THE MAD MAGAZINE TV SPECIAL - "The Usual Gang Of Idiots" (1974)

Welcome to the Weird Wednesday version of The Dungeon!
Let's get serious!!!

 In 1974, MAD magazine did a TV Special." I never saw it because I didn't have a television in 1974! Pre-National Lampoon, and long before Saturday Night Live, or even Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, MAD was always leading the way, and as far as I can tell, not really getting as much credit as they should! They never bowed down to political correctness or political pressure! "The Usual Gang of Idiots" did whatever they wanted to!

Let's face it! It's hard to be politically correct and funny too, because most funny things are offensive! It's just the nature of the beast!

They rip the auto industry a new one with all kinds of gags about stupidity and dishonesty!
This is the team coming up with new accessory ideas!

This guy is one of the most important in the company! He's making sure there's no loopholes in the fine print of the sales contracts that might cost the company any money should anything go haywire!

This was thought to be the building that housed the "Safety and Research" department, but is actually an indoor golf course for the company big shots!

This is the real "Safety and Research" department building before it collapses!

44 years later, and industry and government still think that putting up signs instead of fixing things is a good solution!
This is a big problem with modern society!

In between the skits are animated one shots! Done in Don Martin style, the joke here is the duck is the family pet, and the boy is his inflated toy! That's MAD!

This is a series of pictures of what you could see, if you could see the truth!

The Doctor is supposed to be busy, but is really working on his putting!

Inside the suggestion box is a shredder!

There is no difference in the quality of regular and super gasoline!

"Academy Awards For Parents" is a fairly stupid segment!

Another Don Martin cartoon has a guy on a desert island! He picks the flower which creates a big hole and sinks the island of course!

You know this is going to insult hospital workers everywhere, but did MAD care? Hell No!

 In 1967, in issue #115, MAD printed a bogus three dollar bill with the likeness of Alfred E. Neuman on it, and anybody who saw it would immediately know that it was a stupid joke! Anybody that is except for new money changing machines that had just entered the marketplace in laundromats etc. It got to be quite a sticky wicket!

"The Oddfather" goes on way too long! More Don Martin would have been more fun!

 Man, the F.B.I. were busy in the 60's having to keep their eyes on Lenny Bruce and Alfred E. Neuman!

 What scary times!! I'm surprised any of us made it!

"What, Me Worry?!"

MAD magazine was a big part of my youth, and had a big effect on my wry sense of humor. It was satire and it was parody, they got away with it, and I loved it!  Honestly, I didn't even know if MAD existed any more! I mean, do any printed magazines exist anymore besides rags like People you see while you're standing in line at the grocery store, but I guess they do, and more power to them!

 MAD MAGAZINE today!