The Comics Curmudgeon

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Irony deficit

They’ll Do It Every Time, 8/2/06

Some might say that my incessant fawning over TDIET has left me without any kind of credibility when it comes to this feature. I’m just some sort of TDIET cheerleader! Well, today I’m here to tell you that it just isn’t so. See, today’s installment of this usually totally awesome panel undermines exactly what makes it totally awesome. Generally, the patented TDIET twist involves the same person or people or institution: it’s like, Titus notices shoddy work, but not the tip jar! or hospitals have too many bureaucrats and not enough health care providers! or the Pestleys insist that other people be clean, even though they’re messy! Today we’d have the perfect opportunity for that favorite TDIET theme, in which some happy, naive person believes that some aspect of life is basically good, only to be disabused of that notion in some shattering way — except that it only works if the person in the hospital is the same person watching the TV! Instead, our red-headed lady is going to go through life believing that doctors are great and attentive, and our poor patient has never had his hopes about medical care raised so as to be dashed in a narratively pleasing way. Presumably this discrepancy arises because the artist is too gentlemanly to draw an injured woman in a hospital gown, and too sexist to imagine that a man might watch soap operas.

Gil Thorp, 8/2/06

Say, have you ever wanted to see a comic strip where a little girl punches another little girl in the face? Well, today’s Gil Thorp is for you, my friend.

I thankfully don’t have any seven-to-ten year olds that I need to shuttle back and forth to gymnastics practice, so maybe somebody can tell me if gymnastics coaches actually wear form-fitting spandex leotards to work. And are sexy, sexy ladies.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 07:54 pm and is filed under Gil Thorp, They'll Do It Every Time. |

108 responses to “Irony deficit”

Beasley
August 2nd, 2006 at 7:59 pm [Reply]

When I was in middle/high school, the PE teachers were uniformly, well, they looked like Russian military. The only “hot” (yes, I use the word hot ambiguously) teachers were the ones who helped the remedial folks. Go figure.
Herold
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:01 pm [Reply]

No sexy sexy ladies e’er taught my gym classes. Even by Gil Thorp standards.
janisonthewall
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:04 pm [Reply]

Anyone notice how Hayley’s mom looks like Captain Kangaroo after a serious bender?
Beasley
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:05 pm [Reply]

Sexy Teacher
Desdemona
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:06 pm [Reply]

My old gymnastics coach was not nearly as hot, but yes, she wore a leotard. We all did, it being gymnastics. But I think she also wore leggings, as well.
catastrophile
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:19 pm [Reply]

Do you think she got punched? To me it looks more like she’s giving her one of these.

“You’re through picking on Riya! Got it? From now on, we stand together in solidarity! One world, one gymnastics team!”
Beasley
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:28 pm [Reply]

Ewww! The FIST of the heiney!
Hippocrass
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:35 pm [Reply]

Well, at least A3G gave Tommie TWO panels today.

Kinda…
Propaniac
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:54 pm [Reply]

That TDIET is almost exactly the same as last Thursday’s.
Fred P.
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:00 pm [Reply]

-9
No, not quite the same TDIET. As Josh pointed out, there’s the protagonist issue. Plus, while yoyoitis may have its ups and downs, its nowhere near as bad as being ignored while you got your leg in traction
Da Scrodfather
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:01 pm [Reply]

Hayley may not know how to throw a punch, but her mom looks like she’s taken more than a few.
mooselet
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:12 pm [Reply]

Well I used to take my 9 year old son to gymnastics, and none of the women instructors wore leotards or had such an impressive rack. They usually wore t-shirts and shorts.

Next up in (DT)GT, the lawsuit that forces Hayley pack into the gym to continue her torment of Riya.
ponzicar
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:18 pm [Reply]

#9, I noticed that too. While most crappy strips begin to recycle old art and jokes over the course of months or years, TDIET earns a dishonorable mention for doing it with a delay of 6 days.
Josh
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:36 pm [Reply]

Does anyone else read Geech? Apparently, even the editors don’t. Check out today’s:
http://www.comics.com/comics/geech/
(For August 2).

Am I mistaken, or is it just a recycled TDIET? Am I missing something?
Frank Drackman
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:45 pm [Reply]

That gym teacher is almost givin the “shocker” in that last panel.
Analyzer
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:52 pm [Reply]

The black-haired thug girl in Gil Thorp: has anyone’s hair ever looked like that, ever, in the history of humankind?
DCBirdblaster
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:58 pm [Reply]

Yes, Mooselet makes a point. Part of being a female gymnast is the sacrifice of one’s mommy bags. Ever see anything over an A cup at the olympics? Nope.

