BREAKING: OBAMA IS A REPTILIAN ALIEN IN DISGUISE. METAPHORICALLY, I MEAN. PROBABLY.

ITEM [via Def Agent lorilori ]: The remake of V is actually a scathing criticism of Obamamania, says the Glenn Garvin at the Chicago Tribune.

At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.

The news media swoons in admiration — one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: "Why don't you show some respect?!" The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader's origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: "Embracing change is never easy."

Ha ha. Nice one, Glenn. Very cute. Good thing we’re all sensible people who know better than to take this kind of thing seriously. After all, at the end of the day it’s just a TV show, not a political –

Oh snap.

DISCLAIMER: I haven’t seen the pilot episode (io9 has analysis here), but I don’t deny there’s probably at least a little intentional contemporary allegory here – sci-fi does that. A lot. And sci-fi TV is typically a lot less subtle about it. The original V certainly was.

But only in 2009 could a show like V start a loud senseless political argument about how scary charismatic presidents are (when they’re not named Ronald Reagan, I mean).

Bet either Fox or CNN has done/will do at least three hours on this story.

FUN FACT: Some people really believe Obama is secretly a lizard alien, you know. The Bible proves it. So it's not like they're crazy.

V for Vendetta,

This is dF