Best film presidents, Part I

By Sharon Eberson / Wednesday, Oct. 22

The votes are in, and the winner in Blockbuster's poll of best fictional American president is . . . Dennis Haysbert's President David Palmer from "24," the Fox TV series that's scheduled to return with a two-hour TV movie on Sunday, Nov. 23.

The late, great President Palmer had the vote of 1 in 6 out of more than 9,000 as their fantasy pick as a write-in candidate for next month's election.

After Palmer came Geena Davis' President Mackenzie Allen on "Commander in Chief" and my pick, Martin Sheen's President Josiah Bartlet, from "The West Wing."

Movie presidents mentioned included Harrison Ford as President Marshall in "Air Force One" and Bill Pullman as the president and fighter pilot in "Independence Day."

Gotta love James Gandolfini of "The Sopranos," but Sheen was robbed of an Emmy when he didn't win for his 2001 overall performance, in particular his angry church scene when his faith was shaken by shootings aimed at his staff and by the death of his beloved secretary, Mrs. Landingham. (The episode itself won an Emmy for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Series, and the show won, too.)

Also gotta love another character by "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin: Michael Douglas' President Andrew Shepherd, who faces off against Richard Dreyfuss (who seems to be having oodles of fun these days as Dick Cheney in "W.") and falling for Annette Bening in "The American President."

Who do you think is the big or small screen's best fictional president?

Talk among yourselves by commenting below.