Editing National Lampoon (magazine) (section)

==Corporate history==
=== Twenty First Century Communications ===
The company that owned and published the magazine was called [[Twenty First Century Communications, Inc.]]. At the outset, [[Jerry Taylor (publisher)|Gerald L. "Jerry" Taylor]] was the magazine's publisher, followed by William T. Lippe. The business side was controlled by [[Matty Simmons]], who was [[Chair (official)|chairman of the board]] and [[CEO]] of Twenty First Century Communications.

=== 1973–1975 creative and commercial zenith ===
The magazine was considered by many to be at its creative zenith in the period 1973–1975.<ref name=NYT2005 /> During this period, the magazine regularly published "special editions" which were sold simultaneously on [[newsstand]]s. Some of the special editions were "best-of" omnibus collections; others were entirely original. Additional projects included a calendar, a songbook, a collection of transfer designs for T-shirts, and a number of books. From time to time, the magazine advertised Lampoon-related merchandise for sale, including specially-designed T-shirts. The magazine sold yellow binders with the Lampoon logo, designed to store a year's worth of issues.

It was also during this time that ''[[Lemmings (National Lampoon)|National Lampoon: Lemmings]]'' show was staged and ''[[The National Lampoon Radio Hour]]'' was broadcast, bringing interest and acclaim to the National Lampoon brand<ref name=NYT2005 /> with magazine talent like writer [[Michael O'Donoghue]]. Comedy stars [[John Belushi]], [[Chevy Chase]], [[Gilda Radner]], [[Bill Murray]], [[Brian Doyle Murray]], [[Harold Ramis]], and [[Richard Belzer]] first gained national attention for their performances in those productions.

=== 1975 founders exit ===
In 1975, the three founders Kenney, Beard, and Hoffman left the magazine,<ref name=NYT2005 /> taking advantage of a [[buyout clause]] in their contracts for a shared total of $7.5 million<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Hendra | first = Tony | author-link = Tony Hendra | date = June 1, 2002 | title = Morning in America: the rise and fall of the National Lampoon | magazine = [[Harper's Magazine]] | url = http://www.harpers.org/archive/2002/06/0079207}} {{Subscription required}}</ref> (although Kenney remained on the magazine's masthead as a senior editor until about 1976).

At about the same time, writers Michael O'Donoghue and [[Anne Beatts]] left NL to join ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', as did Chase, Belushi, and Radner, who left the troupe to join the original septet of ''SNL''{{'}}s [[Not Ready For Prime Time Players]].<ref name=Wayne />{{efn|As described in multiple sources, including the documentary ''[[Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead (film)|Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead]]'', [[Matty Simmons]] "didn't bite when NBC invited him to work on its planned Saturday night comedy show. This, of course, became ''[[Saturday Night Live]].''"<ref name=NJcom>{{cite web|title=National Lampoon's rise and fall |website=[[NJ.com]]|department= Jersey Retro: ENTERTAINMENT |date=Apr 22, 2016|first=Mark |last=Voger |agency=NJ Advance Media |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2016/04/national_lampoon.html}}</ref>}} Bill Murray replaced Chase when Chase left ''SNL'' after the first season, and Brian Doyle Murray later appeared as an ''SNL'' regular.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present|edition=8|date=2003|isbn=9780345455420|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|last2=Marsh|first2=Earle|publisher=Ballantine Books}}</ref>

Harold Ramis went on to star in the Canadian sketch show ''[[Second City Television|SCTV]]'' and assumed the role as its head writer, then left after season 1 to be a prolific director, writer, and actor, working on such films as ''[[Animal House]]'', ''[[Caddyshack]]'', ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', ''[[Groundhog Day (film)|Groundhog Day]]'' and many more. Brian Doyle Murray has had roles in dozens of films, and Belzer was an [[Emmy Award]]-winning TV actor.

