USA’s Political Animals follows a corrupt and ambitious political family that has been self-destructing from the inside for many years. When USA picked up the show to pilot, I was a little concerned Political Animals would be able to differentiate itself from the other slew of political pilots, including comedy 1600 Penn and Netflix’s more dramatic House of Cards production. Luckily, USA seems fully behind Greg Berlanti and Laurence Mark’s project, and has hired some big names to back it. Now, they have added one more to the cast.
Carla Gugino is joining Political Animals as a Pullitzer Prize winning journalist who works hard to get her stories. According to Deadline, Gugino’s character, Susan Berg, closely follows the decision making processes of recently divorced and even more recently appointed Secretary of State Elaine Barrish, who was once married to the President of the United States. To add even more spice, Political Animals will keep tabs on the Barrish’s two children, one an addict and the other working in politics.
While Gugino has been all over film releases lately, including last year’s Sucker Punch, she is not new to television or playing tough women. In Californication, Gugino played tough cookie Abby Rhodes, who, as Hank’s lawyer, got him out of a lot of trouble in Season 4. She’ll be a fine addition to a cast that already includes Jimmy Wolk and Sigourney Weaver.
