Veepis an Americanpolitical satirecomedy television series that aired onHBOfrom April 22, 2012, to May 12, 2019.[3]The series was created byArmando Iannucci.The protagonist ofVeepisSelina Meyer(Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a fictionalVice President of the United States.The series follows Meyer and her team as they attempt to make their mark and leave a legacy but often instead become mired in day-to-day political games.

Veep
Genre
Created byArmando Iannucci
Showrunners
  • Armando Iannucci (seasons 1–4)
  • David Mandel(seasons 5–7)
Starring
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No.of seasons7
No.of episodes65(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Production locations
Camera setupSingle camera
Running time26–30 minutes
Production companies
  • HBO Entertainment
  • Dundee Productions (Seasons 1–4)
Budget
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseApril 22, 2012(2012-04-22)
May 12, 2019(2019-05-12)
Related

Veepreceived critical acclaim and won several major awards, including seven consecutive nominations for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series,winning that award for its fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons. Its second, fourth, and sixth seasons won theWriters Guild of America Award for Television: Comedy Series,and its third season won theTelevision Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.

Louis-Dreyfus's performance won her six consecutivePrimetime Emmy Awards,threeScreen Actors Guild Awards,twoCritics' Choice Television Awards,aTelevision Critics Association Award,and five consecutiveGolden Globenominations. For his portrayal of Selina's personal aide, Gary,Tony Halereceived six consecutive Emmy nominations forOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series,winning in 2013 and 2015. Other members of the cast who received Emmy nominations includeAnna Chlumsky(six nominations),Gary Cole(one nomination),Matt Walsh(two nominations),Martin Mull(one nomination),Hugh Laurie(one nomination), andPeter MacNicol(one nomination).

Synopsis

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The series follows the personal life and political career ofSelina Meyer(Julia Louis-Dreyfus),Vice Presidentand, later,President of the United States.Herpartyaffiliation is never discussed. Formerly aUnited States senatorfromMaryland,Meyer campaigns for her party's nomination in the2012 presidential electionand is initially thefront-runner,but ultimately loses the nomination to Stuart Hughes. Meyer subsequently joins the Hughes ticket as hisrunning mateand is elected vice president. Her staff as vice president, upon whom Meyer is almost totally reliant, includeschief of staffAmy Brookheimer (Anna Chlumsky), director of communications Mike McLintock (Matt Walsh), deputy director of communications Dan Egan (Reid Scott),body manGary Walsh (Tony Hale), and personal secretary Sue Wilson (Sufe Bradshaw). Later additions to her team as president includeWhite House Chief of StaffBen Cafferty (Kevin Dunn) and political strategist Kent Davison (Gary Cole). Jonah Ryan (Timothy Simons), initially aWhite Houseliaison to the vice president's office and later aNew Hampshirecongressman,also features prominently.

Meyer frequently finds herself relegated and ignored by Hughes, who is never depicted on-screen at the outset of the series. In the second season, Meyer comes to accrue some power and influence and, by the end of the season, is actively considering challenging Hughes for their party's nomination in the2016 election.This becomes amoot pointwhen Hughes abruptly resigns due to his wife's poor mental health and Meyer becomes president. Meyer begins her presidential campaign at the end of the third season. The fourth season finds her adjusting to her new role while continuing her presidential campaign, both of which are undermined by a series of scandals. The election results in atiebetween Meyer and challenger Bill O'Brien (Brad Leland), leading to acontingent electionin theHouse of Representativesduring the fifth season to decide the next president after arecountinNevadafails to alter the election's outcome. The House vote ends in a tie, meaning that when theSenatevotes to elect the vice president the winner will be the next president. The Senate vote also ends in a tie; Meyer's disgruntled Vice President Andrew Doyle (Phil Reeves), who did not run for a full term, casts thetiebreaking votefor O'Brien's running mate Laura Montez (Andrea Savage) instead of Meyer's running mate Tom James (Hugh Laurie), leading to Montez becoming president. The sixth season follows Meyer out of office for the first time in the series, as she attempts to ensure her legacy by authoring amemoir,setting up afoundationand attempting to establish apresidential library.At the end of the season, Meyer decides to run for president again. The seventh season sees Meyer attempting to run for president once again in the2020 election,featuring her former political rivals Ryan and James as major competitors, in addition to introducing the young, likable, and progressive challenger Kemi Talbot (Toks Olagundoye).

