Some years ago, Comedy Central did a Bush-based sitcom called “That’s My Bush.” Created by Parker and Stone of “South Park” fame, it was a parody of old-style sitcoms that was distinctly hit or miss in its execution. It did, however, deftly capture what many saw as the essential banality of George W. Bush.
Then the Twin Towers fell and suddenly making fun of the President was no longer deemed acceptable. The show quickly evaporated.
So now it’s five years later and Comedy Central is launching a Bush-based sitcom called “Lil’ Bush.”
No, I don’t REALLY think there’s cause-and-effect involved…
…but it’s making me nervous.
PAD
• 
>>There were several months after 9/11 where all the comedians gave Bush a totally free pass. Hëll, there were even still serious “The Death of Irony” conversations a year after the event. “Saturday Night Live” even treated Giuliani with a reverence bordering on worship not long after the attacks. You had Dan Rather — not exactly a noted conservative icon — on David Letterman declaring “If the president tells me where to line up, I’ll line up.”
Those last two things came in the weeks following the atacks, though. As for “The Death of Irony” articles, I think we can chalk that up to journalists flailing about to fill out the huge volume of 9-11 anniversary coverage. I did say in my last post that after a few weeks back on the air, things were back to normal. At the very least, I’m sure the knives were out by January, when Bush coined the phrase “Axis of Evil.” (You don’t think the talk shows had a field day with that?) It sure wasn’t the almost 6 years PAD seems to be suggesting.
Also, that moratorium doesn’t mean a whole lot if Bush gets ribbed for stuff he said in the interim. If a year down the line, someone who held off in the immediate 9-11 aftermath knocks Bush for saying…
“We are fully committed to working with both sides to bring the level of terror down to an acceptable level for both.” —George W. Bush, after a meeting with congressional leaders, Washington, D.C., Oct. 2, 2001″
…that person’s “respect” could hardly be considered sincere in retrospect. I mean, it’s not like there aren’t a ton of Bush tongue-twisters out there to hang him with!
-Dave O’Connell
>>There were several months after 9/11 where all the comedians gave Bush a totally free pass. Hëll, there were even still serious “The Death of Irony” conversations a year after the event. “Saturday Night Live” even treated Giuliani with a reverence bordering on worship not long after the attacks. You had Dan Rather — not exactly a noted conservative icon — on David Letterman declaring “If the president tells me where to line up, I’ll line up.”
Those last two things came in the weeks following the atacks, though. As for “The Death of Irony” articles, I think we can chalk that up to journalists flailing about to fill out the huge volume of 9-11 anniversary coverage. I did say in my last post that after a few weeks back on the air, things were back to normal. At the very least, I’m sure the knives were out by January, when Bush coined the phrase “Axis of Evil.” (You don’t think the talk shows had a field day with that?) It sure wasn’t the almost 6 years PAD seems to be suggesting.
Also, that moratorium doesn’t mean a whole lot if Bush gets ribbed for stuff he said in the interim. If a year down the line, someone who held off in the immediate 9-11 aftermath knocks Bush for saying…
“We are fully committed to working with both sides to bring the level of terror down to an acceptable level for both.” —George W. Bush, after a meeting with congressional leaders, Washington, D.C., Oct. 2, 2001″
…that person’s “respect” could hardly be considered sincere in retrospect. I mean, it’s not like there aren’t a ton of Bush tongue-twisters out there to hang him with!
-Dave O’Connell
New paranoia theory for PAD or anyone else to worry about:
Since That’s My Bush was cancelled one month prior to 9/11…maybe that was the reason they attacked. They thought the show was funny, and they were mad it was cancelled!
So as long as Lil Bush is successful, and has a nice long life…we’re fine. But for that to happen…doesn’t Bush have to remain in office?
ArrrrgggghhH!
Posted by: Megan at June 6, 2007 12:33 AM
Harmless? Men may have thought it so, but do you think women of that era (especially those on the receving end of such treatment in real life) didn’t recognise exactly what was being said?
Megan, I said that the bit is “generally” regarded as harmless. I didn’t say it was harmless, and I didn’t say everyone regarded it as harmless.
In fact, my overarching point was that Parker and Stone recognized that “to the moon” was a euphemism for violence, which is why they stripped away the pretense by having Bush explicitly threaten to punch Laura in “That’s My Bush.” I’ve already made it quite clear that I recognize what’s behind the euphemism.
Also, let’s not get too carried away. Ralph Kramden never once laid a finger on Alice and I don’t believe the character ever would have. “The Honeymooners” aired before spousal abuse had become a front-and-center societal issue and must be regarded in that context.
d PAD’s post. He said:
>Then the Twin Towers fell and suddenly making >fun of the President was no longer deemed >acceptable. The show quickly evaporated.
