Airing on MTV in 2002, "Clone High" had humor as well as a concept perfect for syndication. The series follows the lives of students at the aforementioned high school who have naturally been cloned from famous people in history. Characters span from world leaders to artists in a cast of clever yet sardonic teens dealing with their personal lives. The series follows Abe Lincoln (voiced by Will Forte), whose insecurities hold him back from pursuing a relationship with Cleopatra (Christa Miller).
Also featured are Joan of Arc (Nicole Sullivan), Gandhi (Michael McDonald), and JFK (co-creator Christopher Miller) as Abe's peers and bullies. Though the premise was sharp and the humor refreshing, the series did not make it past 13 episodes. "Clone High" was taken off the air after pressure from the Indian government officials (via The Guardian). Their main qualm: the party-loving depiction of Gandhi. In an article for Entertainment Weekly, creators Phil Lord and Miller reflected on the impact of the series along with producer Bill Lawrence. "It's certainly my only show ever canceled by a symbolic hunger strike by members of the Indian parliament," Lawrence said in response. Even though the show should have died after cancellation, "Clone High" still resonates with fans now more than ever. Lawrence backs this up, going on to say that the fans of the show are "psychotically passionate." And they may be inclined to agree, judging from online support for the show.