The series also explores Meyer's personal life, such as her strained relationships with her daughter Catherine (Sarah Sutherland), ex-husband Andrew (David Pasquesi), and severalsignificant others.The lives, careers, and relationships of the other characters are also explored, frequently intersecting with the series' principal narrative, satirizing the political activities and inner workings of the contemporaryU.S. government.

Cast and characters

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus,who portraysSelina Meyer
Anna Chlumsky,who portrays Amy Brookheimer
Tony Hale,who portrays Gary Walsh
Reid Scott,who portrays Dan Egan
Timothy Simons,who portrays Jonah Ryan
Matt Walsh,who portrays Mike McLintock
Sufe Bradshaw,who portrays Sue Wilson
  • Julia Louis-DreyfusasSelina Meyer(néeEaton):[4]Born Selina Catherine Eaton, a formerU.S. Senatorfrom Maryland who, in the start of the series, is the titularVice President,or "Veep." She has a strained relationship with thePresident.After the president declines to run for a second term, she begins campaigning for the presidency in Season 3. At the end of Season 3, she becomes president when he resigns for personal issues. Due to a complex manipulation of constitutional law, she loses the presidential race in Season 5. After trying to decide what her post-presidential legacy should be during Season 6, she decides to run for another term as President by Season 7. She is divorced with one daughter, but remains romantically entangled with her ex-husband during the first two seasons and the sixth. She seems to display little or no maternal instinct towards her daughter. Louis-Dreyfus has received widespread critical acclaim for her performance, winning a record-breaking sixPrimetime Emmy Awards[5]and threeScreen Actors Guild Awards,and receiving five consecutiveGolden Globenominations.
  • Anna Chlumskyas Amy Brookheimer:[6]theVice President's Chief of Staff.She credits herself as the vice president's "trouble-shooter, problem-solver, issue-mediator, doubt-remover, conscience-examiner, thought-thinker and all-round everything-doer". Amy is constantly sacrificing her own reputation to save Selina's political credibility. She is known to be uptight and overly dedicated to her career, unwilling to settle down and have children, much to the dismay of her family. She has romantic history with Dan, and may still have feelings for him. She has a few different boyfriends throughout the series, including a fundraiser for Selina and aNevadapolitician. Amy becomes Selina's campaign manager during her presidential run, but resigns as a result of the brief appointment of an equivocating, yet omnipresent, old friend of Selina's to the campaign team. She rejoins the Meyer team when a tie in the general election leads to a statewide recount in Nevada. At the end of season 6 it is revealed that after a one-night stand with Dan, she is pregnant with his child. However, she gets an abortion in Season 7, mainly due to Dan's inability to settle down. In season 7, Amy leaves Selina's team to join Jonah's presidential campaign, becoming his campaign manager and encouraging his unorthodox demeanor and presentation of conspiracy theories as fact. Chlumsky previously portrayed a similar character, Liza Weld, in Iannucci's 2009 film,In the Loop.She received six consecutivePrimetime Emmy Awardnominations for her performance.
  • Tony Haleas Gary Walsh:[7]Selina'spersonal aideand body man. A long-term associate and confidant of Selina, Gary is portrayed as incredibly loyal and devoted. Despite his menial job, Gary is actually a graduate ofCornell University,having majored inhotel management.In the fourth and fifth seasons, Gary is portrayed as having issues adapting to Selina's presidency, since he can no longer be as close to her as previously, due to lack of security clearance. When Selina fails to win reelection, he stays on as her personal aide. Hale describes Gary's loyalty to Selina stemming from the idea that the character "is one of those guys who never really had an identity. He attached himself to people to find who he was."[8]Hale received twoPrimetime Emmy Awardsfor his performance on the series, with four further nominations.
  • Reid Scottas Dan Egan:[9]the deputy director of communications in the Vice President's Office. Dan is a highly ambitious, cutthroat up-and-comer in D.C. who takes pride in his contacts and networking skills. He has dated the daughters of influential politicians to get ahead in his career. He often butts heads with Amy, whom he previously dated (and it is suggested he may still have feelings for her). He has a brief stint as Selina's campaign manager for her presidential campaign but is fired from that position after having a nervous breakdown following several crises. He resumes his post in Communications but is fired as a scapegoat amid a data-theft scandal. After briefly working unsuccessfully as a lobbyist and as aCNNanalyst, he returns to the campaign staff, as a senior campaign official. When Selina fails to win reelection, Dan goes to work as a lead anchor onCBS This Morning.In Season 7, he joins Selina's new reelection campaign.
  • Timothy Simonsas Jonah Ryan:[10]the White House liaison to Vice President Meyer's office. He constantly clashes with most members of the Veep's office, particularly Amy. Everyone he encounters dislikes him, even foreign politicians. In the third season, he is temporarily fired from the White House for running a blog disclosing insider information, leading him to create his own news website,Ryantology.In season four, he works again as a liaison, this time between President Meyer and Vice President Doyle. He later works for the Meyer general election campaign, until a New Hampshire congressman dies. He is then drafted to run for that seat in order to secure Meyer's vote in the electoral college. He is elected and becomes a congressman, appointing Richard as his Chief of Staff; as he begins his congressional term, he is diagnosed withtesticular cancerand undergoes treatment, entering remission by Season 6. In season 7, Jonah launches a presidential campaign to compete with Selina for the nomination of their party; while initially a long-shot candidacy, Jonah begins to gain traction by promoting numerous conspiracy theories, such as supporting theanti-vax movementand alleging that math was created byMuslimsand should not be taught in schools. Amy joins his campaign as his campaign manager. He ultimately becomes vice president in the second Meyer administration. According toMatt Walsh,Jonah Ryan was originally envisioned by the show's writers as "just a fat, short, heavy smoker," but was changed to his current characterization after Simons auditioned for the role.[11]
