WEEKEND TODAY Goes Behind The Scenes of MAD MAGAZINE

Last month, MAD MAGAZINE released its “20 Dumbest People, Events and Things of 2012” issue. On shelves now, the eagerly anticipated annual issue poked fun at all sorts of headline-grabbers, ranging from Lance Armstrong to Kristen Stewart to Mitt Romney and Barack Obama (for more about the issue and sneak peeks inside of it, click here).

 

And if you’re itching for more MAD, you’re in luck! This past weekend, THE TODAY SHOW celebrated sixty years of MAD MAGAZINE. Taking a guided tour of MAD’s official headquarters (also referred to as our New York offices), NBC anchor Jenna Wolfe chatted with MAD Editor John Ficarra, Art Director Sam Viviano, and longtime MAD contributor Al Jaffee.

 

“Each artist – and each writer for that matter – they have a language of their own,” Jaffee told Wolfe. And as for how he’s been coming up with those hilarious fold-ins at the end of each issue for decades? “It’s just what pours out of my twisted mind,” the legendary artist confessed.

 

Head on over to THE TODAY SHOW’s website to watch the full segment, including a surprise presentation of the below custom-made “Special WEEKEND TODAY Issue” cover to a pleasantly shocked Wolfe.

 

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mad magazine, John Ficarra, Sam Viviano, Al Jaffee, The Today Show

MAD #515 in Stores Tomorrow!

The Usual Gang of Idiots is up to it again! Hitting newsstands tomorrow, the latest issue of MAD is filled with parodies of everything from iPhones to politicians to The Hunger Games.

 

“The thing that I’m most excited about in MAD #515 is that every issue is held together by three staples,” said MAD editor John Ficarra. “But that may be a more personal pick. Most readers will probably be more interested in our feature ‘The 50 Worst Things About America.’ Finally, someone has the courage to say what everyone is thinking about the New Hampshire state quarter! (Among other things.) We also have a full-spoof of the hit movie, The Hunger Games, but all-in-all my fav. is still the three staples. So pointy, so shiny!”

 

To read more from John Ficarra, check out his interview with THE HUFFINGTON POST, which is accompanied by an exclusive first look at items #1-14 of the issue’s “50 worst things about America.” And while you’re in an interview-reading mood, head on over to CNET to read their interview with prolific MAD artist Al Jaffee and to see their exclusive debut of the new issue’s iconic fold-in.


For more exclusive previews of MAD #515, check out the sneak peeks that ran in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, MAXIM, POPMATTERS, WIRED's GEEKDAD, GAWKER’s KOTAKU, MTV GEEK, NEWSARAMA and the DC Entertainment website.


Tags: 
mad, John Ficarra, Al Jaffee
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