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Every issue, right about this time, we have a little crisis about which magazine cover to go with. Our latest issue - set to hit stands in about 3 weeks - tackles All the Presidents’ Secrets, from Teddy Roosevelt turning the White House into a karate dojo, to Richard Nixon’s pathetically sweet dating techniques (we’d definitely advise you not to try at home). In any case, I figured I’d place the 3 covers up on the site, and let fans tell us which one they liked. We’ve already picked one, but we’re keeping mum on the subject until it hits stands. In any case, it’s quickly turning into one of my favorite issues, and I thought it’d be fun to give you guys a sneak peek…
Teddy Roosevelt in a karate uniform is by far and away the best one of the three. I’m not sure what the third one is supposed to be.
posted by John on 8-1-2007 at 12:50 pm
Teddy by far is the funniest one. Dumpster diving is a close second.
posted by Nick on 8-1-2007 at 12:52 pm
Teddy by far is the funniest one. Dumpster diving is a close second.
posted by Nick on 8-1-2007 at 12:52 pm
Teddy FTW! Great cover.
posted by DavidGriner on 8-1-2007 at 1:04 pm
Totally Teddy!
posted by Lys on 8-1-2007 at 1:04 pm
Dumpster diving is my fav then Teddy.
posted by Rachel* on 8-1-2007 at 1:07 pm
I second what Nick says: Teddy R. in full “smackdown” mode is awesome. Legs sticking out of a Dumpster on the White House lawn is almost as funny.
posted by Gina on 8-1-2007 at 1:08 pm
Teddy wins for me, then dumpster diver
posted by JaneM on 8-1-2007 at 1:15 pm
You’d be crazy not to use the Roosevelt one!
Seeing TR in karate pajamas is far more newstand-eye catching than the others. He’s instantly recognizable (at least to most of the US public who is at least semi-literate) and not normally whom one would expect to find in such a getup. Ya gotta go with TR! How could there be any discussion? Total no-brainer…
posted by Sid Morrison on 8-1-2007 at 1:35 pm
definitely the dumpster-diver
posted by Howie on 8-1-2007 at 1:53 pm
My vote goes to Teddy too.
posted by Cassandra on 8-1-2007 at 2:05 pm
The Teddy Roosevelt pic jumps out from the other three.
posted by LeEtta on 8-1-2007 at 2:08 pm
Well, to repeat what almost everyone else said. Teddy Roosevelt doing karate = Awesome.
posted by Sally on 8-1-2007 at 2:11 pm
I vote for Teddy Kwon Do!
posted by Jason! on 8-1-2007 at 2:52 pm
definitely teddy! I was cracking up!
posted by ac on 8-1-2007 at 4:09 pm
go with Teddy! dumpster diving is overused and the other one… what is it anyway?
posted by Korin on 8-1-2007 at 4:50 pm
Teddy
posted by Ssquach on 8-1-2007 at 7:06 pm
Teddy Roosevelt is definitely my favorite. Dumpster diving is second. The presidential seal vault… not so much.
posted by Janel on 8-1-2007 at 8:16 pm
Definitely Teddy Roosevelt about to kick my ass.
To answer those who were confused, the last one is a bank vault.
posted by Sara on 8-1-2007 at 8:32 pm
The Karate Teddy cover is hands down the best. It definitely fits in with the overal style of the previous covers. Plus it pwns.
posted by heather on 8-2-2007 at 12:08 am
Teddy!
posted by Nicole on 8-2-2007 at 3:03 am
For me, The dumpster dive edged out Teddy R.
I was going to refer to T.R. as “The Famous Teddy R” but I don’t know if anyone would get the TV show reference.
posted by Tdave on 8-2-2007 at 3:04 am
Teddy!
posted by Jennie on 8-2-2007 at 7:38 am
Dumpster diving on the white house lawn is way better than Teddy.
posted by Phil on 8-2-2007 at 9:29 am
Wouldn’t it be “The Fabulous Teddy R?”
I love it, but I’d be surprised if it makes the cover. The bank vault looks like a guns & ammo cover. I guess dumpster, which would look better behind the house, but who how many people are actually gonna recognize the rear of the White House?
posted by mudi-b on 8-2-2007 at 5:49 pm
Teddy doing karate—definitely…
posted by Donna on 8-3-2007 at 6:32 am
I’m not breaking any new ground here, but I’d have to go with Teddy by a long run.
