Mad 392
Mad 392
THE
DUMBEST
PEOPLE, EVENTS
^ AND THINGS
IF 1999!
ALMOST
ADDRESS.
$12
OFF CITY. STATE ZIP
^PRIL 2000
v
\T$ OK/ 60 A W & A O / WF O/VLV USE "^F
D E P A R T M E N T S
LETTERS AND TOMATOES DEPARTMENT:
Random Samplings of Reader Mai
will, change!
TALES FROM THE DUCK SIDE DEPARTMENT:
Of course, i t will be harder t o poke fun a t AOL, given their
Slithering Heights. 19
dramatic improvement m service. We're not sure if t h a t
is due t o t h e millions they have spent (wisely) in buying
brand new s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t equipment. Or perhaps i t JOKE AND DAGGER DEPARTMENT:
AFTER COLOR...
H A ! TO SEE IT
IN COLOR YOU HAVE TO
1904
THIS MONTH GRIEVING LAS VEGAS DEPARTMENT:
Ted Head Cheese
IN HISTORY
Invents Head Cheese MAD's Celebrity Cause-of-Death
APRIL 1947
Spaceship
Betting Odds 48
Carrying Actor
James Woods
1215 Crashes To Earth MARGINAL THINKING DEPARTMENT
Nostradamus lO 11 12 13 14 15
Predicts Millions "Drawn Out Dramas" Various Places
17 18 19 2 0 21 2 2
Will Be Ripped by Sergio Aragones Around the Magazine
Off By The
2 3 2 4 2 5 26, 28 29
Psychic Friends
Hotline
1942
1993 Joe Calamia
Bill Clinton "AH lawyers are cut from
Becomes First NYC
Introduces First All- Cabbie To Give A
the same cloth — fleece!"
You-Can-Eat Nun The Finger
Dessert Bar At
White House State FRONT COVER ARTIST: C.F. PAYNE
Dinner
BACK COVER ARTIST: SCOTT BRICHER
BACK COVER WRITER: DARREN JOHNSON
«t»*I£fo HOWTOR^nSdenCe
P,e
-to- MAD, D ^ L * He* York
MAD
Paul Levitz
executive vice president & publisher
Nick Meglin & John Ficarra
;«,:•.; editors
Editorial:
Charlie Kadau & Joe Raiola
senior editors
David Shayne associate editor
Amy Vozeoias assistant editor
Dick DeBartolo creative consultant
Annie Gaines managing editor
Dorothy Crouch vp-licensed
publishing and associate publisher
Art Department:
Sam Viviano art director
Nadina Simon associate art director
publisher Hugh Hemer
Leonard Brenner graphics consultant
Thomas Nozkowski production
WORKING FOR PEANUTS THE CAT GOES "BARF" Maria Wyche production artist
In the January 2nd issue of People magazine, var- I have a n u n u s u a l p r o b l e m that o n l y Circulation:
ious cartoonists were asked to bid farewell to you guys c a n fix. I have seven cats, o n e Daniel Brown director-business development
Peanuts creator and writer Charles Schulz on his of w h o m h a s a frequent upset stomach. & mass market sales
retirement. Since they didn't ask us to contribute, While h e h a d t h e good taste to b e Tracy Bowen manager-newsstand sales
we had to do it on the pages of our magazine. So s t a n d i n g over t h e J a n u a r y 2000 issue Administration:
we reprint this Jack Rickard illustrated cover from (#389), h e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y h a d t h e b a d
MAD #138 and send best wishes to Charles Patrick Caldon vp-finance & operations
taste to throw u p o n t h e page with # 7 Alison Gill exec, director -manufacturing
Schulz and the entire Peanuts gans! a n d # 8 of t h e MAD "20 Dumbest Lillian Laserson vp & general counsel
People, Events, a n d T h i n g s of 1999."
How's c h a n c e s of you guys s e n d i n g m e Contributing Artists
a n o t h e r copy of that issue?
And Writers
Sue C u n n i n g h a m , Waynesville, NC the usual gang of idiots
I'm Dudson Leering! Many TV viewers know me This show is in its third season Anyway, gang, 1_
as the hottest teen star on the WB network! and getting very tired! But welcome to my
Others call me that schmuck in the rowboat! In next season should be exciting! creek! Welcome
to my series! Come
my case, WB stands for "Without Brains"! Okay, They're finally going to air meet my equally
here's my story: I'm a sensitive, troubled the viewers' most requested disturbed buddies...
teen on TV! Wow! THERE'S a new concept! episode: "Dudson Tips Over"!
