You Mean Woody Allen Wasn't Originally a Cartoon Character?
The 70's were a topsy turvy time. The Vietnam War was still marching its weary slog. The previous decade of drugs, sex and rock and roll was beginning to bear its spoiled fruit. And, in the funny papers, a neurotic Jew named Woody Allen was capturing confusing the hearts of Americans nation wide.
In 1975, a cartoonist Stuart Hample asked Woody Allen if he'd be interested in appearing in a newspaper comic strip…
Woody was intrigued enough to say: "Show me some sketches." I based my drawings on how he looked in his late 20s, when we'd first met. He OK'd the Woody cartoon character (he even had it animated for a sequence in Annie Hall) and said: "What about the jokes?" I brought jokes. He looked through them. "Maybe," he said, "I could help you with the jokes."
Whoa! I never knew there was a Woody Allen comic strip?! Hample apparently has a collection coming out called Dread and Superficiality: Woody Allen as a Comic Strip.
The comic strip in question, called Inside Woody Allen, ran from 1976 to 1984. The strip was basically exactly what you'd imagine it would be. Woody Allen visits therapists, gripes to his friends, performs some philosophical stand-up.
The folks at the syndicate became nervous. I started receiving notes of caution: go easy on God references so we don't offend Bible Belt readers; don't do gags with Woody in nightclubs – they compare unfavourably with his live performances; change the name of your character Death to Fate.
Can you imagine seeing cartoon Woody Allen in your newspaper every morning? I mean, I know most of you can't even imagine buying or reading a newspaper every morning anymore, but can you imagine seeing cartoon Woody Allen pop up on your web browser?
Also, Woody Allen's notes to the cartoonist sound exactly like Woody Allen, except for one phrase. See if you can spot it.
"We must not just use jokes that exploit my image – jokes should have genuine insights. Don't pander. Don't be afraid to be far out. Lead your audience; don't look to them to lead you.
"Don't be afraid to be FAR OUT!" Yeah, man! Groovy! Psychedelic! Wake those sheeple up from their Marmaduke dreams! This ain't your grandmother's Blondie strip, space cadet!
You really should just go ahead and read Stuart Hample's entire account of his comic strip collaboration with a comedy genius.
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