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Saturday, October 13th, 2018 2:57 AM

Live Poll: Second Bananas: Movie and TV U.S. Vice President Portrayals

2019 is shaping up to be the year of the Vice President in the world of entertainment. The year will be highlighted by both the final season of Veep (2012) and the Oscar campaign behind Vice (2018), the first major film whose story line focuses on a sitting American Vice President. In celebration of second bananas everywhere:

Part One: Second Bananas — Real-Life U.S. Vice President Portrayals
Which of these movie or television biographical portrayals of a real-life former U.S. Vice President gets your vote for the best of the bunch?

See the partial list of movie or television real-life U.S. Vice President portrayals here: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls040343450/

Poll: https://www.imdb.com/poll/LX6bBBMvoyY/

Part Two: Second Bananas — Fictional U.S. Vice President Portrayals
Which of these movie or television portrayals of a fictional U.S. Vice President gets your vote for the best of the bunch?

See the partial list of movie or television fictional U.S. Vice President portrayals here: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls040335143/

Poll: https://www.imdb.com/poll/bdg5Yjxo938/

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Updated 

3 years ago

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urbanemovies

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5 years ago

Note: space considerations limit titles to no more than two or three Vice President characters  that have significant story lines per movie or TV series.

REAL-LIFE HONORABLE MENTIONS

Stephen Dillane
John Adams
Vice President Thomas Jefferson


James Whitmore
Give 'em Hell, Harry!
Vice President Harry Truman


Ken Howard
1776
Vice President Thomas Jefferson


William Daniels
1776
Vice President John Adams


Randy Quaid
LBJ: The Early Years
Vice President Lyndon Johnson


John Carroll Lynch
Jackie
Vice President Lyndon Johnson


Liev Schreiber
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Vice President Lyndon Johnson


John Cusack
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Vice President Richard Nixon


Tom Wilkinson
Selma
Vice President Lyndon Johnson


Charlton Heston
The Patriots (1963)
Vice President Thomas Jefferson

FICTIONAL HONORABLE MENTIONS

Ben Gazzara
Shadow Conspiracy
Vice President Paul Saxon


Jeff Perry
Scandal, Mercy
Vice President Cyrus Beene


Ray Wise
24 (2001)
Vice President Hal Gardner


Tessie Santiago
Scandal, Transfer of Power
Vice President Luna Vargas


Alan Dale
24, Day 2: 12:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Vice President Jim Prescott


Geena Davis
Commander in Chief, Pilot
Vice President Mackenzie Allen (briefly)


Aunjanue Ellis
Designated Survivor (2016)
Vice President Eleanor Darby


James Lesure
Salvation (2017)
Vice President Trey Thomason


Victor Garber
Big Game
Vice President


Dan Ziskie
House of Cards
Vice President Jim Matthews


Patty Duke
Hail to the Chief
President Julia Mansfield (Vice President, former)


Ed O'Neill
The West Wing, A Change Is Gonna Come
Eric Baker *(Vice President designate)


Scott Foley
Scandal, Transfer of Power
Jake Ballard *(Vice President elect)


John Spencer
The West Wing
Leo McGarry *(Vice President elect)


Joan Allen
The Contender
Laine Hanson *(Vice President appointee)

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MORE REAL-LIFE HONORABLE MENTIONS

David Niven
Magnificent Doll
Aaron Burr


Nigel Hawthorne
Amistad
Martin Van Burn


Van Heflin
Tennessee Johnson
Andrew Johnson


James Cromwell
RFK
Lyndon Johnson

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5 years ago

urbanemovies

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EVEN MORE HONORABLE MENTIONS

? Possible Future Option
He is confirmed in the role, but not currently
listed in credits. I am unsure of scope of role or
whether his scenes made the final cut or script.
No picture has been released as of yet.
Bill Pullman
Vice
Nelson Rockefeller


Mark Camacho
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Richard Nixon


Bradley Whitford
All the Way
Hubert Humphrey

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5 years ago

urbanemovies

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4 years ago

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jen_264364

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5 years ago

Many of your "real-life" choices were not Vice Presidents at the time of their performance, but actually Presidents. Seems like if you're focusing on VPs you should only include titles where the character IS actually a VP.

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urbanemovies

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The only qualification for inclusion in the real-life or the fictional poll is portrayal of someone who will be, is or was an American Vice President. Their story line within the movie or TV series can be about any part of their lives.

