Today’s editorial cartoon is a salute to one Leonard Stern, creator of the world famous Mad Libs, who passed away last week. For anyone that grew up in the 70’s and 80’s, it was because of Leonard that long family car trips were bearable (and allowed my father not to have to “pull over this car” because we were acting up again).
Mad Libs led the way for those activity books with the orange pen that the answer appeared when you colored in the book. I can’t remember what they called them.
So I created a Mad Lib of my own below. Fill in the words and hit “Go Mad”, then copy and paste your story in the comments section.
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Comments
90 responses to “Editorial Cartoon: Mad Libs Creator Dies”
Very nice homage, Bearman.
Of course, I was any one of several hundred thousand kids who filled in the blanks with childish vulgarity and nonsense…come to think of it, maybe that’s what got me into writing my own series.
There was definitely a lot of toilet humor in our car trips.
“The other day I was hitting the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a pen that was running in a firehouse. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I smacked a shrub in Hartford ”
Hmmm….
I didn’t say they were all going to be Shakespeare
I want to thank Mr. Stern, posthumously, for his creation! I discovered Mad Libs when I was in my early teens, maybe earlier. But I didn’t do them in the car, I did them out of my parents sight–because I, along with at least one other kid in the neighborhood, used dirty words for Mad Libs (it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun otherwise). I remember one afternoon, before my parents got home from work, Robby and I were doing dirty Mad Libs–and my dad walked in just as I was reading the results of one! He came into my bedroom with a very confused look, and asked, “What’s this all about?” There was no hiding it, I just told him the truth. Robby went home, and my dad sat at the dining-room table, somewhat shaken up by what he’d heard (he almost never used profanity, not even words like “shit”).
I asked him if I could go fly my kite, and he responded, without looking at me, “I don’t think so!” Looking back, he dealt with it rather well!
My dad said shit and damn’t a lot but I have to admit the first time I ever heard him say “fuck” I started rolling on the floor laughing. He just gave me a look like I was nuts.
Mad Libs were THE party supply in elementary school in the 70s. I remember laughing like crazy over the silly things we’d come up with (and yes, there was a lot of profanity). I buy them for my kids, now, and we have just as much fun as ever. What a sad passing. Anyway, here’s my story:
The other day I was Hanging the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a Fur that was Slicing in a Geodesic Dome. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I licked a Nose in Panama
Nice of you to think of a Geodesic Dome. I definitely wouldn’t have had that on my top 5 building choices. Remind me to stay away from the slicing fur.
This is really great. I’ve never heard of it before or it’s creator Leonard Stern. My story was:
The other day I was running the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a chocolate that was shopping in a Eiffel Tower. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I ate a frog in Moscow…
How did it know about my Russian Frog eating experience. Truly amazing!!!
I have heard of it but didn’t know what it was. I guess we missed something growin’ up Tony.
Same here, Bo. But since I never did grow up completely. I’m gonna have a lot of fun with this now. lol
The things were invented in 1953. You all aren’t THAT old.
We didn’t buy stuff. We made up our own games.
Tony was it the whole frog or just the legs?
Hey! This was fun but I think I took a wrong turn somewhere:
“The other day I was peeing the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a cat that was running in a skyscraper. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I pounded a husband in Bangkok!”
Way too much information Lynn 🙁
Bwahahah…”pounded a husband in Bangkok” Rip surely hopes so.
I don’t know whether to be worried for Rip or happy for him. 🙂
I hope it WAS Rip 🙁
um.. we’re not technically married folks.
Well then he DOES really wonder which husband you pounded.
.. that’s right, and now you know the secret to our 25 yr relationship! Whether or not we stray, it’s all cool as long as we dont feel tied down. It’s a mental thang.
Ok gene simmons
Mental thang indeed 🙂
The other day I was Thinking the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a watermelon that was talking in a Mobile Home. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I slept a dog in Gatorhead
You’re right. It ain’t Shakespear. It is more like Chaucer, he didn’t make sense either.
It’s that whole Middle English thing.
The other day I was snoring the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a possum that was streaking in a outhouse. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I visited a skunk in Sydney
That one sounded more like a Gatorhead cartoon. LOL
That definitely sounded like Gatorhead. Maybe there is a Gatorhead in Sydney too.
I think we call them crocheads Down Under 🙂
Fascinating! I’d never heard of these. Thanks Bearman! Here’s mine:
“The other day I was darkening the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a streets that was looming in a tenements. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I prickled a imagination in London”
and here is what I made from the original seven words before I clicked “Go Mad”:
” Darkening streets of looming tenements prickled the imagination. London… New York… Amsterdam… It could be any city with a heart old as antiquity. They all had it. That same oppressive weight of the millions of souls who’d lived, loved, laughed, sorrowed and died here.”
Though it needs some rule regarding plurality in nouns, I sure wish we’d had a game like this for the long “vacation” trips my family used to make.
I probably should have put the whole singular/plural note in there. You can adjust this nifty tool however you want.
MY internet filter at the undisclosed location I am right now doesn’t let me run the madlib, but here is what should have been, judging by the two that actually followed directions:
The other day I was running the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a ball that was driving in a school. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I spanked a Nun in San Francisco.
We used to do this a lot in school as well. Girls had full notebooks where you would answer a question on every page and then read it at the end. It almost always ended in trouble, though.
haha. What did the nun say??