How can a show “evaporate” when it’s already been cancelled?”
Repeats vanished. The planned spin-off movie, optioned by Paramount, disappeared. I read an interview with Parker & Stone at the time who stated that the premise of TMB was no longer viable post 9-11.
PAD
Dear Mr. David,
The first time I saw an ad for “Lil’Bush” I had the same thought you did. What makes me smile though is that everytime I read “Lil’Bush” I can’t help but think of all the times Mr Mike Gold refered to Dubya as “President Lil’Bášŧárd.”
Good God, seriously? I don’t subscribe to the whole “Bush was responsible for 9/11” wheeze, and even if I did–which I don’t–“That’s My Bush” certainly wouldn’t have been the motivation.
No, I was just worried about the whole notion of history repeating itself because of karma, fate, whatever.
PAD
Karma is predicated on cause-and-effect, is it not? In a cosmic, metaphysical sense. I mean, the impression to me is that the only reason to be nervous about this would be that if you did believe in the cause-and-effect of it, on some level.
it seems to me what you REALLY want to see is, in fact, NO posts about Bush. ‘Fraid I can’t help you there.
Sorry if that’s the vibe I gave off. It’s more like Bill Myer’s described weariness with the “Bush is the Anti-Christ” sentiment. I see that kind of thing everywhere these days and I consider it unhelpful to a rational discourse.
Posted by: Saddened at June 6, 2007 11:25 AM
I mean, the impression to me is that the only reason to be nervous about this would be that if you did believe in the cause-and-effect of it, on some level.
You’re taking literally a post that was written with tongue firmly in cheek. Lighten up. Relax. Chill.
Posted by: Saddened at June 6, 2007 11:25 AM
It’s more like Bill Myer’s described weariness with the “Bush is the Anti-Christ” sentiment. I see that kind of thing everywhere these days and I consider it unhelpful to a rational discourse.
The best antidote for that is to contribute something to the conversation other than “I don’t like the tenor of this conversation.”
I don’t like the alto of this conversation.
“Alan Coil at June 6, 2007 10:18 PM”
And the soprano is flat in her upper register.
🙂
The baritone is simply delightful, though.
-Rex Hondo-
Even though we are all singing acappella I think it sounds fine
Even though we are all singing acappella I think it sounds just fine.
And apparently Im also tone deaf, sorry for the double post
osted by Bill Myers at June 6, 2007 07:14 AM
Posted by: Megan at June 6, 2007 12:33 AM
Harmless? Men may have thought it so, but do you think women of that era (especially those on the receving end of such treatment in real life) didn’t recognise exactly what was being said?
Megan, I said that the bit is “generally” regarded as harmless. I didn’t say it was harmless, and I didn’t say everyone regarded it as harmless.
In fact, my overarching point was that Parker and Stone recognized that “to the moon” was a euphemism for violence, which is why they stripped away the pretense by having Bush explicitly threaten to punch Laura in “That’s My Bush.” I’ve already made it quite clear that I recognize what’s behind the euphemism.
Also, let’s not get too carried away. Ralph Kramden never once laid a finger on Alice and I don’t believe the character ever would have. “The Honeymooners” aired before spousal abuse had become a front-and-center societal issue and must be regarded in that context.
My wife pointed something out about “The Honeymooners”, That was there never was a mistaken thought that Ralph was a blowhard, and the Kramdens’ really loved each other.
On “That’s My Bush”, there was never that type of connection. At least IMHO. (And when it comes to humility I’m the greatest!)
Bobb
Posted by: Bobb (In Irving at June 8, 2007 12:11 PM
On “That’s My Bush”, there was never that type of connection.
Yes, but that was part of what made it funny. They weren’t advocating domestic abuse, but parodying a well-known comedy bit.
A) Just before 9/11, the Bush administration was the only country (other than Israel) to vote against Israeli censure in the UN. Isn’t that a far more likely cause of the timing — if there were a single “straw” causing the timing — of 9/11?
B) The idea that we should thwart free speech out of fear has already been dealt with by Ben Franklin.
I’m a die hard conservative (note: I did not say Republican although many people think the two are equal) and a fundie to boot; even I have no problem with people making fun of the President. I voted for him, and I still like him, but he provides a ton of fodder for humerists. My only issue is the humor going too far. Can’t they make it funny without being vulgar? I did enjoy the Jedi W segment on Robot Chicken, with the exception of the threesome part, it was very funny.