South Park Creators Rocks the Bush White House By Lynn Elber,AP Television Writer While supporters of President Bush ago, he managed to survive and now he is In the new sitcom “That’s My Bush!” may be outraged by the show’s disrespect bitter, he is angry and he hates to be canceled from the creators of “South Park,” President and Bush opponents disappointed by its on,” a Bush adviser warns the president. Bush plays host to beer-swilling frat brothers, unfocused satire, such parody may delight Bush doesn’t spend much time is mocked by a White House maid and open-minded television buffs. pondering the abortion debate; he’s more henpecked by the first lady. There’s a pesky neighbor, for instance, concerned the meeting will force him to miss Bush, as portrayed by actor Timothy a reliable TV staple. And, as lippy a dinner date with the first lady. Sitcom chaos Bottoms, also accidentally executes a death- housekeeper Maggie, Marcia Wallace ensues. row prisoner and is terrorized by an anti- summons memories of Florence (Marla Series co-creator Stone is unapologetic abortion talking fetus. Gibbs) in “The Jeffersons” and other smart about playing serious matters for laughs. In other words, Dorothy, we’re not in alecks. There’s already enough bitter debate over “The West Wing” anymore. “Wow, look at you Mrs. Bush, you look issues including capital punishment and While NBC’s drama celebrates the like a hooker!” a beaming Maggie tells the abortion, he said. presidency’s power and glory, “That’s My first lady (Carrie Quinn Dolin), dolled up in “I keep up on the news, I keep up on Bush!” is a bratty kid gleefully yanking down a sexy red dress. what’s going on, I’m interested in those the chief executive’s pants. “I do?” a shocked Mrs. Bush replies. things, but I think there’s enough space for The Comedy Central series is juvenile, “I mean an expensive, high-class having a little fun with it,” Stone said. coarse and impishly determined to offend. hooker,” Maggie assures her. The very idea of building a sitcom As political satire, however, it’s a pale New Bottoms, as Bush, parodies Ralph around the president is somewhat loaded, he Age version in which issues don’t really Kramden’s loving threat in “The acknowledges: “It’s our little silly statement count as much as the notion that the system, Honeymooners” (“One of these days, Alice on the sitcomization of America politics.” in general, deserves to be mocked. .... Pow! Right in the kisser!”) with his own And the anti-abortion fetus puppet? Nothing truly personal or political is less poetic exclamation to Mrs. Bush: “One “You’ve got to shock some people,” Stone intended, says Matt Stone, who hatched the of these days, I’m gonna punch you in the said, true to his outrageous “South Park” show with his “South Park” partner-in-crime, face!” roots. Trey Parker. “That’s My Bush!” begins an The cast, including Bottoms, who bears Parker and Stone had attracted notoriety eight-episode run 10:30 p.m. EDT an unsettling resemblance to Bush here, and when a proposed script leaked out with Wednesday. sitcom pro Wallace (receptionist Carol on Bush’s 19-year-old daughters, Jenna and Stone and Parker didn’t vote for Bush , “The Bob Newhart Show”), are adept at Barbara, portrayed as incestuous lesbian they didn’t vote, period , but they have giving stock TV characters a rude tweak. lovers. But they distanced themselves from nothing against him. After all, the show could But the show’s desire to have it both that idea, and Comedy Central executives, have been “Everybody Loves Gore!” had the ways when it comes to politics misfires. who had received many complaints, told Democrat taken office. “That’s My Bush!” is a prankster that pushes them the girls could not be included in their “We don’t have fun at anybody’s hot-button issues only for the empty thrill of series at all. expense. It’s all just a fun little fantastical setting off false alarms. Stone contends “That’s My Bush!” is absurdist thing,” said Stone. “We don’t want In the first episode, “An Aborted Dinner mushy at the center. After all, it traffics in to preach to anybody or have a big agenda.” Date,” Bush the unifier arranges a White traditional TV sitcom homilies, such as Instead, a fair amount of the humor is a House meeting between representatives of reminding us that honesty is the best policy send-up of TV sitcom conventions. It starts the abortion rights and anti-abortion even when you’re president. with the chirpy title, a descendent of “Love movements. “The more rude humor is never the That Bob” and “That Girl,” and an inane Both sides are outlandishly portrayed, focus of the show. We’re doing it with a heart theme song. with the talking fetus, a tiny, unsettling behind it, a fundamental sweetness. I think “He’s the president, the resident who’s animatronic puppet used to represent an that’s why everyone (working on the show) Creators of “South Park” Matt Stone kinda in charge. He’s got the whole country anti-abortion leader who holds a big can hold their head high and say ‘I’m doing and Trey Parker kick of there new saying ‘That’s my Bush!” trills the opening grudge. something kind of cool, not just ‘We have a show“That’sshow“That’s MyMy Bush!”Bush!” tune. “Apparently he was aborted 30 years talking fetus, hah, hah, hah.”’ The Express Business Services Directory

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