Clone High

[The Nameless Paradox]

Clone High is an American animated series that aired for one season (November 2002 - April 2003) on MTV and Teletoon. It has officially been on hiatus since March 17, 2003.[1] It can currently be seen in Canada on Teletoon and the digital cable station, Razer.

-Synopsis-
Clone High is set in a high school that is secretly being run as an elaborate military experiment orchestrated by a government office called the Secret Board of Shadowy Figures. The school is entirely populated by clones of famous historical figures, with the idea that they would later be used by the United States military who would harness their greatness in battle. The principal of the high school, Cinnamon J. Scudworth, has his own plans for the clones, however, and secretly undermines the wishes of the Board. Instead of using them as soldiers, Scudworth wants the clones to staff a clone-themed amusement park (dubbed "Cloney Island"). He is assisted by his robot/vice principal/dehumidifier Mr. Butlertron (an obvious parody of Mr. Belvedere) who calls everyone "Wesley".

The main protagonists of Clone High are the clones of Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, and Mahatma Gandhi. Much of the plot of the show revolves around the attempts of Abe to woo the vain and promiscuous clone of Cleopatra. He is entirely ignorant of the fact that Joan of Arc is attracted to him. Meanwhile, John F. Kennedy's clone (referred to as "JFK"), a macho, narcissistic womanizer, is also attempting to win over Cleopatra and has a long-standing rivalry with Abe.

Many celebrities, including Tom Green, Andy d**k, Mandy Moore, John Stamos, Marilyn Manson, Michael J. Fox and Jack Black, make guest appearances on the show (sometimes as themselves). In addition, there are many amusing portrayals of famous historical figures, such as Julius Caesar, Catherine the Great, Genghis Khan, Vincent van Gogh, George Washington Carver, Walt Disney, Helen of Troy, Marie Curie (who is deformed, due to radiation damage to her DNA), and even Jesus Christ (who is portrayed as a latino named Jesús Cristo).

Much of the humor in the show comes from the large contrast between the personality of the clones and the actual values and legacy of the historical figures they are descended from. For instance, Gandhi is portrayed as a hyperactive jerk-with-a-heart-of-gold whose biggest dream is to be accepted by those around him, in contrast to his historical legacy of calm nonviolence. Abe Lincoln is similarly portrayed as weak and indecisive, completely lacking the resolve of the President whose DNA he shares. All of the clones are also given mis-matched foster parents who have little in common with them. Gandhi's parents are a stereotypical Jewish-American couple, while JFK is raised by a homosexual interracial couple; Joan's "foster grandpa" is an elderly blind musician similar to Ray Charles named Toots, who fills the stereotypical 'old wise man' role found in most teen shows, and who begins many of his declarative sentences with the words, "Now, I may be blind, but I can see..." followed by a wise-sounding observation that has little-to-nothing to do with anything.

The show is also a parody of "issue" episodes of high-school themed comedies; in fact, every episode opens with a voiceover parodying the "very special episodes" of TV shows. Episodes center on various social issues, including Gandhi being shunned by his school for having ADD (because of misinformation about the disorder), parodying shows which tackle AIDS awareness (it even included a special guest celebrity who tries to educate the students). Other episodes tackle drugs (smoking raisins), the environment, and underage drinking in a similarly ridiculous fashion. In a clear sign that it is parodying the high school genre, it even ends at prom—a stereotypical "high school show" ending. Even the prom is a joke however, as we learn it is only the Winter Prom.

The season finale is a cliffhanger episode, ending with the entire cast, aside from Scudworth, deep-frozen, and Joan in bed with JFK


-Characters-
Abe Lincoln: A naïve yet nice guy, forever wrestling with the legacy of his clonefather, Abraham Lincoln.

Joan of Arc: A cynical, regretful, and angst-ridden goth clone of Joan of Arc with a crush on her best friend, Abe.

Gandhi: Buckling under the pressure of being a clone of Mahatma Gandhi, he has become a non-stop party machine instead, probably in an attempt not to think about it so much.

Cleopatra: A sharp, sultry, seductive, cruel and manipulative clone of Cleopatra.

JFK: A pretty boy, sex-obsessed captain of the football and soccer team who believes he is doing a pretty good job of living up to John F. Kennedy, whom he calls, "A macho, womanizing stud who conquered the MOON!!"

Principal Cinnamon J. Scudworth, Ph.D.: A deluded, self-aggrandizing megalomaniac who always wears rubber dish-gloves and has an annual psychological breakdown after which he attempts to kill John Stamos.

Mr. Lynn Butlertron: A robot who is programmed with a highly sensitive compassion protocol (a parody of Mr. Belvedere). Also known as Mr. B. He inexplicably refers to everyone as "Wesley".

Mr. Sheepman: A kindly history teacher at Clone High, and the first mostly human clone with a little sheep DNA mixed into his genetic composition (a parody of Dolly the Sheep). His mannerisms are a parody of Don Knotts.

Secret Board of Shadowy Figures

Offical Website