By DAVID BAUDER
The Associated Press
NEW YORK - Comedy Central has ordered producers of an upcoming comedy series about the first family to remove all references to President Bush’s twin daughters.
The series, by “South Park” producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone, had attracted notoriety when a proposed script leaked out with the 19-year-old girls, Jenna and Barbara, portrayed as incestuous lesbian lovers.
Parker and Stone had already distanced themselves from that idea, but Comedy Central executives - who had received many complaints - told them this week the girls could not be included in their series at all.
“We aren’t comfortable with them being in the show,” Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox said on Friday. “There’s some question about their status as public figures.”
Parker said he believed the twins were fair game for parody, but that the way the series had evolved, the creators didn’t need the daughters to be involved.
Comedy Central agreed shortly before Election Day to air the live-action comedy, which will use the first family to satirize TV sitcoms. It was originally supposed to start next month, but the protracted election battle has pushed the premiere to April or later.
The series was titled “Family First,” but after Comedy Central learned the Mormon Church had rights to the name, the title was changed to “That’s My Bush.”
The idea of portraying the Bush twins as lesbian lovers was in a prospective sketch by one of Parker and Stone’s writers.
After it was publicized, the conservative Web site www.LoudCitizen.com asked its followers to sign a petition urging Comedy Central not to air “That’s My Bush.”
The American Family Association on Friday called on Comedy Central to pull the plug.
The Bush family has sought to shield the girls from public scrutiny, much like former President Clinton did with his daughter, Chelsea.
Parker said it’s ironic that he and Stone are getting heat, both because they personally lean Republican and because their series intends to lionize Bush, not ridicule him.
“What we’re trying to do is way more subversive,” he said. “We’re going to make you love this guy.”
