[Vision2020] Bush Administration To Be Cartoon

[Tom Hansen]

>From CNN at:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/04/television.lilbush.reut/index.html

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Bush Administration To Be Cartoon

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- Comedy Central has ordered
"Lil' Bush: Resident of the United States," a cartoon satire that
re-imagines President Bush and key executives in his administration as
elementary school misfits.

The title character is surrounded by close pals like Lil' Cheney, who
grumbles unintelligibly, and Lil' Condi, who pines for Lil' Bush and does
his homework for him.

"Bush" is not without its risque moments. When Lil' Bush's school serves
falafel instead of hot dogs for lunch in one episode, he and his pals
torture the cafeteria employees with methods made famous during the Abu
Ghraib prison scandal.

Six episodes from writer-producer Donick Cary ("The Simpsons") have been
ordered to air on Comedy Central next year.

"Bush" got its start in September as six five-minute clips offered by Amp'd
Mobile, a U.S.-based wireless service that packages video entertainment
programming with cell phone service.

"Bush" represents an unlikely reversal of the one-way flow of programming
from television to other digital platforms, where networks and studios are
attempting to extend franchises in search of new revenue. That said, many a
programmer has cited the Internet and mobile arenas as potential breeding
grounds for fare that could translate back to TV.

"What's exciting as a developer is that content can come from so many places
these days," said Lauren Corrao, executive VP original programming and
development at Comedy Central.

Amp'd is licensing "Bush" to Comedy Central while retaining rights to air
the series on its Comedy Central-branded video channel as well as an
exclusive hold on wallpaper and ringtones that emerge from the series in any
region Amp'd operates.

"We looked at it as an experiment to use mobile as an incubator that would
pop to television," said Seth Cummings, senior VP content development and
programming at Amp'd. "It's a huge validator right out of the gate because
it's the first project we did."

"Bush" has gotten traction on viral video sites like YouTube, where the
original episodes has drawn more than 230,000 streams. It won't be Comedy
Central's first foray into devoting an entire series to poking fun at Bush.
In 2001, the live-action spoof "That's My Bush," from "Park" creators Trey
Parker and Matt Stone, had a short-lived run on the network.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

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"In America, anybody can become president.  
That's one of the risks you take . . ."

- Adlai Stevenson

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