MovieChat Forums > Madam Secretary (2014) Discussion > Why isn't Bebe Newirth playing the title...

Why isn't Bebe Newirth playing the title role??


Makes no sense to waste an outstandingly talented actress like that in some minor supporting role.

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Maybe she doesn't want to commit to anything that takes up too much of her time. She does other things and probably enjoys the variety.

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True.

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She is not playing the lead because she wasn't hired for that. I would not call her role minor in any way.

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And, Tea is the producers. Bebe isn't.

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If she were 15 years younger, she probably could have had the title role. That said, I think they're underusing her.

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She’s only eight years older than Tea Leoni, who plays the main character.

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Leoni has a bigger screen presence. It's not entirely age.

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Let's agree to disagree then. I feel that Newirth has oodles of star quality that Leoni lacks, but that's how opinions work; we all have one.

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Of course she has plenty of star quality and is plenty talented. However, people wanted Tea' for the role. Bebe gets a lot of screen time, plus they even let her sing.....

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SPOILERS maybe.
The lady in question was a favored character way back in cheers. Her vocal delivery almost monotone and so un-flustered with that very very dry comedic tone. I realise that she does not always talk completely that way but all those I would suggest qualities would have been good for the character of the Secretary. Having said that I do see so many negative words about Tea. I have enjoyed the series but of course it is a fantasy world of sorts having watched the last episodes in three hour binge. The two major world players sitting down in the same room one after getting a couple of bloody noses. I do like the family scenes which show off a tenderness not usually seen in couples in such series. The faults of a career mother with no time for the family. That we do have the him and her who cannot speak about things on pain of life incarcerated.
I feel that Tea has played the role in an understated way. That makes is feel as though she is capable of doing the JOB. POTUS however as they always seem to be has visions about the second term and the pitfalls that may prevent this. He also plays a bit hawkish and loses his cool.


If a place like the white house is subject to political jockeying as gets shown in any White House related saga, West Wing, Scandal, House of Cards, and must include Homeland, State of Affairs and even The Good WIfe, then a big world struggle seems as if it must happen. In the UK an attempt to expose Mr Tony Blair as a liar and perhaps a war criminal will have to wait for 70 years after his death to see certain papers. That is something that makes a mockery of a so called democratic world. Very near to the totalitarian states allegedly hated.
Bringing into play the very serious deception by the UKRAINE in this story is not going to help certain real time perceptions nut surely the peoples of the ex USSR would have little knowledge of times pre WW2. Is the hatred expressed by the conniving Ukraine leader a common thought? The US has no love or altruistic feelings for any of those peoples but true to form they do wish to make it easier to fight a war by being close to the enemy and making them be so far away from US land. I cannot disagree with that sentiment or the oath of allegiance they require to be taken.

I do like Bebe and she plays her part very well but due to the fact that I feel Tea is holding her own the right people are in the right places. Neither of the ladies are getting the work because they are eye popping stunning. They look and act the parts well.

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She don't gots the greatest singing voice that's fer shure.


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"There's a lot of RAGE inside me about it". ~ Austin Matelson

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She don't gots the greatest singing voice that's fer shure.


You do know she has won 2 Tony awards for her performances in musicals right?? She's an incredible singer and dancer who had done multiple shows on Broadway before doing any TV! Search for her on youtube and you can see some of her performances.

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You do know she has won 2 Tony awards for her performances in musicals right?? She's an incredible singer and dancer who had done multiple shows on Broadway before doing any TV!
Then why is her singing so amateur and bad on the TV show - did you watch the episode and hear her singing?


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"There's a lot of RAGE inside me about it". ~ Austin Matelson

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Leoni can carry feature length film. Nobody wants to look at Bebe Neuwirth or listen to her Jane Curtin Coneheads voice for 45 minutes.




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Bebe Neuwirth's talent translates more to the stage than it does the screen.

I've seen her on stage (as Lola in Damn Yankees, and as both Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart in different performances of Chicago) and I thought she was terrific. However, on TV she's less-than-terrific, in my opinion. She's okay, but not great.

Again, there is a certain acting quality that works for the stage, but does not translate well to TV or film. I don't really find her to be 100% believable on screen.

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Maybe because Téa Leoni looks so much like Hillary Clinton. JS.

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