Much like the teenagers who lived on Elm Street, Americans couldn’t escape Freddy Krueger in the late ’80s. That horribly scarred visage was present in movies, books, on toy shelves, and on television. Freddy Krueger was everywhere, and Robert Englund even appeared as the Springwood Slasher on an episode of the short-lived syndicated television series, D.C Follies.
Created by Sid and Marty Kroft, D.C. Follies was inspired by the U.K. sitcom Spitting Image (the same team that did the puppets for Genesis’ “Land Of Confusion” music video) and featured puppet versions of politicians and newsworthy celebrities of the day including Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, and Ronald Reagan. Set in a bar in Washington, D.C., bartender Fred Willard would interact with the puppets; the humor was generally satirical, taking the piss out of the political process.
In this clip, George Bush Sr. walks into the bar (remember the thousand points of light speech?) looking for Willard, and finds a decidedly different Fred working the well. Freddy Krueger proceeds to help Oliver North shred some documents and make a few signature Freddy witticisms referring to “slashing the budget” and “trimming the Bushes.” The youngsters out there may have to hit Wikipedia to put in perspective some of the dated humor (“a kinder, gentler bartender”; “Your national nightmare is about to begin!”) However, despite his bad puns, hammy delivery, and murderous intent, the bastard son of a hundred maniacs is no dummy; he opts not to slice and dice then-President George Bush Sr. as that would leave Dan Quayle in charge. The ’80s were a different time; imagine the tizzy Sean Hannity would be in today if Jigsaw laid a trap for Sarah Palin.