Reel Pop reviews “Republicrats”
Posted by Jacob Rothschild on August 22nd 2008 in Generate Pressby Andrew Wallenstein
August 21, 2008
http://www.reelpopblog.com/2008/08/review-msns-rep.html
A misleading title like “Republicrats” conjures up a quadrennial criticism attending every Presidential election: For all the bipartisanship on display, many don’t see a material difference in choosing between the political parties. But as well-timed as this webisode is to taking on this two-headed monster, “Republicrats” is actually pretty apolitical for a political satire. And while it’s funny in spots, its viral potential won’t be realized without taking more direct aim at the real-life race.
The 25-episode series, produced by Generate and premiered Aug. 19 on MSN, depicts the fictional presidential run of Sean Masterson, a former weatherman who doesn’t seem to possess any greater qualification for higher office than a 12% accuracy rate in climate prediction. If McCain is running on national security and Obama is running on change, Masterson’s central theme is…well, whatever you want it to be. That’s the main joke behind “Republicrats”: Masterson openly appeals to voters to determine what his positions should be. “Opinions divide America,” he says in his opening video (above). “That’s why I don’t hold any divisive opinions about anything.”
Masterson is a deadpan riot, with just the square jaw, perfect coif and glazed glibness of a prototypical politician, kinda like a pre-affair John Edwards minus the drawl. The rest of the cast, comprised of his campaign team, seem really engaging, but just don’t have the material to shine yet.
As presidential satire goes, “Republicrats” isn’t quite “Tanner 88.” But its premise has a clever twist that dovetails nicely with the interactive nature of the Web. What better way to send up shameless political pandering than to recast it as an opportunity for user-generated content. A video in which Masterson requests a First Lady–”Please, no virgins. I don’t have time for the tears.”–allows users to actually submit audition tapes, which is a nice way of driving engagement with the “Republicrats” site.
But if “Republicrats” really wants to become a sensation, they’ve got to let Sean Masterson loose in the real world. In the vacuum of his fictional world, he’s funny enough, but without making reference to current events, it’s not going to have the sting of great satire. If Masterson doesn’t show up at the upcoming conventions, that’s a wasted opportunity for great comedy.(Andrew Wallenstein)
September 12th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
This Republicrat thing is SO refreshing…. as I have reached a point of being burned out on the “real” political battle. I needed a lighthearted laugh…. and this does it for me! I would love to see a bumpersticker for this guy’s “candidacy”. However, he MUST decide on a VP to go on the bumpersticker. A lot of thought needs to go into the selection of this V.P.
-B. Graham