Michael Welch portrays Richard Dean Anderson with pimples. (Photo copyright © MGM Television.

I didn’t notice this clever prop until viewing the “Stargate SG-1” episode “Fragile Balance” again tonight.

In the story, Col. Jack O’Neill is cloned by a renegade Asgard but something goes wrong and the duplicate is a teenager. Check out this screenshot above showing young O’Neill. Can you spot the genius prop decision here? Welch is holding a copy of Cracked magazine, which can be said to be a younger version of Mad.

Many years ago, I saw some similarly inspired props in an episode of “seaQuest DSV.” In that one, a sniper takes aim through an open window in an office building while in the background we see boxes labeled “BOOKS.”

By the way, 16-year-old guest star Michael Welch pretty much carries the entire “Stargate SG-1” episode. Check out a clip below.