103 Fun Facts About Veep

On which network did Veep air from 2012 to 2019?

Veep aired on HBO for seven seasons, from 2012 to 2019, with the final episode going out on 12 May 2019.

Who created Veep?

Armando Iannucci, the satirist behind the film In the Loop, created Veep and ran it as showrunner for its first four seasons.

Veep grew out of which BBC political comedy by the same creator?

The Thick of It, Iannucci's BBC satire of a hapless minister and spin doctor Malcolm Tucker, ran from 2005 to 2012 and spawned the film In the Loop.

How many episodes of Veep were made?

Veep made 65 episodes across seven seasons; the last season was pushed back a year and aired in spring 2019.

Selina Meyer had been a US senator from which state before becoming vice president?

Selina Meyer served as a US senator from Maryland before becoming vice president, a background the show references from the pilot onward.

Which detail about Selina Meyer is deliberately never revealed in the show?

The writers wanted the satire to hit both sides equally.

Tony Hale plays Gary Walsh, whose job for Selina is what?

Gary Walsh is Selina's personal aide and body man, carrying the enormous bag nicknamed the Leviathan that holds anything she could possibly need.

Anna Chlumsky plays which member of Selina's staff?

Amy Brookheimer is Selina's chief of staff, and the constant target of Jonah Ryan's clashes with the VP's office.

Reid Scott plays which ambitious, cut-throat member of the VP's office?

Dan Egan, played by Reid Scott, joins the VP's office as deputy director of communications and later co-hosts a network morning show.

Matt Walsh's Mike McLintock holds what job?

Mike McLintock is Selina's director of communications, her press man since her Senate days; after leaving the White House he writes for BuzzFeed.

Kevin Dunn plays Ben Cafferty, who holds which post?

Ben Cafferty is White House Chief of Staff, a depressed, high-functioning alcoholic who serves first under President Hughes and then under President Meyer.

Gary Cole's Kent Davison is best described as what?

The senior strategist to the president lives and dies by polling data.

In Veep, Timothy Simons plays Jonah Ryan, who begins the series in what role?

As White House liaison to the VP's office, Jonah clashes constantly with the VP's staff, particularly Amy.

After being fired for running an insider blog, Jonah launches his own news website called what?

Ryantology is the political news site Jonah launches in season three after the White House fires him for running an anonymous insider blog.

Jonah is drafted to run for Congress in which state to secure a vote for Selina?

Jonah runs in New Hampshire, where a congressman's death opens a seat and his Uncle Jeff Kane's political machine installs him to give Selina a House vote.

Jonah marries his former step-sibling Beth, who turns out to be what?

Beth, Jonah's former step-sister, turns out to be his biological half-sister, a season-seven revelation that barely dents his presidential campaign.

How does Selina first reach the Oval Office in the season three finale?

Hughes steps down to care for his wife's poor mental health.

The season four presidential election ends in what result?

The deadlock throws the decision to a contingent election in the House of Representatives.

Which British actor plays Tom James, Selina's charming running mate?

Hugh Laurie's senator is so popular that Selina spends most of her time trying to undercut him.

Who ends up president after the tied election, via a Senate tiebreaker?

Laura Montez, O'Brien's running mate, is chosen vice president by the Senate after the House deadlocks, and so becomes president instead of Selina.

Selina's eventual successor, O'Brien's former running mate, was a senator from which state?

Laura Montez had been a US senator from New Mexico; her much-touted Latina identity later proves a stretch, to Selina's fury.

Which character is revealed in the finale to have become a successful two-term president?

Richard Splett, the guileless aide, went on to become a successful two-term president; he attends Selina's funeral in the finale's flash-forward.

In the finale, how does Selina secure the nomination and the top job?

Selina secures the nomination by offering Jonah Ryan the vice presidency in exchange for his delegates, then wins the general election to become president in her own right.

Whom does Selina frame for wrongdoing at the Meyer Fund in the finale?

Gary, the loyal aide, is led away by the FBI on the convention floor for the Meyer Fund fraud while Selina accepts the nomination.

