‘Avenue Q’ Can’t Get Over George Bush
by Tim SlagleWhat do you do when you lose a punchline? While Will Ferrell and Robin Williams try to squeeze every last joke out of an administration that left office over a month ago, Late Night hosts struggle to find something funny about the new guy. (In other news, Rich Little is still doing an impression of Richard Nixon.)
Two weeks ago, I did a story about how the Broadway show “Avenue Q” held a contest to find a lyric as funny as “George Bush is only for now.” Calls to the theater assured me that keeping the lyric Presidential wasn’t even an option. Your Mother in Law, This Show, Prop. 8 and Recession were the lines the producers were hoping to pay off.
My friend Jane Shaffmaster, who alerted me to the contest, sent this link today. The contest is now officially over. According to the article, the show’s producers “have dismissed the contest’s winning lyrics except for Prop 8 [is only for now]—which will still be used during the tour’s California dates.”
Well that makes sense. Outside of California and the gay community, most of America has no clue what Prop 8 is. The theatrical community is far more familiar with the proposition than the rest of America, and was likely surprised when the lyric didn’t get the response they sought. I’m sure the show was disrupted more than once when Lorraine from Kansas (who just dumped a hundred bucks to see a puppet show) leaned over to a friend and whispered, “What’s a ‘prop-eight?’”
So what did they decide to use? The winning lyric is: ”George Bush WAS only for now.”
Brilliant. I guess like “South Pacific” and “Bye-Bye Birdie,” some vintage musical theater is better when presented in the time frame that it was originally written. “Avenue Q” will now be forever remembered as a Bush-era production, although the impact has noticeably waned. ”We now know that although George Bush’s presidency was only for now,” show creator, Robert Lopez noted, ”the comic potential of ‘George Bush’ seems like it may last forever.”
And for some of us, it seems like it already has.
For more information on Tim Slagle check out TimSlagle.com
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Tips & Feedback
69 Comments
Love your articles, Tim! (Can we still call them "articles"?) Come to Minot, ND again and do some stand-up!
I would have thought they'd go for something a little more kool-aidish — "Obama is forever."
Or they could have gone for something a little risque — "What did Biden say now?"
Or nostalgic — "Bush still haunts us now."
Or perhaps a little play on words — "Feminism is for NOW."
Or they could focus on public enemy number one — "Rush is for now." (hard to put the only in that one though)
"Bush was only for now" … talk about a lack of effort…
I would have thought they'd go for something a little more kool-aidish — "Obama is forever."
Or they could have gone for something a little risque — "What did Biden say now?"
Or nostalgic — "Bush still haunts us now."
Or perhaps a little play on words — "Feminism is for NOW."
Or they could focus on public enemy number one — "Rush is for now." (hard to put the only in that one though)
"Bush was only for now" … talk about a lack of effort!
Well said. Soon they're going to start dressing like W.
No, it's just you.
Williams is more a moldering, gluey dump in the Forest.
Hope he does some cutting edge Elmer Fudd and William F. Buckley impressions at his new show. Gosh that kreeeeezy prankster sure is topical and cutting edge!
I stopped thinking Robin Williams was even remotely funny when I saw him characterize Condi Rice as a sistah in the hood during an interview. Apparently, it's okay to be a bigot if you're a liberal. Funny how a guy who cannot control his private life can so freely criticize others. I wonder if it has occurred to him that his lifestyle is a heavy controbutor to hid heart problems. I wish him well in recovering from him surgery, but it's difficult for me to have much sympathy for him; as for his humor, he tends to remind me of an uncle who has been telling variations on the same two or three jokes for the past 20 years and now everyone tries to avoid him when he comes around for the holidays.
LOL@gluey dump!
If misplaced adolescent infatuations with Pam Dawber are wrong, I don't wanna be right.
I would have said something like "How now brown cow" but people would accuse me of being a racist mysogynist!
Avenue Q could use a good dose of Statler and Waldorf.
