Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon Review
By David Kempler
Want to Learn How to Write Good?
Growing up, I loved Mad Magazine, as did many of my contemporaries. One day, I went to the local store that sold magazines to get the latest issue. I picked it up and then noticed another magazine called National Lampoon. It had a scantily-clad woman in a leather outfit, so I had no choice but to pick it up and page through it. A couple of glances inside and I knew I had to explore further. So began my love affair with National Lampoon.
The documentary, "Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon", is a hilarious look at how the magazine came together and how it later led to the television show, "Saturday Night Live", and a slew of comedies that have made an imprint on American culture, including "Animal House", "Caddyshack", and the series of "Vacation" movies. Oh, and let's not forget "The Simpsons". Not bad, eh?
The creative people who worked there, some of whom were a bit nuts, definitely changed comedy in America, particularly by going after sacred cows and by making it dirtier. In 1970, the original staff was led by Doug Kenney, Henry Beard, and Robert Hoffman. They were exceedingly bright, hard-working, and irreverent. In addition to the magazine, they put out music albums, a radio show, and stage shows. This was a very industrious group.
Director Douglas Tirola interviews those that served on the staff of National Lampoon who look back at their time spent there. Some of their stories are hilarious. Others are sad. There are also interviews with fans who went on to become stars, like Judd Apatow and Billy Bob Thornton. What comes through over and over again is just how many bright people worked there and how it helped launch so many careers, including Bill Murray, John Belushi, John Hughes, Harold Ramis, and Chevy Chase.
The sad part of it all is the saga of co-founder Doug Kenney. He was found dead in a ravine in Hawaii. How he got there was never firmly established. Some say accident. Some say suicide. Kenney was the driving creative force of the magazine and everything that came after it, and he was depressed that his "Caddyshack" wasn't better received. If he were alive now, he would have gotten to see how revered it has become.
While there is some sadness, mostly it's a celebration of comedic brilliance. After watching it I couldn't help but look back through my memories of the magazine, and I always come back to an article by the comedically-dark Michael O'Donohue, entitled
How to Write Good, courtesy of the website
http://www.workableweb.com. After you read it, you'll have a good feel for the magazine and perhaps it will enable you to learn how to write good, too.
