Fascinating History of National Lampoon Explored in ‘Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead’

Sandra Miska

The history of the comedy juggernaut that is the National Lampoon is the subject of a new documentary. “Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon” details the rise and fall of the National Lampoon magazine and those involved with it, and how it went from a small humor publication to a best-selling magazine and brand that spawned a radio show, hit movies and more.

National Lampoon was started in 1969 by two Harvard alumni, Doug Kenney and Henry Beard. Kenney and Beard both wrote for the Harvard Lampoon, a collegiate magazine that has launched the careers of many successful television writers, but, as the documentary acknowledges, has seen by few outside of the Harvard family. Kenney and Beard went on to enjoy great success with their counter-culture humor magazine that reached an audience wider than they could have ever imagined.

The title “Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead” consists of the adjectives that can be used to best describe those behind National Lampoon during the magazine’s height in an era known for its hedonism. Brilliant Beard, who is among those interviewed in the film, worked all through his waking hours, while freewheeling Kenney was more social (one of the most memorable anecdotes told about him involves his penchant for exposing himself at cocktail parties). Apparently, almost all the staffers were stoned, since one could receive a contact high simply from stepping into the National Lampoon offices in the seventies.

As with any group of creative people, egos ran high among the Lampoon gang, which in the end helped the franchise. “The National Lampoon Radio Hour,” which helped launch the careers of John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Christopher Guest, Richard Belzer, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Gilda Radner, was given to notoriously angry writer Michael O’Donoghue after a falling out with Kenney. After becoming a multi-millionaire in 1975, Kenney was about to walk away and was only convinced to stay by partner Matty Simmons with the promise of a Hollywood film, a little project that became “Animal House.” As for Beard, he took his millions and ran, with P.J. O’Rourke stepping into his shoes.

The magazine and radio show began to decline in the mid-seventies after much of its talent was lured away, mostly to “Saturday Night Live.” Kenney became depressed after his second film wasn’t quite as successful as “Animal House,” that to the 21st century viewer sounds ludicrous, considering that second film was the “Caddyshack.”

Many of those involved in National Lampoon are no longer alive, so their stories fall on others to tell, including John Belushi’s widow Judy Belushi-Pisano and Chevy Chase. In one of the documentary’s more touching scenes, Chase becomes choked up as he remembers his good friend Kenney, who died tragically at the young age of 33.

Overall, director Douglas Tirola presents a fascinating portrait of a group of young people who achieved greatness in the comedy world in the days before comics found fame with viral videos and got agents and TV show deals off their Instagram and Twitter accounts. Viewers not only hear about the comedy, but also see and hear it with inserts from the magazine and audio from the radio show and video from live performances. Memorable selections from the magazine include a fake VW Beetle ad mocking Ted Kennedy by claiming he would be president if he had only driven a Beetle, and a Vietnamese baby book, the latter from Dark Prince O’Donoghue.

“Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon” is now available on VOD and iTunes. It opens Oct. 2 in Los Angeles at the Nuart Theatre.