How to simulate a TTY with popen2?

Hi Everybody,

I'm stuck trying to write a python module for the vlc videoplayer on 
linux (http://www.videolan.org). I'm using the popen2 module to open a 
pipe to the program. If I open the vlc player in a shell it recognizes 
that I'm running it from a TTY.
Same command with popen2-4 and the vlc doesn't seem to find a TTY so it 
tries to open a gui and fails resulting in ending itself.

So here's my question:
Is there a way to open a pipe in python imitating a TTY or am I doing 
something completely wrong?

Greetz TC