shows like Mr. Belvedere. My wife had to convince me to check it out. Much to my surprise and pleasure I found myself looking forward to Friday night television. Mister Sterling is television worth watching!
I am sadly disappointed in NBC for their decision to pull this show and replacing it with more crap.
I believe that if NBC had placed this show in one of their prime slots and given it a better title, it would have been the top rated show of all time!
Mr. Sterling may not have been factual, but it did enlighten me on politics. I never knew what a Filibuster was until I saw the show. Most Americans don’t really care if it is accurate. It was enough to wet our appetites on politics. The show was not cancelled because of bad acting or writing. It was cancelled because not enough people watched it. That could have been for any number of reasons. Obviously, it had some sort of following. Therefore, the acting couldn’t have been too bad. I loved the show and would like to see it back. If enough letters are written to NBC, it could come back. It has happened to many shows in the past that had even less merit. IMHO, all the reality shows should be chunked and more shows should be created for thinking individuals. Pity, there aren’t enough around to keep the ratings up for shows like “Mr. Sterling.” I also liked being able to let my kids see it. I would rather them see it than the rest of the smut on tv.
Let’s see… UHM… Crap TV or Mr. Sterling and I own GE stock. Unless everyone writes NBC this show will never see the light of night again.
Perhaps this show was not as sexy as some, nor was it as deep as the West wing. certainly it was entertaining, intelligent, sometimes thought provoking. Somehow , each week left my wife and I wanting more, each Friday we would if nothing else set up our vcr to tape it, because we really did not want to miss one episode… PERHAPS THE PEOPLE AT nbc should rethink some of their choises and bring back MR. Sterling and other shows like it. I firmly believe that this show was far closer to REALITY than any REALITY shows that replace all of the Quality shows.
I am very disappointed that Mr. Sterling has been cancelled. (Although lately, nothing seems to surprise me.) I cant for the life of me, understand how such a intellectually driven, cerebral program such as Mr. Sterling gets yanked from NBC’s programming schedule, yet the oh so ridiculous and absurd reality TV shows continue to obtrude the air waves. Mr. Sterling gave us a glance into the problematic goings-on of the American political system and how one man (Mr. Sterling) made his own way through that very system. How refreshing, a show that promotes a character who is not going to cow-down to political yes-men and instead and let us view with much pleasure, a person willing to do it the right way…Oh, sorry?.What am I thinking…someone in politics having an independent mind? Well, back to reality TV I go….
Who is this Richard Bennett anyway?? Go watch your cheap, mindless, reality shows or the blow-em up blood and guts shows. My wife and I will continue to support the quality, less stressful entertainment thank you. Josh Brolin is refreshing and new. His acting is natural, not forced like so many wannabes. Nobody ever said the show had to be realistic. Has anyone ever just wanted to be pleasantly entertained? Mr. Sterling will be back in the fall from the reaction of the majority of readers here. We are also two viewers whom have never been surveyed in our 50 years about our television habits.
To MR. Bennett, “Watch something more in your arena…maybe Jerry Springer? Hey..good ratings for a total waste of mindless viewers.
I find it hard to believe that the show was cancelled. My wife and I, and our extended families, thought it was the best thing going. Sad that a great show can be cancelled because not enough millions were watching. How many millions does it take anyway?
I see that the market is supporting all of these, IMHO, really stupid “reality” shows which are about as far as from REALITY as it is possible to get. I really do not understand the draw for such shows. Makes me wonder about the targeted audience. How can people complain about acting skills and then sit down and watch some “survival farce”?
It has been said that, “the medium is the message”. I think that the message is the message, and I don’t have much hope for a crowd that is drawn to this “reality” tripe.
What is the matter with good clean fun? Obviously it doesn’t sell.
I thought Mister Sterling was a wonderful show and I’m rather sad that it was cancelled. It was an intelligent show and there are precious few of those on the air today. I really looked forward to it each week. Could you please bring it back????
Who cares what Dan Walters thinks? I don’t call him up to ask him which TV shows to watch.
Mister Sterling was good TV and entertaining. My wife and I both really miss the show… NBC should really consider putting it on after 8PM. Great for families that have young kids that would like to enjoy their shows after their kids are asleep.
This was an absolute great show. I can’t believe they cancelled it.
If I see another “reality” show replace a very interesting and thought provoking show like “Mr Sterling” I’m going to gag. The dumbing down of network TV is gone to the extreme. So what if Sterling is not a factual portrayal, it does give viewers some insights into the way our government is actually run. Maybe the writers could tighten up the script but I and my wife enjoyed it and put its rating far ahead of 98 percent of the nonsense the networks continue to dish out.
My Wife asked me to find out what had happened to “Mr Sterling”. I found this website with it’s large majority of positive responses to “Mr Bennetts” negative review. We join the majority in wishing that Mr Sterling makes a comeback this Fall. Would Mr Bennett send all these comments to NBC to counterbalance the survey that showed America/Canada was not tuned in.
