Political novices off and running

With so many aspects of daily American life already covered by reality shows (home invasions by a team of tasteful gay men, wife swapping, visits to the city by the Amish), it seemed reasonable to wonder when the genre would get around to something really crazy, like politics.

And now we have “American Candidate,” which debuts Sunday night on the pay cable network Showtime three days after the close of the Democratic National Convention. It’s a fantasy about finding the next president of the United States among people normally cut off from the political process -- you know, that group the media always condescendingly refer to as average Americans.

As the show opens, 10 people have been chosen to run in a fictitious primary, the winner receiving “$200,000 and a chance to address the nation,” says Montel Williams, the show’s host.

Money and a speech, huh. Be still my beating heart.

To be fair, “American Candidate” aims to cut through the fundraising and influence peddling that leave people on the sidelines of the political game. This is a bit of a cop-out (OK, you can’t immediately run for president, but you can start with school board or selectman).

The average Americans of “American Candidate” make up a predictable crazy quilt of special interests. To name four, Keith is an African American gay-rights activist from New York City; Joyce is a war veterans advocate from Kansas; Park is a North Carolina schoolteacher and conservative Christian; Bruce is a Norfolk, Va., animal-rights activist (his campaign manager is now a woman thanks to gender reassignment surgery).

Another contestant is Chrissy Gephardt, the lesbian daughter of Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.). Dad shows up when she announces her candidacy. It’s a sweet moment, but you can’t help thinking: “Gephardt’s backing this horse. She’s doomed.”

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want too many average Americans in my major political races. I like a few tired old bureaucrats and funny-looking rich men to liven things up. On a national level, corruption is what makes politics so darn interesting. There may be mudslinging to come, but the first hour of “American Candidate” is all about earnestness.

Right away “American Candidate” indicates its seriousness of purpose: Instead of installing its contestants in a Hollywood Hills pad, this show sends them to New Hampshire. Can you say pancake breakfast? In subsequent installments (there are 10 in all), they’ll stump across the country -- staying, I guess, in a series of faceless motels and getting a crash course in the hardscrabble world of the campaign trail. The field will be whittled down from 10, with viewers selecting the winner, who gets that 200 grand and the speech.

“American Candidate,” which airs at 9 p.m., is the brainchild of R.J. Cutler, who was a producer on the 1993 documentary “The War Room,” about the team -- James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, et al -- that helped get Bill Clinton elected president in 1992. Cutler, who also did the briefly lived TV series “American High,” made a splash several years ago when he announced plans for the series, because the concept made a good headline: “TV to Pick Next President.”

Indeed, the concept seemed a commentary on our times: Television would take us to our new leader. Back then, the show was in development at the basic cable channel FX, which backed out, finally. On Showtime, episode one moves along well enough, but the trouble with “American Candidate,” as with so many reality series, is that it’s all just a TV construct. I suppose it’s possible that the winner will use the media celebrity to run for local or statewide or even national office. But I’ve seen that reality show already. It’s called our last gubernatorial election.

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‘American Candidate’

Where: Showtime

When: Sunday, 9 p.m.

Rating: The network has rated this program TV-14 (may be inappropriate for children under the age of 14).

Executive producers: R.J. Cutler, Jay Roach, Tom Lassally.