W^
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Dudson, It's What 14 r i By the way. how does it feel to Grams, this Oh. goodness - ---, Put a 'm bored! Can't
is it better happened be the only gay guy in Clapside? is the here it comes... . I sock in • you make yourself
1
strange than to YOU lastl scene useful like other
having the week... In a way I'm lucky! The Hump! Pubic! Blondie!
alter- where 1 TV teens? Why
two having writing staff's handling it shock Penis!
women native... don't you go
two GUYS tastefully! If we were on you with Jerkin' You're out and beat
fight fight Fox we'd probably build a the not
over What's over you! bad
words! up vampires or
whole episode around gherkin! shocked?
you? that?
the word "Dinghy"!
I know you Son, that's why I brought you Face it, Dudson!
have your That's right. Dad! All down here! If you look out there It's the same
heart set we have in town is you'll learn what that life is thing here
on moving Norman Rockwell charm going to be like out in Hollywood! as the movie
to L.A. to and picture postcard studios!
be a beauty! I've gotta get
•
filmmaker! out of this hellhole! Sharks in
both places!
Hey! Wow, cool! Cue Your work's No. I'm saying you'll never make
Steven 1 was in New England the violins! stale and Bummer! MOVIES in Hollywood! But there is
Spiel- •^ for a Jaws retro- It's like Obi- derivative! It So you're a place for a young man of your
berg! spective! I heard Wan talking
to Luke Sky- tries to be fresh saying limited vision and cliched talent!
What're you were a great
you walker! So, and hip but has I'll never It's directing a teen drama on the
film student, so
doing screened all what do all the brains make it WB! Start with a long shot of a kid
here? you think? of an Adam in Holly- in a boat! Come in on him looking
your projects! wood...?
Sandler film! "wistful"! Then cue up cheesy music.
THE MAUL OF THE WILD DEPT ARTIST: PAUL COKER WRITER: MICHAEL GALLAGHER
a MAD Peek
Behind the Scenes
at the Discovery CHANNEL
S E R 6 E I N GENERAL D E P T
Females —— Males
Tune in to See... Tune in to See.
Females Males
Tune in to See... Tune in to See...
isfi
.How-to tips they can use to stay out in
the garage for days
.Interior decorating advice
Females Males
Tune in to See... Tune in to See.
atWft
LADIES
7&
mmPi Females
Tune in to See..
Males
Tune in to See.
F>'
20
ARTIST: PETER KUPER
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E N K I N
e „ J ? i s n o R o d i n > b ut his clay
sculptures get better and better with practice.
22
--^^~£^^ii£
JE
f J £ , N S x a n o f t e n b e f o u nd on ebav com"
shoppmg for that once-in-a-lifetime findL
9
Jenkins
|««r-.-\ i If you've ever watched VH1 for more than, oh, 10 minutes, you've
seen one of its irritating Behind the Music specials — one-hour
"rockumentaries" looking back on the fast times and high life of
some washed-up music star. At first glance, they seem like
painstakingly researched, carefully written shows. But watch a
MAD's All-Purpose
couple of them, and you'll start to notice that no matter who the
show is about, every subject's story is eerily similar to every-
one else's. It's as if each episode were being written from...
Cliche Script for
v , n d t h e r e was something t h a t
r*OCK STAR) v a s a c h i l d , t n e r
& VOICE OVER: «s e^p2a ?r a(tH
e dI M
(HIM/HEK;
/ H E R ) ifrom
x v » tv*~
h e ~r e s t .
(HE/SHE) always wanted t o be t h e c e n t e r of a t t e n t i o n . We a l l knew
TJUKNOWN r i g h t t h e n t h a t (ROCK STAR) would leave (HIS/HER) mark on t h e world.
FAMILY FRIEND:
(ROCK STAR)'s stormy t e e n y e a r s provided much of t h e i n s p i r a t i o n
^
VOICE OVER: for l y r i c s t h a t would one day address t h e a n g s t , i n s e c u r i t i e s and
ASH u n c e r t a i n t i e s of a f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n .
u n c e r t a i n t i e s or a i u ^ v ...
I n h i g h school, (ROCK STAR) Just f e l t a l i e n a t e d from everyone -
FORMER parents...peers.,.even members of t h e opposite sex. But looking back, I
HIGH SCHOOL t h i n k t h a t a l i e n a t i o n made f e r t i l e ground for (HIS/HER) c r e a t i v e seeds.
