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Born in Madison and back in print — The Onion returns (Wisconsin)
Madison Magazine ^ | December 24, 2024 | Madison Magazine

Posted on 12/24/2024 6:32:01 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

In August, The Onion proclaimed its triumphant return to print. It had been 11 years since the satirical news publication — arguably the most popular of its kind — pivoted to an online-only format.

But some Madisonians knew that at least one physical copy of The Onion had persevered, tucked away in Alumni Park on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. A copy preserved in a bronze plaque rather than paper, yes. But a copy, nonetheless.

The landmark commemorates Madison as the place where The Onion began.

Founders Tim Keck and Christopher Johnson were juniors at UW–Madison when they launched The Onion on August 29, 1988. That day, the front-page headline — immortalized in the Alumni Park sculpture — informed citizens: “Mendota Monster Mauls Madison.” Just below, an advertisement for the now-shuttered Zorba’s promised survivors of the Loch Ness-like attack details about “FREE Junior Gyro[s]” inside.

For roughly the next two decades, a rag-tag team of Madison-based journalists and comedians continued to release The Onion — all of them working “for peanuts,” former publisher and Wisconsinite Peter Haise told the American Journalism Review in 2002.

Since then, The Onion has undergone several changes in both leadership and location. It stayed put in Madison until 2001, when a team of 10 employees — a “bunch of friends” who initially found a community and each other in Madison — moved its headquarters to New York City in an attempt to raise the publication’s profile. (And, eventually, to Chicago in 2012). Raise it they did: just ask their "4.3 trillion" readers.

And, despite its decampment from the state, the Wisconsin Alumni Association made sure no one would forget The Onion’s roots in Madison when the organization opened Alumni Park in 2017. Now, that bronze Onion dedicated to Keck and Johnson is a constant reminder, a permanent monument as proof of how funny Madisonians can be.

Although it's always hard to tell with The Onion, the newspaper's announcement to return to print isn't a prank. Get copies of the Madison-born newspaper sent to your mailbox with a membership — or visit the copy at Alumni Park.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Humor; Society
KEYWORDS: gooutofbusiness; humor; onion; theonion

Zorba's had the BEST gyros I've ever tasted. They had a spit in the front window with a rack of goat roasting and spinning on it. Delicious! This was well before even, 'The People's Republik of Madistan' had a bunch of animal-loving crazies living there. ;)

1 posted on 12/24/2024 6:32:01 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

As any stand-up comic will tell you, it is simply NOT POSSIBLE to be a comedian anymore on the Left as the constrains placed on them by their mobs preclude it - in other words if they make fun of Rachael Levin, they get CANCELLED. About all they’re allowed to do is attack Putin, and that’s getting old these days (after wasting several hundred Billion trying to fight him).


2 posted on 12/24/2024 6:35:06 AM PST by BobL
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

It sounds like the Onion is still world-famous in Wisconsin, or at least Madison.


3 posted on 12/24/2024 6:39:09 AM PST by Bernard (Issue an annual budget, And Issue a federal government balance sheet. Let's see what we got.)
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To: BobL

Different Freepers post from all over, including a lot of liberal sources. I never see the Onion; is it even accidentally funny sometimes, compared to Babylon Bee?


4 posted on 12/24/2024 6:40:57 AM PST by sopo
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To: BobL

... and they’ll hate on Trump.


5 posted on 12/24/2024 6:41:18 AM PST by rephope
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The last funny thing I read out of the Onion was November of 2000.


6 posted on 12/24/2024 6:56:51 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: sopo

so so I see


7 posted on 12/24/2024 7:10:36 AM PST by sopo
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

It was funny back in the day. I prefer The Bee, but I always appreciate sarcastic humor in all forms. ;)


8 posted on 12/24/2024 7:22:52 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: sopo

My best guess is that the Onion stopped being funny in the Obama era and just another leftist hack org like late night tv or comedy central.


9 posted on 12/24/2024 7:25:36 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: sopo

The Onion used to be the top satire site. Then they ghosted themselves.


10 posted on 12/24/2024 7:49:52 AM PST by Responsibility2nd (Climate Change is Real. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Oh it was quite funny. But that was when some liberals had a sense of humor.

The Bee started off as being a bit ham handed and then got better. Then they got much better. Good humor has truth to it.

11 posted on 12/24/2024 7:51:53 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Herbert Kornfeld was the main reason I read The Onion.
12 posted on 12/24/2024 7:53:15 AM PST by Responsibility2nd (Climate Change is Real. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.)
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To: sopo
I never see the Onion; is it even accidentally funny sometimes, compared to Babylon Bee?

Probably like that Stephen Cobert guy on late night TV - the next funny thing he says will be the first funny thing he says.

13 posted on 12/24/2024 8:35:10 AM PST by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: Bernard

Is this the same totally corrupt Onion that tried a scam in the buyout of AJones’ website?


14 posted on 12/24/2024 8:38:50 AM PST by bobbo666
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To: Responsibility2nd

‘Keep Your SH*T Off my Desk’ is a classic!

Also liked anything ‘Jean’ wrote. I was once a ‘Jeankateere!’

So, yeah - it had it’s funny bits. ;)


15 posted on 12/24/2024 8:48:20 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: bobbo666

‘tried a scam in the buyout of AJones’ website?”

Yup


16 posted on 12/24/2024 9:43:38 AM PST by dynachrome (Auslander Raus!)
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