  • Matt Walshas Mike McLintock:[12]the vice president's director of communications. Mike has served as her communications director since her tenure as senator from Maryland. His career dedication is often questionable, to the extent that he pretends to have a pet dog so he can escape from work commitments. The other characters in the show often mock his lack of ambition, suggesting that he has reached the peak of his career. He is often portrayed as lacking the skills required for the job. In the third season, he marries a reporter named Wendy Keegan. In Season 4, Mike becomes theWhite House Press Secretary.In Season 5, Mike and Wendy attempt to adopt a baby. They ultimately adopt a Chinese toddler, and also have twins via a surrogate. In Season 6, Selina employs him to write her biographyA Woman First,but a scandal arises soon after its publication whereby the true nature of the Meyer Administration was revealed due to him leaving the diary he used for research at the offices ofThe Washington Post.Walsh received twoPrimetime Emmy Awardnominations for his performance.
  • Sufe Bradshawas Sue Wilson:[13]the vice president's personal secretary. A direct and no-nonsense personality, Sue boasts she is the third most important person in the world, as she is the one who controls which people get to see Selina, the second most important person in the world. During a committee inquiry into Selina's office, the chairperson states that Sue "could organize the D-Day landings and still have time for Iwo Jima." Sue becomes the Chief of Scheduling for the White House in Season 4. She remains in that capacity when President Montez is inaugurated. Bradshaw based her character on that of aDMVemployee, elaborating that, "DMV workers are strait-laced and go by the book, and they don't have much time because there's so much to do in a day."[14](seasons 1–5; guest season 7)
  • Kevin Dunnas Ben Cafferty:[15]theWhite House Chief of Staff,under both the unseen former president and President Meyer. Although he is depressed and a high-functioning alcoholic, he is often very insightful and is treated with respect and even fear throughout Washington. Ben shows little regard for his co-workers or his job, and appears to love his nine-cup coffee thermos more than anything else. Selina refers to him as a "burned-out loser," but he apparently considers her a close friend and resolves to help her become president. Though he was planning on leaving the White House imminently, he agrees to remain with the administration indefinitely. When Selina fails to win reelection, he joins Congressman Ryan's staff with Kent. (Seasons 3–7; recurring season 2)
  • Gary Coleas Kent Davison:[16]the senior strategist to the president, under both the unseen former president Hughes and later President Meyer. He is a number-cruncher, and is often referred to as being cold and robotic. His obsession with polling statistics negatively influences the President's decision-making during several episodes in the second season. Kent is also focused on the public images of Selina and Catherine. It is implied that he and Sue are in some form of ersatz relationship. Although Selina initially dislikes him, she comes to appreciate his useful polling and statistical data, and he becomes a key part of her presidential administration. When Selina fails to win reelection, he joins Congressman Ryan's staff with Ben. Cole received aPrimetime Emmy Awardnomination for his performance. (seasons 4–7; recurring seasons 2–3)
  • Sam Richardsonas Richard Splett: an amiable, if not always completely competent, campaign aide who fills in for Gary during Selina's book tour, later becoming Amy's assistant on Selina's presidential campaign, and then briefly Jonah's personal assistant. Splett is cheerful and often the butt of jokes. In Season 5, Selina promotes Richard after discovering he has a doctorate in electoral law. As part of Richard's promotion, Jonah becomes his assistant. When Jonah is elected to Congress, Richard becomes his Chief of Staff. Richard makes many allusions to his blog, splettnet.net. After losing the presidency, Selina hires him to be her Chief of Staff for the Meyer Fund. During season 6, he becomes the sperm donor for Catherine and Marjorie's baby. Richard begins his own political career in season 7, after being asked to serve as mayor of his small hometown in Iowa. He quickly rises through the ranks, becomingLieutenant Governor of Iowaafter accidentally exposing a corruption scandal that causes the incumbent to resign, andGovernorafter Jonah accidentally infects the incumbent with a deadly strain ofchickenpox.In the season 7 epilogue, Richard is revealed to become a successful two-term president. (seasons 4–7; recurring season 3)[17]
  • Sarah Sutherlandas Catherine Meyer: Selina's reserved, put-upon daughter. Catherine is often caught in the middle of Selina's issues, especially with her father. She is generally unable to gain her mother's respect or attention. She tends to have highly liberal views concerning social justice. During the first four seasons, she is a film major atVassar College.She briefly attracts attention for dating a Persian student. Later, she dates and becomes engaged to a lobbyist her mother dislikes. Selina initiates the demise of their relationship by declaring that they've broken up during an inquiry into her administration. Catherine goes along with the breakup to protect her mother's administration. She is seen in the fifth season filming a documentary based on the unprecedented Electoral-College tie that concludes Selina's presidential run, and she becomes romantically involved with her mother's lookalike bodyguard, Marjorie. In the season 6 finale, she gives birth to son Richard, conceived by artificial insemination, with Richard Splett as the donor. Catherine and Marjorie later marry in season 7, with Selina using their wedding in Norway as a diversion to escapeInterpoland return to the United States, much to Catherine's chagrin. She ends her relationship with her mother permanently after Selina promises to endsame-sex marriagein order to win the presidency, in which she ultimately is successful. Years later, Catherine does not attend her mother's funeral, instead watching it on television with Marjorie and the now-adult Richard. (season 7; recurring seasons 2–6; guest season 1)
  • Clea DuVallas Marjorie Palmiotti: Selina's bodyguard and lookalike. She resigns when she begins a relationship with Catherine. In the season 6 premiere, her relationship with Catherine has progressed rapidly, and they later marry in season 7. After Selina leaves office as president, Marjorie is hired to serve as Director of the Meyer Fund. (season 7; recurring seasons 5–6)

Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
18April 22, 2012(2012-04-22)June 10, 2012(2012-06-10)
210April 14, 2013(2013-04-14)June 23, 2013(2013-06-23)
310April 6, 2014(2014-04-06)June 8, 2014(2014-06-08)
410April 12, 2015(2015-04-12)June 14, 2015(2015-06-14)
510April 24, 2016(2016-04-24)June 26, 2016(2016-06-26)
610April 16, 2017(2017-04-16)June 25, 2017(2017-06-25)
77March 31, 2019(2019-03-31)May 12, 2019(2019-05-12)

Development

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Louis-Dreyfus with then-Vice PresidentJoe Bidenat the White House

The Thick of It

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BBC series

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Before creatingVeep,Scottish satiristArmando Iannuccicreated theBBCsatire comedyThe Thick of It,set in a fictional department of theBritish government.The Thick of Itwas first broadcast in 2005 and won a number of awards. Iannucci directed aspin-offfilm,In the Loop,which was released in 2009 and nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

ABC pilot

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A pilot for an American version ofThe Thick of Itwas produced as a candidate for the 2007–08 season onABC.Also titledThe Thick of It,it was developed for American audiences by writersMitch HurwitzandRichard Dayand followed a low-level member of theUnited States Congressand his staff. Iannucci had a production credit on the show, but he was not otherwise involved. The pilot was produced bySony Pictures TelevisionandBBC Worldwideand directed byChristopher Guest.[18]

