147. “Be A Cop” Fake Ad

March 19, 2009

Q: Here’s a tough one for you (I think) because I’ve looked for over 15 years for this issue and been unable to find it. There was a mock ad in a National Lampoon that said “be a cop” and had a picture of a police officer suggestively holding a young boy’s hand, as well as some other strange/immoral cop activity. Any idea what issue this was from?

A: Well, you’re right. I’m stumped. If anyone else knows, please post it in a comment..

Comments

I don't recall any such ad, but there was a "I wish I were a guy! I'd become a Prison Guard!" ad in the August 1975 "Justice" issue of the Lampoon. There was also a story by Doug Kenney entitled "Trespassers Will Be Violated" in which a young boy was violated by his dad during hunting trips. Maybe you're confusing those two articles? (This issue was also the last appearance by Henry Beard, BTW.)

—Steve_O

March 29, 2009 9:14 pm

While we're throwing out suggestions: There was a mock ad in the "Is Nothing Sacred?" issue that inverted the then-current "Some Call Him Pig" PSA. (The NatLamp version of the slogan was "Some Call Him Cop," and showed a pig cradling an unconscious child.) In the original ad, the cop is clearly giving mouth-to-mouth to the kid, but it also looks a lot like molestation if you want to look at it that way. Search Google Image with "Some Call Him Pig" to see several samples of original.

—john

April 14, 2009 11:47 pm

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