=== ''Heavy Metal'' / HM Communications ===
{{main|Heavy Metal (magazine)}}
After a European trip in 1975 by [[Tony Hendra]] expressing interest in European comics, NL's New York offices attracted significant European comics material. In September 1976 editor [[Sean Kelly (writer)|Sean Kelly]] singled out the relatively new French anthology ''[[Métal hurlant]]'' ({{literal translation|lk=yes|Howling Metal}}, though Kelly translated it as "Screaming Metal")<ref name=TCJ94>{{cite news|title=Screaming Metal|pages= 58–84|work=The Comics Journal|number=94|date=Oct 1984}}</ref> and brought it to the attention of Twenty First Century Communications, Inc. president Leonard Mogel, who was departing for Germany and France to jump-start the French edition of ''National Lampoon''.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 1977 |title=Heavy Metal Preview |magazine=National Lampoon |editor1-last=Hendra |editor1-first=Tony |editor2-last=Kelly |editor2-first=Sean |publisher=National Lampoon Inc. |pages=91–102}}</ref> Upon Mogel's return from Paris, he reported that the French publishers had agreed to an English-language version.<ref>{{cite news |last= Lofficier |first=Jean-Marc |author-link=Jean-Marc Lofficier |date=16 March 1996 |title=Giving Credit to Mogel |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-16-ca-47553-story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220131171400/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-16-ca-47553-story.html |archive-date=31 January 2022 |url-status=live |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

''Heavy Metal'' debuted in the US with an April 1977 issue, as a glossy, full-color monthly published by '''HM Communications, Inc.''', a subsidiary of Twenty First Century Communications, Inc.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Graphic Fantasy Magazine|page=1|work=Locus|volume=10|number= 2 (no. 199) |date=Feb 1977}}</ref> The cover of the initial issue declared itself to be "From the people who bring you the ''National Lampoon''", and the issue primarily featured reprints from ''Métal hurlant'', as well as material from ''National Lampoon''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Origins|page=3|work=Heavy Metal|number=1|date=Apr 1977}}</ref> Since the color pages from ''Métal hurlant'' had already been shot in France, the budget to reproduce them in the US version was greatly reduced.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

===''Animal House'' and shift of focus ===
In 1978, after the huge success of ''[[National Lampoon's Animal House]]'', the company shifted focus from the magazine to NL-produced films. According to [[Tony Hendra]], "...[[Matty Simmons]] decided this particular goose could lay larger, better quality gold eggs if it emulated what he saw as ''Animal House,'' by which he meant adolescent.... The significance of the choice that was made in 1978 cannot be underestimated."<ref name=NYT2005 /> In late 1979, now only publishing ''National Lampoon'' and ''Heavy Metal'', Twenty First Century Communications, Inc. was renamed '''National Lampoon, Inc.'''<ref>{{cite news |last=Dougherty |first=Philip H. |author-link=Philip H. Dougherty |date=12 September 1979 |title=Advertising |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/12/archives/advertising-mccanns-head-lists-priorities-interpublic-completes.html |work=[[New York Times]] |at=sec. D, p.12}}</ref>

From 1982 to 1985, the company produced five more National Lampoon films: ''[[National Lampoon's Class Reunion]]'' (1982), ''[[National Lampoon's Movie Madness]]'' (1982), ''[[National Lampoon's Vacation]]'' (1983), ''[[Joy of Sex (film)|National Lampoon's Joy of Sex]]'' (1984), and ''[[National Lampoon's European Vacation]]'' (1985).

National Lampoon, Inc. made itself available for sale in late 1986. Upstart video distributor [[Vestron Video|Vestron Inc.]] attempted a takeover bid in December of that year, but board members rejected the offer.<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 3, 1986|title=Natl. Lampoon Nixes Takeover By Vestron|pages=38, 40|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> A short time later, the company board "agreed to be acquired by a Los Angeles-based group of private investors in a deal valued at more than $12 million."<ref name=NYT19861212>{{cite news|department=COMPANY NEWS|title=Offer Accepted By Lampoon|date=Dec 12, 1986|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/12/business/company-news-offer-accepted-by-lampoon.html?smid=url-share}}</ref> The group, calling itself "N.L. Acquisitions Inc." offered a bid of $7.25 per share (the company stock at that point trading at $6.125 a share).<ref name=NYT19861212 /> A few days later, "Giggle Acquisition Partnership No. 1," whose members included actor [[Bruce Willis]], "hinted ... that it might make a [[hostile bid]]" for the company.<ref>{{cite news|department=COMPANY NEWS|title=Group Weighs Lampoon Bid|date=Dec 17, 1986|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/17/business/company-news-group-weighs-lampoon-bid.html?smid=url-share}}</ref> Ultimately, nothing came of these bids, and Simmons remained in control of the board.