Lot of people are “running the internet”
Mad Libs were genius. There was an innocence about them, even when the toilet references abounded. Things like Mad Libs formed us an we owe a debt to folks like Leonard Stern. Great comic, Bearman!
A car trip wasn’t the same without Mad, Mad Libs and Cracked (I said crackED Loon)
A crack car trip sounds like an interesting one. You start off with everyone yammering, then nobody wants to talk. After a few hundred miles, everyone decides to turn around and goo back home to see if you all can sell the radio and make the trip again. 🙂
Is that a past tense noun?
That;s just imaginary writing and knowing some folks from long ago who fit the bill. 🙂
Glad you are hanging out with better company these days.
The other day I was Eating the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a Hamburger that was Flying in a Restaurant. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I Drank a Milkshake in New York.
So far yours is the only one that made sense….ok except for that eating the internet part.
One must eat the internet in order to absorb its knowledge.
Believe it or not, I’ve never done Mad Libs!! I just filled that thing out and it didn’t make any sense. 🙁
Well first we need to teach you the difference between a verb and a noun…haha j/k
The other day I was Freaking the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a Bush that was Coming in a Hospital. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I Exploded a Shoe in Cincinnatti.
Wow!
I used to love Mad Libs as a kid. It was the only activity where we could be ridiculously nasty, but we had to be careful our parents never found the books. 🙂
I loved the books you mentioned that had the pen where you could make the words/answers appear. That was my ultimate fave. For the life of me, though, I can’t recall the name.
We must be almost the same age, although I keep thinking you’re so much older due to your heaping amounts of worthless wisdom.
😀
I am like a sponge of the world. Nothing gets by me. What were we talking about?
What are all these fancy ‘nouns’ and such you speak of bearman?
I’m still working on tying my shoes, you know.
🙂
Over the river, around the creek…or something like that.
Sounds like a bit of a trek…
I hope I can get these shoes figured out…
🙂
I’ve heard of it, but never played it either. I just eat chocolate for fun.
The hips don’t lie.
Someone I don’t know…research activated
waiting………………………………………………………………………………………….
The other day I was singing the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a thing that was flinging in a tall-building. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I dinged a wing in Mafeking
Hey, I like this. Internet mad-lib. Thanks.
And madlibs saved many a car-ride for us too. Then there were Top Trumps.
What’s a top trump?? Have anything to do with Donald? If it makes money, I am sure he will try to claim it now.
Long live Leonard (name ending in) Stern!
Who is Leonard Morgenstern??
Rhoda’s father?
Yes.
Great tribute!
I loved Mad Libs. Perfect for drunken college parties too.
The other day I was sneezing the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a school that was laughing in a church. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I ran a library in Pittsburgh.
Of course you had to pick some educated words. You need to buy your kids one. I would love to hear what they come up with.
Compliments of Will & Jay, co-creators. You asked for it…
The other day I was pooping the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a Burger King that was peeing in a out house. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I sucked a pencil in Nashville.
Those two have a future in writing. Excellent.
I never really did MAD Libs – well – the REAL ones. I would make my own though. And if I was really bored, I’d do my own then after I made them.
You should have had more siblings.
I’m not a big gamer either. But at least I’m caught up here at Bearman Cartoons now.
haha…I wouldn’t put doing Mad Libs as a kid in the “gamer” category.
My kids were watching “Mad” on TV yesterday. They have a cartoon show. I stopped and watched it for a while with them. It was 80% absolute moronic, and 10% hilarious. You could go retarded waiting for the good stuff though. Mad libs were a lot more fun. We still play those sometimes. Usually in the car.
It just doesn’t have the same effect if you don’t do Mad Libs on a long car trip.
I like this nice feedback.Well post with a good sharing.
Thanks E.
Well done tribute cartoon, Bearman. It is damned near impossible to make a non-cliched tribute cartoon. Other people always go for St. Peter and the wings and clouds.
For being a Saint, that Peter has a lot of put downs when people show up to the pearly gates.
The other day I was Running the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a Poop that was Pooping in a House. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I Was Pooping a Seahorse in Gotham City.
I thinking someone needs more fiber….and probably a colonoscopy.
And his mouth washed out!
Or his mind.
The other day I was stabbing the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about Eddie Murphy that was petting in a circus tent. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I ate a The Beagle in Paris.
This is the most fun that I had with a comment in at least a year. I love it! Was it a widget you could put on your blog or what?
Yep. go to http://www.madglibs.com/ and right under the header is a link to create your own.
That is really funny the generated MadLib was kinda off, but neat all the same. It is a shame that we lost such a great mind.
It all has to do with the poor creator…me.
Good shot and lovely tribute even if it didn’t work.
lovely post with have good review.I have no doubt on this nice sharing.
no 70s for me.
if that were the case i’d be freaking out a lot more than i already am about my impending bday tomorrow.
Big 3-0 year.
The other day I was Sweating the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a 8-Track Player that was Forgetting in a Crack House. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I Died a Dump Truck in Cincinnati
The other day I was fire-breathing the internet and came across Beartoons.com. There was a cartoon about a taxi that was unicycling in a church. That is nothing I thought to myself. One time I defenestrated a kitten in London.
FYI, do not attempt to fire-breathe the internet without proper training. It leaves a very bad taste in the mouth………
Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be back when I figure out what “defenestrated” means and check on the health of that kitten.