My God! An ethical U.S. Senator! How far from reality can a show get?! Sure, some of the situations were contrived, but that’s what makes a story a good story. If we want real political shows, we’ll watch C-SPAN (which I do, from time to time). This show IS about honest people making a difference, however small. It’s about the small person getting in a few left jabs, instead of constantly taking it in the chin. Please bring Mr. Sterling back!
Very rarely is there something on TV that my husband and I enjoy watching together. Mr. Sterling is one of the few shows on that we can actually look forward to each week. Josh Brolin and the rest of the cast is just great and how wonderful to see James Whitmore on TV again. Please bring this show back as we are getting so sick of sitcoms and how many more “reality shows” can they make?
If you want the show back I strongly urge everyone to send an email to [email protected]. Let them know how you feel. Attached is a message we sent in.
Also on the NBC website you can also become a panel member and provide feedback to improve the program content of NBC:
http://www2.rresults.com/1809998/index.cfm?s=10
– Forwarded Message
From: Soren Burkhart
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 18:08:18 -0500
To:
Subject: Bring Back Mister Sterling…Please!
It’s hard for my wife and I to express our severe disappointment in NBC canceling Mister Sterling. We finally felt that there was a decent show on television other than “Invent your nutty reality show here” or another mindless sitcom.
I strongly encourage you to go the following web site and see that others feel similarly to the way we do.
http://www.bennett.com/archives/001474.html
FYI: Your ratings would probably be better if you put the show on at 8PM instead of 7PM. That way people with kids can enjoy the show after the kids are in bed.
Feel free to contact us, should you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Soren & Christina Burkhart
– End of Forwarded Message
I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Sterling. I can’t believe it is being taken off the air waves. I am not a NBC watcher, but I did enjoy Mr. Sterling, and Providence. Both shows had me buying a vcr tape to record them. I was a Providence watcher at first, and from there I went staight into Mr. Sterling. Why is it that everytime I get into a show, it is taken off the air, but something silly like Will and Grace, Friends or Scrubs, will stay on for years. It looks like I will have to find another channel.
My husband and I also enjoyed Mr Sterling, for all of the reasons listed previously. But, like the rest of you, I don’t expect my comments to influence anyone. Except of course the two gentlemen with the negative commentary. Certainly they think their opinion has merit. Was there a final episode? I looked for it for several weeks to no avail.
My husband and I share the positive sentiments about Mr. Sterling. It was a decent show, low key, no violence,no bad language, just a group of actors portraying a view of a society, Washington, true or false, it doesn’t matter, it was theater. Some of the critics complained that it didn’t give a true picture of Washington. Does any program give an exact view? As a teacher, I often have to explain history as it WAS, not how it is on Little House on the Prarie or other fictional programs. We still find Gunsmoke on the air after running a long life, perhaps the longest running show on television. The real Dodge City was nothing like Matt Dillon’s Dodge City, but we watched it, week after week and still watch it on cable. Mr. Sterling, not the quality of Gunsmoke but never-the-less a program worth watching. It’s not necessary to pick it apart, Josh’s looks or program flaws which are irrelevant to the story, it was just a good hour of entertainment. Josh Brolin’s other series, The Young Riders, about the west was also worth watching…t.v producers need to remember that not all of the viewers are youngsters who like hipe & hip. Some of us like values and less noise!
I’m really sorry to see Mr. Sterling cancel. Whether there was reality in the show or not, I felt it gave an entertaining education on what happens in the Senate. For some of us, politics is dry and just not digestable as fed to us from CNN and the TV news networks. Mr. Sterling offered a bite of interest into this part of Washington. Just as West Wing has given us a view (perhasp slanted) of some of the issues facing the president, so Mr. Sterling hoped to do. If nothing else, it beats the other prime time shows of sex, violence and bogus reality.
Personally i think the only thing that is going to help this thing is what Cris said about Emailing [email protected] and voicing an opinion. Flooding an Email box may get some attention. And if it doesn’t, it was worth a try.
My wife and I both enjoyed the show
an wold like to see the great team of
actors bring the show back in the fall.
I am so sorry the show was canceled, There are so few shows that I can tolerate, So it wasn’t likely that a character like that would exist. We can dream can’t we?
I enjoyed watching Mr. Sterling, but I’m not going to mourn it. It was every bit as much a fantasy as any ‘reality’ show out there.
My biggest problem was the portrayal of Josh Brolin as the only shining example of public service in an unbroken cesspit of duplicity and partisanship. This not only reinforces every bad stereotype of government and elected officials, it is, in my mind, flat out wrong. Almost every elected official I have met took a long-hours, low-paying job in order to make life better for his/her constituents with virtually no expectation of gratitude or reward.
While West Wing’s issues may be far-fetched, the dedication to public service presented is far closer to what I perceive to be at the root of the actual people who choose to serve.
Please Bring back Mr Sterling.
