J2 Communications

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

Defunct American production company

title: "J2 Communications" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1986-establishments", "2002-disestablishments", "film-distributors-of-the-united-states", "home-video-companies-of-the-united-states", "television-production-companies-based-in-california", "film-production-companies-based-in-california", "entertainment-companies-established-in-1986", "entertainment-companies-disestablished-in-2002"] description: "Defunct American production company" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J2_Communications" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Defunct American production company ::

::data[format=table title="infobox company"]

FieldValue
founded
founderJames P. Jimirro
typeMedia
defunct2002
fateAcquired by Dan Laikin and Paul Skjodt
successorNational Lampoon, Inc.
hq_location_cityLos Angeles, California
hq_location_countryUS
divisionsNational Lampoon magazine (1990–1998)
::

| founded = | founder = James P. Jimirro | type = Media | defunct = 2002 | fate = Acquired by Dan Laikin and Paul Skjodt | successor = National Lampoon, Inc. | key_people = | hq_location_city = Los Angeles, California | hq_location_country = US | divisions = National Lampoon magazine (1990–1998) J2 Communications was a media production and distribution company that operated from 1986 to 2002. The company is best known for its unsteady stewardship of National Lampoon magazine and all its related properties through the 1990s.

History

Media production/distribution

The company was founded in 1986 by James P. Jimirro, who had previously been the founding president of the Disney Channel and then a CBS executive. At one point in the late 1980s, J2 Communications distributed ITC Entertainment titles on VHS; it also distributed Dorf, a comedy series starring Tim Conway.

According to a 1999 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,

National Lampoon

In 1990, J2 Communications bought National Lampoon magazine and all its related properties (including the science fiction and fantasy comics magazine Heavy Metal) from then-owners Daniel Grodnik and Tim Matheson, who had acquired the properties in a hostile takeover in 1989. As part of the deal, Grodnik and Matheson agreed to stay on to run the new division.

In May 1992, Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, bought Heavy Metal magazine from J2 Communications, becoming its new publisher.

National Lampoon brand licensing

J2 Communications almost immediately licensed out the "National Lampoon" brand to other companies who wished to make films and similar projects. some believe it damaged the reputation of National Lampoon as a source of respected comedy.

''National Lampoon'' magazine

J2 Communications was contractually obliged to publish at least one new issue of National Lampoon magazine per year in order to retain the rights to the "National Lampoon" name. The company showed very little interest in the magazine itself; throughout the 1990s, the number of issues per year varied unpredictably. In 1991 there was an attempt at monthly publication; nine issues were produced. Only two issues were released in 1992. This was followed by one issue in 1993, five in 1994, and three in 1995. After that the magazine was published only once a year for three years; the final issue of the magazine being published in November 1998.

Following the magazine's demise, the contract was renegotiated, and J2 Communications was then prohibited from publishing future issues. J2, however, still owned the rights to the brand name "National Lampoon", which it continued to franchise out to other users.

Acquisition

In 2002, J2 Communications was sold to Dan Laikin and Paul Skjodt, and renamed "National Lampoon, Inc." James P. Jimirro stayed on as National Lampoon, Inc. CEO until January 2005.

Notes

References

References

  1. "J2 COMMUNICATIONS /CA/ - 10-K Annual Report - 07/31/1999".
  2. Tapper, Jake. (July 3, 2005). "''National Lampoon'' Grows Up By Dumbing Down". [[The New York Times]].
  3. McNary, Dave. (26 October 1990). "New owner takes over National Lampoon".
  4. Britell, Penny. (1994-01-12). "J2's branching out". Variety.
  5. Farhi, Paul. (30 December 1988). "A Funny Twist for National Lampoon Inc.".
  6. Staff writer. (17 March 1989). "An Actor Acquires Control of National Lampoon Inc.". [[The New York Times]].
  7. Delugach, Al. (17 March 1989). "Film Producers Matheson and Grodnik Buy Control of National Lampoon Inc.". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  8. Staff writer. (10 March 1990). "National Lampoon Acquisition Set". [[New York Times]].
  9. Britell, Penny. (12 January 1994). "J2's branching out".
  10. (Feb 1992). "Eastman Buying Heavy Metal". The Comics Journal.
  11. (Nov 1991). "J2 Sells Lampoon Film Rights". The Comics Journal.
  12. "National Lampoon's parent moves into black". UPI.
  13. (May 1992). "National Lampoon on Hiatus". The Comics Journal.
  14. (Apr 1993). "National Lampoon Returns Again". The Comics Journal.
  15. Wallace, Benjamin. (2017-05-01). "Can Anyone Repair National Lampoon's Devastated Brand?".
  16. (March 7, 2001). "Chief of J2 Communications to Resign, Sell His Shares". [[Los Angeles Times]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1986-establishments2002-disestablishmentsfilm-distributors-of-the-united-stateshome-video-companies-of-the-united-statestelevision-production-companies-based-in-californiafilm-production-companies-based-in-californiaentertainment-companies-established-in-1986entertainment-companies-disestablished-in-2002