Top 10 fictional presidents on television
Photo Credit: HBO
On this national holiday, it seems fitting to break down some of the top fictional presidents in television history.
Ranging from political masterpieces like West Wing to high stakes spy dramas like 24, Commander-in-Chiefs can be found on any show. To celebrate President’s Day. let’s take a look at some of best leaders of the free world and why they have reserved a spot in every fan’s heart.
Photo Credit: Cartoon Network
10. Rick and Morty – The President
The President in Rick and Morty is inspired by Barack Obama’s look but that’s where the similarities end. A popular adult cartoon, the series wanted to poke fun at the presidency in general, which included a large variety of politicians. However, the look of The President did rub viewers the wrong way initially. Viewers needed to be reminded that this is a cartoon, and in the show, this Commander in Chief is highly vindictive as well as a hot head.
While many TV series are accused of leaning too far to the left or right to be credible, Rick and Morty take a surprising unbiased take. The series has their president be insecure and prone to abusing his power simply because of his own vanity. They never discuss his actual politics or which party he’s a member of, something hard to find in a television show. He’s definitely not the most conventional character, but he’s one of the more unique presidents on television nowadays.
Photo Credit: Warner Brothers
9. Jack & Bobby – Bobby McCallister
The short-lived but critically adored Jack & Bobby followed the lives of two brothers through their childhood. However, they weren’t just your average middle-class kids because one of them would grow up to be President of the United States. Framed by documentaries, news reports, and interviews from the future, the TV series questions whether presidents are born to lead or whether they’re shaped by their life to step into that position of power. Ultimately, younger more eccentric brother Bobby is revealed to be the successful politician rather than the charismatic track star, Jack, showcasing just how much his experiences prepared him to become Commander in Chief.
It’s sad that the series didn’t get picked up after the first season, albeit unsurprising that the WB target audience wasn’t interested in seeing a well-crafted political show. Bobby McCallister is such a compelling character who audiences don’t get to spend a lot of time with. He’s raised by a single mother, a local professor who smokes weed on the regular, and his older popular brother. Both are staunch Democrats, which makes it surprising that Bobby grows up to be an adored Republican. In this modern day political climate, the McCallisters would be an interesting family to revisit to see how exactly Bobby would find his views within the opposing party.