Bubble UK: Spitting Image Rumoured to be getting US Reboot

Could HBO be looking for its post-Animals gig?

During the 1980’s, the satirical puppet show Spitting Image was making a hit on UK televisions with its anarchic rebellion against British politics and celebrity culture. It’s larger than life caricatures of famous faces created a strong connection with audiences nationwide and brought fame to stuffy grey-suited politicians.


It was a costly and time-consuming show to produce, relying on heavy latex puppets to perform its sharp-witted sketches that took jabs at the likes of Margaret Thatcher, the Royal Family and Ronald Reagan. Fans of the show had to wave goodbye to the show by the 90’s though and while there were ambitions to resurrect the series, such plans fell through after conflicts between co-creator Roger Lloyd and ITV.


But Spitting Image enthusiasts can now feel a little hopeful, knowing that there have been reports that a US Reboot by HBO is in the works! However, no official announcement has been made yet and keep in mind that these reports are coming from the tabloid newspaper “The Sun”. Although, it is pretty exciting stuff if it is true because the current political climate is ripe for Spitting’s distinct sharp-tongued satire.


Apparently, this reboot is mainly going to centre on Trump’s wild escapades as the new American president. On the one hand, Trump’s mannerisms and appearance are strikingly reminiscent of a Spitting Image marionette and I can already imagine him as a rubbery puppet in my head. On the other hand, though, even South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have openly admitted that Trump’s antics are so off the wall sometimes that it’s hard for satirists to exaggerate him. Parker told Vanity Fair “It was like what was actually happening was way funnier than anything we could come up with”.

South Park attempted to mock Trump in their 20th season last year, using the character of Mr. Garrison

Spitting Image’s creators did attempt to appeal to the US crowd before with such US Specials as Down And Out In The White House and The Ronnie & Nancy Show for NBC but this new reboot is set to be the first long-running Spitting Image series aimed at Americans. Considering how many characters American politics and celebrity culture has to offer, there’s plenty of material for new US staff to use.


I do have questions on my mind as a Spitting Image fan though, can a satirical show that’s older than I am be translated to modern America? Will this US Reboot keep with the dry tone of the original or go for something brasher? Will any of the original writers, voice actors or showrunners return for this reboot? But most importantly, will it be funny or will we be getting another dreadful Newzoids? Only time will tell and I have my fingers crossed because this could decide the fate for American puppet television.