Are Mad and Simpsons Friends?

Ive Seen some MAD magazines where they promote the simpsons and a lot of times where the simpsons promote MAD like when bart joins the boyband. And when marge is in jail and that lady has a MAD fold in as a tattoo on ther back etc. What do you think?

No, the Simpsons writers do not like MAD because it is a pile of crap. They usually take the piss out of it

Originally Posted by BartSim

where the simpsons promote MAD like when bart joins the boyband.

that was hardly promoting mad. they ridiculed it

And Marge in Chains was just a fleeting joke, not promoting it at all

"The Simpsons" parodies anything and everything, and since MAD does the same thing, but with less sophistication than "The Simpsons" does, it's an easy target for the show.

NYC vs. Homer Simpson's mention/reference to MAD seemed to be pretty reverent, and in good humour.

MAD and Alfred E. Neuman are pop culture icons. The show always references pop culture.

They have parodied MAD quite a lot though:

City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson
Marge in Chains
Team Homer
New Kids on the Blech...

Okay, that's only four, but that's still a lot considering it's a magazine that I don't know of a single person that owns an issue.

They've also mentioned it in Separate Vocations.

I think the references to MAD are more affectionate than anything else. Certainly they make fun of some stuff (the lame-o "Lighter Side" feature, the dated stories in the "Super Specials"), as they make fun of everything, but it seems to me that it's done out of love; many of the writers probably grew up reading MAD and one of the writers, Jay Kogen, is the son of longtime MAD writer Arnie Kogen.

I'm surprised they've never parodied Cracked magazine. Cracked is just as bad.

They did mention "Cracked", though, in Separate Vocations.

Are Mad and Simpsons friends? Well, they do have a similar sense of humour, but I think Mad is more worried about socking it to that Spiro Agnew guy.

In "Bart of Darkness", we see a Mad magazine cover reading "N.Y.P.D. Blecch".

Originally Posted by Handsome Peter

They did mention "Cracked", though, in Separate Vocations.

Oh, I never noticed that. Thanks. I'll have to watch the episode again.

the writers don't hate MAD homer reads MAD and i read it too and it is FUNNY

Are they "friends"? I was expecting atleast four or five sarcastic jokes about how a television show can't be personified to have friends, but I suppose I'm too use to the insults on here.

I don't really think it's an opinion thing, just when they have the chance to make a funny joke they do.

Sponge Bob on the other hand...

I disagree. Loads of magazines advertise The Simpsons and promote their merchandise. Mad is no different.

/

They are great friends. They go out to dinner every thursday night.

I would guess that a lot of the writers grew up reading Mad, so I'd say its all lighthearted.

Originally Posted by Silverlimit

I'm surprised they've never parodied Cracked magazine. Cracked is just as bad.

Cracked is just a horrible awful copy of mad

Sergio Aragones was also a "guest star" in Simpsons Comics #100. He drew a picture for it. It was awesome.

Originally Posted by Dances In Underwear

They are great friends. They go out to dinner every thursday night.

There's that sarcastic, dry wit I have grown to love!

The parodies are definitely affectionate. MAD was brilliant for a long long time and paved the way for quite a lot of things, such as The Simpsons. What do you think Matt Groening was reading when he was 12 years old?

Don't quite understand the animosity toward MAD Magazine here, for me its the perfect magazine to read in your pre-pubescence and teens (and even in your 50's if you want) as it does a great job of satirizing culture in a way that kids can appreciate. It beats the shit out of Teenbop or whatever.

Teenbop and Mad are not even in the same ballpark.

...not that I've ever read teenbop...

I must say, I think OFF likes Mad. Why wouldn't they? They're both major satirical cornerstones in America. If not now, then when they were in their prime.

I didn't even know if Mad was still around or not. I dont see their magazines anymore on stands.

Originally Posted by arlen_texas

I think the references to MAD are more affectionate than anything else. Certainly they make fun of some stuff (the lame-o "Lighter Side" feature, the dated stories in the "Super Specials"), as they make fun of everything, but it seems to me that it's done out of love; many of the writers probably grew up reading MAD and one of the writers, Jay Kogen, is the son of longtime MAD writer Arnie Kogen.

Absolutely (though Arnie hasn't been involved w/ the mag for decades.)
Matt and many of the early writers have said that they grew up reading, loving, and emulating Mad. Of course, that was the 'early' (pre-'80s) Mad, which was much, much better. It set the benchmark for parody, satire, and absurd humor, and inspired more calls for its boycotting and censorship than OFF ever did. And it was one of the only showcases for anti-authoritarian satire in the '50s and early '60s, when these OFF writers were reading it.

The various mentions in OFF are appreciative tributes, rather than biting satires (Though the 'writing room' satire in "Blecch" (the title itself is a Mad tribute) is a knowing poke at how 'toothless' the mag is today.)

Originally Posted by Mohammed Jafar

that was hardly promoting mad. they ridiculed it

O Yeah! The Simpsons ridiculed MAD when Homer called them the kings of parody in the NY episode

what do you mean they ridicule,parody it? MAD promoted the simpsons in their lion king parody, and the drawings look like they came from Matt Greoning. and the simpsons have called MAD the demented kings of parody, MAD only call themselves demented in other words MAD. The Simpsons read MAD mag. Promoted how they turn celebrities and tv characters funny. Nelson=Smellson