A-Z GUIDE TO MOVIES AND TV SHOWS PARODIED BY MAD, CRACKED, CRAZY, ETC. UP TO 1996. THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. SPOILERS AND OTHER NON-SEQUITURS, TOO. SOMETIMES THESE THINGS HAVE WORDS OR SITUATIONS WE DON'T USE ANYMORE. YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THEY'RE OLD.
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Showing posts with label PERSON TO PERSON. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PERSON TO PERSON. Show all posts
ZERRO, THE GAY BLADE
MAD #231, June 1981
w: Stan Hart
a: Mort Drucker
Zorro has existed since early last century from pulps to Saturday matinees to early television. He was a swashbuckler in Mexico famous for marking his victims with a Z with his sword. A movie was made with George Hamilton in which he had to choose between either passing the torch to his son or his brother, who he also played. George Hamilton had previously been in the Dracula spoof Love at First Bite.
The following was from MAD's Academy Awards Show
ED ZORROW CALLS ON MORRO
This Magazine Is Crazy #6, September 1958
a: Tony Couch?
Zorro was an early segment on TV's Disneyland. This comic parodies Person to Person, an interview show hosted by newscaster Edward R. Murrow.
All TV shows and movies mentioned in this post have also been parodied and are featured here.
QUEASE SHOW
MAD #334, March 1995
w: Stan Hart
a: Mort Drucker
In 1958, people are rushing home to watch the quiz show Twenty-One, specifically to see the reigning champion Herbert Stempel (John Turturro) being asked questions by host Jack Barry (Christopher McDonald).
Herb's a hero in his neighborhood of Queens, promising his wife Toby (Johann Carlo) this is their way to riches. Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), a Columbia scholar and professor, is trying out for another quiz show when he is discovered by Twenty-One's producers (David Paymer, Hank Azaria) and asked to replace Herb Stempel, who will be taking a dive. Charles is hesitant about getting the answers in advance and asks the advice of his father (Paul Scofield), but is assured what he does is standard. Meanwhile, Richard Goodwin (Rob Morrow) is a congressional aide just out of Harvard concerned his career is going nowhere.
Mrs. Stempel mentions J. Fred Muggs, primate co-star of The Today Show, who actually has a role in this. Rob Morrow's wife is played by Mira Sorvino in the movie, but here she's Janine Turner, his co-star in Northern Exposure, and his home is also the set of that show.
Herb is asked to throw the game by producer David Enright in exchange for being promised a part on a panel show. Now that Charles is the new star, he has become a new sensation and thus a hearthrob at his college. Richard Goodwin goes to New York to try and get information on whether the quiz shows are fixed, first by cozying up to the Van Doren family. Herb Stempel, upset about being thrown off the air, tells the courts and anyone who will listen about the rigging of game shows.
Richard does some investigating, while Charles finds his fame is getting too much to handle. Richard finally has proof the shows are fixed when one of the previous contestants complies by showing proof in the form of a certified letter he sent himself in advance. Charles has a guilty consience about being fed the answers while Herbert uses his testimony as an opportunity to perform in front of Congress, which only makes everyone think he's more insane.
In the next to last panel is Alan Dershowitz. In the last panel on the left is the original What's My Line? panel Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, and host John Daly. On the right is Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak, and Vanna White.
This is the show that was depicted in the movie.
TWENTY-ONE
NBC 1956-1958
TWENTY-WIN
Humbug #1, August 1957
w: Harvey Kurtzman
a: Bill Elder
The premise was that the returning champion and the challenger would be in isolation booths with headphones unable to hear any outside sounds. Each took turns getting questions ranging from 1-11 points depending on the level of difficulty, gaining points for each correct answer and losing points for each wrong answer. Whoever made it to 21 would be the reigning champion.
IF TV SHOWS WEREN'T RIGGED
Cracked #17, December 1960
w: Paul Laikin
a: John Severin
Beat the Clock, To Tell the Truth, Truth or Consequences
What's My Line? again, Walt Disney being interviwed by Edward Murrow on Person to Person, and Groucho Marx on You Bet Your Life.
Similar to current talk shows now except the whole show focused on one celebrity with host, Edward R. Murrowinterviewing the person and their family from his studio while they were at their home.
HOUSE TO HOUSE
MAD #35, October 1957
w: Bob & Ray and Tom Koch
a: Mort Drucker
In the early days of MAD as a magazine, they often used the work of famous comedians, whether it was reprinted material or sometimes exclusive. Bob & Ray wrote their own material for the magazine and their shows, some was written by MAD writer Tom Koch. The Mad Cover Site credits the latter, so I'll take their word for it. It was through MAD editors discovering Mort Drucker's knack for caricature in illustrating the Bob & Ray pieces that they made him their go-to guy for most of their movie and TV parodies.
Harry Piel, half of the duo Bob & Ray voiced for Piels Beer, is the hood ornament in the first panel. Harry and Bert Piel make additioal cameos throughout.
From Adult TV Cartoons by Al Jaffee and Wallace Wood, based on the premise that since The Flintstones was based on The Honeymooners and made for adults, we'd soon be seeing lots of cartoons based on prime-time shows. From #63, June 1961, Edward R. Murrow was replaced by Charles Collingwood in the last few seasons.
From Russian TV Shows by Paul Laikin and John Severin in Cracked #19, April 1961
From If Political Figures Did Guest TV Shots in Cracked #20, July 1961, also by Laikin and Severin.
PERSON TO PERSONS
Sick #4, February 1961
a: Leo Morey
PERSONALLY TO PERSONALLY
Snafu #1, November 1955
w: Stan Lee
a: Joe Maneely
Amoco is a famous gasoline company, although it's Mobil that has the pegasus for a mascot.
Marilyn Monroe famously posed for a nude calendar early in her career.
There was a Bugs Bunny cartoon parodying the show as well.