In 1989, the company produced ''[[National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation]]''.

=== Grodnik/Matheson takeover===
In 1988–1989, the company was the subject of a [[hostile takeover]]. On December 29, 1988, film producer [[Daniel Grodnik]] and actor [[Tim Matheson]]  (who played "Otter" in the magazine's first big hit, the 1978 film ''National Lampoon's [[Animal House]]'') filed with the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]] that their production company, Grodnick/Matheson Co., had acquired voting control of 21.3 percent of National Lampoon Inc. stock and wanted to gain management control.<ref>{{cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=December 30, 1988 |title=A Funny Twist for National Lampoon Inc. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1988/12/30/a-funny-twist-for-national-lampoon-inc/72c30398-da18-44ca-a5a6-a181b0bf90d0/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220201143828/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1988/12/30/a-funny-twist-for-national-lampoon-inc/72c30398-da18-44ca-a5a6-a181b0bf90d0/ |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> They were named to the company's board in January 1989, and eventually took control of the company by purchasing the ten-percent share of Simmons, who departed the company.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=March 17, 1989 |title=An Actor Acquires Control of National Lampoon Inc. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/17/business/the-media-business-an-actor-acquires-control-of-national-lampoon-inc.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |at=sec.D, p.5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Delugach |first=Al |date=March 17, 1989 |title=Film Producers Matheson and Grodnik Buy Control of National Lampoon Inc. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-17-fi-1746-story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220201150154/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-17-fi-1746-story.html |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |url-status=live |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

Grodnik and Matheson became the co-chairmen/co-CEOs. During their tenure, the stock went up from under $2 to $6, and the magazine was able to double its monthly ad pages. The company moved its headquarters from New York to Los Angeles to focus on film and television. The publishing operation stayed in New York.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===J2 Communications era===
In 1990, Grodnik and Matheson sold the company (and more importantly, the rights to the [[brand name]] "National Lampoon") to [[J2 Communications]] (a company previously known for marketing [[Tim Conway]]'s ''[[Tim Conway#Dorf|Dorf]]'' videos), headed by James P. Jimirro.<ref>{{cite news|title=J2 Buys Lampoon|page= 10|work=[[The Comics Journal]] |number=137 |date=September 1990}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=10 March 1990 |title=National Lampoon Acquisition Set |author=Staff writer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/10/business/company-news-national-lampoon-acquisition-set.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |at=sec.1, p.33}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/10/26/New-owner-takes-over-National-Lampoon/5107656913600/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220201185503/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/10/26/New-owner-takes-over-National-Lampoon/5107656913600/ |archive-date=1 February 2022 |url-status=live |title=New owner takes over National Lampoon |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=26 October 1990 |website=United Press International}}</ref> According to Jimirro, at that point, National Lampoon was "a moribund company that had been losing money since the early 1980s."<ref name=UPI1993 />
The property was considered valuable only as a [[brand|brand name]] that could be licensed out to other companies.<ref name=VanityFair2022 /> The magazine itself was issued erratically and rarely from 1991 onwards; its final print publication was November 1998. (Meanwhile, in May 1992, J2 Communications sold ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' to cartoonist and publisher [[Kevin Eastman]].)<ref>{{cite news|title=Eastman Buying Heavy Metal|page= 23 |work= The Comics Journal|number=148 |date=Feb 1992|department=Newswatch}}</ref>

