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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WKRAP IN CINCINNATTI
MAD #218, October 1981
w: Arnie Kogen
a: Angelo Torres
Sitcom about a radio station converting to a rock & roll format in their quest to climb from their spot as the lowest rated station in Cincinatti. It was managed by Arthur Carlson (Gordon Jump), who brought in Andy Travis (Gary Sandy) to be the new programming director. Their secretary Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson) was lusted after by everyone else in the office. She was the smartest and highest paid person there despite doing the least amount of work and having several conditions.
The two disc jockeys at the station were Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman) and Venus Flytrap ((Tim Reid). Andy's assistant was Bailey Quarters (Jan Smithers). Two holdovers from the station's earlier format were ad salesman Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner) and news reporter Les Nessman (Richard Sanders).
Les Nessman upset that he didn't have his own office was one of their recurring features.
Mary Tyler Moore, Ted Knight, Ed Asner, and Gavin MacLeod were all in the cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and co-incidentally WKRP was from her production company.
WARP IN CINCINUTTY
Crazy #71, February 1981
w: Murad Gumen
a: Kent Gamble
John Travolta was in Urban Cowboy around then.
WKRAP IN SINSINNATTI
Sick #13o, December 1979
w: Arnold Drake
a: Jack Sparling
And if you're still with us, here's a TV Guide cover by Jack Davis.
Bananas did WKLOD in Cincinatti which I used to have somewhere but can't seem to find. But remember, the senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity.
Yesterday was a look at MAD and Cracked's take on Welcome Back, Kotter, now we'll see Crazy and Sick's versions...
A CRAZY LOOK AT THOSE KOOKY KOTTER KIDS
Crazy #29, September 1977
WELCOME BACK, KUTTER
Crazy #18, July 1976
w: Len Herman
a: Ernie Colon
This sitcom was a vehicle for stand-up comic Gabe Kaplan, who had a show based on one single routine he did a few months earlier. The premise was that Gabe Kotter (Gabe Kaplan) is now a teacher and has returned to the school where he grew up ten years earlier, and now teaches the gang of juvenile delinquents that he once belonged to known as The Sweathogs. The principal of James Buchanan High School was Mr. Woodman (John Sylvester-White)
The Sweathogs were Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta), Freddie “Boom-Boom” Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes), and Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo)
WELCOME BACK, KNOTHEAD
Sick #110, June 1976
a: Dick Ayers
One thing Crazy didn't use was Gabe's at-home life with his wife Julie (Marcia Strassman)
“Up your nose with a rubber hose” was one of their catchphrases. More of their catchphrases and recurring motifs are in the video above.
WELCOME BACK, KRUDDER
Sick #115, June 1977
w:Arnold Drake
a: Jack Sparling
Gabe telling one-liners to his wife at the beginning and end of each episode was another regular theme. Charlie Tuna was the mascot for Star-Kist tuna and their catchphrase was “Star-Kist wants tunas that taste good”
The Sweathogs were always dropping in on Mr. Kotter at home, usually climbing into his window.
As a palatte cleanser, here's a TV Guide cover by Jack Davis.
THE YESTERDAY SHOW
Cracked #109, January 1973
a: John Severin
The Today Show has gone through many incarnations as NBC's morning news show. Its first version was The Dave Garroway Show and evolved from there. This incarnation from the early 70s had Frank Blair, Barbara Walters, Joe Garagiola, and Frank McGee.
Today was on opposite Captain Kangaroo.
THE TOO-DAY SHOW
Sick #132, April 1980
w: Arnold Drake
a: Jack Sparling
Later, it was hosted by Tom Brokaw and Jane Pauley, with movie critic Gene Shalit.
Phil Donahue wasn't on The Today Show, but had a syndicated morning program around the same time.
In 1969 their line up was Hugh Downs with Walters, Garagiola, and Blair. This was the cover of TV Guide by Jack Davis.
A CORNEY PRACTICE
Australian MAD Super Special #45, 1983
w & a: Darren Pracy
Its basic premise was nothing more it was a medical practice set in the rural area of Wandin Valley. Dr. Terrence Elliot (Shane Porteous) was the main doctor, Simon Bowen (Grant Dodwell) was another doctor, Shirley Gillroy (Lorrae Desmond) was the receptonist. Like any show where a character owns a pet, it's breakout star was a wombat named Fatso.
Brendan Jones (Shane Withington) was a nurse with Sister Judy (Wendy Strehlow) a worker there.
Vernon “Cookie” Locke (Syd Heylen) was the hospital cook and Esme Watson (Joce Jacobs) was a recurring patient.
Brendan's wife was Molly (Anne Tenney).
Vicki (Penny Cook) was a Vet.
Bob (Gordon Piper) was another regular patient.
Number 96 was another Australian soap about an apartment complex. MAD's Jack Davis did the ad for the attempted American version that lasted only one episode.(see bottom)