In the pilot,John Michael Higginsplayed newly-elected Congressman Albert Alger, andOliver Plattplayed committee chairman Malcolm Tucker.[19]Rhea Seehornportrayed Ollie Tadzio, an ambitious young speechwriter, andMichael McKeanplayed Glen Glahm, "a former campaign operative who's now the Chief of Staff" for the congressman.[20]

ABC did not pick up the show for its fall 2007 schedule.[21]Iannucci distanced himself from the pilot, stating, "It was terrible...they took the idea and chucked out all the style. It was all conventionally shot and there was no improvisation or swearing. It didn't get picked up, thank God."[22]

HBO development ofVeep

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AfterThe Thick of Itwas dropped by ABC, several networks includingHBO,ShowtimeandNBCexpressed interest in adapting the show.[23]Iannucci re-entered talks with HBO (his initial preference) about adapting the series, with the result that a new pilot episode for a series situated in the office of theVice President of the United StatescalledVeep(a nickname derived from the position's initials "VP" ) was commissioned in late 2009.[22]Iannucci was given much more creative control over the production,[24]and co-wrote the pilot with British comedy writerSimon Blackwell,who also contributed to the British seriesThe Thick of It.[25]

In April 2011, HBO announced that it had orderedVeepas a series,[25]and later announced in January 2012 that the series would premiere on April 22, 2012.[3]

Production

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Directors for Season 1 includedArmando Iannucci,Tristram ShapeeroandChris Morris.Veepis executive produced by Iannucci, Christopher Godsick andFrank Rich.Co-executive producers areSimon Blackwell,Tony Roche,withJulia Louis-Dreyfusand Stephanie Laing as producers. The series' first four seasons featured an entirely British writing staff, including Iannucci, Blackwell, Roche,Sean Gray,Will Smith,Roger Drew,Ian Martin,Andy Riley,Kevin Cecil,David Quantick,Georgia PritchettandJesse Armstrong,among others,[26][27]many of whom had previously worked with Iannucci onThe Thick of It.

Series creator Armando Iannucci departed asshowrunnerfollowing the fourth season's end of production. Iannucci stated that his continuing busy schedule, as well as the challenge of maintaining his family life while switching betweenBaltimoreand London, would not allow him to "[dedicate] one hundred percent" as head of the show, and he had chosen to "fire" himself as a result.David Mandeltook over as showrunner for future episodes, becomingVeep's first American writer. Mandel retained a small number of Iannucci's writing staff, as well asChris Addisonas director and supervising producer, whilst also bringing in his own staff, and American writers.[28][29][30]

Filming

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Charles Village, Baltimore,one of the areas whereVeepfilmed for its first season production[31]

The pilot episode was filmed in February 2011 inMaryland,[32]and filming for the series began in October 2011 inBaltimore,[33]after several months of rehearsal designed to get the actors comfortable improvising with one another.[34]For its first season,Veepreportedly hired 978 local Maryland residents, generating $40 million for the state, according to the Maryland Film Office.[35][36]Season 2 production began shooting in November 2012, continuing to film inBaltimoreand other areas ofMaryland.Veepprimarily filmed on asound stageconstructed from aColumbia, Marylandindustrial warehouse, where replicas of places such as theEisenhower Executive Office BuildingandWest Wingwere also built.[37][38][39]The show continued filming in Maryland for its third and fourth seasons, as a bill was approved bystate lawmakersin April 2013 that increased tax credits for film and TV productions in the state.[36][40][41]Later filming locations includedAnnapolisand the Physical Sciences Complex in theUniversity of Maryland,College Parkcampus.[42][43][44]

Principal photography moved from Baltimore toLos Angelesin the show's fifth season after being one of a few series to be awardedtax incentivesfrom theCalifornia Film Commission,as part of an expanded $330 million California Film Tax Credit program signed byGovernorJerry Brownin 2014.[45][46][47]Filming took place for part of the show's fifth season inWashington, D.C.,from February 25, 2016, to March 3, 2016. As a result ofHBO's Community Impact program, a select number of local D.C. residents also worked on the production during the eight-day film shoot in the area.[48][49]Areas in D.C. where production was reportedly found filming include theSuperior Court,theSpring Valley neighborhood(where Julia Louis-Dreyfus once lived), andDupont Circle'sKramerbooksindependent bookstore.[50][51]The seventh and final season wrapped filming in December 2018.[52]

