Video: The obligatory “‘Game of Thrones’ puts Bush’s head on a pike” post
posted at 9:52 pm on June 13, 2012 by Allahpundit
Via Mediaite. The producers say it’s not political and that they used him just because they happened to have a spare Bush head lying around (what?), but Gothamist wants so badly to believe that it’s a Gesture Of Defiance towards our deposed Hitler that I almost hope for their sake that it’s deliberate.
The perfunctory denial:
HBO responded to CBSNewYork.com’s request for comment on Wednesday night, offering the following statement from Benioff and Weiss:
“What happened was this: we use a lot of prosthetic body parts on the show: heads, arms, etc. We can’t afford to have these all made from scratch, especially in scenes where we need a lot of them, so we rent them in bulk. After the scene was already shot, someone pointed out that one of the heads looked like George W. Bush. In the DVD commentary, we mentioned this, though we should not have. We meant no disrespect to the former President and apologize if anything we said or did suggested otherwise.”
On the one hand, given the heat they were bound to take for something like this, seems weird that they’d do it with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it brevity. If you’re going to put a president’s head on a pike, you might as well make sure people notice. On the other hand, they are making sure that people notice, right? If they hadn’t mentioned it in the episode commentary, no one ever would have spotted it. Go figure that they’d make a high-profile political splash at a moment when they’re trying to drum up publicity for their DVDs.
Exit question: Innocent prop placement or no? After eight years of insanely hyperbolic Bush hatred, it’s hard to give anyone the benefit of the doubt anymore.
Related Posts:
Breaking on Hot Air
Sigh: Indiana man faces possible jail time for nursing bald eagle back to health
GOP: Yeah, about that “relatively minor” and completely underhanded carbon-rule change…
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 3 Next »
Sick. Saw this earlier…
OmahaConservative on June 13, 2012 at 9:53 PM
The new civility.
obladioblada on June 13, 2012 at 9:54 PM
Yeah, right. It was a coincidence. What a pack of lying psychopaths.
Philly on June 13, 2012 at 9:54 PM
I’ve listened to the DVD commentary and the creators go out of their way to say it was just something they had lying around and saved them some money.
You wouldn’t even know if they hadn’t mentioned it, so it would make for a poor political statement.
commodore on June 13, 2012 at 9:55 PM
WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT THINK OF PINK ELEPHANTS.
Thank you!
GarandFan on June 13, 2012 at 9:56 PM
And to make matters worse is their wussy attempt to justify it. If you’re going to do something like this at least own up to it.
Flange on June 13, 2012 at 9:56 PM
Please. If one of those heads looked like Obama, no way do they use it.
changer1701 on June 13, 2012 at 9:56 PM
Lots of liberals masturbating tonight.
lorien1973 on June 13, 2012 at 9:57 PM
The producers and director might not have known at the time, but I sincerely doubt that prop people or scene designers were oblivious. It’s their job to look at details. Someone definitely got a cheap thrill.
4Grace on June 13, 2012 at 9:57 PM
Of course, they would NEVER have considered doing this with Obama’s head.
Bitter Clinger on June 13, 2012 at 9:57 PM
Not much to see there, but I don’t care for Bush anyway, or HBO.
rickv404 on June 13, 2012 at 9:57 PM
losers
rob verdi on June 13, 2012 at 9:58 PM
Via Mediaite. The producers say it’s not political and that they used him just because they happened to have a spare Bush head lying around (what?), but Gothamist wants so badly to believe that it’s a Gesture Of Defiance towards our deposed Hitler that I almost hope for their sake that it’s true.
Prove it you lying cowards on the left….
….do the same with the plastic head of Obama and see what that gets you from the White House.
Oh, the lapdancing media would have arteries exploding out of every opening in their bodies at the thought of someone doing this to THEIR LEADER.
Remember Rush had to apologize for using the word “slut” but the left can let Bill Maher buy part of a pro team, and they can produce piles of steaming entertainment that demeans anyone that’s Conservative (or in the case of Bush, a BIGGOVer that called himself a Conservative).
5 more months.
5 more months.
5 more months.
PappyD61 on June 13, 2012 at 9:58 PM
I have a hard time swallowing this unless they got access to Bill Maher’s prop and fantasy room prior to shipping out to wherever the first season was filmed. I’m sorry my last little “benefit of the doubt” for hollywood died seven years ago. I’ll bet you that this being hollywood it wouldn’t be that uncommon to have a Bush head lying around. I’ll bet you they did this on purpose for their own snide little humor and I’ll bet they mentioned this as a wink and a nudge to their hollywood friends that they’re on their side
Defector01 on June 13, 2012 at 9:58 PM
My favorite scene from Bablyon 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47DfQcHMYLY
lorien1973 on June 13, 2012 at 9:59 PM
OBL head on a stick..