In 1991, J2 Communications began selling [[film rights]] to the "National Lampoon" name;<ref>{{cite news|title=J2 Sells Lampoon Film Rights|page=34|work=The Comics Journal|number=146 |date=Nov 1991|department=Newswatch}}</ref> it was paid for the use of the brand on such films as ''[[Loaded Weapon 1|National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1]]'' (1993), ''[[National Lampoon's Senior Trip]]'' (1995), ''[[National Lampoon's Golf Punks]]'' (1998), ''[[Van Wilder|National Lampoon's Van Wilder]]'' (2002), ''[[Repli-Kate|National Lampoon's Repli-Kate]]'' (2002), ''[[Blackball (film)|National Lampoon's Blackball]]'' (2003), and ''[[National Lampoon Presents: Jake's Booty Call]]'' (2003).{{efn|The company was not involved in ''[[Vegas Vacation]]'' (1997), the fourth installment in National Lampoon's [[National Lampoon's Vacation (film series)|''Vacation'' film series]]. ''Vegas Vacation'' was the first theatrical ''Vacation'' film not to carry the ''National Lampoon'' label or a screenwriting credit from [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]]. Also, it is the only National Lampoon film to be released in the 1990s, and the final film released before ''National Lampoon'' magazine folded.}} During this period, the company also licensed the Lampoon brand for five [[Television film|made-for-television movies]], and one [[direct-to-video]] production. Although the licensing deals salvaged the company from bankruptcy,<ref name=UPI1993>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/11/30/National-Lampoons-parent-moves-into-black/9040754635600/ph|title=National Lampoon's parent moves into black|work=UPI|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en}}</ref> many believe it damaged National Lampoon's reputation as a source of respected comedy.<ref name=NYT2005 /><ref name=VanityFair2022 />

In 1998, the magazine contract was renegotiated and, in a sharp reversal, J2 Communications was then prohibited from publishing future issues.<ref name=VanityFair2022 /> J2, however, still owned the rights to the brand name, which it continued to franchise out to other users.<ref name=VanityFair2022 />

=== National Lampoon Inc. ===
{{main|National Lampoon, Inc.}}
In 2002, the use of the Lampoon brand name and the rights to republish old material were sold<ref name=LATimes-2001>{{cite news|title=Chief of J2 Communications to Resign, Sell His Shares|url=http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/j2-communications |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208101043/http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/j2-communications|archive-date=Dec 8, 2015|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date= March 7, 2001|agency=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref> to a group of investors headed by [[Dan Laikin]] and [[Paul Skjodt]]. They formed a new, and otherwise unrelated, company called [[National Lampoon, Inc.]] Jimirro stayed on as CEO, serving until 2005.<ref name=VanityFair2022>{{Cite magazine |last=Wallace |first=Benjamin |date=2017-05-01 |title=Can Anyone Repair National Lampoon's Devastated Brand? |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/05/can-anyone-repair-national-lampoon |access-date=2022-07-11 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Laikin aimed to revive the brand's heyday spirit, engaging original contributors like [[Matty Simmons]] and [[Chris Miller (writer)|Chris Miller]]. The company expanded, acquiring [[Burly Bear Network]] and initiating original programming. However, financial losses persisted, reaching millions annually. Amid chaotic office scenes, Laikin's inclusive hiring fostered camaraderie but struggled to attract top talent. Despite efforts to stabilize and relocate to Hollywood, financial woes persisted. Laikin stepped down in 2008, replaced by investor [[Tim Durham]], who faced scrutiny for lavish spending and questionable tactics. Scandals plagued leadership, including Laikin's stock manipulation scheme and Durham's Ponzi scheme involvement. Legal battles ensued, culminating in first Laikin and then Durham's imprisonment.<ref name=VanityFair2022 />

In 2012, Alan Donnes took over and revitalized the company, distancing it from controversies.<ref name=VanityFair2022 />

=== PalmStar Media ===
[[PalmStar Media]] acquired National Lampoon in 2017. In 2020, National Lampoon sued its then-president, Evan Shapiro, for fraud, alleging in New York federal court that he owed more than $3 million for surreptitiously funneling the company's intellectual property and money from deals with [[Quibi]], [[Disney+]], and [[Comedy Central]] Digital into companies he controlled.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Lampoon's $3M Fraud Suit Against Ex-Prez No Joke|work=[[Law360]]|first=Hannah |last=Albarazi|date=Nov 6, 2020|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1326441/national-lampoon-s-3m-fraud-suit-against-ex-prez-no-joke|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Shapiro later claimed that National Lampoon Co-CEO Kevin Frakes had bullied him out of a job.<ref name=Law360>{{cite news |title=Ex-Nat'l Lampoon Prez Claims Execs, Attys Bullied Him |work=[[Law360]] |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1336406/ex-nat-l-lampoon-prez-claims-execs-attys-bullied-him |url-access=subscription |date=Dec 10, 2020|first=Lauren|last=Berg}}</ref>