National Lampoon, Inc.

:"This is about a modern company. For the original magazine, its related projects and its original company, please see National Lampoon (magazine)."

National Lampoon, Inc. (amex|NLN) is a company that was formed in 2002 in order to be able to use the historical recognizability of the brand name "National Lampoon" in humor, comedy and entertainment [ [http://www.laweekly.com/news/deadline-hollywood/the-punch-line-please/10156/ LA Weekly - News - The Punch Line, Please - Nikke Finke - The Essential Online Resource for Los Angeles ] ] .

The role of National Lampoon Inc. in the words of its prospectus is to "develop, produce, provide creative services and distribute National Lampoon branded comedic content through a broad range of media platforms." Since its start in 2002, the company has overhauled its corporate infrastructure several times; the "National Lampoon World Headquarters" is currently located in West Hollywood, California.

National Lampoon Press

National Lampoon Inc releases humor books and material under the umbrella of "National Lampoon Press." These include short story collections, republished omnibuses of old National Lampoon magazine articles, movie companion books, and parody self-help guides.

National Lampoon on radio

" was added to XM Satellite Radio in October 2006.

National Lampoon.com and the web

The company's website, [http://www.NationalLampoon.com NationalLampoon.com] , has been awarded "Best of the Web" from the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, USA Today, CNN and the Wall Street Journal, and was twice nominated by the Webby Awards for "Best Humor Site" in 2001 and 2005. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2006_June_19/ai_n16485710 The Biggest Brand in Comedy Relaunches the Biggest Web Presence in Comedy: National Lampoon.com; Twice Webby-Nominated Site Features Work of Xylem Interactive and JamboWorks] , "Business Wire", June 19, 2006.] In 2002, the content of National Lampoon.com was officially registered into the Smithsonian Institution for best exemplifying American satire in the weeks following the 9-11 attacks. The website currently emphasizes original video content, both in-house and freelance, spread to viral video hosting sites such as YouTube.

In addition to the content created by The National Lampoon staff, "The National Lampoon Humor Network" is an affiliation of almost fifty comedy websites owned or partnered with National Lampoon. Collectively, they drew approximately 5 million monthly viewers in May 2007. This format has given it a consistent Comscore rating of #1 amongst comedy websites, barely beating out Comedy Central's web presence at #2. [ Andrew Adam Newman. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/business/media/25lampoon.html?ex=1185768000&en=6aa1fc052e6e2748&ei=5070 National Lampoon Stakes Revival on Making Own Films] , "New York Times", June 25, 2007.]

On August 19, 2008 National Lampoon issued a press release stating they have bought AllModelZone.com, which hosts models and photographers portfolios.

National Lampoon on television

Originally formed in 2002, the "National Lampoon College Network" was revived in 2006 as a two-hour block of weekly television programming that is broadcast to colleges and universities. The format is similar to MTVu, the college-focused division of MTV. [ [http://www.nationallampooncollege.com/ The Official National Lampoon Networks Website] ]

National Lampoon and feature films

After its purchase by J2 Communications in 1991, the National Lampoon franchise became predominately a name licensing company, in which the company was paid for use of its brand on titles such as "National Lampoon's Senior Trip", "Dorm Daze", "Blackball", and "Barely Legal". Although this enterprise salvaged the company from bankruptcy, some believe it damaged the reputation of National Lampoon as a source of respected comedy. When the company was purchased from J2 Communications, this practice was eventually discontinued in 2007, with the last "licensed" film being starring Steve-O.

In June 2007 National Lampoon announced its intention to finance, produce and distribute its own feature films, something it has not done regularly since the early 1990s. In an interview with the New York Times, Dan Laikin, current CEO of National Lampoon, Inc., stated that "the company really had just been a licensing company in the ’90s. We were just licensing the name and we had no creative input. When I came in, we had to re-energize the brand and cut back on the licensing, because the only way to take control of the brand was to make sure that ultimately we put it on projects that we are proud of." [ Andrew Adam Newman. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/business/media/25lampoon.html?ex=1185768000&en=6aa1fc052e6e2748&ei=5070 National Lampoon Stakes Revival on Making Own Films] , "New York Times", June 25, 2007.] Eventually, the company hopes to release four of its own movies annually and acquire up to eight more for distribution. Announced projects include "" and "."

National Lampoon has also begun to purchase independent films and re-release them under the distinctive title of "National Lampoon Presents". The first in this series was "National Lampoon Presents The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell", which was released in 2007.

National Lampoon on the stage

In Fall of 2007, National Lampoon revived its live sketch comedy variety show, "National Lampoon's Lemmings" for a nationwide theatrical tour. The show consists of a multimedia presentation of live sketches written and performed by the cast that are integrated with related comedy videos. [ http://www.nationallampoon.com/lemmings/ Official Website for National Lampoon's Lemmings 2007 ]

National Lampoon's Lemmings is currently in production with ManiaTV.com on a half-hour web-based sketch comedy show.

List of National Lampoon Inc movies

#"Van Wilder" (2002)
#"Repli-Kate" (2002)
#"Blackball" (2003)
#"Gold Diggers" (2003)
#"Dorm Daze" (2003)
#"Barely Legal" (2003)
#"Thanksgiving Family Reunion" (2003)
#"" (2003)
#"Mr. Wong" (2004)
#"Lost Reality" (2004)
#"Going the Distance" (2004)
#"" (2005)
#"Tooned Up" (2005)
#"Best of Romp" (2005)
#"Adam & Eve" (2005)
#"Strip Poker" (2005)
#"Teed Off" (2005)
#"Pucked" (2006)
#"Pledge This!" (2006)
#"Last Guy On Earth" (2006)
#"Wannabes" (2006)
#"" (2006)
#"Dorm Daze 2" (2006)
#"Spring Break 24/7" (2006)
#"" (2006)
#"Teed Off Too" (2006)
#"" (2007)
#"" (2007)
#"Bag Boy" (2008)
#"Jake's Booty Call" (2008)
#"" (2008)
#"" (2008)
#"" (2008) [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/national_lampoons_christmas_vacation_2_cousin_eddies_big_island_adventure/news/1676825/]
#"Homo Erectus" (2008)
#"" (2008)

Other media

National Lampoon's Strip Poker

Released on pay-per-view in 2005 after being filmed at the Hedonism II nudist resort in Negril, Jamaica. The one-hour episodes featured various Playboy, WWE, and pin-up models competing in strip poker match-ups.

National Lampoon's Knucklehead Video

A video-sharing and social networking site featuring viral video content of extreme sports bloopers, "drunken debauchery" and the self-explanatory 'show us your butts'.

National Lampoon's Eye for an Eye

A syndicated television program that provides a variation on popular thirty minute courtroom reality shows.

References

External links

* [http://www.knuckleheadvideo.com/ National Lampoon's Knucklehead Video]
* [http://www.nationallampoon.com/strip_poker/ "National Lampoon's Strip Poker"]
* [http://www.nationallampoonradio.com/ "National Lampoon Comedy Radio"]
* [http://newyorker.com/talk/content/?031215ta_talk_friend "National Lampoon"'s Former Creative Staff of Steve Brykman, Joe Oesterle, Sean Crespo, and Mason Brown sell themselves on "Ebay" after being laid off]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/arts/03tapp.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=7912f064b27caa5b&ex=1278043200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss "National Lampoon" Grows Up By Dumbing Down"] by Jake Tapper, "The New York Times", July 3 2005.
* [http://www.imdb.com/keyword/national-lampoon-series/ List of "National Lampoon" movies]
* [http://www.nationallampoon.com/ website for National Lampoon Inc]