7.6 /10 1 Votes
Language English Publication date 2006 Pages 416 Originally published 2006 Page count 416 Country United States of America | 3.8/5 Goodreads Publisher National Lampoon Media type Print ISBN 978-1556526022 Cover artist Rick Meyerowitz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Adaptations A Futile and Stupid Gesture Similar National Lampoon The 199t, The Job of Sex, National Lampoon's Animal H, The National Lampoon, National Lampoon 1964 Hig | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Futile and Stupid Gesture: How Doug Kenney and National Lampoon Changed Comedy Forever is an American book that was published in 2006. It is a history of National Lampoon magazine and one of its three founders, Doug Kenney, during the 1970s. The book was based on numerous interviews with people who contributed to the magazine, and people who performed in The National Lampoon Radio Hour, and the stage show Lemmings.
As the book recounts, at that time the National Lampoon's performers included John Belushi, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner, all of whom subsequently went on to appear on Saturday Night Live and have careers in other media including film. Writers and artists included John Hughes, Sean Kelly, Chris Miller, P. J. O'Rourke, Tony Hendra, and Bruce McCall. The book also includes stories about the making of the movies Animal House and Caddyshack. The main title of the book is a quote from Animal House, part of a line spoken by the character Otter.
Film adaptation
In 2016, a film adaptation was announced. David Wain is directing from a script by Michael Colton and John Aboud, with Will Forte playing Doug Kenney.