(Dumpster digging second)
posted by Christine on 8-3-2007 at 6:46 am
My guess is Teddy is the one you’re using since it’s the best layout; and, that suits me just fine.
posted by Fran on 8-3-2007 at 7:26 am
1. Teddy R. the crowd that reads this mag aren’t going to know who Teddy R. is! “Who’s that old guy in the robe?”
2. I like this one. It’s strikes a nerve about mail sniffing we are all familiar with and will generates interest.
3. I like this one too. The official feel given off by the vault will draw new, unexpected readers and devoted readers will say, “What the…” and have to see what gives.
posted by Georgia Biddy on 8-3-2007 at 7:34 am
Why demean TR.. Dumpster diving… put things in proer perspective.
posted by Jay on 8-3-2007 at 7:39 am
I love the dumpster diving, on the front of the White House lawn most of all. While the other 2 are good, this one caught my eye the most, and made me want to open the magazine to find out some D.C. dirt! Good job to all!
posted by dbport on 8-3-2007 at 7:53 am
teddy rocks the best!
posted by kristin on 8-3-2007 at 8:06 am
The dumpster diving cover gave the punch laugh. It also has a more “international” feel: I’m Canadian, we have our share of Prime Minister Secrets.
posted by kimberley on 8-3-2007 at 8:22 am
I’d have to go with dumpster diving. Although TR is an interesting and recognizable figure, it doesn’t quite relate to the ’secrets’ issue as well as the other two. And given the nature of the magazine, the dumpster diving diva strikes the right tone and balance.
posted by Jeigh on 8-3-2007 at 8:36 am
The dumpster diving has international cache — I’m regrettably not-Americanized enough from AmHistory courses to recognize Teddy so missed the ref entirely. :(
posted by Paul on 8-3-2007 at 8:46 am
dumpster dive.
as an image, it scans better.
Teddy is funny, but when you have eyeballs on an image, the reader goes to the eyeballs and doesn’t immediately perceive the rest of the image.
Dumpster dive delivers.
the seal is nice, but doesn’t deliver perception either.
posted by bcbasslet on 8-3-2007 at 9:38 am
The Teddy cover stretches journalist integrity since I’m fairly certain you had to create the shot of him in a karate outfit. I’d probably like the dumpster diving if it didn’t appear to be a woman in a skirt (who’d wear a skirt for this activity?). So I’m going with the Presidential vault, even though it’s the least “interest-piquing” of the three.
posted by JacquiO on 8-3-2007 at 9:51 am
Teddy would get people to pick it up no matter what. . . .Priceless!!
posted by robb roncs on 8-3-2007 at 11:38 am
I am Canadian. And I know who Teddy Roosevelt was. Remember the play Arsenic and Old Lace?
I think if you had his name one the cover: “President Theodore Roosevelt, He Speaks Softly and Carries a Big Dojo” (”Dojo” replacing “Stick”.) Everyone will will then recognize and want to read.
Another alternative: “President Teddy Roosevelt: As Jean Claude Van Damme!”
I could think of a 100 of these. But you can probably come up with a better line than me. (Or you can use mine for free, just give me credit in a small footnote somewhere.)
But you should have his initials (TR) “embroidered” on his robe.
And maybe a small Teddy Bear…..
But, I hope you’ll use the Teddy cover. It is “Boss”. The vault cover should be used INSIDE the magazine as the Article’s Page Header Graphic.
The dumpster diver cover is plain disrespectful to the Office of the Presisdent. “Even if you don’t like the man, respect the office.”
posted by Pierre Laberge on 8-3-2007 at 11:42 am
Teddy is the one!
posted by Claire Dobie on 8-3-2007 at 11:50 am
Why did people assume the lower-left cover is dumpster diving? It could just be the President’s henchmen didn’t shove the body all the way in the bin…
posted by slick on 8-3-2007 at 12:27 pm
I vote dumpster diving!
posted by gboy on 8-3-2007 at 12:28 pm
The dumpster is funny but there is no way to dress the legs that don’t make them sexest - on my small screen they look like they are dressed in a skirt but then maybe they are dressed in baggy shorts - the vault is recognizable across the world as a secure storage unit where secrets could be hidden, use it for the front page. As others have commented, they don’t know who TR is so it would have less appeal to someone just discovering your magazine on the newsstand…..