Oh that’s right….
Obama kept it for himself..
Electrongod on June 13, 2012 at 9:59 PM
amen
idiots
cmsinaz on June 13, 2012 at 10:00 PM
Remember that civility that Obama talked about after the Giffords shooting in Arizona?
……yeah, at the same time that the Left was accusing Palin of basically assassinating Giffords herself.
…..Good times, Great lessons in civility from the Left.
PappyD61 on June 13, 2012 at 10:00 PM
They do not deserve benefit of the doubt. And by they, I mean Hollywood.
They know exactly what they’re doing. Images, and messages, and timing are their BUSINESS and they make far more money at their business than your or I do at ours, so…they meant it.
Less on June 13, 2012 at 10:01 PM
Funny thing is the guy that was beheaded in the show was the popular honorable leader. He was beheaded by a juvenile arrogant younger prick who has delusions of grandeur.
William Amos on June 13, 2012 at 10:01 PM
Most pirated show on TV. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving pair of d-bags.
Dead Hand Control on June 13, 2012 at 10:01 PM
George R.R. Martin is a pretty good writer at times, but he’s about as liberal as they come. There’s no way this wasn’t intentional!
ElectricPhase on June 13, 2012 at 10:01 PM
I love those books, hows the series?
Rancher on June 13, 2012 at 10:01 PM
Oh by the way, in far right hand corner you have severed head of our ex-President, and the only reason why we used it because it was only severed head lying around. Swearies.
/Thanks for ruining everything angry libs.
Lance Murdock on June 13, 2012 at 10:01 PM
Why did they have a Bush head around anyway? What was its’ original use?
Cindy Munford on June 13, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Half Man.
2Tru2Tru on June 13, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Remember when people cared about her sorry arse?
http://www.tmz.com/2012/06/13/madonna-flashes-butt-rome-concert/
This Bush thing is just the same as Madonna flashing her old cheeks. Just doing it for shock value and a little publicity.
So predictable.
PappyD61 on June 13, 2012 at 10:03 PM
I believe the Secret Service should pay them a little visit.
Bubba Redneck on June 13, 2012 at 10:04 PM
If they just had Obama’s head lying around, I doubt it would end up on a pike. And if for some reason it did, they would digitally remove it. So, I think they are full of shite. They shd remember that no one is required to purchase HBO or rent/buy the dvds. Piss people off and they can just dl it for free.
Blake on June 13, 2012 at 10:04 PM
I’ve followed this show from when it was greenlit and read every interview the creators have done. They’ve never said anything political.
You guys are just looking for a reason to be outraged here.
commodore on June 13, 2012 at 10:04 PM
The series is less dark than the books but they are moving into book 3 now so should be a bit darker.
Is pretty faithful to the books but there are some changes.
The funny thing in the show is that the popular beloved guy was the one beheaded by a power hunger king who thinks he knows better than everyone else.
William Amos on June 13, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Civility Hitler, the Icon of the Left, slouches toward Gomorrah.
Uber-Scum.
profitsbeard on June 13, 2012 at 10:05 PM
I’m willing to bet GWB would just laugh at the thought of it, taking them at their word.
Thanos on June 13, 2012 at 10:06 PM
Not sure how far up knowledge of it was but more than one person knew at the time and thought it was awesome. Perhaps they are trying to get ahead of the controversy with that commentary after seeing polls and elections going against progressives.
aikidoka on June 13, 2012 at 10:06 PM
Political statement? Of course. When no one noticed, the producers had to run out and tell everyone what they had done. In their terrible little blood-thirsty world of liberal sociopathy, this is cool and laudable. They wanted their congratulations for a job well done, so they had to make sure everyone knew they had done it. And not one person these dreadful and sick people know would so much as raise an eyebrow at the notion of decapitating the president of the United States on television — so long as he’s a Republican. They’ll be shocked — shocked! — by the public’s vocal scorn as this story grows, so insulated are they in their monolithic community of hatred.
