According to the Hollywood Reporter, Tom Selleck will be playing President Dwight D. Eisenhower in an A&E movie that will debut later this year. Bob DiBitetto, senior VP of Original Programming for A&E says, "The fact that he isn't an obvious choice is a good thing... What we wanted to avoid at all costs was a caricature or an impersonation. It's a character piece, and Mr. Selleck has the acting chops to bring out the complexity of the man."
Look, I think Tom is a good guy, and I certainly wish him luck... but what the hell is going on here? No offense, but I have to question Mr. Sellecks "chops." But even if his talent warranted the part, casting Magnum P.I. in the role of Eisenhower kind of negates any credibility you might have had to begin with. The pop culture status of Mr. Selleck will no doubt seep into every viewer's mind, evoking unintentional smiles at the most inopportune moments.
But hey, work is work. You have to give the guy--and his agent--some credit. God knows he could have ended up alongside Dirk Benedict, Lee Horsely and the two shmoes from Simon & Simon on the "it came from the 80's" scrap heap. In addition, you have to applaud his choice to stay away from making any more "Three Men and a Baby" sequels.
That being said, you
know you'll be humming the Magnum theme as Eisenhower orders the invasion.
