Watch BrainDead

BrainDead is a political satire horror comedy television series that aired on CBS in 2016. The series stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Tony Shalhoub, Aaron Tveit, and Jan Maxwell. The show was created by Robert and Michelle King and is set in Washington, D.C., where an epidemic of brain-eating bugs has infected members of Congress, causing political chaos and confusion.

The series follows Laurel Healy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a young documentary filmmaker who takes a job working for her brother, Senator Luke Healy (Danny Pino), as a legislative aide. However, Laurel soon discovers that something strange is happening in Washington, D.C. When she investigates, she finds that members of Congress are starting to behave strangely and are becoming less focused on politics and more focused on partying and having fun.

As Laurel digs deeper, she realizes that aliens have invaded Washington, D.C. and are controlling the minds of the politicians through their ears. The alien bugs, which resemble ants, crawl into people's ears and eat their brain, controlling their behavior. In order to save the world, Laurel teams up with Senator Red Wheatus (Tony Shalhoub), a conservative senator who has also been infected by the bugs but has managed to maintain his intelligence and wit.

The show combines elements of horror, comedy, and political satire to create a unique and entertaining viewing experience. The bugs that invade people's brains are shown in a comedic manner, with some of the infected politicians acting as though they are at a wild party, dancing and drinking. However, the show also explores more serious themes, such as the role of money in politics and the dangers of blind partisanship.

One of the strengths of the show is the cast. Mary Elizabeth Winstead shines as Laurel, who is both intelligent and resourceful. Tony Shalhoub is excellent as the charming and sly Senator Red Wheatus, who has a sarcastic sense of humor and is always one step ahead of his opponents. Aaron Tveit also stands out as Gareth Ritter, a Republican operative who becomes romantically involved with Laurel.

Jan Maxwell, who sadly passed away in 2018, delivers a standout performance as Red Wheatus's chief of staff, Ella Pollack. Ella is a no-nonsense political operator who cares deeply about her boss but is not above playing dirty to achieve her goals. The show features a talented supporting cast, including Nikki M. James, Johnny Ray Gill, and Charlie Semine, who all deliver strong performances.

BrainDead is a show that defies categorization. It's part horror, part comedy, part political satire, and all entertaining. The show uses its unique premise to explore timely themes, such as the polarization of politics and the role of money in government. While the show only lasted for one season, it has gained a strong cult following and remains a must-watch for fans of quirky, off-beat television.

BrainDead is a series that ran for 1 seasons (13 episodes) between June 13, 2016 and on CBS