Mad #262 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Beaver Cleaver Issue - April 1986

The new editors started the "A Bad Case of the Re-Runs Department" in Mad #259 ("Gigglin's Island") and continued it in Mad #260 ("The Crummymooners").  I like these retrospective parodies but they are too short - two pages.  One would think that a classic television show would deserve at least the five-page treatment that an awful movie ("Rockhead IV") and an awful tv series ("Highway to Heaving") received in this issue.  I thought that "Reprieve It For Beaver" was the best of the two-page re-run parodies to date.  "Ettie Hassle" is now a teacher and Beaver thinks he saw an alien.  Beaver's mom is worried but she would really like to have an affair with "Oddly Nelson" who is looking for a job.  The mystery is solved as "Bilk Cosby" arrives as a member of an "alien" race rarely seen in 1950s situation comedies.  Good job by writer Dennis Snee and artist Angelo Torres in the abbreviated format.

The best article in the issue is the Dr. Seuss by the brilliant Mr. Frank Jacobs ("The Real-Life, Tell-It-Like-It-Is Dr. Seuss").  Our children learn a lot from Dr. S but Mr. J proves that there is so much more to be learned.

Look for Publisher Gaines and Editor Meglin in "The Lighter Side of Divorce" by Dave Berg.  Artist Berg was at his best when poking fun at Mad staffers.  He was at his worst when making stale stereotype jokes such as "The Lighter Side of Vanity."  [JAM 6/29/2011]

Departments:
A Rolling Stallone Gathers Even More Gross - Rockhead IV
Disc-Claimers - Badly Needed Warning Labels for Rock Albums
Intercom-ic Relief - Announcements of the Day - Richard M. Nixon High School
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
A Perfect 10 Count - Drama on Page 19
The Jot Set - Reminder Lists of the Rich and Famous
Don Martin - One Fine Day with King Kong
A Freudian Script - Will You Make a Good Psychiatrist?
A Bad Case of the Re-Runs - Reprieve It For Beaver
Carrying the Olympic Torture - Extinct Sporting Events from Days Gone By
Capitol Games - Mad's Congressional Record Puzzle Page
The Cat Is Old Hat - The Real Life Tell-It-Like-It-Is Dr. Seuss
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Utilize-Capades - Mad's Dual Purpose Clothing Accessories
Sergio Aragones - A Mad Look at Pro Wrestling
Miracle Dip - Highway to Heaving

Fold-In - Concert Tickets