Some of those tabloids have fun puzzles in them from which you can win money—if you’re lucky enough to have your name chosen and you solve the puzzle correctly.
My favorite headline from one of those rags (and yes, I know it’s quite politically incorrect, so don’t write in): “Midget trains for NASA in clothes dryer.” Saw that as a kid and I’ve never gotten over it.
I love the tabloid headlines:“Madonna Proves Virginity!”“Man Eats Minivan In Record Three Days!”“Octagenarian Gives Birth To Fruit Bats!”“Country Star Trampled By Hogs!”
Most of the tabloid news is about dead people anyway. How their lives were and the dark secrets we didn’t know about. Diana is back and her scandalous life after her divorce. I just shake my head at it all.
Love the TV Guide, everyone couldn’t wait to get the new one. I would love to read the surgeon that did own sex change! Always figured Oprah to be an Alien! Wonder if the Country singer trampled by hogs was Natalie Maines.. Which Jackson cosmetic secrets.. Michael or Janet or Rev. Jesse?
My sociology professor said tabloids were modern day mythology. I never bothered with them myself but we had an elderly great aunt visit us when I was a teen and she firmly believed every teen should read them – she brought home 3 issues of various publishers for us from the super market. They were kind of a bizarre sci-fi read but nothing with a really good plot.
I used to read the World Weekly News from supermarket I worked at as a bagboy during my lunch and breaks. Man I miss those days! Batboy updates where the BEST!
The stuff Jon mentions is what used to be seen in those tabloids back in the 1960s. Real macabre things. Then in the ‘70s they’d always be talking about Elvis and other celebrities. In the ‘80s they became gossip rags, and since then they gossip about English royalty and rumors about public figures. But for real off-the-wall, outer-limits stuff, you can’t beat the Weekly World News. (I’ve seen mothers steer their kids away from looking at The Weekly’s headlines.)
Now these rags tend to peddle right wing conspiracy theories. Still absurd and aimed exclusively at the gullible and credulous, but no longer amusingly ridiculous on the face of it. Now there’s a sting in the tail.
I was in a checkout line once when I saw one those types of magazines in a rack.
On the front page was a picture of a huge explosion, with a smoke cloud rising far up into the sky.
In the middle of the smoke cloud, someone had obviously drawn a picture of a horrible, evil looking face.
Underneath the picture the caption said, “Satan’s face appears in explosion cloud.”
I turned to the person standing behind me and said, “How do they know what Satan looks like? Have they seen Satan? Have they spoken with him? Have they made a deal with him?”
Absolutely captures the guilty pleasure of buying a tabloid like the Enquirer or Star….what is brilliant is that Lynn Johnson captures how irresistible reading about two headed space aliens or similar phenomenon is.. … great comic! Has been for years.. covers current social and moral issues with a gracious aplomb lost to the main steam media…Thanks
Of possible trivial interest, folk-singer Bob Lind, who had the 60s hit “Elusive Butterfly of Love” was a staff writer for Weekly World News for eight years. He co-created the long-running series of “Bat Boy” headline articles.
Schmoozr over 1 year ago
It’s like reality tv; is it real? Nope. Is it entertaining? Absolutely.
hagarthehorrible over 1 year ago
The tabloids know the pulse of audience, alright.
Last Rose Of Summer Premium Member over 1 year ago
My late mother was a firm believer of anything in the National Enquirer. She would inject “stuff” into conversations as fact.
snsurone76 over 1 year ago
Some of those tabloids have fun puzzles in them from which you can win money—if you’re lucky enough to have your name chosen and you solve the puzzle correctly.
Jingles over 1 year ago
their best: the photo of bill and hillary walking down the whitehouse steps with the aliens. gold.
Macushlalondra over 1 year ago
Elly: Hey, John, can I have my National Enquirer back now?
minty_Joe over 1 year ago
Weird Al Yankovic wrote a song about this in 1984. Midnight Star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VhSssXgJT8
timg99 Premium Member over 1 year ago
I thought I saw a copy of one sitting on MTG’s desk.
Pogostiks Premium Member over 1 year ago
This was predictable from the get-go… a little more bite would be nice for a change!
VegaAlopex over 1 year ago
I used to read my aunt’s tabloids, and I still remember the stories from 1967!
Carl Premium Member over 1 year ago
People are easily amused, thus today’s entertainment complex.
More Coffee Please! Premium Member over 1 year ago
My favorite headline from one of those rags (and yes, I know it’s quite politically incorrect, so don’t write in): “Midget trains for NASA in clothes dryer.” Saw that as a kid and I’ve never gotten over it.
franish2bzn over 1 year ago
……and…….who’s reading in the last panel?
ChuckAnziulewicz over 1 year ago
I love the tabloid headlines:“Madonna Proves Virginity!”“Man Eats Minivan In Record Three Days!”“Octagenarian Gives Birth To Fruit Bats!”“Country Star Trampled By Hogs!”
Billys mom2022 over 1 year ago
Most of the tabloid news is about dead people anyway. How their lives were and the dark secrets we didn’t know about. Diana is back and her scandalous life after her divorce. I just shake my head at it all.
darcyandsimon over 1 year ago
Madonna! Whadda hoot! Great headlines!!
mckeonfuneralhomebx over 1 year ago
Love the TV Guide, everyone couldn’t wait to get the new one. I would love to read the surgeon that did own sex change! Always figured Oprah to be an Alien! Wonder if the Country singer trampled by hogs was Natalie Maines.. Which Jackson cosmetic secrets.. Michael or Janet or Rev. Jesse?
