A futile and stupid gesture : how Doug Kenney and National lampoon changed comedy forever
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 379-391) and index.

The first complete history of the immensely popular magazine and its brilliant and eccentric characters. With stories of the comedy scene in New York City in the 1970s and National Lampoon's place at the center of it, author Karp shows how the magazine spawned a popular radio show and two long-running theatrical productions that helped launch the careers of John Belushi, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Gilda Radner and went on to inspire Saturday Night Live. More than 130 interviews were conducted with people connected to Kenney and the magazine, including Chevy Chase, John Hughes, P.J. O'Rourke, Tony Hendra, Sean Kelly, Chris Miller, and Bruce McCall. These interviews and behind-the-scenes stories about the making of both Animal House and Caddyshack help to capture the nostalgia, humor, and popular culture that National Lampoon inspires.--From publisher description.