HBO Apologizes For Using Decapitated George W. Bush Head in Background - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 06-14-2012, 02:16 PM

HBO Apologizes for Decapitating George W. Bush on "Game of Thrones"
Jun 14, 2012
by Sadie Gennis

In the strangest cameo of the year, George W. Bush's (fake) severed head made an unexpected appearance on "Game of Thrones".

The prop head, which was mostly covered with a long wig, was shown decapitated and displayed on a stake during the HBO drama's first season finale. This little easter egg can be spotted when the sadistic King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) forced Sansa Stark (Sophie Tuner) to see her own father among a series of severed heads displayed for the citizens of King's Landing.

"Thrones" creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss pointed out the inappropriate prop during an episode commentary for the Season 1 DVD.

"The last head on the left is George Bush," the creators said.

"George Bush's head appears in a couple of beheading scenes. It's not a choice, it's not a political statement. We just had to use whatever heads we had lying around."

Benioff and Weiss have since apologized, saying they regret pointing out the former president's brief appearance.

"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. ...

We meant no disrespect to the former President and apologize if anything we said or did suggested otherwise."

HBO released an apology as well.

"We were deeply dismayed to see this and find it unacceptable, disrespectful and in very bad taste. We made this clear to the executive producers of the series who apologized immediately for this inadvertent careless mistake.

We are sorry this happened and will have it removed from any future DVD production."

HBO also said the shot would be removed from all future versions of the DVD.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/HBO-Apol...g-1048853.aspx

JamesG · 06-15-2012, 05:10 PM

HBO Yanks Bush Head "Game of Thrones" Episode, Halts DVD Shipments
6/15/2012
by Lesley Goldberg

HBO is continuing to do damage control after producers confirmed that a likeness of President George W. Bush's severed head appeared in the season one finale of "Game of Thrones".

The premium cable network has pulled the 10th episode of the drama from rotation on digital platforms -- including HBO Go and iTunes -- and halted all future shipments of its best-selling Season 1 DVD set, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

In addition, the dramatic end to the freshman season of the series adapted from George R.R. Martin's books will be edited for all future airings both domestically and internationally, according to a new statement from HBO, which further reprimanded showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Update: HBO confirms the crucial episode will be returned to digital platforms after the scene is edited out. A timeline has yet to be determined.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...-edited-338315

Mr. Television · 06-15-2012, 05:48 PM

Well I have to hand it to HBO. They're trying to do the right thing.

Vahan · 06-15-2012, 06:04 PM

Lately, HBO has been criticized by many for being on the far left of the political fence.

JamesG · 06-25-2012, 04:37 PM

"Game of Thrones": Altered Bush Head Gets Radical Facelift
6/25/2012
by Lesley Goldberg

HBO has done a number on the controversial "Game of Thrones" scene depicting what resembled the severed head of former President George W. Bush.

The cable network has edited and restored the Season 1 finale of its period drama to its digital platforms after performing a radical facelift on what producers acknowledged that a scene in the episode depicted a model of the 43rd president's severed head on a spike in the hour.

In the new scene, the model has a drastically smaller chin and nose and what appears to be a considerably smaller face.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...sh-head-341464

06-14-2012, 02:16 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,296	HBO Apologizes For Using Decapitated George W. Bush Head in Background *HBO Apologizes for Decapitating George W. Bush on "Game of Thrones"* Jun 14, 2012 by Sadie Gennis In the strangest cameo of the year, George W. Bush's (fake) severed head made an unexpected appearance on "Game of Thrones". The prop head, which was mostly covered with a long wig, was shown decapitated and displayed on a stake during the HBO drama's first season finale. This little easter egg can be spotted when the sadistic King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) forced Sansa Stark (Sophie Tuner) to see her own father among a series of severed heads displayed for the citizens of King's Landing. "Thrones" creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss pointed out the inappropriate prop during an episode commentary for the Season 1 DVD. "The last head on the left is George Bush," the creators said. "George Bush's head appears in a couple of beheading scenes. It's not a choice, it's not a political statement. We just had to use whatever heads we had lying around." Benioff and Weiss have since apologized, saying they regret pointing out the former president's brief appearance. "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. ... We meant no disrespect to the former President and apologize if anything we said or did suggested otherwise." HBO released an apology as well. "We were deeply dismayed to see this and find it unacceptable, disrespectful and in very bad taste. We made this clear to the executive producers of the series who apologized immediately for this inadvertent careless mistake. We are sorry this happened and will have it removed from any future DVD production." HBO also said the shot would be removed from all future versions of the DVD. http://www.tvguide.com/News/HBO-Apol...g-1048853.aspx Attached Images

06-15-2012, 05:48 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Well I have to hand it to HBO. They're trying to do the right thing.
	__________________ Sonny

06-25-2012, 04:37 PM	#5
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,296	*"Game of Thrones": Altered Bush Head Gets Radical Facelift* 6/25/2012 by Lesley Goldberg HBO has done a number on the controversial "Game of Thrones" scene depicting what resembled the severed head of former President George W. Bush. The cable network has edited and restored the Season 1 finale of its period drama to its digital platforms after performing a radical facelift on what producers acknowledged that a scene in the episode depicted a model of the 43rd president's severed head on a spike in the hour. In the new scene, the model has a drastically smaller chin and nose and what appears to be a considerably smaller face. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...sh-head-341464 Attached Images

06-15-2012, 05:10 PM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,296	*HBO Yanks Bush Head "Game of Thrones" Episode, Halts DVD Shipments* 6/15/2012 by Lesley Goldberg HBO is continuing to do damage control after producers confirmed that a likeness of President George W. Bush's severed head appeared in the season one finale of "Game of Thrones". The premium cable network has pulled the 10th episode of the drama from rotation on digital platforms -- including HBO Go and iTunes -- and halted all future shipments of its best-selling Season 1 DVD set, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. In addition, the dramatic end to the freshman season of the series adapted from George R.R. Martin's books will be edited for all future airings both domestically and internationally, according to a new statement from HBO, which further reprimanded showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Update: HBO confirms the crucial episode will be returned to digital platforms after the scene is edited out. A timeline has yet to be determined. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...-edited-338315

06-15-2012, 06:04 PM	#4
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	Lately, HBO has been criticized by many for being on the far left of the political fence.