But it could be that those sports bras are on waaaay too tight.
2fs
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:03 pm [Reply]

Re that Geech (#14): If anyone were getting married, it’d almost be a recycled Alanis Morissette strip.
Deckard Canine
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:03 pm [Reply]

#16 — Nope. As “serious” cartoons go, GT has possibly *the* worst renditions of humans. Thug Girl’s head is too big, or at least her arms are too short (heh, my last comment was on a super-short arm in RMMD), and her face is too boyish in the next panel. Her mom has no pupils or irises, indicating a complete lack of soul. And Leotard Lady is too bony-faced for sexiness.
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:16 pm [Reply]

I’m not sure but I think the dwarvish man-thing in GT is actually saluting Cesar in the first panel.

Either that or a strategically placed word bubble is hiding some obscene hand gestures.
Perky Jalopy
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:27 pm [Reply]

I love souless Hayley’s mom’s cheap Claire’s earrings.
They’ll never degrade in the landfill.
Kaimon
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:28 pm [Reply]

I think the title of TDIET is apropos, but only with reference to the artist: because he does the same joke. Every. Time.
Islamorada Girl
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:28 pm [Reply]

Death to Gil Thorp.
Thank you.
Marc
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:34 pm [Reply]

Hmmm…well the sexy gym teachers were not teaching in my school district. These women were interested in each other…and the guys..well..one of them wasn’t gay but he shaved his legs…so….
Alice
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:54 pm [Reply]

Yes, err. Longtime listener, first-time caller, here.

So I just need to get it off my chest: Aldo Kelrast. Kelrast, Kelrast, Kelrast. I’ve had the name lodged in that part of one’s brain normally reserved for “Extra value is what you get, when you use Coronet!” except there ARE no jingles anymore. No jingles, and that leaves space for: Aldo Kelrast. Aldo Kelrast. It’s fun to say, but watch out-! Decades from now in some foggy coma just before you die, it may be the last words your children hear from your ancient, long-parched lips. And a Mary Worth character should be no one’s Rosebud.
DaveyK
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:54 pm [Reply]

Does it really need to be stated that you won’t miss someone’s vicious side? Doesn’t that just go without saying?

I think it wanted to say “We’ll miss her ability, but it doesn’t make up for her vicious side.” However, given the immense lettering, couldn’t fit it into the panel.

Why do all the girls have hairstyles reminiscent of the Mousketeers?
Prehumous
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:04 pm [Reply]

I can’t believe that TDIET had the ~~sheer nerve ahem~~ ~~audacity~~ balls to loot a comic strip from six days ago. It is officially one of my new favorite strips. No comic that has such cheek can be truly bad.
Marc
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:08 pm [Reply]

Josh…Just wondering why this isn’t filed under TDIET…I like your posts regarding the strip..

MW – Apparently Mary went shopping at the Moy & Giella 8-3 Store! “Is this a joke?” Yes Mary, can’t you see the big floppy shoes and clown nose? If you just go back to his apartment…
Beasley
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:10 pm [Reply]

re 24

I’d forgotten about the shaved legs gym teachers, too. But, of course, the hairy-legged Burt Reynolds looking PE teachers…complete with V-neck shirts and some sort of gold charm thereupon displayed thing on the mat of hair. Ugh!

Help me purge these memories!
treedweller
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:10 pm [Reply]

Wow, MW looks downright pissed at O Stalker Lad today. She claims she’s withholding judgment despite the rumors, but I’d say she’s about to do some serious power walking on his head. Maybe it’s the bow tie; nobody wears a bow tie who isn’t a stalker or a weatherman, and OSL is no weatherman, if you know what I mean.

P.S. Oh, Yeah!
treedweller
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:15 pm [Reply]

And does anyone else think Hayley’s Mom looks like Tammy Faye Bakker with a Liza haircut? What’s up with that?

Either way, that’s some impressive arm-crossing by Riya in the background. I wouldn’t mess with her, I’ll tell ya.

