Hot off the success of the new NBC sit-com "Scrubs", creator Bill Lawrence approached Chris Miller and Phil Lords to help create a different kind of animated series for MTV. The result of which is a parody of all those popular teen dramas like "Dawson's Creek", only using cloned historical figures. Thus "Clone High, USA" was created.
In the 1980's, an Evil Board of Shadowy Figures secretly dug up DNA samples of famous dead people and had them cloned. Sixteen years later, the clones are attending high school and are facing the everyday teen problems of today. Abe wants to date Cleo, but is totally oblivious to the advances of best friend Joan. Gandhi dreams of being the life of the party and JFK wants to "nail" every girl at school. Unbeknownst to them, Principal Scudworth plots world domination behind the backs of his superiors the Evil Board of Shadowy Figures.
"Clone High, USA" is one of those rare American animated shows that has you hooked right from the start. MTV has only had two successful animated shows in the form of "Beavis & Butt-head" and its spin-off "Daria". "Clone High, USA" stands out with it's excellent comic timing and superb voice talent.
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Main Characters:
Abraham Lincoln. VA Will Forte.
Abe is the typical high school teenager who worries about everything. He has developed a crush on Cleopatra and will do anything to win her affections, unaware of the constant advances from best friend Joan of Arc.
Joan of Arc. VA Nicole Sullivan.
Joan takes the role of a typical Goth chick, but is willing to do things to win the affections (heck, even the attention) of best friend Abe. When she's not in a romantic mood, her time is spent giving a serious beating to the nearest idiot.
Mahatma Gandhi. VA Michael McDonald.
Gandhi wants nothing more than to be the life of the party and will do every cliché of the typical party dude in the book. Gandhi is another of Abe's friends and usually finds himself on the receiving end of a beating by Joan.
Cleopatra. VA Christa Miller.
Cleo is the typical school slut, as she has pretty much slept with a good number of men (including ex-boyfriend JFK). Cleo has her sights set on Abe and looks as though she wants to develop a serious relationship.
John F. Kennedy. VA Christopher R. Miller.
JFK is the ultimate playboy and has almost achieved his goal in sleeping with every girl at school. However, losing his girlfriend Cleo to Abe does not sit well with him and will do what he can to see them split for good.
Principal Cinnamon J. Scudworth. VA Phil Lord.
Scudworth, the very man behind cloning famous dead people, is the school's principal. His ambition is to dominate the world. However, this does not seem possible with his back closely watched by the Evil Board of Shadowy Figures.
Mr. Lynn Butlertron. VA Christopher R. Miller.
Principal Scudworth's robotic assistant, Mr. B is modeled after Mr. Belvedere and has a tendency to call everyone "Wesley". At times, Mr. B tries to act like the teenagers by saying phrases like, "Bling, Bling."
Other Characters:
Shadowy Figure
The head of the secret government responsible for cloning the dead world leaders, the Shadowy Figure creeps up every so often on Principal Scudworth for reports.
Mr. Sheepman. VA Andy Dick.
Being the first clone, and spliced with sheep DNA, Mr. Sheepman is the school's history teacher and is the one teacher the students have (albeit a small one) respect for.
George Washington Carver. VA Donald Faison.
This clone of the man who invented peanut better tries to impress others with an anthropomorphic peanut he bio engineered over the summer. It's name is Peanie.
Genghis Khan.
Unlike his clonefather, this Genghis Khan is a big doofus with a large appetite. Khan will occasionally be asked by someone to do something like buy a keg of beer.
