Officials from Hyattsville and Prince George’s County have invited the cast and crew of ABC’s “Commander in Chief” to visit the area after last week’s episode of the presidential drama portrayed Hyattsville and the county as a crime-ridden community in need of federal intervention.
“We understand that television is entertainment, but we take offense to the characterization of Prince George’s County on ‘Commander in Chief,’ ” Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson wrote in a news release. “What we have achieved in terms of economic development and quality of life, would be celebrated anywhere else in America and highlighted for its excellence.”
The ABC show airs Thursday nights and stars Geena Davis as Mackenzie Allen, the first female president of the United States.
In last week’s episode, Davis’ character watched a news show about protests over the high murder rate and lack of police protection, then sent more than three dozen U.S. marshals to Prince George’s.
In the real world, the number of homicides in the county increased 140 percent from 2000 to 2005. Also, results from a county audit last month found that police staffing levels in the county are significantly lower than the average in all metropolitan counties in the nation.
An unsigned news release issued Friday by ABC has been the only response to outrage in the county. The release said “Commander in Chief” is a fictional series designed to create compelling characters and stories for viewers. ABC said it referenced Hyattsville because of its proximity to Washington and researched crime statistics related to the area to create drama, not portray the community in a negative light.
“We apologize for any offense, and reiterate that the series, the storyline, and the episode are all entirely works of fiction and do not depict any real person or situation,” the ABC statement read.
