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2 TV ENCORE By Shona Dustan TV Media O ne of last year's best new dramas returns this week with more star power than ever. CBS is the master of procedural drama, so it was no surprise that its foray into the world of poli- tics, "Madam Secretary," did well when it premiered last fall. The story follows a fledgling secretary of state as she navigates the challenges of her new position. The consistently engaging plot and an impressive cast have served CBS well, and the series was quickly picked up for anoth- er year. The sophomore season of "Madam Secretary" premieres Sunday, Oct. 4. Critics and fans alike knew the series had promise right out of the gate due to some major tal- ent both in front of and behind the camera. Front and center is Téa Leoni ("Tower Heist," 2011), who stars as Elizabeth McCord, a professor of political science and former CIA analyst who is thrust into the role of U.S. secretary of state when her predecessor dies in a plane crash. The series fol- lows McCord as she deals with endless internal drama while working tirelessly to thwart the efforts of those who wish to harm the American people. Leoni got her start on televi- sion with a role in the soapy "Santa Barbara," but quickly transitioned into a strong film career. Six years later, she returned to TV with a starring role in "The Naked Truth," which made her even more of a house- hold name. Last year, almost two Avelle Mechanical 2 x 3" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" Rans Funeral 2 x 3" On the Cover decades since her last television stint, she returned to her roots once more as Elizabeth McCord. A strong and intelligent former CIA operative, McCord is pulled out of a relatively quiet life when the secretary of state is killed in a very suspicious plane crash. When she's asked by the presi- dent to step into the role of sec- retary of state, she finds she can- not refuse, and dives headlong into a life of political intrigue and dangerous terror plots. "I've always really enjoyed [playing] a lively fish out of water and pretty much by about page 2 of the script, I knew that's what this was going to be," Leoni told "The Hollywood Reporter" last year. Leoni plays McCord with equal parts gravitas and vulnera- bility, embodying the character's complexities seamlessly. And McCord is a beautifully complex character, any actor's dream. It's exciting to see her fight the good fight at work, then head home, where she's a com- fortable, capable homebody, a loving mother to her three chil- dren and one half of a very sup- portive and functional marriage. Frequently, television's powerful female characters lack a work- life balance, but McCord has a solid support system in her family — a refreshing take on the career-driven modern woman. McCord's husband, Henry, is played by another television vet- eran, Tim Daly. Daly has spent much of his career on TV — he starred in the doctor drama "Private Practice" for five of its six seasons, and even recently guest-starred as Mindy's (Mindy Kaling) love interest in "The Mindy Project." But it was his starring role in the beloved com- edy series "Wings" that catapult- ed him to fame. Daly's ability to play strong, wise and kind men is impeccable, which is perfect for playing Henry, who is a former marine, professor of theology and a doting father and husband. Henry and Elizabeth McCord have been married for 25 years as the series opens, a fact that's easy to believe, thanks to the great chemistry between Daly and Leoni. A host of excellent character actors fills out much of the series. Bebe Neuwirth ("Cheers"), Zeljko Ivanek ("Heroes") and Keith Carradine ("Dexter") — playing McCord's chief of staff, the White House chief of staff and the pres- ident of the United States, respectively — have been televi- sion staples for decades. Theirs are faces everyone will recognize, and they add an air of familiarity and permanency to the show. Geoffrey Arend ("Super Troopers," 2001), Erich Bergen ("Jersey Boys," 2014) and Patina Miller ("The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1," 2014) round out the rest of the cast. But those are just the regulars. It sounds as if "Madam Secretary" is going to be overrun with fabulous guest stars this season. First, we have Morgan Freeman ("The Shawshank Redemption," 1994). Freeman is an executive producer of the series and, though he hasn't appeared in a scripted television series in 30 years, he has been talking about a guest appear- ance. "Whether or not I show up actually is going to depend on Barbara [the show's creator] and what kind of ideas she comes up with in that smart head of hers," he said last year. Well, writer/creator Barbara Hall ("Judging Amy") has fol- lowed through, and Freeman will not only appear in the season 2 premiere, he'll direct it, too. Season 2 will start off with a bang when Air Force One goes missing and Elizabeth must make some difficult decisions. Freeman's role in the show is still shrouded in mystery, but we know that he'll be advising McCord in some capacity. Former real-life secretary of state and first woman to hold the title, Madeleine Albright, is also slated to make an appear- ance as herself early this season. She'll be trying to help Elizabeth deal with a difficult situation at work. 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