Episode GuideAs mentioned before, Clone High aired first in Canada before appearing on MTV January 20, 2003. Ten of the thirteen episodes in the first season were already aired before the series made its U.S. debut and Nelvana's web page surprisingly feels no shame in posting the summary to all thirteen episodes. Here is the official list for Season 1 of Clone High:
1 ~ Escape to Beer Mountain: A Rope of Sand
Guest Star(s): Michael J. Fox as Gandhi's Kidney
The students return to school after summer break and Abe has made it his goal to date only Cleo. Unfortunately, the only way he can get into JFK's party is to bring the beer. Meanwhile, Principal Scudworth must submit a report about life at Clone High to his superiors or else.2 ~ Episode Two: Election Blu-Galoo
Guest Star(s): Marilyn Manson as Himself
Because of term limits, Cleo cannot run for student body president for a third time. So she gets JFK to run as her puppet. Thinking that Cleo has a thing for the presidential type, Abe also runs and gets corporate sponsoring from an extreme food product Gandhi becomes addicted to.3 ~ A.D.D.: The Last 'D' is for Disorder
Guest Star(s): Tom Green as Himself
Gandhi becomes diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) and everyone thinks it comes from sitting on toilet seats. Principal Scudworth borrows Mr. B's sweater vest believing that it would give him the power to better relate with the students. Joan hears the voice of God.4 ~ Film Fest: Tears of a Clone
Guest Star(s): None
A student film festival is put together. Abe makes his own film about a baseball playing giraffe, Cleo makes a film about herself, Gandhi an action flick with George Washington Carver, and Joan makes a film declaring her love for Abe. Scudworth holds a dinner with his superiors.5 ~ Sleep of Faith: La Rue D'Awakening
Guest Star(s): None
Abe can't get any sleep when he becomes Cleo's study body for a big test, but is really her errand boy. As Joan tries to convince him to get sleep, JFK challenges Abe to a car race where the winner gets to date Cleo. Gandhi tries to become a trucker to avoid taking the test.6 ~ Homecoming: A Shot in D'Arc
Guest Star(s): ESPN's Chris Berman and Dan Patrick as Themselves
The basketball team doesn't allow girls and animals to play, so Joan disguises herself as John Dark. Although she becomes the star player, she gets hit on by Cleo and envied by Abe. Gandhi steals the mascot from school rival, Genetically Engineered Superhuman High.7 ~ Plane Crazy: Gate Expectations
Guest Star(s): Ashley Angel on manufactured boy band O-Town as Himself
Cleo meets and is recruited by Ashley Angel, causing Abe to go running from airport to airport chasing after her fearing that this sudden fame would break up their relationship. At the same time, Gandhi becomes an international rap sensation with JFK as his manager.8 ~ Raisin the Stakes: A Rock Opera in Three Acts
Guest Star(s): Jack Black as Larry Hardcore and The Pusher, Joe Flaherty as Abe's Foster Dad, and Don Novello (best known as Father Guido Sarducci)
In this musical episode, all the students, except Joan, get high on smoking raisins. Principal Scudworth and the PTA build the Wall of Oppression to fence the students in.9 ~ A Room of One's Clone: The Pie of the Storm
Guest Star(s): None
When her house burns down, Joan is forced to move in with Cleo causing the love triangle between the girls and Abe to turn for the worse. Gandhi and JFK become peeping tom buddies hoping for some girl-on-girl action while Principal Scudworth and Mr. B have a fight.10 ~ Litter Kills: Litterally
Guest Star(s): Luke Perry as Ponce de Leon
Someone dies and the death hits JFK the hardest. Could he be the one to die? The death also threatens to break up Abe and Cleo. Could it be one of them? And Gandhi goes thrown in jail for the death. Just kidding... right? Perhaps too much as been said about this episode.11 ~ Snowflake Day: A Very Special Holiday Episode
Guest Star(s): Mandy Moore as Herself
Joan refuses to take part in the commercialism of a bogus holiday and meets a street urchin who may or may not be an angle (who may or may not be Mandy Moore). Abe enlists Gandhi's help in a get-rich-quick scheme so he could buy a good holiday present for Cleo.12 ~ Makeover, Makeover, Makeover: The Makeover Episode
Guest Star(s): None
Part one of a two-part season finale. It's time for the prom. Abe can't wait to ask Cleo, but he's worried about Joan. Gandhi desperately searches for a date willing to dry hump him. And Principal Scudworth prepares to execute an evil plan that involves winning the prom king.13 ~ Changes: The Big Prom: The Sex Romp: The Season Finale
Guest Star(s): John Stamos as Himself, Joe Flaherty as Abe's Foster Dad, and Abandoned Pools (who perform the opening theme song) as Themselves
Part two of a two-part season finale. Who did Abe ask to the prom? Will Gandhi dry hump? Have Scudworth's plans been discovered? All this in a season finale cliffhanger.
Fanfic:
Sun Rise ~ by Lord Akiyama
Starting Over ~ by Lord Akiyama
Favorite images:
~ Lord Akiyama
Comments:
It has been a long time since an American animated series has made me laugh so hard as Clone High has. Let's see, Tiny Toon Adventures, Beavis & Butt-head, Ren & Stimpy, Invader ZIM... there are actually quite a few American animated shows that made me laugh. Clone High is special because of its unique premise. In addition, the show is also one of those well written shows in that it gives the modern teen drama a little twist. Would Gandhi have tried so hard to be the life of the party? Could Joan of Arc successfully win the affections of someone like Abraham Lincoln? Combined with the insane hilarity resulting in non-stop fun, Clone High is one of those shows I hope stays on for a very long time.
~ Lord Akiyama
Links:
Ye Olde Unofficial Clone High, USA Interweb Whatever
Nelvana's Clone High Web Page
MTV's Clone High USA Web Page
TV Tome: Clone High, USA~ Lord Akiyama
This page created by Lord Akiyama