BOY/GIRLFRIEND: t h i n k t h a t a l i e n a t i o n
- - ™a\ f a ^ i Y a n ( j ^he o v e r -
Despite t h e l a c k of s u p p o r t from (HIS/HER) family and t h e over'
VOICE OVER: whelming odds a g a i n s t success i n t h e competitive music i n d u s t r y ,
(ROCK STAR) was p r e p a r e d t o face t h e s t r u g g l e head o n .
BOCK STAR:
weeks w i t h o u t a paycheck I f i n a l l y l a n d e d a t number 17 on t h e Bill-
board c h a r t s . Here's me (ROCK STAR), t h e awkward (BOY/GIRL) from t h e
•i:<
mean s t r e e t s of (ROCK STAR'S HOME CITY), and now I'm a s t a r — l i t e r a l -
ly overnight.
But a l l (HIS/HER) t i m e on t h e r o a d , coupled w i t h t h e demands from
VOICE OVER: p r o m o t e r s and t h e r e c o r d company, was b e g i n n i n g t o t a k e i t s t o l l
on (ROCK STAR)'s m a r r i a g e .
As (ROCK STAR)'s fame skyrocketed beyond (HIS/HER) dreams,
VOICE OVER: every form of p l e a s u r e f e l l e a s i l y w i t h i n (HIS/HER) r e a c h .
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25
ANGSTER'S PARADISE DEPT.
Watch o u t Ally
McBeal and Judge
Judy! Our hero is
about to take the
witness stand.
Prepare for disorder
In the court.
17*733? THAT
'AFTERNOON...
&
>~'~ ,
Cm
28
BERGS-EYE VIEWDEPT
JUSTICE
You again!? Listen,
today's my birthday!
Give me a present and
just plead "Guilty," okay?
C U R R E N T EVENTS
Guess I'll Before ...first give me a
turn on the six you do chance to tell you
o'clock news! that, Dad.. MY side of the story! ""
TRUTH EXTRACTION DEPT.
WHOLE FACT
1FS1
7
HAIJFl ^ •
The phone number for
Every ten seconds the
human population the White House is
increases by 26 people. 202-456-1414.
Nt\
'/rTli
ALFFAC HALFFACT
Bill Gates has enough
money to give $6.70 to There are 9,000 public
libraries in the "0*.S.
every person on the planet.
(Upside, 11-97, Bill Gates Net Worth Web Page) (Statistical Almanac of U.S. page 203)
** m
* He won't.
WHOLE FAC
Not one of them employs a librarian
who looks like a model when she lets
her hair down
HALF FACT
Using linear induction
motors, new roller coasters
can accelerate from 0 to 70
mph in less than four seconds.
(Business Week ,4-i2-99)
BEHINP
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OFF THE TEEMING CESSPOOL,
S T R I P BARE THE SEAMY
UNDERBELLY AND SHED WARM,
NURTURING SUNLIGHT ON...
A READING FROM
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VOLCANO S
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They employ role playing seminars to perfect their
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when your phone arrives and 99 cents three days later.
actor who plays a guy
There is NO INTEREST CHARGE!!!
from another planet?
In the summer of 1999, ABC introduced that would make even Suddenly Susan
a new concept in television. It was watchable! Er, maybe not...not unless
fresh...it was innovative...it was 42 Suddenly Susan added the other ele-
years old! A big-money quiz show that ment of this hit series — paying out a
brought back its contestants night after million bucks to some lucky putz!
night! But the show was only on TV for Because, let's face it, sitting home on
two weeks, then it was gone jp a sch~ ,,,u their Cheeto-stained couches, evem..
TT
LAST NIGHT! On Boobs Want to Be a Millionaire^. Hello! And WELCOME LAST night, we said goodbye to
We asked our usual eight questions in half to another night of Rob Westervelt, who LEFT with
an hour! Rhesus Pilibin shouted erratically Boobs Want To Be a $16,000! Unfortunately for Rob, m
P and inappropriately! We blasted the annoying Millionaire, the he called our 1 -800 contestant
*C£ music every 12 seconds! And the studio lights show that rewards line OVER AND OVER from his work
got turned on and off more often than the bulb people who prove number to make it on the show,
in Rosie O'Donnell's refrigerator! Tonight. that THEY possess and when his BOSS checked the
10 new contestants will compete for ONE unique SKILL and monthly phone log, Rob got FIRED
MILLION DOLLARS! And now your host, the knowledge! What- from his $45,000-a-year job!
luckiest bastard in show biz... Rhesus Pilibin! ever that means! BEST of luck to you. Rob!