posted by Colleen on 8-3-2007 at 12:29 pm
Roosevelt all the way…
posted by Kevin on 8-3-2007 at 12:43 pm
while teddy is definitely funny, it is a bit obvious. the dumpster is funnier because of the frames it evokes.
i vote dumpster–although you’ve probably already decided.
posted by rachelle on 8-3-2007 at 1:17 pm
and to jacquio: i see shorts. i do not see a skirt at all. there is a clear split between the two legs.
besides, what woman would wear an untucked teeshirt, khaki skirt, and tennies in DC? not many.
posted by rachelle on 8-3-2007 at 1:23 pm
Hmmm…The dumpster diving image would probably get the most attention from the stands. Especially since those not necessarily finding politics as their top subject and may not recognize Teddy (which is pretty ridiculous…but there are a lot out there who wouldn’t), but will recognize the dumpster diving image for what it represents.
The Teddy one is great…had me laughing good!
But the dumpster diving would indeed get more attention from a larger crowd, IMHO. =)
posted by LoreleiRanveig on 8-3-2007 at 2:32 pm
Ha ha ha! When I looked at the proposed covers, I totally thought the bottom right corner was a picture of a telephoto lens on a camera with the Presidential seal as what is being looked at. I guess this would work, using a telephoto lens to peek inside the secrets of presidents…
However, I like TR overall because he was truly a kick-ass president and him in a karate suit emphsizes this.
posted by Lisa Roberts on 8-3-2007 at 2:59 pm
Definitely dumpster diving in white house calls the eye.
posted by Philip on 8-3-2007 at 4:45 pm
1. I believe that those you read this magazine/website know who Theodore Roosevelt ( T.R.). And less enlightened ( not Mental Flossers) know who he is ( Rough Riders !). It’s funny.
But the dumpster diving is ironic seeing that ( in my opinion) }”
W” has trashed the presidency/nation.
And I trash him every chance I get.
posted by Jim LeVasseur on 8-3-2007 at 7:31 pm
I have to agree with the majority of the people and say TR as the Karate Kid is the best cover. (Wax on, wax off Teddy-san) However, I think the Presidential vault is better than the dumpster diving for 2nd place. The vault looks sharp. The dumpster diving, though funny, looks kind of lame in my opinion.
posted by Michael on 8-4-2007 at 1:04 am
Teddy tops my list - but what does that say about my respect for the presidency? Perhaps I should choose the dumpster diving - it’s funny and thought provoking… just what kind of junk did you guys dig up/out?
posted by Joy on 8-4-2007 at 7:42 am
I like Teddy first, then the dumpster. But to clarify, the dumpster IS in the back of the Whitehouse.
posted by Gary on 8-4-2007 at 12:13 pm
Definitely Teddy, with the dumpster diver a close second. Even for those who DON’T recognize the Rough Rider, he’s unusual enough for someone to take a second look.
posted by Anne on 8-4-2007 at 1:42 pm
The dumpster diver looked the most ridiculous and produced, for me, the biggest laugh. Never mind where the real dumpster is at the White House. If the intent is to catch the eye and sell mags, many people will relate to the dumpster diver. Intellectuals may gravitate to Teddy in a karate outfit, but I thought he looked like he was in a bathrobe. Not as funny as the dumpster joke.
posted by Pat on 8-6-2007 at 8:51 am
Dumpster-diving has my vote. (What’s with all the votes for Teddy??)
posted by Stephanie on 8-6-2007 at 10:14 am
Teddy for the win! Dumpster diver is a close second! ;-)
posted by Leslie on 8-6-2007 at 1:32 pm
I loved the dumpster diving the best. Teddy in a Karate uniform came a close second, and the Presidential Valut didn’t even strike a nerve with me. Keep up the great work. Love the “viewers’ opinion” when you do them.
posted by Jane on 8-6-2007 at 6:32 pm
Dumpster Diver all the way!!
posted by Kim on 8-8-2007 at 9:53 am
I just got the Sept-Oct. issue today, and they picked the lame vault cover. What’s up with that? Clearly, the other two covers were much preferred (especially the Kung Fu Teddy). Were there politics/legal issues involved?
I’ve been really disappointed in the past two dull mental_floss covers. Creative and funny covers are one of the reasons the magazine is great, and the past two show a serious lack of the creativity that makes flossing fun. Even more disappointing is the fact that there were two more fitting covers that weren’t chosen. Putting the Teddy picture on the inside doesn’t make up for it.
posted by Brady on 8-21-2007 at 2:49 pm