Topline
Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced Saturday the stars of the long-running HBO political comedy Veep—like Parks And Recreation and The Princess Bride— would reunite next month to raise money for the Democratic party, in this case in swing state Wisconsin.
Tony Hale, Sarah Sutherland, Sam. Richardson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Gary Cole, Timothy ... [+]
Key Facts
Louis-Dreyfus, who famously portrayed the Vice President Selina Meyer character on the show, said she and her old colleagues were getting back together for a special virtual reunion to be livestreamed October 4.
She will be joined by former Veep co stars including Anna Chlumskey, Matt Walsh, Tony Hale and Tim Simons while showrunner David Mandel will serve as a moderator.
Fans will be able to donate any amount to access the livestream—according to the Wisconsin Democrats’ website, the majority of viewers are donating $27 to the cause.
“Donate any amount that’s possible for you, and come and join us and be part of winning Wisconsin, taking down Trump and electing [Democratic presidential nominee] Joe Biden,” Louis-Dreyfus said in a video posted to Twitter.
Louis-Dreyfus is a longtime supporter of the Democratic party, and helped co host the party’s national convention in August.
Crucial Quote
“All roads to the White House go through the great state of Wisconsin. Trump can’t win reelection if he doesn’t win Wisconsin,” Louis-Dreyfus said. “The future of democracy is on the line, people,” she added.
Tangent
Louis-Dreyfus and Biden have a friendly relationship that dates back years. The two filmed a parody video together for the 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner. After Louis-Dreyfus announced her cancer diagnosis in 2017, Biden tweeted a message of support to her, saying “We Veeps stick together. Jill and I, and all of the Bidens, are with you, Julia.” This week, Louis-Dreyfus described the phone call she shared with Biden soon after her diagnosis in a CNN interview. “He’s a good guy,” she told Jake Tapper. While she’s choosing to support Biden for his policies, Louis-Dreyfus said him reaching out to her is an “example of his kindness and attention to others.”
Chief Critic
Democrats have been criticized by some for what they say is the party relying on celebrity endorsements and support, especially during the Democratic National Convention. In response to actor Eva Longoria taking the stage at the convention, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) tweeted a sarcastic comment: “Brilliant move! No one is more in touch with the challenges [and] obstacles faced by everyday Americans than actors [and] celebrities,” he wrote. Actor John Cusack, who in contrast is known for supporting liberal causes, also criticized the convention when he tweeted, “Do [you] think anyone at [the] DNC entertained the idea [of] removing a s****y reality TV star president. [You] might want to avoid presenting a slightly less s****y—but [unmistakably] campy, kitsch and yes s****y celebrity-filled reality tv convention.”
Key Background
The Veep cast aren’t the first to get the gang back together virtually to raise money for Democrats in Wisconsin. The stars of Parks and Recreation announced earlier this month they would hold an online special to raise money for the party, following a similar table read event put on by the cast of The Princess Bride.
Further Reading
