'Commander in Chief' focuses on the character

In that respect, it's not much like 'The West Wing.'
By CHARLIE McCOLLUM
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
It is inevitable that ABC's new "Commander In Chief" will be compared to "The West Wing." But beyond their setting in the White House, the two series have very, very little in common.
As originally devised by Aaron Sorkin, "West Wing" was a valentine to policy wonks and others in public service. It takes its public issues and partisan politics seriously, even if it has chosen to cloak them with rapid-fire, screwball-comedy humor (under Sorkin) and stylish high drama (under John Wells, who replaced Sorkin three seasons ago). The show remains about the only place in prime time where you can hear characters discussing the budget deficit, funding for NASA and Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Domestic drama
"Commander," which makes its debut tonight at 9, is a domestic drama, "Once and Again" against the backdrop of the Oval Office. Forget labor statistics and soft-money legislation. This show is far more interested in the character of Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis), a working mom who one day finds herself with a new job, as the first woman president of the United States.
An independent who was put on the Republican ticket to attract women voters, Vice President Allen is called back to Washington when the president suffers a stroke. She is then told by the ailing president and his staff that she needs to resign so Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland) can take over.
After wavering briefly, Allen tells all the president's men (and a few women) what they can do with their resignation request -- and takes over when the president dies.
Different focus
While "Commander" does wander into "West Wing" territory -- there's a subplot about a Nigerian woman about to be stoned to death for adultery -- much of the first hour is focused on Allen and her family: husband Rod (Kyle Secor of "Homicide"), who isn't very comfortable with being the First Gentleman, and their three children, including petulant teen daughter Rebecca (Caitlin Wachs of "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.")
There's nothing particularly subtle or surprising about the first episode. That's somewhat unexpected given the track record of creator Rod Lurie, who has done some good film work (the rather similar "The Contender") and one terrific if short-lived TV series (2003's "Line of Fire"). A couple of the scenes, notably a confrontation between Allen and Templeton, are awfully predictable.
Still, Lurie, who directed the opening episode, knows how to make slick drama. "Commander" looks good, summons up some real energy in key scenes and establishes a certain warmth in its portrayal of the Allen family.
He also has a good feel for casting. It takes a while to accept Davis -- Thelma in "Thelma & amp; Louise" -- as the president. But by the end of the hour, she's quite believable in the part. Sutherland brings considerable gravitas to a role that, as written, is Snidely Whiplash without a mustache. And the series is or will be populated by some fine supporting actors: Secor, Leslie Hope, Ever Carradine, Peter Coyote and Harry Lennix.