Pick from Television's Best for Obama's Cabinet

Well, apparently TV Guide took a bite of our our Election-tinged greatest character contest to present a list of TV character possibilities for newly-elected President Barack Obama's cabinet.

I'll give it to them -- it's a list that spans the gamut from suggesting "Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan for Secretary List to "The Office's" beet-farm man Dwight Schrute as Secretary of Agriculture.

Other nominees include: Alan Shore of "Boston Legal" for Attorney General, Oprah Winfrey for Secretary of Commerce, Ben Linus of "Lost" for Secretary of Transporation, Jack Bauer of "24" for Secretary of Homeland Security ("Heckuva job, Jackie"). Read the rest of the list here.

While I don't overwhemingly disagree with any of the choices, here are a few suggestions the President-Elect should also consider if he's taking this approach to fill his cabinet:

Jack McCoy of "Law and Order" for Attorney General: On the season premiere of the show on Wednesday had a nicely edited-in sound bite where a reporter asks McCoy about the rumors that he might join the Obama administration. A veteran prosecutor with a penchant for pushing the envelope of Constitutional law, McCoy has worked with both Democrats and Republicans in office. He's a perfect addition to the Obama cabinet, even if he's only had one term in the district attorney's office. (The runner-up is Kevin Walker of "Brothers and Sisters" -- he just got fired from his law firm and he's a gay Democrat working for a Republican Senator).

Miranda Bailey of "Grey's Anatomy" for Secretary of Health and Human Services: As much as TV Guide's suggestion of Dr. House is intruiguing, Bailey's no-nonsense personality is much more in line with a management position like this. She's a great doctor, but a human being first.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs of "NCIS" for Secretary of Defense: I don't watch this show with regularity, but I can't think of a better option to head up the DOD than Agent Gibbs (plus he's already in with the Washington crowd). A former Marine with an obsession with detail and organization, Gibbs is exactly who Obama needs to lead the country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides, the former sniper is a quick shot. If ever you'd need that in a cabinet secretary.

Lorelai Gilmore of "Gilmore Girls" for Secretary of Labor: Ok, so she's not on the air anymore. Even more reason for this do-it-yourself, single mom, small business owner to take over this oft-forgotten cabinet position. Who else would understand the plight of the millions of unemployed and underemployed that will continue to grow if our economy goes in the tank? Her advice would be snappy and to-the-point.

Plus she's hot.

Any character I missed?


-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com