Speaker 1: Callaroga Shark Media, Welcome to Acting President, Episode one pilot.
Speaker 2: The morning after The Insurgent premiered, James Jimmy Bennett woke
to the sound of his phone buzzing incessantly on his nightstand.
Twenty seven text messages, forty two emails in a series
of increasingly excited voicemails from his publicist, Emma Delgado. He'd
been in Hollywood long enough to know what this meant.
His new show was a hit. Bennett had spent the
last decade focused on politics. Terms as California's governor left
him with a reputation as a moderate who could work
across the aisle, a rare commodity in today's political landscape.
Before that, he'd been an action star, not quite a list,
but reliable box office for a solid fifteen years. When
Pantheon Plus approached him about The Insurgent, he'd been skeptical.
The premise seemed provocative. Bennett would play a fictionalized version
of himself, a former actor and governor who disenchanted with
the current administration gets pulled into a conspiracy to overthrow
the government. The pitch had come just six months after
he left office, while he was still considering his next move.
It's fiction, governor, the showrunner had assured him, but with
just enough reality to make viewers wonder. That's the sweet spot.
Bennett hadn't expected the show to become an overnight sensation.
The Nielsen data, Emma texted showed it had shattered Pantheon
Plus's previous premiere. Bennett scrolled through the reviews as his
coffee brewed in his Malibu kitchen, ocean waves visible through
Florida ceiling windows. The trades had called his performance surprisingly nuanced.
The Time said the show raised uncomfortable questions about the
fragility of American democracy. The entertainment websites compared it to
House of Cards in Homeland, with a dash of wish
fulfillment fantasy for those disillusioned with the current political climate.
When Emma called, she didn't just sound excited. There was
concern underlying her congratulations. People were talking about the show
like it was Bennett's political statement. The line between him
and the character was getting blurry already. Bennett laughed it off.
That was the point, wasn't it. That's why they cast him.
Emma cautioned him to be careful in interviews. Make it clear,
you're playing a role, She insisted. President Stillman's people are
already calling, wanting to know if this is your way
of testing political waters. Again, Bennett assured her he had
no intention of going back into politics, at least not anytime.
Soon after two terms as governor, he was enjoying the
relative freedom of being a private citizen again. The show
was just a role, good acting, nothing more. Over the
next few days, Bennett's schedule filled with press junkets, late
night appearances, and radio interviews. Everyone wanted to know the
same thing. How much of the fictional Jimmy Bennett reflected
the real one. The character is frustrated with the direction
of the country, Bennett carefully explained on the morning show.
I think many Americans share that frustration, regardless of political affiliation.
But orchestrating a coup that's pure fiction. Would you ever
consider running for president? The host pressed, Bennett offered his
practice smile. I've learned to never say never, But right
now I'm focused on my return to end entertainment. If
people want political commentary for me, they'll have to look
for the subtext in my performance. By the end of
the week, the viewership for episode one had doubled with
on demand streaming. Social media couldn't stop dissecting every scene,
looking for parallels between Bennett's character and his actual political positions.
Pantheon Plus's marketing team capitalized on the buzz, releasing cryptic
teasers for upcoming episodes that further blurred the line between
fiction and reality. The Sunday night following the premiere, Bennett
found himself watching the social media response in real time
as episode two dropped. Hashtags about the show dominated trending topics,
Gifts and clips from pivotal scenes circulated at a frantic pace.
One scene in particular, where Bennett's character addresses a room
full of disaffected politicians and military officials, was being shared
with captions like where's the lie. Though in bennett twenty
twenty eight, Emma had advised him to stay off social media,
but Bennett couldn't resist the blurring of fiction and reality
had become fascinating, like watching an experiment unfold, where he
was both scientist and subject. The show was tapping into
something real, a current of dissatisfaction, a hunger for disruption
of the status quo. His phone rang a number he
didn't recognize, but with a DC Area code Governor Bennett.
The voice was familiar, though Bennett couldn't immediately place it.
It's been a while, Then it clicked. Victor Harding, his
former chief of staff during his first term as governor,
the man who'd helped architect his political rise before differences
in their vision led to an amicable parting of ways.
Harding had gone on to work for several high profile
administration officials in Washington. Victor Bennett said, genuinely surprised, it
has been a while. Quite the show you've got there.
Harding's tone was difficult to read. I'm in California for
a few days. Thought I might stop by catch up
if you're not too busy being a television star.
Speaker 3: Welcome to Insurgent Theory. I'm your host, Garrett Fischer breaking
down every twist, turn and political machination in Pantheon Plus's
explosive new drama The Insurgent. Today, we're dissecting that premiere
that has everyone talking. First off, can we acknowledge the
absolute genius of casting James Bennett to play himself. The
man governed California for eight years, with approval ratings that
never dip below sixty percent. He's practically American royalty, and
now he's starring in a show about overthrowing the government.
That's either the most brilliant meta commentary on our political
system or it's wildly irresponsible. Maybe both. For those who
haven't watched, Thought suggests that's approximately twelve people in America.
The Insurgent follows a fictionalized version of Bennett, who, after
leaving the governor's office, becomes increasingly disillusioned with President Stillman's administration.