Selina's funeral in the finale's flash-forward is knocked out of the news by whose death?

Coverage of Selina's funeral is cut short by breaking news of Tom Hanks's death, a final indignity for a woman who craved attention above all.

How many years after Selina's final campaign is the finale's funeral flash-forward set?

A title card reads '24 years later' before Selina's funeral, where Mike McLintock anchors the coverage of her death.

Selina's daughter Catherine does what during her mother's funeral?

She watches it on television instead of attending; the put-upon daughter gets the last word by staying away.

Who took over from Armando Iannucci as Veep's showrunner from season five?

David Mandel, a Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm veteran, replaced Armando Iannucci as showrunner for seasons five to seven.

For the fifth season, filming moved from which city to Los Angeles?

Seasons one to four were shot in Baltimore, Maryland; production moved to Los Angeles for season five when David Mandel took over as showrunner.

Veep won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for which three seasons?

Veep won Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys in 2015, 2016 and 2017, for its fourth, fifth and sixth seasons, after losing to Modern Family in its early years.

How many consecutive Emmys did Julia Louis-Dreyfus win for playing Selina Meyer?

The run set a record for the most Emmys won for the same role in the same series.

Whose record for most Emmys for the same role did Louis-Dreyfus surpass with her sixth Veep win?

Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown) and Don Knotts (Barney Fife) each had five wins for one role; Louis-Dreyfus's sixth Selina Emmy in 2017 passed them and tied Cloris Leachman's eight acting Emmys.

What news did Julia Louis-Dreyfus receive the day after her 2017 Emmy win?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus learned of her breast cancer diagnosis the day after the 2017 Emmys, announced it on 28 September 2017, and returned to finish the show after treatment.

How many Emmy nods did Tony Hale receive for playing Gary, and how many did he win?

His wins came in 2013 and 2015 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy.

Selina's ex-husband, disliked by her staff as one of her weaknesses, is called what?

Andrew Meyer, Selina's ex-husband, keeps turning up as an occasional lover with a new scheme, and his dealings at the Meyer Fund later threaten her campaign.

Catherine's partner Marjorie Palmiotti first enters the show in what job?

Marjorie Palmiotti is a Secret Service agent assigned to Selina's detail in season five, noted for her resemblance to Selina, before becoming Catherine's partner.

Sarah, who plays Selina's daughter Catherine, is the daughter of which actor?

Sarah Sutherland is the daughter of 24 star Kiefer Sutherland and granddaughter of Donald; she spent seven seasons being ignored by her fictional mother.

Jonah's season-seven presidential run is built on what kind of platform?

Jonah Ryan runs a nativist, populist campaign, railing against vaccines, foreign-sounding algebra and the Washington establishment, before Selina makes him her running mate.

On what date did Veep premiere on HBO?

Veep premiered on HBO on Sunday, April 22, 2012, and its final episode aired on May 12, 2019.

How many consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series did Veep receive?

Veep earned seven Outstanding Comedy Series nominations, one for each season, and lost to Modern Family in its first three years before its own three-year run of wins.

How many Golden Globe nominations in a row did Julia Louis-Dreyfus earn for Veep?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus earned five consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Veep, from 2013 to 2017, without winning; she did take three Screen Actors Guild Awards for the role.

To whom does Selina lose her party's presidential nomination before joining his ticket?

Stuart Hughes beat Selina for the nomination and made her his running mate; the president is never shown on screen during the series.

Which actor plays Jonah's bullying uncle, New Hampshire power broker Jeff Kane?

Peter MacNicol plays Jeff Kane, the foul-mouthed New Hampshire political boss who pushes his nephew Jonah into Congress in season five.

In which state does a recount fail to alter the tied presidential election?

The Nevada recount, fought over early in season five, fails to break the 269-269 Electoral College tie, leaving the election to the House of Representatives.

Which vice president casts the tiebreaking Senate vote that makes Laura Montez president?

Doyle, sidelined by Selina and declining to run for a full term, votes for O'Brien's running mate out of spite.