My wife and I throughly love the show it was the only fictional show I would watch. I more into documemntary, A&E, Discovery and PBS. When the show first aired I said to my wife the government will take this show off the air soon. It showed someone with integrity although fictional. It seem to give me hope. I began to look for real politicans that was Sterling like.
At first we thought it was some sports event that took the show off the air. Now I see that it was cancelled.
NBC you had me and now I gone. Please bring nack Mr Sterling. I’m sure if other real people saw the show they would hail it too. Don’t miss this opportunity for a breath of fresh air
My husband and I really enjoyed this show. We planned our Friday nights around it. Please bring it back.
I have Direct TV. After watching Mr. Sterling on a friend’s cable TV, I ordered NBC. Now I’m ready to drop it! What politicians encouraged you to drop the program! I wonder who??
What can we do to get Mr. Sterling back?
Mr. Sterling was a refreshing commentary on the political scene, contrary to some of the comments of some entertainment writers. Given a different time slot it could have well lasted.
In a land where “reality” is defined as ones ability to put up with the absurd, we as television viewers are being force fed a diet consisting of nonsensical and ignorant rantings through ridiculous shows. It is okay to want to be entertained, and most people do like to learn something of value from time spent in any endeavor.
My wife and I are proud to say that we enjoyed and indeed did learn a few things about the inner workings of a “man” with integrity once he gets to Washington. It is nice to see that at least some writers understand that there are still some of us grass root believers that like to see that things such as “truth, honesty and integrity” still have a Real Meaning.
Mr. Sterling needs to be back again in the Fall,,,,if not for a short summer session as well,,,
We thought the show was very good & Josh did a great job!
Did not think that the career pols in Washington would stand for this show. Guess it hit to close to home what with the deal, the deals and the deals. It was surprising how many of the charters seemed to just like their real life models. My family will miss Mr. Sterling and look forward to NBC making some correct decision once in a while.
FOR ONCE A SHOW THAT MY HUSBAND AND I ENJOYED. IT WAS REFRESHING AND JOSH BROLIN WAS GOOD AS THE STAR.
TELEVISION IS CHANGING WITH ALL THESE REALITY SHOWS (WHICH I HATE). IS THERE ANYTHING FOR ADULT PEOPLE WITH A BRAIN TO WATCH?
My wife and I thought that Mr Sterling was probably being pre-empted by the War coverage. Now that we have found out it will not be showing, we are really disappointed. It was a refreshing show, without violence, sex and poor examples of how American youth should behave. Shows like Mr Sterling, JAG, American Idol, Without a Trace are welcome entertainment from the others.
I thought Mr.Sterling was a very great show. I even programmed my VCR to tape it every Friday and was irriated to see something else in its place. It made me understand the inner workings or the senate very well. It was great in making me understand how well politicians can affect people’s lives. One of the great shows of this year. The show falls in the same league as Seinfeld, Law and Order etc..I am eagerly looking forward to the show’s comeback.
My husband and I loved Mr Sterling and cannot believe it’s time slot has been replaced by garbage!! It is a warm, funny, realistic show about politics. Please bring it back.
My wife and I loved Mr Sterling! We scheduled our Friday evenings to make sure we didn’t miss it and cannot understand why it’s been replaced. Bring it back, we miss it.
Personally, I would vouch for someone who had to deal with this from the inside rather than someone reporting on it from the outside to have a better grasp of what is really going on.
And remember only on television shows can we really expect to find honest & ethical politicians! 🙂
Read the bio’s and you make your own call!
Lawrence O’Donnell
Senior Political Analyst, MSNBC
Lawrence O’Donnell, Jr., is the creator and Executive Producer of a new NBC Washington-based drama set in the Senate. The show, entitled “Mister Sterling,” will premiere in January, 2003. Mr. O’Donnell won an Emmy as a Producer of NBC’s “The West Wing” where he served as a writer and producer for the first two seasons of the show. “The West Wing” episode he co-wrote on the death penalty won the 2000 Humanitas Prize for writing that “communicate(s) those values which most enrich the human person.”
O?Donnell is also MSNBC?s senior political analyst and substitute host of Hardball With Chris Matthews.
From 1993, through 1995, O’Donnell was the Democratic chief of staff of the United States Senate Committee on Finance. The Committee has jurisdiction over legislation involving taxation, international trade, health care, social security, welfare, and other income security programs.
In 1992, O’Donnell was chief of staff of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
From 1989 until 1992, O’Donnell served as senior advisor to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York. He began his professional association with Senator Moynihan as director of communications in the Senator’s 1988 reelection campaign.
A writer prior to entering politics and government, O’Donnell published the 1983 book Deadly Force, which was adapted as a CBS movie in 1986. He has written essays and articles for several publications including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, Manhattan Inc., People, Spy, and Boston Magazine.
O?Donnell has also appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Nightline, Charlie Rose Show, Politically Incorrect, and several other programs.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, O’Donnell is a graduate of Harvard College (Class of 1976). He lives in Los Angeles.