Some people may argue to the contrary, but a great deal of television programming has been lackluster and greatly uninspired over the last several of years. Sure, there are some bright exceptions – ranging from the Jack Bauer’s day-long adrenaline rushes to the now-retired Tony Soprano – but by and large, originality continues to dodge those looking for it. Televised sports coverage is now officially inspired by video gaming; commercials ranging from Quizno’s Subs pitchman “Baby Bob” to the Geico caveman characters are gaped and aped for potential TV greatness. And certainly, YouTube is ripe for the next round of potential “Sweeps” pillaging.
Any idea and medium, it seems, that floats to the surface is up for grabs.
Occasionally, one of these ideas stands poised to actually bare fruit. Case in point: cable juggernaut Comedy Central’s new animated series Lil Bush, which launches tonight, Wednesday, June 13 at 10:30 PM, after South Park. The show follows the rowdy doings and mischievous shenanigans of child-versions of politicos Lil’ George W. Bush and his pals Lil’ Cheney, Lil’ Condi and Lil’ Rummy (voiced by punk icon Iggy Pop). And it’s the first viral cell phone video work to make its way to TV as a regular series.
This summer, viewers will see a total of six half hour episodes, each one featuring two stories a piece. And in each interstitial, the Lil’ animated politicos kick out the jams with their Lil' band – delivering a range of classic cover tunes that are part-Archies, part-Monkees, part-Banana Splits and all completely inspired by the White House of the last six-plus years.
If the commercials are any indication, Lil’ Bush promises to be one of the campiest political satires on TV since Chevy Chase fell off a Christmas tree mocking former President Gerald Ford on Saturday Night Live. Can Lil’ Bush takes viral video to the big leagues? Both Pop and creator Donick Cary have high hopes that viewers will come away from the show thinking so.
“What I liked was there was something really human about reducing all these powerful figures to little people,” said Pop of the concept in a recent media conference call. The leader of the Stooges, who has done voiceover work for another animated show with a political bent (American Dad) says politics is not something he relishes or claims to aspire to. It’s more of that can’t-look-away-from-a-car-accident vibe for him, as it is for many Americans.
Article comments
1 - TV and Film Guy
Congratulations! This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States.
2 - ridiculous
I'm sorry, but I don't think we need a cartoon staring Rumsfeld, or Jeb Bush, or other politicians who do little to effect the lives of Americans, at least not in a positive manner.
If they have to make political satire, then where are all the other big deciders in the government: senate leader Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, etc etc. This stuff is all about the Bush clan, and they might as well play it on Fox.
3 - ridiculous?
I think that's the point the creator was making... read the story again. Sounds like the possibility of other folks on the other side of the aisle (Obama, Clinton, et.al) would not only be in the current show, but would be just as prone to scrutiny as the conservatives. Lighten up, for God's sake. Sounds like someone could use a cheeseburger, a joint and a good lay.
4 - ridiculous, yes
Woah, it sounds like it's you who should lighten up! this critic was posted so people could leave different opinions, so there's no need to feel alarmed by mine.
The author hailed this show as one of the best thing to happen on television in recent years (as per his first paragraph), and I simply disagree.
The premise of the show -and all the hype surrounding it- is troubling at best..especially when you find out who the "lil" characters are. Clan worship is what it looks like, when it could have been a political satire which gives a broad and fascinating picture of political life.
Otherwise what's the purpose of it all? to have Bush, Condi, and Cheney see themselves as cartoon characters? how soon the merchandise that go with it?
5 - ridiculous?
The author said: "Occasionally, one of these ideas stands poised to actually bare fruit," not "...hailed this show as one of the best thing to happen on television in recent years." There's quite a wide chasm between those two statements... people can't read the depth in a statement, apparently. Maybe that's why so many think the Patriot Act is still a good idea...?
The show "promises to be one of the campiest political satires on TV." Doesn't mean it's gonna be, right? No one's getting defensive here, unless one is to get defensive about reading comprehension, which is supposedly a requirement of study in grade school.
I personally don't understand what's wrong with mocking authority and questioning it. Laughing about something (the administration, and politicians in general) we simply have no exertable force in changing anymore is about our only option. Both sides of the aisle are like "opposing cheeks of the same butt." And the spiders bark when the wind blows.
The Republicans are a joke, the newly elected Democratic congress is a joke. The candidates running in 2008 are a joke. The political machine in this country is broken, a mockery of what this nation was founded on. It's now filled with corporate lobbies, lackeys and greedy, disingenuous liars ACROSS THE BOARD. No one cares about us in Washington. Both sides! That should be easy to read and comprehend: Both sides could care less about us. Loving on either side gets you nothing.
We're not allowed to laugh at that? C'mon already.
And we're all too busy blasting each other in cyberspace about meaningless stuff (like Paris Hilton) to actually *take to the streets* and protest what really matters in this country. Which is political reform... and if we're not going to do that, the very least we can do is laugh about it.
Look into that cheeseburger, my friend.
6 - Peter
Wow, you two. It's just a comedy show -- not the end of the world.
7 - ridiculous, you bet
Damn, this discussion is getting weirder as it moves along.
...."No one's getting defensive here, unless one is to get defensive about reading comprehension, which is supposedly a requirement of study in grade school."
Oh there we go, ad hominem! (attack the person making the claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument). And you say you're not defensive? Threatened sounds like more like it now..
...."Maybe that's why so many think the Patriot Act is still a good idea...?"
Aight, how exactly do we go from discussing the cartoon to debating the Patriot Act? and if we follow your logic: interpreting the author's critic as being overly favorable to Lil Bush equates to being a Patriot Act apologist?! interestingly, the Patriot Act is about restricting the freedom of Americans, and you have not seen me attempt to restrict your right to your opinions.
...."Both sides of the aisle are like "opposing cheeks of the same butt." And the spiders bark when the wind blows."
Listen up, I'm not here to defend sides or look at which is worst. My whole point was that this show is clan-based. It precisely does not look at "both sides" as it could, because the stars are Lil Bush, Lil Jeb, Lil Cheney and whoever else...so no, there's no "questioning of authority" involved here, it's clan television and that's what I question.
..."The Republicans are a joke, the newly elected Democratic congress is a joke. The candidates running in 2008 are a joke. "
That's your opinion - but just a correction: the Congress is not "democratic". they have a majority, but there are indeed republicans in it. Do your research..But anyway this has nothing to do with Lil Bush's premise; which again fails to make a broad commentary on that "joke" of a system.
..."And we're all too busy blasting each other in cyberspace about meaningless stuff (like Paris Hilton) to actually *take to the streets* and protest what really matters in this country."
Still has nothing to do with Lil Bush - but it looks like you're more interested in throwing a bunch of tangents into the argument to throw the discussion into a million directions.
8 - Peter
All this over a show that, in the first two episodes, really hasn't proven to be "all that" ? Like I said you two, relax. There's enough polarization in the world without bringing it here.
9 - Scott
Tigger looks like Ron Paul. He should get a show.