Just wondering: Do your rules about a man who cannot control his private life apply to "conservatives" as well? Because I keep reading about how a certain multiply-divorced drug addict who hired expensive lawyers to find loopholes in the law to keep him out of jail and who has been caught flying off to another country with a pocketful of Viagra is the true heart and soul of America. And as I recall, he feels pretty free to criticize others, even calling for harsh punishment of illegal drug users while illegally buying drugs himself.
That is exactly what I always thought. Not only not funny but I think he is somewhat creepy.
I have to admit that I've never gotten the appeal of either Robin Williams, Will Ferrell and especially don't get the Avenue Q horse squeeze. I guess my only question is: WHY?
Yeah, creepy is right.
This furry black hole of humor needs to be shaved with a hedge trimmer, or dipped in a vat of nair. Electrolysis would bankrupt him under cap and trade taxes.
Mork from Dork… just way unfunny these days.
Bush was only for now? How can you mix past and present tense? Idiots.
Obama's a socialist now. (and forever)
Heh heh heh… I second that!
Yet another example of NYC provincial and myopic theater world, the cast still believes Bush is Hitler even though there was a peaceful transfer of power from President Bush to President Obama which was seen on TVLAND around the globe.
I am counting the day when I leave this miserable Rotten Apple and take all my tax dollars with me!
Most amusing! Win for Nero's Fiddle!
Everyone wants to Twiki Colonel Deering!
Yes, it does as a matter of fact. The sad thing about Williams is he obviously hasn't learned his lesson from the day he was over at John Belishi's place the day he died. God, I am sooo tired of people who use the same talking points about Rush. If you'll notice, he has not married since his last divorce and his addiction was to painkillers, not quite the same as using illegal drugs for recreational purposes. As far as I know, he was not killing nosehairs and brain cells snorting coke. But hey, why should you bother letting facts get in the way of trying to make your case.
Liberals don't let rules get in the way of anything that they don't like.
" even calling for harsh punishment of illegal drug users while illegally buying drugs "
That is totally not true. When Rush realized he had become an addict, he stopped talking about drug laws entirely.
And he has never broached the subject since.
"Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican party" is a talking point. "Rush Limbaugh bought and used illegal drugs and has been divorced three times" are what's known as "facts." Those "painkillers" were Oxycontin, which when crushed and inhaled is reputed to give a high as strong as heroin — which is why Oxycontin abuse is rampant across the country and why the drug is routinely called "Hillbilly Heroin." Yes, Rush insists he only bought and consumed (in some manner only he knows) thousands of illegal pills because his back hurt. So does every junkie busted with the stuff. Difference is, they can't afford expensive lawyers, so they get years in prison — sentences that Rush has always supported.
I'd mock your statement that Rush is a moral exemplar because "he has not married since his last divorce," but really, it kind of mocks itself better than anything I could say…
" even calling for harsh punishment of illegal drug users while illegally buying drugs "
That is totally not true. When Rush realized he had become an addict, he stopped talking about drug laws entirely.
And he hasn't broached the subject since.
It's also interesting that you will blast Rush for drug use when you completely overlook BO who freely admits to using hard drugs in his book. At least Rush is a private citizen and entertainer, but you voted to put BO into a position of leadership of this country.
Maybe you should just drop the drug thing already?
Barack Obama has not built a personal fortune by advocating, among other things, that people who use illegal drugs should be sentenced to long prison terms. Nor has he spent years screaming how terrible it is that criminal defendants use the legal system to avoid punishment only to do exactly that when caught breaking a law he has promoted.
I'm not the one who cares about personal drug use. I'm for legalization. But your side hates people who use drugs and wants them thrown into prison — except when it's one of your own. (Just like you hate adulterers, as long as they're Democrats. When a Newt or a Vitter gets caught with his pants down, all of a sudden we're supposed to understand that people are fallible.) You're all about "personal responsibility" except when it's inconvenient.
You mean, once he was caught, right?
We need a new system to govern our country both the liberals and conservatives have screwed up this country, having their hands in the cookie jar and getting rich while pretending to work hard for us….its all BS..
