How was K Street? (the HBO show)

[Killarney]

I'm thinking of buying this DVD set. Obviously, I like politics. I also love The West Wing. So, I'm thinking I might like this show.

Thoughts? Was it good/bad?

[Paragon]

1. Really good, but...

...not nearly as accessible as The West Wing. Political wonks only.

[LTR]

2. I didn't like it

Made absolutely no sense.

Buy the original "Manchurian Candidate" instead.

[Carni]

3. I didn't "get it" most of the time

And I am a total political junkie...

Don't get me wrong...it had it's moments, but I don't know that I would shell out the bucks to buy it on DVD.

[flamingyouth]

4. I didn't like it at all

And I'm a big political junkie too.

I prefer the Fastbacks song of the same name. ;)

[countmyvote4real]

5. I had fundamental problems with it because I'm cynical about "news"

as it is. So, to see this "behind-the-scenes" take on Washington politics presented as if it were a reality series, never quite worked for me. I could never suspend my disbelief. I distrust the American media already and couldn’t get into watching a fake, fake news presentation.

And while "The West Wing" and "K Street" are both based on reality, TWW allows me to accept that world as true because I know there isn't a President Bartlet. On the other hand, "K Street" forced real people to mix with fictional characters in a staged storyline. I could never buy into it.

“The Daily Show” often mixes it up this way, too, but it’s done with a “nod and a wink” that I never found with KS.

My advice is to leave it alone unless you really are a political junkie that collects things like this. Oddly enough, I think HBO did this much better with Robert Altman’s “Tanner ’88.” That’s a must have. That should be on DVD.

[skrunch]

6. Tanner '88: Coming in October (for real!)

During the 1988 presidential campaign, Democratic hopefuls spiritedly canvass the country, jostle for their party’s nomination and the honor of opposing Republican Vice president George Bush, when Senator Jack Tanner, suddenly emerges from the shadows of a lengthy political hiatus to challenge candidates such as Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, Gary Hart, and Michael Dukakis. Filmmaker Robert Altman and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Garry Trudeau created this mock-documentary television miniseries, which brought a fictitious presidential candidate out on the campaign trail and shed a revelatory light on America’s political process and landscape. The Criterion Collection is proud to present Tanner ’88 in its entirety, from New Hampshire to the convention… and beyond.

[OnionPatch]

7. I thought it was weird too

Everything was nuanced and kind of hard to figure out. I thought I would love it when I first heard about it, but it turned out to be really strange.