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Veep writers back PM Turnbull’s “meaningless phrase”

'Continuity with Change' was designed as a banal phrase say Veep writers, who have responded to its use by Malcolm Turnbull.

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Following Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ tweet that she was “dumb-founded” by Malcolm Turnbull’s use of Veep‘s “Continuity with Change” slogan, creator Armando Iannucci has weighed in.

“‘Continuity with Change’ is the most concise example we could come up with of a politician saying a word and its opposite very quickly,” the former showrunner said. “The aim is to have it sound snappy and confident, as if it makes sense. In fact, it means nothing. The two words cancel each other out.”

“It’s a by-product of political argument,” he said. “I’m still trying to come to terms with the number of people who say they’re Pro Life and For The Death Penalty.”

Simon Blackwell, Veep’s writer and executive producer, spoke about Continuity with Change as Meyer’s presidential campaign slogan on the HBO comedy.

“We needed it to be hollow and oxymoronic, to say absolutely nothing but seem to have depth and meaning. It couldn’t be too daft though – it had to be funny but still believable,” he said.

“Selina wants to be all things to all people – she wants to assure the American public that government is carrying on as normal after the president has stepped down, that there is no crisis, but she also wants to seem fresh and forward-looking.

“It did make me laugh a lot when I saw that the Australian PM’s people had been on the same mental journey and come up with the same meaningless phrase.”

Earlier this week House of Cards also tweeted to the Prime Minister.

Turnbull has previously said he has nothing in common with President Frank Underwood, “other than we both use a rowing machine”.

Source: Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian

3 Responses

  1. I’ve really got to start watching this show. I grew up appreciating Armando Ianucci’s satire via radio shows like The Mary Whitehouse Experience and he was always scintillating.

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