Actress Jennifer Garner may only play a spy on ABC's action-drama Alias, but that's good enough for the CIA: she's the face of their new recruitment campaign, kicked off by a short video posted to the agency's web site this week:
Ms. Garner was excited to participate in the video after being asked by the Office of Public Affairs. The CIA's Film Industry Liaison worked with the writers of "Alias" during the first season to educate them on fundamental tradecraft. Although the show "Alias" is fictional, the character Jennifer Garner plays embodies the integrity, patriotism and intelligence the CIA looks for in its officers.
While Garner's participation in this effort is not unprecedented (actor Martin Sheen, who portrays the President of the United States on The West Wing, is a known political activist), the buzz generated by this publicity campaign could open the door for other actors to endorse organizations they know only through fiction. Think of the possibilities: Dennis Franz could parlay his tough cop image into a new career as a recruiter for the NYC police academy. Anthony Edwards, decked out in faux scrubs, could shill for Blue Cross-Blue Shield.
After all, TV can't be that different from reality, can it?
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
She actually looked somewhat ashamed in the ad, and I guess it is mainly because when you go to Langely, the agents will look more like Tenet than Garner.
But you know she got the vote for the technical awards at the Oscars. Hey, guys, you want to spend a couple of hours with Jennifer Garner?
2 - Scott Pepper
The whole idea is hilarious to me, mainly because if you've ever heard Garner in interviews or otherwise out of character, you know she's the polar opposite of her alter ego on the show. She's really kind of a doofus.
3 - TDavid
I still want to play the Alias video game when it comes out. The screenshots on that one look pretty sweet.
Hope it's not another TV to video game translation that totally blows.
4 - Scott Pepper
If it's done right, the Alias game could rival other stealth titles like Metal Gear Solid and the various Tom Clancy games, but I've yet to play a decent screen-to-game adaptation.
At the very least, it can't be any worse than the free Alias Underground game at ABC's web site.
5 - TDavid
Spiderman wasn't too bad, Scott. We got a little play out of that one. Also Simpson's Hit & Run was an interesting game. I can't think of many others that are even on the radar.
6 - Jim Carruthers
I'm also wondering if anybody at the CIA has actually watched "Alias"? It's not exactly an endorsement of selfless service.
Y'know, the whole double-triple agents who are murderous dopplegangers and brain-washed assassins with loyalties being decided by rock-paper-scissors, plus the wigs and very short skirts.
I'm just waiting for the series to get desperate and just say "Jen, here's your wig, never the clothes, real spies only wear a bra and panty set with a trenchcoat".
7 - Scott Pepper
Jim-
Did you see last year's post-Superbowl episode?
Black
Red
The double-triple-agent stuff seems to have died down a bit, though.
8 - Jim Carruthers
It's like Marge Simpson said about Fox, they turned into a porno channel so gradually, I never noticed.
Of course I want to make it clear I am totally in favour of Jennifer Garner performing in lingerie on "Alias".
But you know the evil geniuses will try to sneak in Ron Rifkin in a Speedo. Shudder