Mad #266 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Hands Across America Issue - October 1986

6.5 million people participated in the event (Hands Across America) on May 25, 1986 that raised $34 million for hungry and homeless Americans.  The event also shamed President Reagan into the release of $800 million in funds that had already been approved by Congress.  The Mad editors gave this assignment to Sergio Aragones who drew 17 jokes in his regular department and the jokes broke out into seven of his marginals with Bill Gaines, Groo, Alfred E., the white spy, Frankenstein's monster and Sergio himself in the lines among many others. 

 The issue featured a "wraparound" cover by Mort Drucker showing television stars [Joan Rivers, Johnny Carson (1925-2005), Bill Cosby, Tony Danza, Fred Flintstone, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, Dr. Ruth, Bob Newhart, Ted Danson, Bob Denver (1935-2005), Ed McMahon (1923-2009), Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Mary Tyler Moore, Joan Collins, Bruce Willis, Cybill Shepherd, Alan Alda, Tom Selleck, Larry Hagman, Dan Rather, Alan Thicke, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy and The Muppets] most of whom are the subject of issue satires.  The first wraparound Mad cover was drawn by Norman Mingo (1896-1980) for the fifth anniversary issue (Mad #35).  Although eleven of the issue's articles are devoted to television parodies/satires, none of them are as good as Drucker's cover with the exception of "We'll Make a Fortune" drawn by Kurtzman & Elder.  This game show parody has the look of Mad of the early 1950s with sight gags ("chicken fat") throughout.  Note than "Vanilla Wipe" changes clothes 14 times in five pages.  And, that the wheel has at least a dozen more jokes.  I saw pi, a mugshot, M&Ms and some hand signs on one of the game boards.  [JAM  7/16/2011]

Departments:
Mr. Mom-a Mia - Boob's the Boss
Don Martin - One Thursday Morning on East 12th Street; One Thursday Morning on West 12th Street
Tuner Fishing - Mad's Cable TV Roulette
Sergio Aragones - A Mad Look at Hands Across America
Scorn on the Cos - The Cosby Show Nasty File
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Dick - We'll Make a Fortune
Past Their Prime Time - Whatever Became of ... TV Character Edition
How Now High Brow - How PBS Really Differs from Commercial TV
The Malady Lingers On - TV Theme Songs
Statues of Limitations - TV Emmy Awards We'd Like to See
Thicke to Our Stomachs - Groaning Pains
May the Force Be with Two - Upcoming TV Cop "Teams"
And Survey We Go! - Mad's Reader Opinion Poll Part I: TV

Fold-In - Pile of Crap