Reception

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Metacriticratings per season
Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Rating 72[53] 75[54] 86[55] 90[56] 88[57] 88[58] 87[59]

Season 1

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The first season ofVeepreceived generally positive reviews from television critics. Review aggregator siteMetacriticgave the season a score of 72 out of 100 based on reviews from 30 critics.[53]The review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoesreported a 78% approval rating with an average rating of 7.2/10 based on 46 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "The jokes are funny and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is great in the lead, butVeepis still working to find its voice. "[60]Hank Stuever ofThe Washington Postpraised the series, writing, "Thanks to Louis-Dreyfus, and the show's remarkable knack for dialogue and timing,Veepis instantly engaging and outrageously fun. "[61]Rob Brunner ofEntertainment Weeklygave the season a positive review: "Charmingly goofy as ever, Louis-Dreyfus isn't quite believable as a Vice President – even a sitcom VP whose lack of gravitas is the show's central joke. But she's still a joy to watch, especially when she shows off that famous gift for physical comedy."[62]Maureen Ryan ofThe Huffington Postgave the show a lukewarm review, writing, "Despite the clear talents of the assembled cast, Veep merely reinforces what most people already think and revisits territory many other politically oriented movies and TV shows have thoroughly covered."[63]Brian Lowry ofVarietygave the show a negative review and said a "show about an always-second office becomes second-tier TV."[64]

Season 2

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The second season received acclaim from critics. It averaged a Metacritic score of 75 out of 100 based on reviews from 10 critics.[54]On Rotten Tomatoes, it received a 92% approval rating with an average score of 8.6/10 based on 24 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "InVeep's second season, the satire is sharper, the insights are deeper, the tone is more consistent, and the result is a comedy of unexpected heft. "[65]David Hiltbrand ofThe Philadelphia Inquirerpraised the series saying, "HBO's Veep is the sharpest Beltway satire the medium has ever seen, mostly because it focuses not on the power wielded by politicians, but on their desperate venality".[66]Bruce Miller ofSioux City Journalalso praised the show, writing: "The show is smart—smarter than most on network television—and it has life."[67]

Season 3

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The third season received acclaim from critics. It received a Metacritic score of 86 out of 100 based on 10 reviews.[55]It scored a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 8.6/10 based on 26 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "Veepcontinues its winning streak with a mix of smart comedy, bright performances and a refreshing approach to D.C. politics. "[68]Matt Roush ofTV Guidepraised the show, and in a joint review ofVeepandSilicon Valleywrote: "[Silicon Valleyis] paired with the third season of the savagely hilariousVeep;this combo promises to be HBO's most robust and certainly most entertaining comedy hour in years. "[69]Brandon Nowalk ofThe A.V. Clubwrote the show "has become the clearest heir to30 RockandArrested Development,and specific bits throughout the season recall both series. "[70]Tim Molloy ofTheWrappraised the cast saying, "The show works because all of its actors seem so human, so likable, despite the words coming from their mouths."[71]

Season 4

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Thefourth seasonreceived acclaim from critics. It received a Metacritic score of 90 out of 100 based on 11 reviews.[56]As with the previous season,Veepscored a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 9.1/10. The site's consensus reads, "Veep shows no signs of slowing down in its fourth season, thanks to sharp, funny, rapid-fire dialogue between POTUS and her hilariously incompetent staff."[72]Tim Goodman ofThe Hollywood Reporterwrote, "Veepenters its fourth season, firmly established as one of television's best comedies, and then immediately does what seems impossible—it delivers its most thoroughly assured, hilarious and brilliantly written and acted episodes. "[73]Ben Travers ofIndiewirewrote, "Veepis incomparable in comedy "and that" the HBO comedy has crafted a style so unique the series itself is entirely its own beast. "[74]