IMP
I S
Let's meet our i r From From From TALLAHASS — ah. screw FASTEST person to put the four answers
new contestants! NORTHAMPTON, LOUISVILLE, it! Nobody CARES! Nine in their CORRECT order gets to play!
From CLEVELAND, MASSACHUSETTS. KENTUCKY. of you are really named The others all slink home in disgrace
OHIO. Robert Doug Kevin "Adios Pete"! Let's and WHINE to their friends, "Oh.
D'Esposito! Bouchard! Hordern! GO to the question! uh. the stupid BUTTONS didn't
work right!" CONTESTANTS! Put
these LETTERS into alphabetical
order! A) A; B) B; C) C; D) D!
w
<&
•^WB-^
And our fastest player EACH correct answer moves you up Hey, we're shelling
WAS...Dom Grillo! Dom. ONE LEVEL, where the questions Rhesus, you've gone over out dough by
get harder! Of course, with the the rules 15 times in the BARREL here!
Vn5 we'll see if you can WIN the last five shows! Why
A MILLION DOLLARS, idiotic questions we START OFF with. Re-reading
don't you just say, the rules
right after we go over they HAVE to get harder! The money "Answers equal money,
the rules for ANYBODY doubles each round, EXCEPT when we for every
until you mess up"? It's contestant
who MIGHT'VE only been round off from $64,000 to $125,000!
watching this show for not exactly a tough SAVES us 50
That's so we don't have to call this show! format to figure out!
the last 11 seconds! Boobs Want To Be a $1,024,000aire\ grand a night!
c 7x^
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Okay, Is Are Your So then you're saying "D" is Cue arc lights!
um, that you absolutely your lasty-nasty, TR00LY-00LY, Camera One. SWOOP Wow, I never j ] to distract
my your confi- FINAL final fee-fi-fo-final answer? across the studio! . knew m viewers from
final dent? answer? GO, GO, GO! television realizing this
FINAL Your podium doesn't
answer Faster! Music on A directing entire show is
answer?
is
"D," Yes, it UfinalYes,answer
my come with a
breathalyzer,
ALL channels!
Camera Three,
was
such hard
two people
sitting in
{
Rhesus! is.
J l " " fl
is D ! does it? zoom in HARD! work! chairs!
USEFUL | N P o f I J P YOU HAV*
Well, we're -i Sorry, 1 don't want to play! I just wanted Well, it's back to Contestants Row! ONE
down to nine I'm Ben Ben, to get on TV! I've been on a show of these players could have the MILLION
Savage, but ABC since 1993, yet no one knows who I DOLLAR SPOTLIGHT shine on THEM! And
players, ; employees
and... hey, star of am! But these computer programmers believe me. COCKROACHES react better to
ABC's aren't light! A lot of THESE folks look as if
WHO'S that who live in their moms' basements
Boy | eligible they haven't been exposed to direct SUN
sitting come on this show for 10 minutes,
Meets to play! since the days when Malcolm Jamal-
in the and they're nationwide starsl I'm
World! famous, dammit! *Sob!* I'm...famous... Warner's agent was returning his calls!
CHAIR?
2 Boring Minutes Later
Well, I'm sorry to see Mort go! I'd cut a secret
deal with him under the table to SELL him the million-
dollar answer for $100,000! Still, this show has
now GIVEN AWAY over three million dollars of ABC's
MONEY! And ABC hasn't tossed THAT much cash away
since they set up a nationwide OPINION POLL to
determine whether or not Miss America viewers wanted
to keep the sexist swimsuit competition! Uh, DUH!
'rSSfr _a vvv
I You JUST WON One nickel MORE, and we VI " Hey, it isn't like we rigged it
$63,999.95! risk reminding viewers ^ Fixing game shows? You on PURPOSE for him to win so
of The $64,000 Question mean like that first easily! We just thought "What
and the 1950s game guy last November color is Big Bird?" was a
show FIXING SCANDALS! who (cough) "won" super-tough TRICK QUESTION
a million dollars? for the $250,000 level!
Wwei /
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cHBese.'
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| Nope! All
Can't you 1 1 our moneys
say any- 8j going out
thing else 1 ] in prizes!
whenever 1 i We could
someone 1 1 only afford
answers a f TWO cue
question? Rd cards!
MADs
CEIiEBRITH CPUSE-OF-DEHTH