The magazine's logo.
MAD is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century. The magazine offers satire on all aspects of life and popular culture, politics, entertainment, and public figures. Its format is divided into a number of recurring segments such as TV and movie parodies, as well as freeform articles.
The image most strongly associated with MAD magazine is that of Alfred E. Neuman, a boy with large ears, one eye lower than the other and a gap-toothed grin, an image that had already existed for several years before appearing in the magazine. Alfred E. Neuman first appeared in MAD issue #24 from July 1955, appearing with what has become his signature motto, "What, me worry?" (written as "What? Me worry?" for that first appearance). The boy first appeared on the cover of issue #30 from December 1955 and has appeared on the cover of nearly all subsequent editions.
On September 6, 2010, a MAD TV show debuted on Cartoon Network.
References to Peanuts in MAD
MAD TV
- The May 2, 1998 episode with special guest David Boreanaz features a Peanuts and South Park animated parody called South Parknuts.
MAD (2010)
- In the MAD TV show theme song, a clay-animated version of Charlie Brown is shown.
- In the episode, "FROST / Undercover Claus", there is a parody of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The Peanuts gang gets spoofed, along with American actor Charlie Sheen.
- Charlie Brown appears in "Garfield of Dreams", as one of the comic heroes.
- Charlie Brown hurts himself online to become an Internet celebrity in "iCharlie" (a parody of iCarly).
- A Charlie Brown balloon is seen at a parade in "The Blunder Games".
- In the episode "Frankenwinnie / ParaMorgan", there is a parody of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. "The Legend of Snoopy Hollow" is a parody of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
- In the episode "The Bourne Leg-a-Turkey / PilGrimm", A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is mentioned in MAD moments.
MAD Magazine
Peanuts has been referenced in MAD Magazine multiple times over the years.
- The cover of the October 1970 issue (#138) features Alfred E. Neuman being depicted lying on top of Snoopy's doghouse, with Snoopy lying on the ground in front of it looking perturbed. The cover text reads "In this issue: MAD "puts on" the dog (and the rest of the "Peanuts" gang)." The cover article, "If 'Peanuts' Were a Weekly TV Series", explores areas such as "Young Doctor Brown", a parody of medical dramas, "Peanut Squad", a parody of The Mod Squad, "Peanuts Place", a parody of Peyton Place, "Charlie Brown, Attorney for the Defenseless", a parody of courtroom dramas, and "The Chuck Brown Show", a parody of variety shows.
- The cover of the May 2000 issue (#393) features Charlie Brown strangling Lucy while Woodstock sees in concern. The cover text reads "The final Peanuts episodes you never saw!" The cover article of the same name solves many famous situations in the comic strip, such as Charlie Brown and the kite, the relationship between Lucy and Schroeder, Charlie kicking the football, Linus and his security blanket, Pepperment Patty and Marcie's relationship.
References to MAD in Peanuts
Charlie Brown sees Alfred E. Neuman in place of the sun in the strip from July 5, 1973.
In a storyline from June and July 1973, Charlie Brown worries that he is cracking up when he sees a huge baseball instead of the sun. He goes on to see more baseballs in place of other round objects. He also develops a rash on his head which makes him look like a baseball and wears a sack over his face to hide it. Nevertheless, he becomes camp president at his summer camp while wearing the sack. In the strip from July 5, 1973, after the rash on his head has disappeared, Charlie Brown goes outside to see if the sun still looks like a baseball to him. He sees Alfred E. Neuman in place of the sun. The storyline also appears as a segment in the 1983 TV special It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown.