Lil’ Bush: Viral Mobiles Go Primetime

Life in the multiplatform age means we get phones call from Samuel L. Jackson telling us to see his Snakes on a Plane, but media also moves the other way, rippling up through the mediascape. Premiering this Wednesday, June 18, Lil’ Bush is a satirical political cartoon Comedy Central acquired from Amp’d Mobile, where it had developed a mobile, as well as online, audience.

The series’ topic: “Before he was The Decider, he was a third grader.” CNN quotes its creator describing the show as “The Little Rascals with access to the A-Bomb.”

Originally commissioned as an Amp’d Mobile Original Presentation, Lil’ Bush is the creation of Donick Cary, whose writing credits include The Late Show with David Letterman and The Simpsons. Lil’ Bush takes what some would call the sophomoric governance of the Bush administration old school, all the way back to playground politics. When Lil’ Bush finds that hot dog day has been replaced by falafel day, he tortures the “multi-cultural” kitchen staff Abu Ghraib style (yes, it crosses those lines) until he gets his wieners back, which he renames “hot patriot eagle Jesus dogs.”

Lil’ Bush worked its way up the video food chain, starting off as “mobisodes” available through Amp’d mobile for mobile phones. Amp’d then posted them on YouTube, where one episode has gotten nearly half a million views. That’s when Comedy Central noticed and tapped the show to move into prime time traditional cable.

Lil’ Bush is extending Comedy Central’s political “coverage,” airing directly before The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Oh, and South Park’s now infamous “The Snuke” episode is airing directly before at 9 p.m., so be sure to set aside some quality time for Comedy Central this week.