The Onion: what up?

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
Did the Onion not abruptly become less funny about 7 months ago with their mild redesign? It seems as though they're much more Onion-like, just as the Simpsons are Simpsons-like nowadays.
Does anyone know if there was a major editorial change at that time. Cuz like, it seems that the writers are now trying to write like the Onion rather than forging forward.

Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:33 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree. Though there's been some occasionally good ones lately, it did drop after the redesign. These days I rarely read the main articles. It's usually redundant after the headline.

The really weirder thing for me is that I think the infographic and What Do You Think? pop-ups have gotten funnier.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:35 (twenty-three years ago)

There was no editorial change, and for my part I can't spot this trend you're talking about. The dot-com piece in the current issue is one of the funniest things they've ever run, so while the quality varies just like always, there doesn't seem to be any major difference in it that way.

M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:36 (twenty-three years ago)

I have yet to stop laughing at the "Kim Jong II Unfolds Into Giant Robot" piece from today's issue.

The Onion = still very frickin funny

nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:45 (twenty-three years ago)

The Onion gets less funny through over-exposure. Don't chase the buzz.

My real problem with the Onion is how it takes FOREVER to load because of all the shitey ads they have on it now.

DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:46 (twenty-three years ago)

I think because they keep the whole thing so straight-faced they end up sort of looking like they're using the same template for a lot of the articles. Some of them you don't really need to read beyond the headline to get all you're likely to out of it. And it has been going for ages now so I guess it's inevitable they'll repeat themselves.

I might just've been imagining it but it seemed like the facade might be slipping a bit in the new one. The Kim Jong-Il thing was sort of like an actual non-parodic critcism of Bush with hilarious quotes at the end of each paragraph. And that thing about biased surveys in the infographic.

Ferg (Ferg), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:48 (twenty-three years ago)

In my view, from my vantage point, these lofty towers of Ivory, there has been a dip in recent months. An increased mean-spiritedness and a decreased vitality. More potty-humour and less actual satire.

Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:49 (twenty-three years ago)

In the current issue, I am amused by the review for Kangaroo Jack, specif. the last line.

Also, the 'Onion in History' one sheets are probably smarter than the current.

jm (jtm), Thursday, 23 January 2003 01:10 (twenty-three years ago)

the Onion-in-History things are recycled from the "Our Dumb Century" book

Curtis Stephens, Thursday, 23 January 2003 01:20 (twenty-three years ago)

This whole thread reads like an Onion article itself.... "Nine out of Ten Computer Geeks Agree: Onion 'Not As Funny As The Earlier Material'"

kate, Thursday, 23 January 2003 02:09 (twenty-three years ago)

heh heh

That Girl (thatgirl), Thursday, 23 January 2003 03:03 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...
crapcakes!! i'm trying to introduce someone to the onion for the first time and now i learn you have to pay for a 'premium' subscription or you only get 3 weeks worth of issues! i know this is a horrible request, but does anyone that trusts me have a password that they could mail to me that i could use just this once? (i don't really except anyone will do this, i doubt i would, but it was worth asking, i thought.)

m. (mitchlnw), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

'expect', that is

m. (mitchlnw), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

It hasn't really changed, it's been this way for years. Although I think it was only the last 2 issues before, they've actually given an extra week lately. If your friend is into history, just buy them 'Our Dumb Century' which is one of the greatest history books ever written.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

'Why does our joyless president never dance' - Editorial on FDR

Michael White (Hereward), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

oh i've got ODC, spencer, yeah it's fantastic. are you sure it's been YEARS tho? i guess i just can't believe that it's been THAT long since i showed someone the new 30 litre coke size.

m. (mitchlnw), Thursday, 27 May 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

They increased the amount of available back issues by two but removed the entire rest of the archives didn't they?

Fergal (Ferg), Thursday, 27 May 2004 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

i've got ODC

i initially read this as "i've got OCD."

stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 27 May 2004 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I developed OCD over ODC back in the day.

Michael White (Hereward), Thursday, 27 May 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

thirteen years pass...

best headline photo candidate for 2018 ~

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/20/donald-trump-onion-stories-597809

reggie (qualmsley), Sunday, 20 May 2018 18:27 (eight years ago)


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.