But the question remains: why are these boys dressed as girls?
Ooten Aboot
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:41 pm [Reply]

Re #14: I used to read Geech, but Jerry Bittle died suddenly about 3 years ago, so it’s more likely the TDIET you have in mind was a dusted-off Geech. The 7/29 Geech was totally in character for Artie. Comics.com has been rerunning Geech (and Shirley & Son) since Mr Bittle’s death. I hope the reruns benefit his family, although I’ve stopped reading for a while because I’ve read every strip at least twice. A sad loss, because he had two very clever, sometimes poignant strips going. I miss Jerry Bittle.
catastrophile
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:49 pm [Reply]

Alice: “Aldo Kelrast. Aldo Kelrast. Itâ€™s fun to say, but watch out-!”

For maximum catchiness, put it to the tune of the “Making Christmas, making Christmas” bit from Nightmare Before Christmas. It could loop endlessly in your brain for weeks. (Not that I’d know.)
stewart
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:55 pm [Reply]

A rare dose of unalloyed Canadiana in today’s FBOFW: “Give ‘er!”

Best Canadian phrase EVER!
Joshua
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:26 am [Reply]

The strip is called “They’ll Do It Every Time,” so maybe “it” means “drawing the same characters in virtually the same situations.”
MJ1066
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:57 am [Reply]

Sally Forth: Ralph is back, and he and Sally are still sniping at each other.
Paul
August 3rd, 2006 at 1:05 am [Reply]

I like the interplay of arms in panel 1 of GT. It looks like the three people are moments away from fusing into a 6-armed Vishnu.

Or, maybe viewed as a two-dimentional surface, it’s the beginning of a Celtic knot.
Scumbaggioni
August 3rd, 2006 at 1:33 am [Reply]

36: ‘Bout ****ing time.

*checks strip*

…Wow, that’s pretty hardcore sarcasm for Sally! It almost seems like Ralph’s forgotten their little feud (and why not? It’s been months now), and Sally dives right in and goes for the brisket.

It’s moments like that wherein I almost find her…attractive.
LUGASH!
August 3rd, 2006 at 1:36 am [Reply]

Ten years?! TOO OLD!
Hippocrass
August 3rd, 2006 at 2:11 am [Reply]

Y’know, I think for once that Margo is absolutely right. Nobody cares so much about their friends that they will get all weepy just because of marital problems.
Tommie obvously needs to change her tampon and get on with her life.

I think everyone would be so much happier if they followed the “Margo Way Of Lifeâ„¢” I know I am.
Burrito
August 3rd, 2006 at 2:29 am [Reply]

Doctors in television shows are so concerned about their patients?

Somebody’s never seen House, M.D.. The poor dear.
Lydia
August 3rd, 2006 at 2:43 am [Reply]

MW: Getting good. I can’t remember the last time I saw Mary looking so pissed. And Aldo is getting aggressive fast. I can’t wait for the stip where Aldo tries to kiss her and she either slaps him or Dr. Jeff swoops in and beats the crap outta him.
catastrophile
August 3rd, 2006 at 4:29 am [Reply]

Even Mary’s starting to wonder about this MW “storyline” . . .
Von Zeppelin
August 3rd, 2006 at 6:01 am [Reply]

J’ever notice? Even though doctors in the real world haven’t used head mirrors or worn white uniforms since about 1950, cartoonists of limited ability still use these ancient artistic conventions? Also, how everybody in a hospital bed always has a bandaged leg in a complex traction frame? Heh heh–well, y’know. . .
Fred P.
August 3rd, 2006 at 6:36 am [Reply]

Alice #24

“Yes, err. Longtime listener, first-time caller, here.”

Off topic, but I’m curious if by any chance you’re a listener of “Seven Second Delay”?
Dr D R
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:07 am [Reply]

MW: I am loving the bow tie and short-sleeved polo shirt ensemble on Kelrast. Dashing!
Dave
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:16 am [Reply]

45 — Seven Second Delay — best show ever.
Josh
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:30 am [Reply]

Marc #28 — Thanks for pointing that out. I fixed it.

jf
bupdaddy
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:30 am [Reply]

I was reading DT(GT) and something occurred to me…it isn’t very good.
Frank Drackman
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:33 am [Reply]

Women interested in each other isn’t sexy?!?!?!? Check out the naughty look Keri is givin the coach in that 2d panel..I think they’ve been in that position before if you know what I mean.
Laura
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:54 am [Reply]

8/3/06:

Family Circus: Is that a Star Wars reference?

Garfield: Aw, Garfield’s rushing to help Jon with the groceries. How nice.
Anon and Anon
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:57 am [Reply]

#33: You bloody bastard. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my kids’ favorite movies right now. It’s on all the time. Over and over.