Nobody gives anymore, we need people with COMMON SENSE running things in future….
"Barack Obama has not built a personal fortune by advocating, among other things, that people who use illegal drugs should be sentenced to long prison terms."
Why bother when you have a VP and AG that will do it for you?
"But your side hates people who use drugs and wants them thrown into prison — except when it's one of your own. "
I've heard more open discussions on legalization on Fox News than on other networks. But when discussing drugs, too many people try to keep immigration and border security out of the discussion when they are joined at the hip. Both sides (at least their politicians) are guilty of ignoring what is a growing problem along our souther border. Napolitano won't even acknowledge the crime that was going on in her own state.
Not at all. He stopped talking about drugs years before he was caught.
I remember him brushing off a caller who wanted to explain to him the free-market argument for legalization. He said, we'll have that discussion someday… and never said a word about drugs again, until AFTER he was outed.
"You're all about "personal responsibility" except when it's inconvenient."
Generalize much? And you're all a bunch of dirty hippie vegetarians, who care more about a baby seal, than a fetus that accidentally survived an abortion.
You don't have a clue who we are. I would suggest there are a lot more people who agree with you about lifestyles and legalization, than you realize.
WR1,
As someone who has been addicted to this drug due to serious health problems and massive pain, I find what you said extremely offensive. Like Rush Limbaugh, I developed serious hearing problems from taking the medication. So, you think that having that happen, and people like you calling me a drug addict who lies, isn't way less than the punishment we have already received? Kiss My A$$!
Roger Stone. He's a Republican advisor/strategist but one of the most outspoken people I have ever seen on oppressive and failing drug laws.
"Just like you hate adulterers, as long as they're Democrats"
I actually like John Edwards a little more now that he came clean. Lying about it (Clinton) is what pisses me off.
Or Amendments (1st, 2nd, 10th)
"Barack Obama has not built a personal fortune by advocating, among other things, that people who use illegal drugs should be sentenced to long prison terms."
You obviously don't listen to Rush, do you? Nice bluff, though.
"obviously don't listen to Rush"
They never do.
All these "experts" on Rush draw on either the Democrat Party Talking Points, or Al Franken's book as their sources. They'll admit proudly, that they've never listened, because they can't stand the guy; yet their arrogance suggests they know more, than those of us who actually do listen.
What a strange world it is, when the people who limit their information, believe themselves better informed.
Ignorance = Strength!
Man, you're hitting on all cylinders today. Bringing back memories of Dawber and Gray. Nice, but I must admit that I was a bit more infatuated with the evil princess.
The worst part is.. this came to the FOX theatre here in St. Louis late last year… and I had heard high remarks about it., so i was _Dying_ to go. Unfortunately it fell on a pre-arranged date for another outing. Up until I found Big Hollywood, I was still dreaming for this show to come back to the area…. now I'm thanking BH for saving me from wasting my money and time after all the comments on this one.
The worst part is.. this came to the FOX theatre here in St. Louis late last year… and I had heard high remarks about it., so i was _Dying_ to go (it was going to be a b-day gift to myself). Unfortunately it fell on a pre-arranged date for another outing. Up until I found Big Hollywood, I was still dreaming for this show to come back to the area…. now I'm thanking BH for saving me from wasting my money and time after all the comments on this one.
I guess that makes Brian Barnett the prize winner of Defiance Ohio.
We conservatives here in San Francisco have a ritual. Each time it rains, we rush out to the Seacliff section to see if Williams's house has fallen into the ocean yet. It has nearly done so several times. While other San Franciscans sing Kumbaya, we're voicing "Singing in the Rain."
Troll Alert! New one has rotated in from the Huff Post or wherever they post their huffs.
Being one of the mushy moderates Limbaugh loves to disparage, I don't like the idea of having to defend him,
but really, the "talking points" sent out by the American Bolsheviks gets old in a hurry. Sure Rush took drugs.