The parallels to reality are impossible to ignore. Bennett did
criticize Stillman's tariff policies during his final press conference as governor.
But here's where things get interesting, folks. Bennett's character gets
approached by a shadowy cabal of political operatives, military officials,
and tech billionaires who believe American democracy is failing. They
think Bennett is the only person with enough popularity to
lead what they call a course correction, not a coup,
mind you, a course correction. Gotta love that euphemism. The
question the show asks is what would happen if a
genuinely popular public figure decided the system was broken beyond repair?
What if they had resources, connections, and public goodwill could
they actually pull off restructuring the government outside constitutional means?
Now I've got my theories about where this is headed.
But let's talk about that scene in Bennett's Malibu home
where he's watching President Stillman announce another round of tariffs.
The camera holds on Bennett's face for a full thirty seconds,
no dialogue, just that slow burn of frustration. That's not
acting people, that's the real James Bennett's showing through. But
here's what's bugging me. And listen, I love this show.
I'm all in, But some of these coincidences are just
too convenient. The way Bennett's character just happens to run
into a disgruntled general at his jem, the way his
former chief of staff just happens to have connections to
intelligence agencies. The writers are asking us to suspend a
lot of disbelief here. Still, I can't wait for Episode two.
Previews suggest we'll see Bennett starting to assemble his team.
Will he cross the point of no return? And how
far is this show willing to go? If you're loving
these theories, follow Insurgent Theory exclusively on Calaoga Shark Media,
wherever you get your shows until next week I'm Garrett Fischer,
reminding you that the line between fiction and reality isn't
always as clear as we'd like to think.
Speaker 2: Two days later, Bennett agreed to meet Victor Harding at
his home. For old time's sake, he told himself, though
curiosity was the greater motivator. What did his former chief
of staff want after all this time? Harding arrived in
a sleek BLACKOUTI dressed in the same impeccable suits. Bennett remembered.
He'd aged well in the years since they'd worked together,
a touch of silver at the temples, perhaps a few
more lines around the eyes, but still carrying himself with
that quiet assurance that had made him such an effective
political operative. They settled in Bennett's backyard patio overlooking the Pacific.
The conversation began with pleasantries, mutual connections, shared memories from
the Governor's office, Harding's recent consulting work for various Washington
power players. I have to say, Harding finally, said, swirling
the Scotch Bennett had poured. Your show has made quite
the impression. In certain circles. People are talking. Good ratings
are hard to ignore. Bennett replied with practiced modesty. It's
not just the ratings, Harding leaned forward, it's the premise.
It's got people thinking. Bennett chuckled, it's just entertainment, victor
is it? Harding's expression remained neutral, but his eyes were intent.
Because your fictional self makes some compelling points about the
state of things. Those tariffs are crippling certain industries. The
executive orders are bypassing congressional oversight. The courts are being packed.
I remember you expressing similar concerns when you were in office.
Everyone has concerns, Bennett said, carefully. That doesn't mean I'd
advocate for what the character is suggesting, of course not.
Harding smiled thinly. But hypothetically, do you think something like
that could work in the show? I mean, Bennett studied
his former advisor. The writers seem to think so. Critics
are divided. Some call it a fascinating thought experiment, others
dangerous fantasy. And what do you think? I think it
makes for good drama, Bennett answered diplomatically. Harding set down
his glass. President Stillman's approval rating hit thirty four percent
this morning, lowest of his presidency. Congress is deadlocked, the
Supreme Court is making increasingly partisan decisions. Foreign powers are
testing our resolve on multiple fronts. He paused, what if
it's not just drama, Jimmy, what if it's prophecy. Bennett laughed,
but the sound fell flat. Now you sound like one
of those conspiracy theorists online. I just find it interesting.
Harding continued, undeterred that you chose this role, this specific role,
at this specific time. I didn't write it, Victor, I'm
just playing the part convincingly. Harding stood walking to the
edge of the patio to look out at the ocean.
You know, when we worked together, I always thought you
were playing the long game, that governorship was just a
stepping stone. Then you stepped aside after two terms, when
you could have run for Senate or positioned yourself for
a presidential campaign. I did my service, Bennett said, eight
years was enough. Harding turned back to face him. What
if it wasn't What if there was another way to
serve a more direct approach. The conversation had taken a
turn that left Bennett uneasy. Was his former chief of
staff suggesting what it seemed he was suggesting, President Stillman
has three more years in office. Bennett pointed out, potentially
seven if he wins reelection. That's the system. We wait
our turn. Harding's smile was an amatic what if it
didn't have to be What if what's happening on your
show could happen in real life with you. At the helm,
Bennett stared at his former advisor, a chill running through him.
Despite the warm California evening, the line between fiction and reality,
already blurred by his role, suddenly seemed to be dissolving altogether.
In the most disturbing part, for just a moment before
his better judgment kicked in, Bennett found himself considering the possibility.
Speaker 1: Acting President has been a production of Caloroga Shark Media
executive producers John McDermott and Mark Francis. Elements of AI
have been used in the production of this episode.