Which actress plays President Laura Montez?

Andrea Savage, later creator and star of I'm Sorry, plays Laura Montez, who takes credit for Selina's last foreign-policy achievement after her inauguration.

What does Selina try to establish in season six to secure her legacy?

Season six is the first time the show follows Selina out of office.

Which young progressive rival does Toks Olagundoye play in Selina's final campaign?

Kemi Talbot, a young senator Selina once called a protégée, runs against her for the nomination in season seven; Toks Olagundoye plays her.

Who plays Selina's ex-husband Andrew Meyer?

David Pasquesi plays Andrew Meyer; in the finale Selina's wish to have him 'gone' is taken literally, yet he turns up alive at her funeral in the flash-forward.

Which two writers developed the failed 2007 ABC pilot of The Thick of It?

Mitch Hurwitz and Richard Day developed the 2007 ABC pilot, which Christopher Guest directed; the network passed, and Iannucci later built Veep for HBO from scratch instead.

Who played Malcolm Tucker in the 2007 ABC pilot of The Thick of It?

Oliver Platt played the Malcolm Tucker role in the unaired 2007 ABC pilot, with Christopher Guest regulars John Michael Higgins and Michael McKean also in the cast.

Which British writer co-wrote the Veep pilot with Armando Iannucci?

Simon Blackwell, Iannucci's longtime collaborator on The Thick of It, shares the writing credit on the Veep pilot 'Fundraiser', shot in Baltimore in 2011.

Which New York Times columnist served as an executive producer of Veep from the start?

Frank Rich, the former New York Times drama critic and columnist, was an executive producer of Veep from the pilot onward and later of Succession.

In which Maryland town was Veep's main sound stage built inside an industrial warehouse?

Veep's sets, including replicas of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the West Wing, were built inside an industrial warehouse in Columbia, Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington.

Which governor signed the tax credit programme that lured Veep to Los Angeles for season five?

Governor Jerry Brown signed the expanded $330 million California Film and Television Tax Credit in September 2014, and Veep moved its production to Los Angeles for season five.

Which unglamorous cause is Selina saddled with as vice president?

Childhood obesity is the initiative Selina is handed as vice president, frozen-yogurt photo-op and all, while her Clean Jobs Commission and filibuster reform are stymied by the president.

Which Minnesota governor and war veteran is Selina's chief rival for the nomination?

Randall Park plays Chung; other rivals include a baseball coach and the Secretary of Defense.

For which cause does Selina secretly do the diplomatic work that Montez takes credit for?

The Meyer team's role in the Tibet talks later comes to light and embarrasses Montez.

Who beat Louis-Dreyfus for the 2019 Emmy, ending her Veep winning streak?

Phoebe Waller-Bridge won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy at the 2019 Emmys for Fleabag, handing Louis-Dreyfus her only Veep loss in the category.

To whom did Louis-Dreyfus dedicate her season-five Emmy win?

Louis-Dreyfus dedicated her 2016 Emmy to her late father, William, who had died two days earlier; that fifth consecutive win passed Helen Hunt's four straight in the category.

Which two other characters had won Julia Louis-Dreyfus Emmys before Selina Meyer?

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld, 1996) and Christine Campbell (The New Adventures of Old Christine, 2006) came first; Selina made her the first performer to win for three regular comedy roles.

On which sketch show was Julia Louis-Dreyfus a cast member from 1982 to 1985?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus joined Saturday Night Live in 1982 at 21, then its youngest female cast member, after starting out with Chicago's Practical Theatre Company.

How many Primetime Emmys had Julia Louis-Dreyfus won by the time Veep ended in 2019?

By 2019 Julia Louis-Dreyfus had eleven Primetime Emmys: eight for acting across Seinfeld, Old Christine and Veep, plus three as a Veep producer for Outstanding Comedy Series.

In which city was Armando Iannucci born?

Armando Iannucci was born in Glasgow in 1963 to an Italian father and studied at Glasgow University before moving to Oxford for a doctorate he never finished.