It can be about their life before, during or after they held the Vice President position or all of the above. Plus, the introduction clearly states that movies that focus only on the period as a sitting real-life American Vice President to date don't exist, Vice will be the first. Even Veep, the only TV series that focuses on a sitting American Vice President has more episodes dedicated to the title character when she wasn't Vice President than when she was.

The only reason most of these portrayals exist is most notable Vice Presidents often become Presidents. I don't find it usual that the Vice President portion of the story is minor when compared to other pivotal periods in their lives or a broader treatment that covers their whole life. Some of these notable portrayals are as a supporting character within another person's story, when they may or may not been a sitting Vice President.

The same parameters were used for the fictional poll but it may seem stronger, mostly due to an abundance of options and the ability to cull even more options.That poll I think still has the same perceived issue as the vice presidential period is just one part of many of these characters' story lines.

Poll takers are free to eliminate options that they feel are not worthy or give more emphasis to others based on the focus the Vice President period plays in the character's story line. I agree the situation is less than ideal. But, I am willing to accept the trade-off for portrayals that are well known, deliver star power and still fulfill the qualification.

P.S. also note the options that made the honorable mention list are the ones that seem to suffer the most from the issue you are raising: little to no emphasis on their Vice President period within the character's story line. Technically they qualify for inclusion, but were culled specifically for the issue you cite. Regardless, all these options whether they are  a poll option or honorable mention are corroborated by their listing on Wikepedia's list of actors who played the Vice President of the United States or list of fictional Vice Presidents of the United States.

Nonetheless, I added the following qualifier to the question, so everyone will be on the same page as to the scope of the question. Which of these movie or television biographical portrayals* of a real-life former U.S. Vice President gets your vote for the best of the bunch? * portrayals include story lines before, during and after their time as a sitting Vice President

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5 years ago

Peter_pbn

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I too would exclude portrayals which don't show the characters during their years as vice president. They just don't seem relevant.

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urbanemovies

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Relevant to what?

I think the criticism is a fair one, if my scope is what you think it is. But, it is slightly inaccurate and not very realistic. Maybe, a title change would resolve the confusion. Although, I think it is very clear in the final wording of the question, as to the scope. My scope is not portrayals as sitting Vice Presidents exclusively. As pollmakers, both of you realize that poll premises and their answer options rarely fit neatly together, some degree of interpretation and some liberties need to be taken, more often than not. Again, my scope is not limited to portrayals as sitting Vice Presidents. The only qualification for inclusion in the real-life or the fictional poll is portrayal of someone who will be, is or was an American Vice President. Their story line within the movie or TV series can be about any part of their lives. Although, with a few exceptions the entire pool covers at least some part of their time as vice-president with the following real-life poll option exceptions: Frost/Nixon, Rough Riders, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Path to War, Dick, Give 'em Hell, Harry!, Jefferson in Paris, Secret Honor and Saturday Night Live, Steve Martin/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Even these I can't be entirely sure as the Vice President portion might show up in a flash-back or a flash-forward sequence.

As the title implies, these "Second Bananas" and their stories are almost always going to be second fiddle to the head honcho portion of the story. The only biographical movies that ever get made are the ones about someone who went onto become president with exception of Vice (2018). In that case, the vice-president was arguably more powerful than the president. Aaron Burr is only other second banana character that could justify a film on his own due to his famous duel, even then he was second banana to Alexander Hamilton, in my opinion. The same could be said of the fictional portrayals, with the exception being Veep that uses the second banana badge as comic relief. These second bananas are often selected due to status as someone who doesn't represent a real threat or could mount a serious challenge for the presidency. This makes them perfect for the largely ceremonial and banner carrier role for another person's policies and agenda, but less so as the central figure in their own movie or TV series.

If this was a poll about sitting Vice-Presidents whose story lines dominates the movie or TV series. The real-life version would have a single answer option, Vice (I) (2018) as would the fictional version, Veep (2012) (TV Series). Neither poll version would even make a decent Face-Off.

Again, the only qualification for inclusion in the real-life or the fictional poll is portrayal of someone who will be, is or was an American Vice President. Their story line within the movie or TV series can be about any part of their lives.

It can be about their life before, during or after they held the Vice President position or all of the above. Plus, the introduction clearly states that movies that focus only on the period as a sitting real-life American Vice President to date don't exist, Vice will be the first.