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 1 year ago
Whatever happened to the National Enquirer. Did the truth finally destroy them?
ladykat over 1 year ago
They are entertaining; however, they are very pricey now.
grocks over 1 year ago
First, LOL for John. Second, first panel, “dirt, dirt, and more dirt” says it all.
mindjob over 1 year ago
Go with stories about aliens. So many people want to believe
mrsdonaldson over 1 year ago
Do those even exist anymore? I haven’t seen a National Enquirer or the like in forever! I guess we have the internet for all of that now.
Anon4242 over 1 year ago
My sociology professor said tabloids were modern day mythology. I never bothered with them myself but we had an elderly great aunt visit us when I was a teen and she firmly believed every teen should read them – she brought home 3 issues of various publishers for us from the super market. They were kind of a bizarre sci-fi read but nothing with a really good plot.
rshive over 1 year ago
But they’re cool stories, John.
Daltongang Premium Member over 1 year ago
And yet Elly would find it hard to believe if John read Playboy for the articles.
paranormal over 1 year ago
Well, she couldn’t stand there reading it is in the store…
FGWaiss over 1 year ago
But The National Enquirer is elite resource material…for Men in Black.
g04922 over 1 year ago
LOL….Tabloid sucks in ANOTHER reader.
drycurt over 1 year ago
The one I wish now I had bought had the headline “I married my two-headed alien baby!”
Dani Rice over 1 year ago
Sometimes I think I’d like to read one, but I’m always afraid somebody I know will see me.
rama88 over 1 year ago
I miss the Weekly World News. Now that was comedic gold! And very entertaining…
car2ner over 1 year ago
now instead we have Tik Tok
French Persons' Celebration of Peeved Harry Dinkle Premium Member over 1 year ago
“Your Honor, we present ‘Exhibit A’.”
bnz over 1 year ago
How did Madonna prove it?
tammyspeakslife Premium Member over 1 year ago
I hate when people take the book I’m reading. Worse when they tell you how it ended
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 1 year ago
Hello Mr.Crazy……….
InuYugiHakusho over 1 year ago
John never said HE wasn’t crazy.
plaidley over 1 year ago
Shades of the Weekly World News. I miss BatBoy.
Petemejia77 over 1 year ago
I used to read the World Weekly News from supermarket I worked at as a bagboy during my lunch and breaks. Man I miss those days! Batboy updates where the BEST!
wildflowerose-1 over 1 year ago
I came to the comments looking for amusing takes on the rag’s headlines. I’m so disappointed!
stamps over 1 year ago
I miss the Weekly World New.
sjsczurek over 1 year ago
The stuff Jon mentions is what used to be seen in those tabloids back in the 1960s. Real macabre things. Then in the ‘70s they’d always be talking about Elvis and other celebrities. In the ‘80s they became gossip rags, and since then they gossip about English royalty and rumors about public figures. But for real off-the-wall, outer-limits stuff, you can’t beat the Weekly World News. (I’ve seen mothers steer their kids away from looking at The Weekly’s headlines.)
al007itali over 1 year ago
My favorite, Madonna Proves Virginity. That should be subtitled Mission Impossible.
Palani56 over 1 year ago
That’s me, MIL brought them by. I thought what trash , wife always caught me reading…lolol
John Jorgensen over 1 year ago
Now these rags tend to peddle right wing conspiracy theories. Still absurd and aimed exclusively at the gullible and credulous, but no longer amusingly ridiculous on the face of it. Now there’s a sting in the tail.
whawn over 1 year ago
I’d pay to read about Cher’s leg-waxing troubles.
Sailor46 USN 65-95 over 1 year ago
People who read it are strange, the ones that believe it is crazy.
JPuzzleWhiz over 1 year ago
John: “I mean, the people who read this stuff are CRAZY!”
Me: To say nothing of the people who write and publish that stuff!
RonBerg13 Premium Member over 1 year ago
I was in a checkout line once when I saw one those types of magazines in a rack.
On the front page was a picture of a huge explosion, with a smoke cloud rising far up into the sky.
In the middle of the smoke cloud, someone had obviously drawn a picture of a horrible, evil looking face.
Underneath the picture the caption said, “Satan’s face appears in explosion cloud.”
I turned to the person standing behind me and said, “How do they know what Satan looks like? Have they seen Satan? Have they spoken with him? Have they made a deal with him?”
We all had a good laugh.
BoydAdams over 1 year ago
Absolutely captures the guilty pleasure of buying a tabloid like the Enquirer or Star….what is brilliant is that Lynn Johnson captures how irresistible reading about two headed space aliens or similar phenomenon is.. … great comic! Has been for years.. covers current social and moral issues with a gracious aplomb lost to the main steam media…Thanks
Sambora1 over 1 year ago
OK GC friends, who other than me sat there and read every cover that was readable? Some of them are way out there. LOL
TIMH over 1 year ago
Of possible trivial interest, folk-singer Bob Lind, who had the 60s hit “Elusive Butterfly of Love” was a staff writer for Weekly World News for eight years. He co-created the long-running series of “Bat Boy” headline articles.