Veep

Veep
Title	Veep
Genre	Political satire, Sitcom
Creator	Armando Iannucci
Starring	Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Matt Walsh, Timothy Simons, Reid Scott, Sufe Bradshaw, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole
Country	United States
Language	English
Num episodes	65
Network	HBO
First aired	April 22, 2012
Last aired	May 12, 2019

Veep. An American political satire television series that aired on HBO from 2012 to 2019. Created by Armando Iannucci, the show stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, a fictional Vice President of the United States, and later President, navigating the absurdities of Washington, D.C. politics. Lauded for its sharp writing and performances, the series is a critically acclaimed adaptation of Iannucci's earlier British series, The Thick of It.

Series Overview

The series is a satirical look at the inner workings of the American political system, focusing on the office of the Vice President and its perceived irrelevance. Developed by Armando Iannucci, the show's style is characterized by its rapid-fire, profanity-laden dialogue and improvisational feel, a hallmark also seen in Iannucci's film In the Loop. Produced by HBO, the series distinguished itself from more solemn political dramas like The West Wing by embracing cringe comedy and farce. The executive production team included Frank Rich and Chris Godsick, with David Mandel taking over as showrunner for the later seasons.

Production

The series was developed for American television by Armando Iannucci, based on the format of his UK series The Thick of It. Initial development involved Simon Blackwell and Jesse Armstrong, writers from the British original. Principal photography took place primarily in Baltimore, Maryland, and later in Los Angeles, standing in for Washington, D.C. After Iannucci's departure following the fourth season, showrunner duties were assumed by David Mandel, known for his work on Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The series finale was directed by Dale Stern.

Plot

The plot follows Selina Meyer's political career, beginning with her frustrated tenure as Vice President under the unseen President Hughes. Key story arcs include her brief ascension to the Presidency, her subsequent campaign for election, and her relentless pursuit of a lasting political legacy. Major events involve navigating legislative fiascos like the "Clean Jobs Bill," dealing with international incidents in countries like Sudan and Georgia, and constant media scrutiny from outlets like the fictional CNN. The narrative extensively covers the machinations of presidential campaigns, including primaries, debates, and the Electoral College.

Characters

The ensemble cast revolves around Selina Meyer, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Her staff includes Chief of Staff Amy Brookheimer (Anna Chlumsky), personal aide Gary Walsh (Tony Hale), press secretary Mike McLintock (Matt Walsh), and spokesman Dan Egan (Reid Scott). Other key figures are the perpetually harassed aide Jonah Ryan (Timothy Simons), secretary Sue Wilson (Sufe Bradshaw), and White House liaison Ben Cafferty (Kevin Dunn). Recurring characters include strategist Kent Davison (Gary Cole) and political rival Tom James (Hugh Laurie).

Episodes

The series ran for 65 episodes across seven seasons. Notable episodes include the pilot, "Fundraiser," which establishes the series' tone, and "Mother," which won Julia Louis-Dreyfus an Emmy. The fourth season finale, "Election Night," depicts a contested presidential election decided by a congressional vote. The series concluded with the episode "Veep," which jumps forward in time to detail Selina Meyer's funeral and legacy. Multiple episodes were directed by Chris Addison and written by Will Smith.

Reception

The series was a major critical success, praised for its writing and particularly for the performance of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won six consecutive Emmy Awards for the role. The show also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series three times. It received accolades from the American Film Institute and the Television Critics Association. Commentators often compared it favorably to real-world politics, noting its prescient satire of the 2016 presidential election cycle. The final season was reviewed by publications like The New York Times and Variety.

Category:2010s American sitcoms Category:HBO original programming Category:Political satire television series