The idea of "American Candidate" was to encourage American citizens to fill out applications and make videotapes in hopes of being selected as part of the final group of 10 candidates. Changes made along the way opened the contest to immigrants as well as native-born citizens, and lowered the age to 18 from 35 (the legal minimum age for real presidential candidates).
Many applicants heard about the show by finding listings for it on the Internet, or by word of mouth. The producers found others by reaching out to political organizations or seeking recommendations. But, says Cutler, no one got a free pass onto the show, and that includes candidate Chrissy Gephardt, the daughter of former presidential candidate Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.).
"I've read that there's been suggestions that some of the people on the show didn't go through the full application process. It's entirely untrue. Everybody who's on the show filled out applications, everybody did their videotape."
Along the way, potential candidates were listed on the show's Web site and participants were encouraged to create Web sites of their own. The online response figured into the final choices, Cutler says, but was never intended to be the deciding factor.
"It would be silly to cast a show based on how many clicks somebody got on the Internet," Cutler says. "Every step of the way, I've defined our diversity objectives in terms of gender, socioeconomic background, educational background, geography, ideology. You can't rely on an entirely unscientific vote. And it wouldn't be fair. What about people who don't have access to the Internet?"
In the end, Cutler and his fellow producers chose the final 10, which are Democrat Keith Boykin, 38; the Green Party's Bruce Friedrich, 34; Democrat Gephardt, 31; Republican Park Gillespie, 38; Independent Malia Lazu, 27; Libertarian Richard Mack, 51; Libertarian Joyce Riley, 55; Republican Jim Strock, 47; Independent Bob Vanech, 35; and Democrat Lisa Witter, 31.
These finalists then set out across the country, learning firsthand about campaigning, polling, strategizing, creating a media image, crafting a message - all the things that real candidates have to do, with one exception. They never had to raise campaign funds.
"We took fund raising out," Cutler says, "because we wanted to ensure a level playing field, and we wondered, 'What would happen if you took the money out of it?' Everybody always says, 'If only money were taken out of politics, it would be a pure process.'"
Each week, the candidates face challenges, with the two bottom finishers squaring off in an elimination debate, moderated by Williams, after which the remaining candidates vote one person off. At the end, the public decides the final winner in a phone-in vote. The last participant standing becomes the "American Candidate," winning $200,000 and, following the end of the series, a nationwide media appearance so he or she can address the nation.
"You've got to have some finality in 10 weeks," Williams says. "In the end, this culminates in a national election. But the candidates look at me as if I'm their Grim Reaper, because every time I appear I come with a task for them to do, or I come telling them which two have to face off in a debate. And I give the results of all the (competitions and votes). I'm not the most well-liked person on the show."
While Cutler's stated aim is to lay bare the election process and "show how the sausage was made" -- in defiance of Otto von Bismarck, who said "Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made" -- Williams hopes the simulated campaign of "American Candidate" eventually affects the real presidential race.
"This is an opportunity, through entertainment," Williams says, "to educate, to maybe push people out to vote or at least, dammit, learn something about the issues. I tell you, the good thing about this show, it's going to end up being Monday-morning water-cooler conversation, because some reporter is going to ask one of the two candidates, either Kerry or Bush, 'The American Candidate last night said this, what do you think of that as an option?'
"You know what? Even if it doesn't [happen], I hope it does. What better way to stimulate conversation? No, we're not going to agree with everything that comes out of these candidates' mouths, but nor do we agree with what's coming out of the legitimate candidates' mouths.
"So I say it gives them an opportunity to really spark debate, spark conversation, maybe spark interest, and then we all win."