Gee Whiz! Holy Cow! DRUGS! I am shocked. SHOCKED I tell you! A multimillionaire taking drugs! Whoda thunk it?
So far as his being nailed for taking drugs, I believe if you'd get out of your troll suit and look up the facts, he was the political target of the Democrats in power in Palm Beach. And, from what I understand, Rush Limbaugh NEVER spoke out against drugs. Divorced three times. I am aghast! Wow! If I were a regular listener, that would sure make me turn him off. Have you ever! Divorced.
Trolls are silly creatures, not scary at all when they sneak out from under the bridge.
Basic seperation anxiety and a misguided case of The Oslo Syndrom……nothing new.
Remind me never to see that show.
Robin Williams is coming here next month. I heard the radio promo the other day. It was so unfunny. There was a Bush reference, but I can't remember it. It was just that lame.
Based on the latest headlines of heart surgery – I bet he doesn't make it. While he is completely annoying to me (anyway) I wish him well. I do have a soft sport for Mork…..but that's about it. Or maybe that's a misplaced adolecent infactuation for Pam Dawber…..HA!
Is it me or is he like a chatty hyperactive Forest Gump?
Yes and if you would bother to check the facts you'd understand that the Oxycontin was initially prescribed for him by a doctor ro deal with the pain of his hearing loss. This would mean the "addiction" problem was as much the responsibility of his doctor as his own.
Your statement about junkies spending years in prison is also incorrect. I remmeber the attorney general of the state of Florida telling us that it was policy that no one convicted of simple possession would do any jail time because there is not any room in prison for real criminals.
I have listened to Rush a long time and have never heard him demand stiff jail offenses for users. He has stated the dealers should be put in jail. So by this logic what you are made at is Rush's doctor's mistake.
I am curious WR1 what is like to realize that your understanding of the worlld is so lacking that you have to resort to ad nominem attacks. Do you ven see your own hipocrisy.
Yes and if you would bother to check the facts you'd understand that the Oxycontin was initially prescribed for him by a doctor ro deal with the pain of his hearing loss. This would mean the "addiction" problem was as much the responsibility of his doctor as his own.
Your statement about junkies spending years in prison is also incorrect. I remember the attorney general of the state of Florida telling us that it was policy that no one convicted of simple possession would do any jail time because there is not any room in prison for real criminals.
I have listened to Rush a long time and have never heard him demand stiff jail offenses for users. He has stated the dealers should be put in jail. So by this logic what you are made at is Rush's doctor's mistake.
I am curious WR1 what is like to realize that your understanding of the worlld is so lacking that you have to resort to ad nominem attacks. Do you ven see your own hipocrisy.
Yes and if you would bother to check the facts you'd understand that the Oxycontin was initially prescribed for him by a doctor ro deal with the pain of his hearing loss. This would mean the "addiction" problem was as much the responsibility of his doctor as his own.
Your statement about junkies spending years in prison is also incorrect. I remember the attorney general of the state of Florida telling us that it was policy that no one convicted of simple possession would do any jail time because there is not any room in prison for real criminals.
I have listened to Rush a long time and have never heard him demand stiff jail offenses for users. He has stated the dealers should be put in jail. So by this logic what you are made at is Rush's doctor's mistake.
I am curious WR1 what is like to realize that your understanding of the world is so lacking that you have to resort to ad nominem attacks. Do you ven see your own hipocrisy.
Newt Gingritch cheated on his wife. And you know this slander to be true because ………..
And what democrat might we be talking about. Clinton the president who has been accused of sexual harrassment three times and proven in one case (Jones, Lewinsky and Miss America). I believe the blue dress was evidence in Lewinsky's case. The man also accused of rape (Broderick). BTW her interview which was delayed until after the impeachment was fairly compelling. Also if you grope Miss America that should be a crime in on it's own level. Yes I'm sorry how silly of me that is just someone cheating on his wife. How convenient!!!
