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

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

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

Bernie Mac Head of State Vice President Mitch Gilliam Aunjanue Ellis Kirkman Agonistes,Designated Survivor Vice President Eleanor Darby Adan Canto The Confession,Designated Survivor Vice President Aaron ShoreList of fictional vice presidents of the United States

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Great suggestion, I forgot that one. Thanks

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

I uploaded some better Beck-as-Pence pics.

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.

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