How George Bush's Penis Made It to Broadway
For years, many here and elsewhere have referred to former President George W. Bush as "a dick" or "that prick." Now, you may have heard, Bush's penis has made it to Broadway -- and it opened "huge" this week. Now the question is, will it be "extended"? And how did it get there?
Yes, this member of the administration has a cameo in the new Will Ferrell tribute, You're Welcome America, already one of the toughest tickets in town. It appears suddenly in the show, in living color, projected on a big screen, drawing gasps but also a few ahhs...sort of like Dubya while in office. It goes away and then appears again, provoking more shock and awe.
The New York Times reports today that it has already provoked at least six walkouts. Someone in the theater is actually keeping track. The New York Daily News was more demure, referring to it as a "ruder body part." Others beat around the Bush, failing to even mention the appendage.
The Times actually asked a Bush spokesman for comment (thank god it is no longer Dana Perino). No response came.
Since Will could not get the real thing his team searched the Web for a possible likeness. To make sure it was not a hard act to follow, a limp penis was picked for the role.
How did that happen? Director Adam McKay tells Playbill.com,
I hate to break it to most of America, but there are public-domain cocks all over the place. You go surf the Internet. There are plenty of dudes out there who don't mind having their cock used in a Broadway show. I'd love to know whose it is. He's putting himself on the line as much as anyone out there.
The idea of using the image of a penis originated one day in rehearsals. McKay and Ferrell recalled Dubya's comment that he had enjoyed being "a free man" before he entered the White House.
"We were joking that now that he was out of office, he could do whatever he wants," McKay told the Times, "and so I said, 'Let's have him show his own penis,' and Ferrell was like, 'O.K.' He is a frat boy, a big party guy, and you could imagine him doing this. Though I want to make clear I'm not blaming the president for our very bad taste."
One reviewer noted, "There is full frontal male nudity, ostensibly to imply that President Bush is compensating for something." Now the limited-run play may be extended.
Well, the media shouldn't be too shocked. They were happy to graphically cover the Jesse Jackson cut-off-Obama's-nuts episode last year (included in my new book on the campaign).
But Playbill also notes one serious aspect of the play:
[T]here is one unscheduled speed-bump on this Bush-whacking expedition -- when he asks for a moment of silence for the lives lost in Iraq -- and the audience turns chillingly still for what seems like a small eternity."That's our favorite part of the show," Ferrell admitted. "You just don't see it coming, and no one knows how we're going to get out of it. The reaction tonight is pretty close to what we get every night. Sometimes the audience is a little nervous and starts to laugh because they don't know which way to go, but tonight everyone was so dialed in to the moment and what we were trying to say. We've heard people felt a mixture -- they feel uncomfortable, they feel sad, they are stunned that they are actually being forced to sit there. That's the most satisfying part of the whole thing."
Director Adam McKay, a longstanding friend of Ferrell's and his sometimes screenplay collaborator, defended that tough call: "We all know that Bush is funny and that he's not competent, but the fact is, because of what he did, he killed people -- conservatively, 200,000 civilians in Iraq, and all these soldiers -- 30,000 casualties. As much as you laugh about him, people died because of this...."
Greg Mitchell's new book is "Why Obama Won" (Sinclair Books), the first book on the campaign from a "progressive" perspective. He is the editor of Editor & Publisher.
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Penis Photo Causes Walkouts At Will Ferrell's Bush Broadway Show
So far six audience members have stormed out midperformance of the Broadway show "You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush," the comedian...
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Great opening Greg, LOL LOL LOL LOL only thing lacking was a three inch model for Cheney , I stand Erected.
I don't understand the need of some in the "progressive" community to continue fixating on Bush. He's no longer in office! By continuing to focus attention on him, you contradict your arguments about his irrelevance; he's clearly still relevant to a lot of you, sort of like that old boyfriend who broke your heart in high school.
Learn from the past, live in the present, plan for the future....
We're still at that "Learn from the past" thing on this one.
It's time and over due.
This is crass and unnecessary. Ferrell & Co. don't need to stoop to this.
It is extremely debatable that George Bush "caused all these deaths," no matter how much liberals can't accept that. Once again, if he were guilty of war crimes, or if he were even simply indictable, it would have happened years ago.
Right! I'm sure Alberto Gonzalez has been looking real hard for indictable evidence.
BRAVO,,,, LESS WE FORGET ,,,"OH, CALCUTTA!" OPENED IN 1969....AR
I don't see the humor in it, but, whatever.
It might be funny if they superimposed bush's face on the end of it and had those weird moving lips like conan uses on his show.
Very tasteless!!
Oh my...I'm having a flashback.
A bunch of talented people up on a stage.....
(yeah...pe
http://www
Somebody may have crossed an invisible line here.
Maybe it was Bush.
Why would anyone go to a Will Ferrell show and be shocked by something rude, and in New York no less?
Yes, and these are the liberals that call this "art" and want us the American people to fund this smut! I also find it disgusting that people find this funny and entertaining. No matter who they mock or make fun of, this is crude and tasteless. Says a lot about the so-called "elite" in our society. And you think you are so "enlightened" and the people who think this is trash, you call ignorant and backward. What happened to decency?? I guess we won't find it in your world.
it is meaningless art. a way to express feelings and thoughts. You don't have to like it or agree with it. Just don't go see it.
The elites are the evil whackos who sent our people to Iraq.
didn't your conservative "salt of the earth/ real american" monster truck rallies that actually KILLED people recently. wouldn't that be a little more disgusting? you know...A DEAD BODY AND ALL!?
...Is Victorian society "proper and decent" enough for you? Or do you prefer burkhas? If we lived in your world women would probably still be wearing ankle length costumes to go to the beach and sitting side saddle on horses.
It is about free choice in a free and democratic land. Dont like it, dont see it. Different strokes for different folks. Simple.
Crude, tasteless, even disgusting (to some) ... altogether quite appropriate to the subject, possibly the most morally deficient person to hold the presidency.
Please define the word "elite". Who, according to you are these "elite" people?
And if you want to see rude and crude from the right, just go to freerepublic dot com and Search for Hillary. Most of the comments are vile and disgusting. With NO humor.
I did not read this article, only the headline.
I'm hoping the answer has something to do with Lorena Bobbitt.
Hey, there's a catchy headline. Broadway hit, movie rights, I can see it all now.
DUBYA MEETS LORENA BOBBITT
Yes, let's never forget. People died. And are still dying.
Yeah, we can kill tens of thousands, perhaps millions of people, but, Heaven forbid, you should show man parts. This country is twisted.
I love that they used a limp one. Perfect.
We just experienced 96 months of the Bush administration! Why in hell would anyone....
I don’t get it but I guess folks can't get enough of looking at a freeway crash.
Hottest ticket huh? Is this masochistic behavior or kinda like wanting to see that bearded Yak women? Either way, you will always find someone to laugh at flatulence joke.
TS
I'm with you, Tangerine. I have rarely found humor in Bush or his administration. Oh, you have to laugh sometimes just to get by but funny, he ain't. I wouldn't go to this play, I'm done with this clown. I don't care if others want to go but like you, I see no point in prolonging my agony. And it was agony to watch this idiot ruin our beautiful country and our once robust middle class (we've been going down for awhile but he wanted to finish the job I think!).
Bush is funnier now that he can't listen to our phone calls or order us disappeared.
I wouldn't go somewhere just to be reminded of bush - the worst president in the whole entire history of the world. nay, the universe.
Stay classy San Diego.
And so did 'DICK' walk-in or was he still on wheels?
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