The answer, of course, is that, even in the vivid imagineering of science-fiction, it strains credulity to believe Skynet, an evil artificial intelligent system that becomes self-aware, revolts against its human creators and mass produces machines whose sole purpose is to wipe out humankind and take over the world, would build a robot that looks the way former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger does now.
As silly as this is, it may explain at least part of the reasons for the newly announced separation between Schwarzenegger, who played the android (or its replica) in the first three installments of the “Terminator” franchise, and his wife, former NBC anchor Maria Shriver.
According to CBS News, since he left office in January, Schwarzenegger has been using his influence in the movie industry to get another installment of the “Terminator” series into production in order to re-start his career.
Perhaps Schwarzenegger’s pathetic quest to star in “Terminator V” (or whatever) was the final straw for Shriver.
Or maybe he never gave up his philandering ways even while he was serving as governor, and Shriver finally outgrew the role traditionally played by Kennedy women of standing dutifully by while their husbands chased anything in skirts.
The cause of the Schwarzeneggers’ separation is their business, but it would be nice to think that the loss of his marriage, if it happens, would finally put the brakes on Schwarzenegger’s rampant ego.
Gov. Schwarzenegger left office five months ago with an approval rating in the 20s. There is no clamor for him to reenter the limelight. Nobody, arguably not even Skynet, wants him to do anything but do as all but one of our living ex-governors are doing — join boards of directors, play at politics from the sidelines and basically keep quiet.
Schadenfreude? Sorry, Maria. In California, we’re soaking in it.
Stay strong Maria. You’re a storng women who does need a man in her life!