Season 5

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Thefifth seasonreceived acclaim from critics. It received a Metacritic score of 88 out of 100 based on 18 reviews.[57]The season scored a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The site's consensus reads, "Thanks to the spot-on comedic prowess of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and companyVeepis back with as many laughs and expletive-filled absurdities as ever. "[75]Tim Goodman ofThe Hollywood Reporterwrote that "Veepdoesn't just feel like it's firing on all cylinders, it feels invigorated and out to prove something. "[76]while Kevin Sullivan ofEntertainment Weeklywrote that "in the switch to new showrunner David Mandel, the state ofVeepis strong ".[77]

Season 6

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The sixth season received critical acclaim. On Metacritic, it has a score of 88 out of 100 based on 15 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[58]It has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 36 reviews with an average score of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A move from the White House hasn't dulledVeep's razor-sharp satirical edge, thanks to Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her castmates' deft comic chemistry. "[78]

Season 7

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The seventh season received critical acclaim. On Metacritic, it has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[59]It has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 59 reviews with an average score of 8.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Brash and bonkers as ever,Veepbows out with an unapologetically absurd final season that solidifies its status as one of TV's greatest comedies. "[79]

Awards and honors

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Through its seven seasons,Veephas received critical acclaim and won several major awards, including seventeenPrimetime Emmy Awards,twoCritics' Choice Television Awards,aPeabody Award,fourScreen Actors Guild Awards,twoTelevision Critics Association Awards,threeDirectors Guild of America Awardsand threeWriters Guild of America Awards.

Home media

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Season Release dates Bonus features
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 Region A Region B
1 March 26, 2013 June 3, 2013 April 3, 2013 March 26, 2013 June 3, 2013 "The Making ofVeep","Veep:Misspoke ","Veep:Obesity ", deleted scenes and outtakes, 12 audio commentaries with cast and crew[80]
2 March 25, 2014 June 2, 2014 May 28, 2014 March 25, 2014 June 2, 2014 Deleted scenes, 4 audio commentaries with cast and crew[81]
3 March 31, 2015 March 30, 2015 April 1, 2015 March 31, 2015 March 30, 2015 Deleted scenes, 4 audio commentaries with cast and crew, "Governor's Visit"[82]
4 April 19, 2016 April 18, 2016 April 20, 2016 April 19, 2016 April 18, 2016 Deleted scenes[83]
5 April 11, 2017 April 10, 2017 April 12, 2017 April 11, 2017 April 10, 2017 Deleted scenes; audio commentaries[84]
6 September 12, 2017 September 11, 2017 September 13, 2017 September 12, 2017 September 11, 2017 7 audio commentaries[85]
7 January 14, 2020 January 13, 2020 January 15, 2020 January 14, 2020 January 13, 2020 "Character Retrospectives", "Inside the Final Season", 8 audio commentaries[86]

Enduring popularity and relevance

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Veephas remained popular since it ended.[87]It has also received attention due to the show's plot lines resembling the real-world progress of the2024 Democratic Party presidential primariesand thewithdrawal of Joe Biden from the 2024 United States presidential election,which made Vice PresidentKamala Harristhe presumptive Democratic nominee.[88]

Notes

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  1. ^abcThis amount represents the total qualified expenditures for the California Film & Television Tax Credit and excludes other non-qualifying costs.

References

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  1. ^Hayden, Erik (August 23, 2014)."Emmys: 5 Cringeworthy 'Veep' Moments".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJanuary 29,2022.
  2. ^abc"2019 Television Report"(PDF).FilmL.A. p. 20.Archived(PDF)from the original on July 13, 2020.RetrievedMay 11,2020.
  3. ^abAndreeva, Nellie (January 13, 2012)."UPDATE: Premiere Dates For HBO's 'Girls,' 'Game Of Thrones', 'Veep' & 'Game Change'".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2012.RetrievedApril 24,2012.
  4. ^"Selina Meyer played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus".HBO.Archivedfrom the original on September 5, 2017.RetrievedMarch 22,2013.
  5. ^Gonzalez, Sandra (September 18, 2017)."Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes Emmy history".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 18,2017.
  6. ^"Amy Brookheimer played by Anna Chlumsky".HBO.Archivedfrom the original on August 31, 2017.RetrievedMarch 22,2013.
  7. ^"Gary Walsh played by Tony Hale".HBO.Archivedfrom the original on August 31, 2017.RetrievedMarch 22,2013.
  8. ^Birnbaum, Debra (April 16, 2015)."Tony Hale on 'Veep' and Playing the Bad Guy for a Change".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on March 20, 2016.RetrievedMarch 18,2016.
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