Which famous comic character did Iannucci co-create on the radio show On the Hour?

Alan Partridge, the inept sports reporter voiced by Steve Coogan, was created for the Radio 4 news spoof On the Hour, which transferred to TV as The Day Today.

On which channel did The Thick of It first air in 2005?

The Thick of It began on BBC Four in May 2005 and moved to BBC Two for its third series in 2009.

Who plays Number 10's aggressive 'enforcer' Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It?

Peter Capaldi plays Malcolm Tucker, the Number 10 enforcer whose profane tirades made the show; Chris Langham played minister Hugh Abbot in the early series.

For which Academy Award was Iannucci's 2009 film In the Loop nominated?

In the Loop earned a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 2010 Oscars, counting as an adaptation of The Thick of It; it satirised the run-up to an Iraq-style war.

Which Fox series featured Tony Hale as Buster Bluth?

Arrested Development ran on Fox from 2003 to 2006, with Tony Hale as the anxious, mother-fixated Buster Bluth, before Netflix revived it in 2013.

Which Toy Story character does Tony Hale voice?

Forky, the spork turned toy, has been Hale's since 2019, alongside films like Hocus Pocus 2 and Quiz Lady.

Which 1991 film made Veep's Anna Chlumsky famous as a child, playing Vada Sultenfuss?

My Girl and its 1994 sequel made Anna Chlumsky's name as a child; she stepped away from acting around 1999 to attend the University of Chicago before returning in the mid-2000s.

Season five's episode 'Kissing Your Sister' is framed as a documentary made by whom?

Catherine Meyer films her mother's staff throughout season five, and the episode 'Kissing Your Sister' is presented as her finished documentary.

Matt Walsh is a founding member of which sketch comedy troupe?

Matt Walsh co-founded the Upright Citizens Brigade with Amy Poehler, Matt Besser and Ian Roberts; he was also a Daily Show correspondent and appeared in The Hangover.

On which Netflix series does Timothy Simons play Sasha?

Nobody Wants This, the 2024 Netflix romcom with Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, casts Timothy Simons as Sasha, the brother of Brody's rabbi.

Which 1993 political comedy featured Kevin Dunn as communications director Alan Reed?

In Dave (1993), Kevin Dunn played White House communications director Alan Reed opposite Kevin Kline; he also plays Sam Witwicky's father in the Transformers films.

Gary Cole joined the ensemble of which Chicago theatre company in the 1980s?

Gary Cole joined Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in the 1980s after co-founding Remains Theatre; his TV breakout came as Jack 'Nighthawk' Killian in Midnight Caller.

Which Comedy Central series did Sam Richardson co-star in with Tim Robinson?

Detroiters, Comedy Central's 2017-18 sitcom about two hapless ad men, paired Sam Richardson with his real-life friend Tim Robinson, who co-created it.

For which Ted Lasso role did Sam Richardson win a 2023 Emmy?

Sam Richardson won the 2023 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series as Edwin Akufo, the billionaire would-be club owner in Ted Lasso, after a 2022 nomination for the same role.

Which talk-show host does Reid Scott play in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel?

Reid Scott plays Gordon Ford, the late-night host who hires Midge as a writer in Mrs. Maisel's final season; he also plays Detective Vincent Riley in the revived Law & Order.

Hugh Laurie played the dim Prince Regent and Lieutenant George in which sitcom?

Blackadder cast Hugh Laurie as the dim Prince Regent in Blackadder the Third (1987) and Lieutenant George in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989), alongside Rowan Atkinson.

Which medical drama did Tom James's actor star in from 2004 to 2012?

Hugh Laurie starred as Dr Gregory House in House from 2004 to 2012, and Guinness World Records listed him in 2011 as the most-watched leading man on television.

Which two 1990s films made Clea DuVall a rising star before she played Marjorie?

Clea DuVall broke through in The Faculty (1998) and But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) before playing Marjorie, Selina's lookalike Secret Service agent who becomes Catherine's partner.

For which Seinfeld seasons was David Mandel a writer?

