The fuss in Washington has the flavor of a movie -- but that movie is not "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" or "Being There" but "The Truman Show" which features an elaborate, made-up world. PNS commentator Ronald Takaki thinks viewers will find this script less satisfying, and the hero less likable than in the movie. Takaki is author of "A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America." One of a series on the crisis from the "new California."

"What's going on here?" asks the star in "The Truman Show" -- a movie that speaks to us today in our crisis over the presidency.

But unlike Truman, we must ask: Why is it happening? And what is the cost?

What is happening in Washington resembles the Hollywood-constructed "Sea Haven." Only in this new show, the set is the "White House," with close-up shots in the Oval Office and Clinton's private study. There are props, too, like a cigar and a blue dress. The producer-director is Ken Starr.

This crisis has a script. Producer-director Starr, not finding anything substantial against the president related to White Water, trips across some illegally taped conversations with Monica Lewinsky. The special prosecutor emerges as the Grand Inquisitor, determined to punish a sinner. His script writers know that sex sells, so they dig up every little lurid and lascivious detail they can find.

Clinton cast himself perfectly for Starr's show. He and Monica did have sex. He betrayed Hillary. Then Clinton lied. He betrayed the American people. What he did was terribly wrong and hurtful.

Clinton also made himself vulnerable to attack by his political enemies.

In the "Truman Show," producer-director Christophe is on a television talk-show program when a caller declares, "You're a liar and manipulator and what you've done to Truman is sick!" The detailed pornography presented in the "Clinton Show" has made many viewers begin to feel that way toward producer-director Starr.

They are fatigued by the show's repetitiousness and its dominance over the news. They know there are real problems out there beyond the film set -- the collapse of the Russian economy, Asia's economic crisis, stymied peace efforts in the Middle East, the terrifying prospect of a nuclear war between Pakistan and India, our health care crisis, the falling stock market's devastating impact on retirement funds, the fact that our prosperity has failed to reach our inner cities, and the derailed race dialogue in America.

But viewers who try to switch channels find all of them airing the same "Clinton Show." In fact, the ratings-driven news media have also become actors in the show.

In the "Truman Show," the star escapes and sails off for Fiji. Christophe artificially creates a storm and orders lightning. "Hit him, hit him again," he yells.

Undaunted, Truman sails on, but suddenly runs into the backdrop of the set. Almost anticipating Starr's statement, "Our job is to get at the truth and the truth will speak for itself," Christophe tells Truman, "There's no truth out there, but what I have created."

Truman replies defiantly, "In case I don't see you again, good afternoon, good evening, and good night." Then he rips open the canvas backdrop and exits the movie set. The viewers cheer: "He made it, yea!"

In the "Clinton Show," the president has run up against the backdrop, but most viewers are not cheering Clinton's performance. They are understandably unwilling to forgive and forget his betrayal of their trust.

But they are asking: "Will Clinton make it? Will America make it? Does it make any sense to topple an elected president because he had a sexual affair and then lied about it?"

And many viewers are demanding: "Let's get to Fiji! Let's get real!"