Or maybe it is Edwards you speak of the guy having an affair on his dying wife. Now that's just plain cold. Unlike your shot at Gingritch which is heresay or the supposed attack on McCain which is disproven these came out because they were so flagrantly bad the MCM could not cover them up.
God bless ya!
Pam Dawber infatuation – second only to some spandex Erin Gray in Buck Rogers!
"dibby dibby dibby you're hot Colonel Deering!"
Yes and if you would bother to check the facts you'd understand that the Oxycontin was initially prescribed for him by a doctor to deal with the pain of his hearing loss. This would mean the "addiction" problem was as much the responsibility of his doctor as his own.
Your statement about junkies spending years in prison is also incorrect. I remember the attorney general of the state of Florida telling us that it was policy that no one convicted of simple possession would do any jail time because there is not any room in prison for real criminals.
I have listened to Rush a long time and have never heard him demand stiff jail offenses for users. He has stated the dealers should be put in jail. So by this logic what you are made at is Rush's doctor's mistake.
I am curious WR1 what is like to realize that your understanding of the world is so lacking that you have to resort to ad hominem attacks. Do you even see your own hipocrisy.
I am suddenly reminded of something I saw on the brilliant "Ben Stiller Show" circa 1992. 'Yakov Smirnoff's Last Stand'. Utterly unforgettably hysterical portrayal of Yakov Smirnoff on stage making jokes about the now defunct "Sah-viet Tyuuuunyon" to a silent and uncromprehending audience. Smifnoff gradually collapses on stage, groveling and crying as he (correctly) realizes his entire schtick is now as dead as the pony express, begging for the return of the communists so he can have purpose in life. Ice-blooded, hysterical, and brutal truth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1_-TlqdIvM
It is really really funny, and exactly what these BDS infected nimrod "artists" are going through. (I am also reminded of the last five minutes of "Night of the Living Dead', as the zombies flail helplessly in the daylight, their night of zombie-hood now over, nothing left but to be picked off one by one by the sheriff's.)
"Those "painkillers" were Oxycontin, which when crushed and inhaled is reputed to give a high as strong as heroin "
Which is not was Rush was doing, as he has had debilitating back pain for many many years. It was not recreational, it was about having a pain-free day. Hardly "recreational". Yeesh, and I'm not even a fan of the guy, but c'mon…Obama was doing blow in his younger days, and now he's the prez. And Bill Clinton "didn't inhale" (yeah, right)…
Unfortunately, they'd probably be having geriatric sex in the show, so…no thanks.
"How can you mix past and present tense"
Well, no one claimed these writers were Stephen Sondheim.
"Divorced three times."…which is still less than the typical Hollywood actor/actress these days…or even in the old days (ahem, Elizabeth Taylor, I'm looking at you!)
If they really wanted to improve the lyric, they should have found a funny, generic, two word phrase, like "your mom" or something. All that line is for is a cheap "Daily Show" claquer laugh.
Or better still, instead of reworking a "It sucks to be me" reprise, put some work into writing a new 11 o'clock number. Reprises are lazy.
Ah, but Yakov did something after 9/11 that will stick with me forever, he really does "love this country":
http://www.yakov.com/americas-heart-mural/
"Well that makes sense. Outside of California and the gay community, most of America has no clue what Prop 8"
What bubble are you living in? I have "straight" friends who do not live in "California" who approach me out of the blue saying how ridiculous they think it is that Prop 8 passed.
So why were "straight" friends even bringing it up to you?
I'm guessing that you must be part of the "community."
Aren't people who have friends in the community, a part of that community?
Oh, I didn't think that straight people could be part of the gay community, but now that you mention it, I guess they can.
Chris is home in VA
chris is a good person he has never been in trouble before leave him alone.
Bush derangement……. humor? How about Obama's high approval rating? NOW THAT WAS TEMPORARY!!!!!
When I saw it, they said "SWINE FLU! Is only for now…"
I just saw it the other day, the tour in Roanoke, VA. They used "Fox News!" and I nearly died it was so funny.
You must be logged in to post a comment.