David Mandel wrote for Seinfeld's seventh, eighth and ninth seasons, from 1995 to 1998; he also co-wrote the 2003 Cat in the Hat film and co-created Clerks: The Animated Series.

How does Dan Egan advance his career, according to the show?

Dan Egan climbs by dating politicians' daughters, opening the series with the daughter of the senator he works for; he later manages Selina's campaign until a breakdown gets him fired.

What does Mike McLintock pretend to have to escape work commitments?

Mike McLintock invents a pet dog as an excuse to duck work, a ruse exposed in season one; he later serves as White House press secretary.

Whom does Mike McLintock marry in season three?

Mike marries reporter Wendy Keegan, played by Kathy Najimy, in season three; their adoption and surrogacy plans backfire and leave them with three children.

Amy's season-six fiancé Buddy Calhoun holds what office?

Buddy Calhoun, played by Matt Oberg, is the Nevada Secretary of State Amy meets during the season-five recount and gets engaged to in season six.

Congressman Jonah Ryan is diagnosed with which illness in season six?

Jonah is diagnosed with testicular cancer early in season six, loses his hair to chemotherapy and milks the illness for sympathy in Congress.

Which Mad Men star plays Wall Street executive Charlie Baird Jr., Selina's love interest?

John Slattery, Mad Men's Roger Sterling, plays banker Charlie Baird, who dates Selina in season five and then accepts the Treasury post from President Montez.

Congressman Roger Furlong represents which state?

Roger Furlong, Dan Bakkedahl's foul-mouthed congressman, represents Ohio and makes a failed run for the state's governorship.

Which comedian plays Teddy Sykes, chief of staff to Vice President Doyle?

Patton Oswalt plays Teddy Sykes, Vice President Doyle's chief of staff, who harasses Jonah in season four and later runs his presidential campaign.

Which senile political adviser does Selina hire for the recount?

Bob Bradley, Ben Cafferty's old mentor, has a long history in politics and is hopelessly out of touch.

Which reporter is taken hostage in Iran and must be retrieved by Selina?

Leon West, the veteran reporter played by Brian Huskey who needles Mike at briefings, is held in Iran, and Selina flies to Tehran in season four to bring him home.

Which country was Minna Häkkinen prime minister of?

Minna Häkkinen, played by Sally Phillips, is the prime minister of Finland; Selina meets her on a season-two trip to Helsinki and keeps running into her over the years.

Which Law & Order star plays Selina's personal trainer Ray Whelans?

Christopher Meloni, Law & Order: SVU's Elliot Stabler, plays trainer Ray Whelans, Selina's season-three fling, fired after his blog posts mocking fat people surface.

Which oil lobbyist does Peter Grosz play?

Peter Grosz plays Sidney Purcell, the oil lobbyist who keeps popping up to bend Selina's policies; Grosz was also on the show's writing staff.

Whom does Selina's staff scapegoat for the campaign data breach in season four?

Bill Ericsson, Diedrich Bader's campaign official who defected from Joe Thornhill's team, takes the fall for the data breach and goes to prison for it.

What is the name of Selina's landmark bill supporting working mothers?

Families First is Selina's signature bill for working mothers in season four; she is later accused of secretly lobbying to kill her own bill when its cost balloons.

Which honour did the writers of 'Election Night' win?

Director Chris Addison won a Directors Guild of America award for the same episode.

Where does most of 'Election Night' take place?

Most of 'Election Night' unfolds in Selina's hotel suite, where she and her staff watch the returns on cable news as the count slides toward a tie with O'Brien.

How long is a typical Veep episode?

Veep episodes typically run about 28 minutes, the usual HBO half-hour without commercials, with a few later episodes running longer.

How many Primetime Emmy Awards did Veep win over its seven seasons?

Veep won seventeen Primetime Emmys across its run, including three for Outstanding Comedy Series, six for Julia Louis-Dreyfus and two for Tony Hale.

In which two years did Tony Hale win the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy for playing Gary?

Tony Hale won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2013 and 2015 for Gary Walsh, two of his six nominations for the role.