Filmmaker "Bubba"-friends and family do not see HIS movie on Showtime but softcore porn

[underpants]

http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/yb/142875413

--A filmmaker and former state lawmaker said he is suing two cable channels after they mixed up his comedic film with a smutty flick with the same name.

James "Bubba" Cromer, who works as the state House of Representatives' reading clerk, said he was thrilled when TV listings and promos began airing on Showtime's The Movie Channel earlier this month for his film, "The Hills Have Thighs."

His 2008 comedic movie tells the tale of a hillbilly abducted by space aliens and a group of women who search to bring him home.

Cromer, an independent filmmaker whose day job is presiding over procedures in the House of Representatives, assumed his agent had successfully sold the film to Showtime.

"I thought I had hit the big time," Cromer said.

But when he and others tuned in, including family members and friends in the House of Representatives, they saw a soft-core pornography film instead of his smut-free flick, Cromer said.

"It had nudity, sex acts, ridiculous language, just very pornographic content in my view," said Cromer, an attorney who served in the House from 1990-98. "I physically got sick. I've worked 22 years for a name. My name is all I've got and I saw it disintegrating in front of me."

Cromer's father, also a South Carolina attorney, sent cease-and-desist letters to Showtime and HBO, which has also been airing the film on its Cinemax channel, according to Bubba Cromer.

[KG]

1. he watched 3 times to be sure he was offended.