LOS ANGELES – These are nervous times for congressmen as the midterm elections approach. Any measurement of public approval becomes a source of concern. Rep. Robert Wexler, whose 19th congressional district winds through Broward and Palm Beach counties in South Florida, doesn’t have those worries this cycle: The five-term Democratic legislator is running unopposed for the second time.
As a result, he has the luxury of checking out a different set of numbers that have no consequence to his political future – TV’s Nielsen ratings. Wexler and his staff are the subjects of a Sundance Channel documentary series, “The Hill,” a nonfiction congressional version of “The West Wing,” which was showcased this week on TV’s summer press tour. The series of six enlightening and entertaining half-hours, shot cinema verite style, premieres Aug. 23.
Wexler, however, had no idea he’d have a political comfort zone when filming began almost two years ago. Still, he said, he felt it was worth opening up his office to prying cameras. By doing so, he said, he hopes to accomplish two objectives, both nonpartisan.
The first flies in the face of the old saw that the public should be shielded from how two things are made: sausages and laws. “I hope this show provides an educational forum so that people can see exactly how Congress works. I’d like to open up the mystery of Congress in a viewer friendly way,” Wexler said.
“The second thing I would hope is that people see there are dozens and dozens of people in their 20s and 30s, who are very patriotic, very idealistic and are committed to public service. This applies to Democratic and Republican offices.”
“The Hill” meets both objectives, introducing the audience not only to Wexler but to his dedicated staffers, who are never really off duty and become involving characters in their own right.
Wexler’s chief of staff, Eric Johnson, is shown trying to feed his son breakfast while juggling two calls on political issues. Foreign policy adviser Halie Soifer frets in the first episode, set just before the 2004 election, that she’s having a real problem with the fact that her boyfriend is a Republican and an ardent Bush supporter. By the third episode, she’s broken up with him and formed a new love connection with a Democrat.
Wexler said he had no reservations about potentially coming off badly on TV. Articulate and telegenic – a TV guy exclaims in the premiere that he can’t believe how blue the congressman’s eyes are – Wexler is frequently invited to appear on Chris Matthews’ “Hardball,” Neil Cavuto’s show and other talking head programs.
“I am fairly comfortable with cameras,” Wexler said. “My view is essentially I’m on the record just about all the time anyway. So having cameras around wasn’t particularly intrusive.”
It didn’t hurt that he wasn’t exactly chosen at random. The Sundance Channel is owned by fervent liberal Democrat Robert Redford, so there was no chance a conservative Republican was going to get such a valuable showcase. Moreover, “The Hill’s” director, Ivy Meeropol, is a former intern and later speechwriter for Wexler’s predecessor and fellow Democrat Harry Johnston. “It was her vision,” Wexler said.
Still, Wexler handled the request to open his office in a democratic manner. He put the request from Meeropol to a staff vote. “It had to be a unanimous decision or we wouldn’t have done it,” Eric Johnson said.
There was vigorous debate. “We’re a loud office,” communications director Lale Mamaux said with a laugh. (She didn’t need to point this out to anyone who had screened the show.)
Originally commissioned as a one-shot documentary, the project turned out so well that Sundance Channel decided to turn it into a series.
After a while it’s just like watching “The West Wing’s” C.J., Josh, Toby and Donna.
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