Rational Thought on June 13, 2012 at 10:06 PM
About as good an adaptation as could be hoped for given severe time/money constraints. They have to fit so much plot into only 10 episodes per book that much of the character motivation/development gets lost. But for the most part it’s a faithful adaptation.
commodore on June 13, 2012 at 10:07 PM
Maybe it’s time to resurrect the posters of Obama as The Joker.
onlineanalyst on June 13, 2012 at 10:07 PM
I think they did it on purpose but not for a political statement. If you’ve going to make a statement you make it plain to see. I would have NEVER have known that was a Bush head if they didn’t say anything. I think they did it to make noise. “Hey neat trivia we used a former president’s head in a head on a pike scene but you won’t know it him unless we point it out” then noise ensues and interest peaks in the show. Nothing more here.
Optimus Prime on June 13, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Imagine that had been Obama’s head, the alphabet news networks would have led the 6PM news with it. I like Game of Thrones and wish I hadn’t seen this really.
OTOH, Can’t help but mention that the boy king putting heads on pikes certainly brings another president to mind.
msmveritas on June 13, 2012 at 10:08 PM
(wink… wink… tee… hee… smirk…)
Seven Percent Solution on June 13, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Wow, you are right! Per PC Mag, 3.9 million illegal downloads, nearly matching the show’s subscribed U.S. viewing audience of 4.2 million per episode.
Blake on June 13, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Well, now they’re making people notice, if it was intended as a political statement, what cowardly little weasels they are with their 16-frame quick-cuts of a head angled away from camera. Bet that princeling in the scene was awe-struck seeing that mop of hair on a pike.
I suspect it was “deliberate” in the way that Dykstra’s old crew used to fly around old high-top sneakers in the background of massed Star Wars dogfights for their secret amusement. Or the away Diney animators used to slip in a nudie photo for a single frame in Mickey Mouse animation sequences to see if Walt would catch it. Viewers who weren’t in the know wouldn’t be expected to catch these things, and it was private fun for their friends. And Walt caught them every time.
This is pretty lame as movie/tv series in-jokes go.
de rigueur on June 13, 2012 at 10:09 PM
Ewwwww!
Rio Linda Refugee on June 13, 2012 at 10:10 PM
I don’t think this was intentional. But I could be wrong…
RedSoxNation on June 13, 2012 at 10:10 PM
Last season — the first season — was very good. This season — the second season — was abysmal. It was terrible.
FlatFoot on June 13, 2012 at 10:10 PM
Of course it was purposeful. One of them said GWB’s head is in more than one episode. They knew who it was and what they were doing.
Just wait till the civil war comes, and we’ll see whose heads go on pikes FOR REAL.
Wolfmoon on June 13, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Or here he is, promising free college.
arnold ziffel on June 13, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Do this with TFGP’s head, or Hillary’s, or **insert demorat pol here** and you would be able to hear the outraged screaming from the Horsehead Nebula.
Bishop on June 13, 2012 at 10:14 PM
Maybe Alfred Hitchcock can appear in a cameo for sh*ts and grins, too.
onlineanalyst on June 13, 2012 at 10:15 PM
I work in this industry. NOTHING is accidental. Air time is too valuable to use it in a haphazard manner including the selection and usage of props. Further, the impact and repercussions of using a presidents head as a prop would have been calculated against the publicity and viewership it would generate. There’s an old saying in the film industry that applies here, too: “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” I’ve been present when writers, producers and directors discussed the merits of actually being sued in terms of the free publicity and increased viewership that the suit would generate offsetting the possibility of any damages. I’ve also been present when writers openly considered the merits of being sued and speculated on whether the ensuing publicity and exposure would put them on the NYTIMES best sellers list or put them on the list for consideration for various awards.
Given the pitiful state of the entertainment industry, I’d be inclined to view this as a calculated publicity stunt rather than any cogent political statement.
thatsafactjack on June 13, 2012 at 10:16 PM
Lets see if the NY Jews are still laughing after Tel Aviv is incinerated.
dmann on June 13, 2012 at 10:16 PM
So the left likes to play heads on a stick games now. We’ll see.
Bmore on June 13, 2012 at 10:17 PM
Revolting, and not just the imagery … the astonishing hypocrisy. This will have caused a cataclysm if it was Obama’s head. Unbelievable really, and yet there it is.
MisterPundit on June 13, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Anyone got a spare Obama head lying around?
farsighted on June 13, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Meh. It doesnt even look like Bush.
I don’t think this is a big deal, especially compared to real Bush derangement.
MikeknaJ on June 13, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Cowards.
Hey jerks, where’s your courage? Man up you weasels! Show a full-front of W’s head and say YEAH, WE MEANT TO DO THAT!!
Instead you hide it, you panty-wasted mommas-boys.
