Some sources (i.e. the whole world) have speculated that CBS’s new series Madam Secretary will focus on a character loosely based on — or inspired by — former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It’ll be interesting to see if these comparisons continue to be made now that the trailer for Madam Secretary is out. Tea Leoni stars as Elizabeth McCord, a former CIA analyst turned college professor. When asked by friends if she misses the CIA, Elizabeth explains that she misses the people, but not the life.
Madam Secretary was created by Barbara Hall, who has written for Homeland and Judging Amy. Hall created cult classic Joan of Arcadia. Madam Secretary will air on Sundays at 8–9 pm, after 60 Minutes and before The Good Wife a prime berth which shows that CBS is high on the show (It is rumored to be CBS chief Nina Tassler’s favorite pilot.)
Here is CBS’s description of the series:
“MADAM SECRETARY stars Tea Leoni as Elizabeth McCord, the shrewd, determined, newly appointed Secretary of State who drives international diplomacy, battles office politics and circumvents protocol as she negotiates global and domestic issues, both at the White House and at home.
A college professor and a brilliant former CIA analyst who left for ethical reasons, Elizabeth returns to public life at the request of the President following the suspicious death of her predecessor. The President values her apolitical leanings, her deep knowledge of the Middle East, her flair for languages and her ability to not just think outside the box, but to not even acknowledge there is a box.
McCord’s team includes her Chief of Staff Nadine Tolliver (Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth), speechwriter Matt Mahoney (Geoffrey Arend), press coordinator Daisy Grant (Patina Miller) and her charming assistant, Blake Moran (Erich Bergen). As McCord debates third world problems and finesses foreign dignitaries at work, that’s just a warm-up for when she goes home to her supportive husband Henry (Tim Daly) and their two bright children (Katherine Herzer and Evan Roe), where “politics” and “compromise” take on new meaning.”