Why Fareed Zakaria is the Smartest TV Host

When you manage a huge "get" the smartest thing you can do is mine it for every possible gem.  Fareed Zakaria was among a handful of TV hosts lucky enough to get an interview with Dame Helen Mirren while she was performing in The Audience on Broadway and had Woman in Gold opening.  She did not do many appearances.  Unlike the other royally privileged hosts, Fareed did something very clever.  Two things, really.  He broke his audience into two sittings and used one of them to ask a question no one else has asked her.

Helen Mirren, Douglas Brinkley, Jorge Ramos: Sunday guests

By Hal Boedeker Staff writer

Dame Helen Mirren discusses how she would play Hillary Clinton on "Fareed Zakaria GPS" at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on CNN.this subject.

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To quote her co-star, Sir Anthony Hopkins,  at the end of RED 2, "I didn't see that coming!"  But how fascinating!

I know.  I know.  There is a huge contingent out there who would want to see Meryl in that part. But the woman who brought sympathy to the woman who,  for a week or so in the wake of the death of Diana,  was perhaps the most reviled in the world would be a tantalizing choice to play Hillary.  She could bring out the vulnerability that we all know is there ("Well, that hurts my feelings....").  Mirren always manages to find the soft spots.  I can't wait to see what she has to say on this subject.

What a brilliant coup for Fareed!  No one else thought to ask her that question.

Fareed Zakaria, GPS | Source: CNN

 Video >>>>

Added on 9:01 PM ET, Fri August 28, 2015

Dame Helen Mirren has played queens and secret agents. But how would she approach the challenge of playing Hillary Clinton?

Helen Mirren: Hillary Clinton a lioness

By Hal Boedeker Staff writer

Hillary Clinton may be getting a lot of criticism lately, but Dame Helen Mirren says she might like to play the presidential candidate. Mirren says the role would very different from Queen Elizabeth II, the actress' most famous part.
"The Queen, Elizabeth Windsor, I call her ... hers is a just, pop my head down, I just do what I'm supposed to do, I do it as well as I can, and I don't argue and I don't complain, and I just do it," Mirren tells Fareed Zakaria on his CNN show Sunday. "Hillary is much fiercer than that. You know, she is a lioness -- and Elizabeth Windsor is not -- I don't know what animal she is. I have to think about that one."
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"She would be a wonderful person to play somewhere down the line," Mirren tells Zakaria. "Someone will do a story, because she has had what an extraordinary trajectory and brilliance, brilliance at handling her world, and what unbelievable challenges she has had over the years."
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... I'm just saying in terms of roles for women in drama, I'm being very self-interested at this point, it would be good -- to have Hillary as a president, I think."
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Back in July, before she closed on Broadway, Helen professed her love for Vin Diesel and said she wanted to be in a Fast & Furious movie.  Within two weeks a script was in the works with a part for her.  So, just saying, Peter Morgan, are you listening?  I think you already are!

Weekend on the Boards: Clintons Catch Mirren; SNL Roasts Campaigns

While Kate McKinnon and Darrell Hammond were at 30 Rock putting finishing touches on the cold open of SNL's season finale,  Hillary Clinton and her tall, handsome escort were being ushered to their seats at the packed Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre several blocks away.

Video :  http://www.whosay.com/status/sararamirez/1103963

Bill and Hillary Clinton took in a matinee on Saturday of the widely acclaimed Peter Morgan play, The Audience in which Helen Mirren DBE zigs and zags achronologically among weekly audiences held by Queen Elizabeth II with the 12 prime ministers who have served over her 60+ years on the throne.
One of the most touching and powerful moments comes at the end of act one.  Just after this conversation - one of many Elizabeth has with her younger self - she is anointed Queen and accepts the very weighty crown that will dominate the rest of her life.



It is a scene with which Hillary certainly can identify.  Immediately after this, the curtain comes down for intermission during  which these two actors spend the entire time onstage as palace guard.  No doubt that particular role felt a wee bit more genuine yesterday.  As far as I could tell, the swords are authentic.



Apparently. it was during intermission that the Clintons went backstage to greet the cast.

Helen Mirren pokes fun at the Clintons

By Stephanie Smith

May 18, 2015 |

Photo: Getty Images

Bill and Hillary Clinton made the cultural rounds over the weekend and were playfully teased by Helen Mirren at her Broadway play “The Audience.”
One theatergoer noted, “In one scene, Mirren, as the Queen, is speaking to one of her prime ministers and says, ‘Well, you are better off with me than with what they have over there.’”
Mirren turned and stared right at the Clintons, and then the whole audience was in an uproar.
The couple went backstage during intermission.
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Mirren moves seamlessly from her 40s to her 20s to her 70s and back to her 30s with most costume changes occurring, almost miraculously, within seconds right onstage.  It is a magnificent tour-de-force for Dame Helen who is nominated for a Tony and earns it easily, appearing onstage fearlessly both with children and animals (an ancient theatrical taboo). The little corgis, Mimi and Marco,  who hit their marks running, are rescues who, six weeks prior to their debut, were awaiting adoption.




Congrats are in order all around!  For all of these and for attracting the couple most sought after on the Great White Way!

Outer Critics Circle Awards!

Outstanding Actress in a Play:  Helen Mirren

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play  Richard McCabe

Founders Award for Excellence in Directing:  Stephen Daldry!

We thank Sara Ramirez, of Hillary's favorite TV show Gray's Anatomy, for her video. Poetic justice that her tickets for this excellent production happened to be for this particular day.  Hope she had a chance to meet Hillary in all of the excitement!

Meanwhile, back at 30 Rock,  Darrell Hammond, who took over as SNL announcer after the death of Don Pardo, reprised his role as Bill Clinton to Kate McKinnon's Hillary in a musical production previewing a summer of campaigning.

The Clintons were not the only political powerhouses to endure a satirical swipe.   In the Weekend Update  portion, Jeb Bush explained away allegations that his brother created ISIS by bestowing part of the credit on Dick Cheney as he should have done in reality in the first place.