Next time, grow a set and just show the full face, otherwise, go hide in your basements until you’re ready to be buried.
itsspideyman on June 13, 2012 at 10:22 PM
So,when Team Democrat,side-swiped Cheney on the Economy Highway,
and nearly flipped America,er,the Uncivil Rhetric Car over,and
as a result,needed to change the tire,do to wrecking the tire/rim,
the spare tire that they used,was in essence,Bush’s Head…WTF-WTH!
(snark).
canopfor on June 13, 2012 at 10:22 PM
When my cable bill hit $190 a month a few months back, the wife showed it to me and asked what I could live without.
“Keep Starz and cut off the rest”.
I don’t miss HBO at all.
Hog Wild on June 13, 2012 at 10:22 PM
Seriously funny. +100
SparkPlug on June 13, 2012 at 10:22 PM
Eight Years of Hate….has morphed into 12 years
of InSanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on June 13, 2012 at 10:23 PM
Just take pleasure in the collective gnashing of teeth that will take place when Obama is soundly defeated and sent back to Chicago. It’s going to be sweet.
Punchenko on June 13, 2012 at 10:24 PM
HBO, a network of cowards.
arnold ziffel on June 13, 2012 at 10:25 PM
Only Obama.
profitsbeard on June 13, 2012 at 10:25 PM
Do this with TFGP’s head, or Hillary’s, or **insert demorat pol here** and you would be able to hear the outraged screaming from the Horsehead Nebula.
Bishop on June 13, 2012 at 10:14 PM
Bishop:Most Brilliant,and I wonder if Horse Head Nebula is near
Hopey/Changey Black Hole,haha!:)
canopfor on June 13, 2012 at 10:26 PM
Considering the heads displayed include the steadfast principled and too honorable hero of the 1st season (Ned Stark) and the other enemies of the despotic boy King Joffrey, maybe being represented in that severed head company could be considered an “honor”. The despotic boy King Joffrey is the main villain of the series. Being on the enemies list of the villain could be considered a mark of honor, i guess.
As with many parts of this excellent series(as well as the books) there are multiple layers and motivations for every character and action. As with all art, it is up for multiple interpretations by the viewer. If you don’t like it, don’t watch.
New_Jersey_Buckeye on June 13, 2012 at 10:27 PM
Although George R.R. Martin’s Game Of Thrones novels are written fairly well (that’s where I got my screen name), he is a liberal scumbag to the (if he had any) bone.
jaime on June 13, 2012 at 10:30 PM
You mean Michelle O?
SparkPlug on June 13, 2012 at 10:30 PM
Good place for it since he signed the DHS and TSA into existence.
Dante on June 13, 2012 at 10:31 PM
BTW, this is one reason I have not had HBO since the 80s.
jaime on June 13, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Serves ‘em right
thebrokenrattle on June 13, 2012 at 10:35 PM
…I didn’t miss a thread on DWS or another confession from UpperYeasty did I?
KOOLAID2 on June 13, 2012 at 10:36 PM
That, my friends, is the NEW CIVILITY!
Mutnodjmet on June 13, 2012 at 10:38 PM
I am pretty sure that almost the entire crew including the prop people are British. Actually I am almost completely sure that almost the entire cast and crew is British.
Not totally sure how that changes the way overblown level of outrage we are expressing here.
Barovan on June 13, 2012 at 10:41 PM
So far HA hasn’t had animal or tranny fetish threads.
arnold ziffel on June 13, 2012 at 10:41 PM
What did upper yeasty confess to? Was he arrested at the petting zoo?
SparkPlug on June 13, 2012 at 10:43 PM
I work in this industry. NOTHING is accidental. Air time is too
I think in a sense your analysis is quite correct-it isn’t any kind of specific political statement per se-it’s just publicity stunt/joke-but still, it speaks to a general attitude-a Clinton, Carter or Obama “head” would not have been used in this “manner”.
In the end, it isn’t a specific political statement, but it certainly is disrespectful-and a liberal politician would never have been subjected to that kind of disrespect in Hollywood. But a conservative, (or someone Hollywood views as a conservative, anyway) is always fair game.
Dreadnought on June 13, 2012 at 10:44 PM
Would this warrant a Secret Service investigation?