Nonetheless, I added the following qualifier to the question, so everyone will be on the same page as to the scope of the question. Which of these movie or television biographical portrayals* of a real-life former U.S. Vice President gets your vote for the best of the bunch? * portrayals include story lines before, during and after their time as a sitting Vice President

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5 years ago

Peter_pbn

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Relevant to a poll about vice presidents. I understood your explanation the first time, I just disagree with your choice.

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5 years ago

Peter_pbn

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There is no reason why the characters need to be the primary focus of the story, so I think there would be enough options for a poll. If there aren't enough real-life portrayals of sitting VPs, you could just combine them all in one list.

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5 years ago

urbanemovies

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Seems to be matter of where to draw the cut-off line by limiting the scope. I think once you eliminate that a dominate Vice President portrayal poll with single options isn't feasible with single answer options. You have already chosen to relax your standards and make some compromises by adding imperfect options. At that point, for me it about creating an interesting answer pool, while still being true to poll's intent and spirit of the premise.

I will give it some further thought. Are these the answer options you have an issue with: Frost/Nixon, Rough Riders, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Path to War, Dick, Give 'em Hell, Harry!, Jefferson in Paris, Secret Honor and Saturday Night Live, Steve Martin/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers?

I like the separation between real-life and fictional, Part One: Second Bananas — Real-Life U.S. Vice President Portrayals and Part Two: Second Bananas — Fictional U.S. Vice President Portrayals. I think those two groups share a lot in common within their distinct groups and are a fairer comparison. Even, it meant each question having just 10 answer pools, I would prefer to keep them distinct as you might in comparing fruits: apples and oranges.

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5 years ago

rocky_o

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5 years ago

a strong suggestion for the 'real life category...

phillip baker hall as richard nixon in 'secret honor'..a brilliant one man performance directed by robert altman...

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urbanemovies

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Great suggestion, I forgot that one. Thanks

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5 years ago

jen_264364

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SNL FYC (these were all done over several episodes, not just once):
Mike Pence - Beck Bennett (who also plays the frequently bare-chested Putin)
Joe Biden - Jason Sudeikis
Dick Cheney - Darrell Hammond
Al Gore - Darrell Hammond
George HW Bush - Dana Carvey

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Thanks, all great suggestions and likely some of the top-of-mind options for some poll takers.

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5 years ago

jen_264364

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I uploaded some better Beck-as-Pence pics.

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5 years ago

urbanemovies

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Thanks, I now have some options, where I had none before. Your help and feedback is appreciated.

The toughest one to find is Tom Arnold guest-star role as Vice President Arthur Crandall on BET's The First Family.

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5 years ago

BUMP

George Herbert Walker, 43rd Vice President of the United States from 1981 to 1989.

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5 years ago

Vice Release bump

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Vice Oscar Best Picture Nomination bump

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No Existing Vice Presidents Day, therefore timely lump into Presidents' Day in 2019 is on Monday, the 18th of February

New CAMPAIGN to Celebrate VICE PRESIDENTS DAY on October 30th, Birthday of FOUNDING FATHER, 1st #VICEPOTUS and 2nd #POTUS #JohnAdams -- Born October 30th, 1735.

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Final season of Veep (2012– ) premieres 31 March 2019.

Iowa
S7, Ep1 31 Mar. 2019
Iowa Selina evaluates her past and present campaigns; Jonah's personal life sparks interest among the press; Amy makes an important decision.
On TV  Airs Sun. Mar. 31, 10:30 PM on HBO

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Veep (2012– ) series finale is May 12, 2019

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Veep (2012– ) series finale, S7.E7 Veep is today, May 12, 2019.

 
The nominating fight between Selina and her rivals reaches its climax, as their race comes to a historic finish.

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rocky_o

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5 years ago

you should add mike pence for his 'performance' as vice president, 'cause he certainly isn't a real vice president...

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urbanemovies

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I think answer option #27 is the next best thing.

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4 years ago

urbanemovies

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NATIONAL VEEP DAY - August 9 - National Day Calendar is just around the corner on August 9th.

In honor of NATIONAL VEEP DAY, August 9th, a tribute to U.S. Vice President portrayals. 2019's National Veep day is special, given it is in the wake of both the final season of Veep (2012) and the Oscar campaign behind Vice (2018). In celebration of all those who have portrayed these important second bananas.

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NATIONAL VEEP DAY according to the National Day Calendar is August 9th and celebrates U.S.
Vice Presidents.

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