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Exclusive look at first MAD of 2012

On Tuesday, MAD Magazine’s first issue of 2012 will be officially hitting newsstands.

MAD’s official blog, THE IDIOTICAL, has been teasing who’s on the issue’s cover for weeks now. Curious to find out who it is? Then stop reading this and head on over to THE IDIOTICAL to see for yourself!

Want more sneak peeks at the issue? Then check out THE HUFFINGTON POST’s reveal of “Banana Republican,” a mock fashion catalog that features Michelle Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, John Boehner, Ron Paul and Mitch McConnell.

And if you’re a fan of The Hunger Games, MTV GEEK has an exclusive first look at MAD’s “Dreadfully Undercooked Hunger Games outtakes.” May Alfred E. Neuman be ever in your favor!

Speaking from the magazine’s international headquarters in New York City, MAD editor John Ficarra said, “There’s no question that MAD #514 is our most recent issue. And since the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED swimsuit issue will probably be sold out by the time you get to the newsstand, why go home empty handed? You might as well pick up a copy of MAD.”

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john ficarra, mad magazine, MTV Geek, the huffington post, The Hunger Games, The Idiotical

Holiday Gift Guide: The MAD 20

Last week, we told you about how THE HUFFINGTON POST revealed both the cover and top five items in this year’s “MAD 20.”

In case you’re unfamiliar, the “MAD 20” is what we here at the offices call MAD Magazine’s annual “20 Dumbest People, Events and Things” of the year issue.

This year’s issue may not hit newsstands until Tuesday, but exclusive previews of various items that made the list have been popping up all over the Internet over the past few days in places like THE WALL STREET JOURNAL’s SPEAKEASY BLOG, POPMATTERS, MAXIM, AIN’T IT COOL NEWS, IGN, MTV GEEK, HOOPS HYPE, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES and NEWSARAMA.

We asked MAD’s Vice President and Executive Editor John Ficarra to tell us why he believes this year’s MAD 20 would be the perfect gift to receive this year. After a long, long, long wait, he finally thought of a list of five reasons:

1) Rolled up, it's long and cylindrical, making it literally a perfect stocking stuffer -- unlike, say, an anvil.

2) There’s nothing better than an issue of MAD if you need kindling to start a fire to roast your chestnuts.

3) Everyone knows it’s always better to give than to receive, especially if it’s your issue of MAD you’re unloading.

4) It sends a very clear holiday message: “Next year, don’t include me in your freakin’ ‘Secret Santa,’ okay?!?”

5) What finer way to celebrate the true meaning of the season than 56 pages of biting satire, insightful parody and fart jokes, fart jokes, fart jokes?!?!?

So this holiday season, don’t be an idiot like us and give the gift of the MAD 20. And while you’re at it, pick up a copy for yourself too. You look like you could use it.

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john ficarra, mad magazine

Everybody's Talking about the MAD 20, Wednesday Afternoon (ET) Edition

It’s that time of year again!

As you may already know, MAD MAGAZINE annually releases an issue that counts down the “20 Dumbest People, Events & Things” of the year. As in previous years, there were no shortage of candidates. This year, the issue will be hitting newsstands on December 20th (and readers recycling pile on December 21st.)

Yesterday, THE HUFFINGTON POST exclusively revealed both the cover and top five items in this year’s “MAD 20”, (a move that instantly qualifies them for MAD’s next 20 Dumbest list!)

Speaking from MAD’s international headquarters in New York City, MAD editor John Ficarra said, “This year we’ve been blessed with some especially fine examples of dumbness – and cursed that we had to live through them! Here’s hoping that next year won’t be filled with so much dumbness. But wait, that would make our job next year harder. Suddenly, I don’t like the way this interview is going. Get out of my office!”

Check out their coverage to see who and what took the top spots and who graces this year’s cover. I’d give you a hint but … nevermind.

To be continued ...

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huffington post, john ficarra, mad magazine

GREEN LANTERN gone MAD

GREEN LANTERN is everywhere this week. As the highly anticipated Warner Bros. Pictures' film based on the DC Comics super hero hits theaters tomorrow, even the folks at MAD Magazine have joined in the excitement.

Alfred E. Neuman poses as the GREEN LANTERN on the cover of the August issue of MAD Magazine (on stands 6/28). Here's what MAD editor John Ficarra has to say about it: "You've read the comic books, you'll see the movie, now buy the magazine. Actually, if you just do the last, that's ok with us!