HBO’s new limited series “White House Plumbers” takes a satirical look at the Watergate scandal, focusing on the oddball characters behind the infamous break-in (CNN, 1 day ago). The show stars Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux as the real-life figures of E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy, the masterminds of the Watergate operation, and has been described as a surreal blend of Watergate and the darkly comedic style of HBO’s hit series “Veep” (Los Angeles Times, 23 hours ago).
Directed by David Mandel and featuring the writing team behind “Veep,” “White House Plumbers” seeks to highlight the absurdities of the Watergate scandal, making viewers laugh at the farcical nature of these historical events (The Daily Beast, 1 day ago). In 2017, comedian John Oliver coined the phrase “Stupid Watergate” to describe then-President Donald Trump’s ever-growing list of controversies (AP News, 19 hours ago) – a moniker that seems fitting for the satirical treatment given to the scandal by HBO’s new series.
However, not all critics have been impressed with the show, with the Chicago Sun-Times calling it a “second-rate series about a third-rate burglary” that wastes time on the “dull home lives” of its protagonists (Chicago Sun-Times, 2 days ago). Rolling Stone argues that “White House Plumbers” misses the mark, calling its political satire confused (Rolling Stone, 1 day ago).
Despite some mixed reviews, “White House Plumbers” offers an intriguing exploration of the Watergate scandal’s lesser-known players through a satirical lens, as well as a unique perspective on American politics and its consequences (NPR, 1 day ago).