Just wonderin’ . . . . . . . . . . .
listens2glenn on June 13, 2012 at 10:45 PM
This is what we’re choosing to get worked up about? Folks, only react to the stuff worth reacting to or people will stop taking us seriously when we complain about things that are really worth complaining about. This is on par with the left and their outrageously outrageous outrage when Rush drove the car into the cardboard cutout of Gore on the Tonight Show. Let’s all lighten up a little bit.
alchemist19 on June 13, 2012 at 10:47 PM
Yeah I keep one of those spare heads in my cellar too. Right next to the replacement uppereastside unit for my furnace.
Del Dolemonte on June 13, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Given that the show, and that particular setting, mostly centers around really, really white people, of course they wouldn’t. It wouldn’t make any sense.
The simplest explanation is actually the explanation they gave. They had spare white-dude prosthetic heads. One of them was of Pres. Bush. So they put a different wig on it, turned it away from the camera to the point that no one would have noticed it was him, and it turned into an amusing anecdote.
For all the hoopla people on here put into non-troversies, some people sure do it to themselves.
Sgt Steve on June 13, 2012 at 10:49 PM
So last week this lefty at work just randomly drops a ‘Bush’s fault’ comment in connection with some miracle body-armor that hasn’t been funded… apparently to the continued peril of the troops…
-
As I shook my head in wonderment I came to the realization that although the intense adoration for Obama may indeed slowly wear off, and many on the left may eventually find themselves feeling like a bunch of cheerleaders who have been lied to and used by the smooth talking Orator and TOTUS Reader in Chief (even if they will never openly admit to it)… their Bush Derangement Syndrome will remain a like a rash on their psyche… forever and ever.
-
Just another reason to love W…
-
RalphyBoy on June 13, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Oddly, the reference to Thrones shows Bush to be respected, and admired. A hero. Those are who killed (by the evil doers) and put on a stake.
Fail in every sense of the word.
so-notbuyingit on June 13, 2012 at 10:53 PM
-
Nah… If that was the case they’d'a used a Carter or Clinton head… You’re over thinking it… It was a BDS ha ha moment for them from start to finish. Simplest explanation.
-
RalphyBoy on June 13, 2012 at 10:56 PM
I wasn’t a viewer. However, word of mouth and other publicity got me to at least think about viewing the first season on Netflix or something to see if I could get into it. I’d like to thank the producers of the show for saving me the trouble of spending time to watch and decide if I’ll like it. They’ve decided they rather I not be a new viewer at all anyway. I shall oblige them.
hadsil on June 13, 2012 at 10:59 PM
undoubtedly.
It’s not ironic. Meant to be. Some idiots.
jersey taxpayer on June 13, 2012 at 11:00 PM
So you have no problem with that? I don’t think it is appropriate to use any likeness of any President. There aren’t generic heads? Yeah right.
arnold ziffel on June 13, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Hmmm… I liked both seasons quite a bit. My only complaint is that, in typical HBO fashion, they keep introducing new characters, and some of them look really similar.
I’m sure the books cover all of these characters as well, but there’s definitely a few that could have been removed for the sake of TV.
strictnein on June 13, 2012 at 11:19 PM
Mainly because of it being hollow. Without the internal hot air (not to be confused with Hot Air) it would collapse.
TugboatPhil on June 13, 2012 at 11:19 PM
Soccer? Football? They have to do something while on a break for filming…
ccrosby on June 13, 2012 at 11:21 PM
If you’re honest, it’s kind of awesome they care that much after almost 4 years.
Mission accomplished.
CorporatePiggy on June 13, 2012 at 11:25 PM
Just more assassination pr0n from the lefties.
malclave on June 13, 2012 at 11:26 PM
Too bad, I was going to give this show a looksie at some point, too.
Oh well.
Hawkins1701 on June 13, 2012 at 11:30 PM
I always have a spare George head lying around. Just in case.
Yeah, put Obama on that stick and tell me how quickly the race card gets thrown.
CherryBombsBigBrownBeaver on June 13, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Don’t hold your breath. But if it is changed to a democrat then they will get a visit.
Republican – art, freedom of speech
Democrat – threat, racist
scrubjay on June 13, 2012 at 11:34 PM
Freaky deaky, dude.
Christien on June 13, 2012 at 11:36 PM
I canceled HBO when “The Wire” ended. I can’t say I miss it. Douchebags.
Travis Bickle on June 13, 2012 at 11:39 PM
That. Is. Messed. Up.
Fvck these liberal skanks. I wouldn’t have the nerve to broadcast this if I WERE a lib. Not out of fear, but of respect.
Ugly on June 13, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Watched the clip twice. Don’t see the resemblance.
Also, what show? Then again, we don’t watch tv.
Logus on June 13, 2012 at 11:41 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 3 Next »