Threat of Complete Government Shutdown Looms Ahead on ‘Madam Secretary’
At least somebody on the Beltway has a high approval rating! Season 4 of Madam Secretary finds Secretary of State Elizabeth “Bess” McCord (Téa Leoni) becoming so popular with the public that President Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine) asks her to be more involved in domestic policy—while she continues to deal with epidemics in developing countries and international refugee crises, of course.
Fall plotlines will also include the threat of a complete government shutdown, due to Congress’s failure to pass a budget. “You will see how quickly the wheels come off the bus when the State Department is denied funding and employees are on furlough,” creator Barbara Hall says.
Such high-stress problems—on top of last season’s near collapse of NATO—will take an emotional toll on McCord’s chief of staff, Nadine (Bebe Neuwirth). In fact, the entire backup team, including press coordinator Daisy (Patina Miller), a pregnant single mom, and policy adviser Jay (Sebastian Arcelus), who has sacrificed his marriage for his job, will be center stage this season. “The dedication and endurance of State Department staffers is astounding,” executive producer Lori McCreary says. “These are the real heroes of our country.”
Madam Secretary, Season Premiere, Oct. 8, 10/9c, CBS
From TV Guide Magazine
Crime, Comedy & Convenience Stores: Unwrapping Hulu's 'Deli Boys' With the Cast
Cupcakes, corndogs…and cocaine?! Two brothers find themselves in a hilarious pickle when they inherit an unseemly bodega biz in Hulu’s new comedy Deli Boys. Find out how The Sopranos and Real Housewives of Orange County influenced the cast. Read the story now on TV Insider.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services