BROTHERS & SISTERS & RUSH LIMBAUGH?!?
***MINOR SPOILERS***

No, the windbag better known as Rush isn't really showing up on this season's Brother & Sisters, but a stand-in known as Luther Reeves will spout off Rush-type nonsense during the second episode. All I can say is it's about time!

One of the raps against B&S' first season was that the Republicans on the show — Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe) and Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart) — were about as real as Harry Potter and Hermione. After all, Lowe's senator was pro-gay, pro-immigrant, and pro-environment — not exactly standard planks in the current Cro-Magnon Republican platform.

The addition of Luther Reeve, even if only for an episode, helps to change that a bit. Here are a few of the comments made by Luther during his radio show as Kitty, Nora (Sally Field), and Kevin (Matthew Rhys) listen. (Note, this could change if it is not filmed and edited as written in the sides supplied to me by AE reader Kong Chang).

LUTHER REEVES (V.O.)

But that's not the worst of it. McCallister and Kitty both have gay brothers, and hold onto your airsick bags folks, they're dating. Kind of makes you nostalgic for Billy Carter and Roger Clinton.

Now that's the Republican party I've come to know and loathe! Reeves continues on to say:

The White House is a symbol of all that's great about our country. I can't stand the thought of that stately mansion being defiled by McCallister and Company. I'm sorry, but I draw the line at the First Brothers doing God doesn't want to know what in the Lincoln Bedroom.

See, I can all too easily imagine Rush or Bill O'Reilly or Ann Coulter saying exactly that kind of stuff — if not worse. I won't spoil what else happens between Luther and the Walkers, but let's just say Kitty, Nora, and Kevin don't take this lying down. Oh, and the speculation that Abraham Lincoln might have been gay also pops up in the conversation.

All in all, it sounds like fun and I applaud Jon Robin Baitz and Co. for discussing this part of the Republican party.

No word on who has been cast yet. Senator Fred Thompson's presidential campaign appears to be imploding so he might be looking for a good gig. Or how about Dennis Miller? He's gone wildly toward the right, and ever since his own talk show and the gig on Monday Night Football tanked, he needs work. And I can't imagine another "actor" better suited to play a loud mouth jerk.

Any other suggestions?

BTW, there are a ton of other spoilers floating around out there, but speculation is that the show's creators are getting sneaky and slipping in some fake ones. But given what Baitz told me at the TCA, I do think it's true that Scotty **** *** ******** for ***** ******* and that ***** **** get *** ******* ****** out of *****.