National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has been released by Warner Home Video for the first time in wide-screen format in a new Special Edition DVD. The new version includes newly added commentary by many of the cast members. The French language track is, interestingly enough, dubbed in Québécois. It’s being sold alone or as part of a DVD four-pack with Vacation (20th Anniversary Edition—see September 16 entry), European Vacation and Vegas Vacation.

Doug Kenney and Chris Miller appeared on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder around 1976 or 1977. If you happen to have a tape of this show, or know where to find one, please contact Josh. He would be very happy to hear from you. Update: It’s available on YouTube as of 2023.

Dave Meredith, the guy who tirelessly compiled the NLRH listings for Mark’s Very Large National Lampoon Site over four years ago, has discovered, in his continuing research on the subject, that the order of the episodes listed here were ever so slightly screwed up. They are now correct, to the best of Dave’s knowledge.

Incidentally, if you happen to know where to get hold of original radio station open reel broadcast tapes of the show, drop him a line.

And, don’t forget: XM Satellite Radio is still broadcasting the entire run of the National Lampoon Radio Hour, one episode per week, on their comedy channel no. 150. SIRIUS satellite radio is also broadcasting them on its channel 160.

Update: All satellite radio info is long since obsolete. No idea if any of these services or their successors carry the show.

The Door interviews Scott Rubin, editor of the National Lampoon website. The Door is a Christian humor magazine (or is it humorous Christian magazine?). The interview is a good read, even if you’re not into religion. (Pretty funny photos of Scott, too.) It makes me realize just how far the NL website has come in the last few years, no doubt in part due to Scott’s persistence and perserverence through some pretty rough times there. Update: The Door closed its doors in 2008, so that interview is no longer online. Update #2: I found it on the Wayback Machine. The link redirects to that now. 

Richard Belzer, who appeared regularly on National Lampoon Radio Hour, has said he will be involved in starting up the program again. According to reader Melissa, he mentioned this recently on an ABC morning show.

National Lampoon 1964 High School Yearbook Parody, 39th Reunion Edition is out. This special hardcover edition includes a bonus “Where Are They Now?” section written by co-editor of the original edtion P.J. O’Rourke. They kind of messed up the front and back covers. And you would think they could get hold of the actual National Lampoon logo for the book. The inside is less lavishly printed than the original, which used different paper stocks to simulate the various ephemera from the life of Larry Kroeger. In the new edition, everything is printed on your basic coated stock. Still, for all the people dying to get a copy of this classic, and with copies of the original going for over $100, it’s not a bad deal.

National Lampoon’s Vacation 20th Anniversary DVD is out. This special edition includes loads of bonus materials featuring many of the original cast members and others including Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Matty Simmons, Harold Ramis, and Christie Brinkley. To promote the release, Warner Bros. has set up a special site where you can watch clips from the movie and find out more about the special edition.

Update: The special site is long gone, but I found it on the Wayback Machine. To be honest? You’re not missing much. But if you do want to see it, you’ll need the Ruffle plug-in, since the site was Flash-based and Flash is also long gone.

Animal House Double Secret Probation Edition DVD is out. This special edition includes a bonus “Where Are They Now?” segment directed and produced by John Landis (and co-produced by Matty Simmons) in which many of the original cast members (Kevin Bacon, Tim Matheson, James Widdoes, Bruce McGill, James Daughton, Karen Allen, DeWayne Jessie and Stephen Furst) reprise their Animal House roles. To promote the release, Universal Home Video has set up a special sound board where you can hear sound clips from the movie.

Update: The “sound board” page is long gone, but I’ve redirected to an archive of it on the Wayback Machine. Also, since it was Flash-based, and Flash is also long gone, you’ll need the Ruffle Flash-player plug-in to access it on a modern computer. Bonus: You’ll hear the title of Josh Karp’s 2005 book about Doug Kenney if you click on the “Go All Out” button.

The Onion Interviews P.J. O’Rourke, erstwhile editor of National Lampoon, here.

Update: Unfortunately, that page is long gone. And there’s nothing the Wayback Machine archive, either.

Did you work at National Lampoon between 1970-1980, or did you know Doug Kenney, Henry Beard or Michael O’Donoghue? An author working on a biography/history of Doug Kenney and the National Lampoon has asked for my help, hence this item. If you answered “yes” to any of the preceeding questions, please contact Josh.