Blair Underwood Is The Next Obama

Just call Blair Underwood Mr. President. The veteran actor has signed up to play the leader of the free world in NBC’s drama pilot The Event. The project, which will be written by Nick Wauters (Medium, Eureka, The 4400), focuses on a large-scale government cover-up. Steve Stark will serve as executive producer. 

For Underwood, who first found fame on the landmark legal drama L.A. Law (1987-1994), this will continue his streak as the hardest-working man on television. He recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work on HBO’s In Treatment, and has appeared in a diverse range of shows including Dirty Sexy Money, The New Adventures of Old Christine and Sex and the City.

But his casting in The Event does not raise eyebrows much in the same way that Dennis Haysbert did in his groundbreaking role on 24 as African-American President David Palmer. With Barack Obama in office, such a premise is now believable.—Keith Murphy