From left to right: Lil' George, Lil' Rummy, Lil' Condi, Lil' Cheney, Jeb
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 it's characters, especially the four main kids, into interesting and entertaining characters in there 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.
- Bishōnen: Vladimir Putin is shown to be one, as well as a Marty Stu until he gets his ass kicked by Lil' Bush in a very embarrassing manner.
- Brain Washed And Crazy: Lil' John Mc Cain
- 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.
- Big Screwed-Up Family: The Bush's and the Rumsfelds.
- Comedic Sociopathy
- Cowboy Bebop At His Computer: A lot of media specific to a single episode will advertise "Guest Starring Iggy Pop!", despite the fact that Iggy Pop played Lil' Rummy, a regular character.
- 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.
- Domestic Abuser: Rummy's dad.
- Distant Duet: In "Crony Breakup". Also marks the first time we get to hear Rummy and Condi sing.
- Don't Make Me Take My Belt Off: Rummy's dad. Again.
- Downer Ending: "Big Pharma."
- Enfante Terrible: Most of the cast, particularly Lil' Cheney and Lil' Rummy(Donald Rumsfeld).
- Everyone Went To School Together
- Egg Sitting: Or watermelons in this case.
- Feud Episode: "Crony Breakup"
- Gay Conservative: Lil' Tony Blair
- Granola Girl: The Lil' Democrats, somewhat.
- Gross Out Show
- Government Drug Enforcement
- Hippie Teacher: The camp councillor, nicknamed Stinky by Lil' George.
- I Am Song: "The Decider"
- 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, 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.
- New Transfer Student: Lil' Kim Jong Il and Lil' Tony Blair.
- Once an Episode: Most episodes feature a musical performance by the Lil' Bush Band.
- Ripped from the Headlines
- Scare Campaign:
- Six Student Clique:
- The Head: Lil' George
- The Muscle: Jeb
- The Quirk: Lil' Rummy
- The Pretty One: Lil' Laura
- The Smart One: Lil' Condi
- The Wild One: Lil' Cheney
- 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.
- 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.
- The Graduate Homage Shot: In "First Kiss."
- Time Travel Episode: "Global Warming."
- Young Future Famous People
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