Lil' Bush began life as a series of five-minute videos distributed on Amp'd Mobile cell phones before moving to Comedy Central in a longer and more elaborate format. It is essentially a Spinoff Babies work for Real Life.
It features George W. Bush, his cronies, and various other political figures as Super-Deformed grade-school versions of themselves. This show takes place in an Alternate Universe where most current American politicians are children, the elder George Bush is President, and currently current issues are introduced in accordance with the Rule of Funny.
Almost every corner of the show is crammed with references to current (and not-so-current) political events, as well as pop-culture shout-outs and exactly one musical number. Even though many jokes walk the line between Refuge in Audacity and Dude, Not Funny!; when it's good it's really good. Lil' Bush did not fare well with critics, but it did manage to turn many of its characters, especially the four main kids, into interesting and entertaining characters in their own right. Unfortunately it managed to get put on the air just as Bush's administration was wrapping up, and Barack Obama becoming president, making the show no longer relevant, and its expiration date set. The show holds up much better now that there is some time put between it and the many other Bush satires of the time, this paired with the unique art style and appealing character designs has gained it a small cult following.
This work contains examples of the following tropes:
- Absurdly Powerful Student Council: More precisely, an absurdly powerful Hall Monitor, and some kind of student media organization that apparently has its own channel.
- Abusive Parents: Li'l Rummy's dad. In one episode when Li'l Condie asks if anyone has plans for Saturday, Li'l Rummy replies "My dad said he's gonna chain me to the radiator and throw beer cans at me all weekend."
- Abnormal Ammo: Mardi Gras beads in "Katrina".
- Author Appeal: Punk and alternative rock. The Lil' Bush Band's music videos often pay tribute to bands like the Sex Pistols, Wham, and Guns and Roses. Guest voices have included members of Good Charlotte, the Grateful Dead and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, among others. Not to mention Iggy Pop as a main cast member.
- But Liquor Is Quicker: Attempted on Lil' Rummy and Lil' Cheney.
- Blood-Splattered Innocents: Subverted in "Hot Dogs". The kids get splattered with cows blood, look at each other and shrug it off.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: The owner of the "Drugzall" pharmaceutical company. He uses his power to trick children into taking prescription medication they really don't need. When George, Condi, Rummy and Cheney realize how the pills are drastically changing there personalities, he prescribes them more pills to balance out the side effects.
- Enfante Terrible: Most of the cast, particularly Lil' Cheney and Lil' Rummy.
- Hippie Teacher: The camp councillor, nicknamed Stinky by Lil' George.
- Karma Houdini: For a show that makes fun of Bush, the kid gets away with almost all of his antics.
- Kids Are Cruel: The only kids that don't fit the trope are Jeb, Tiny Kucinich and Lil' Laura.
- Love Triangle: Condi likes George, George likes Laura. And Tony likes George, while George likes Laura.
- Lampshade Hanging: In one episode they have a viewer mail segment, where they read letters asking why Condi and Rummy's parents are merely larger versions of themselves, and why the show is set in the present yet Bush Sr. is president.
- Once an Episode: Most episodes feature a musical performance by the Lil' Bush Band.
- Scooby-Dooby Doors: Part of an extended Affectionate Parody of Scooby-Doo.
- School Newspaper News Hound: Lil' versions of media figures are portrayed like this.
- St. Patrick's Day Episode: In "St. Patrick's Day," the Lil' Gang doesn't want the Lil' Dems to ruin St. Patrick's Day with their liberal and tolerant St. Patrick's Day float. They enlist the help of Lil' Karl Rove, who gives them advice and does some bad rapping as his alter-ego MC Rove. Meanwhile, first lady Barbara gets a tanning bed and inadvertently cooks her liver.
- Straw Feminist: Lil' Hillary Clinton.
- Strawman Political: One guess as to why.
- Take That!: Pretty much the entire purpose of the show.
- The Unintelligible: Lil' Cheney, whose dialogue consists mostly of "rabba rabba rabba".
- "The Villain Sucks" Song: Used to mock terrorists and evolutionists, among others.
- To Hell and Back: Lil' Cheney goes to Hell after dying of a heart attack, but is exiled and resurrected because he nearly takes over.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: The cronies (except for Cheney) are really just desperate for their parents approval.
- Vomit Chain Reaction: In "Crony Break-up", Lil' Bush gets sick on a fair ride and barfs on one of his cronies. Causing the crew to puke on one another, until there is puke everywhere.