And now I will always hear “Al-do Kel-rast, Al-do Kel-rast” when that song plays.

I hope you’re happy.
Anonymous
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:00 am [Reply]

MW – Shop at Moy and Giella for all your grocery needs.
smacky
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:13 am [Reply]

Aldo goes back to his subletted apartment and listens to Chris Isaak’s song You Owe Me Some Kind of Love through headphones on repeat 30 times.

Hey Mary, ever see the movie Star 80?
Dan B
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:16 am [Reply]

GT: For a girl with a scarred face, Riya sure looks terrified by Coach Brown’s skin grafts. “FREEEEAAAK!”

MW: I can’t shake the feeling that Stalkeraldo looks like someone familiar…

MF: You know Tinsley, I wouldn’t recommend that kids write a book report on a book that you read either. I think the idea of a book report is to “report” on a “book” that the child had read on their own. Cheating bastard.
Jason B
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:25 am [Reply]

Has anyone noticed the constantly changing signs on the wall of the barber shop where Curtis has been getting his week-long haircut? They’re funnier than the banter between Curtis and the barber, with the possible exception of today’s shot at Chapelle.
ez_E
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:27 am [Reply]

GT – the woman in the last panel is Gerri from “Strangers with Candy”
http://www.tv.com/strangers-with-candy/show/3164/summary.html

tdiet is like if the world was preserved perfectly in amber in 1951.

MW – I love the sinister “levity never hurt anyone…” I hope to God he has a sharpened screwdriver on him
MotoMike
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:35 am [Reply]

MF: The little Ann-Coulterish coda today gives me the creeps: “Most educators still think liberals are born that way, and should even be allowed to marry each other and raise kids”. Ha ha … let’s think about what that says if Tinsley is saying this as if they were, say, people that wanted to mate with dolphins or something – perhaps we could have a constitutional amendment forbidding marriage between people with the incorrect political views. Who says that the eugenics movement died out in the thirties? … although, really, what he’s saying doesn’t really make much sense, so I guess a generalized “wtf?” is all that’s called for.

Re: Geech – I remember when Jerry Bittle died because I think he lived in the same town I do and thinking that it was consistently witty.
Ellie
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:59 am [Reply]

MW: A little levity never hurt anyone.
—– But my cattle prod and stun gun sure have.
Vu42
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:10 am [Reply]

58: Ann Coulter is really Howard Dean in drag.
pelagius
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:25 am [Reply]

#54 – Odd. I imagine Aldo preening himself in front of the mirror, Dirk Diggler style – except he is crying while he does it.

Yes, Mary Worth, you have taken us to dark, dark places.
Brian Schlosser
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:28 am [Reply]

MF: Why does Mallard hate teachers so much? Did they try to launch a missle? I suppose his ducklings are all nest-schooled so they aren’t indoctrinated by the evil thick eyeglassed liberal shrews.

And really, why bother making such a convoluted dig at liberals via a lame same-sex marraige joke when “Libruls are teh gay” is so much pithier.
rich
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:36 am [Reply]

Naked hairy butt alert, right there in today’s Boston Herald:

The Flying McCoys

(Dear god, what about the children?)
jailbird
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:47 am [Reply]

#63 – and what are those dark shapes protruding around said naked hairy butt?
Dark Star
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:07 am [Reply]

The coach is a real “butter face”

OT. The current Phantom story line has criminals fighting over a parachute while a hellicopter is flying at treetop level. LET THEM JUMP ALREADY!!! This is a problem that will take care of itself when they go splat on the jungle floor.
rich
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:18 am [Reply]

I’m confused by an element of today’s Mark Trail. After he’s startled by the vogueing bear (thanks to Pelagius — #118 in previous thread!), Ranger Rick clumsily slips, then yells “GET!…GET OUTA HERE!”

But what’s that crazy “YEEAAHH” doing in between? Was Al Scaduto visiting the studio??
paddywhack69
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:21 am [Reply]

Another reason that TDIET doesn’t work today is because the “irritating human nature” part is really a non-issue. The fact that doctors don’t stay by your bedside for three days is actually a good thing. They’ve got shit to do; they don’t have time to watch over your selfish ass. If they did that, all the other patients would have died because nobody would have left your bedside to help them. And secondly, why would anyone want their doctor looming over them and lurching around the room when they’re trying to sleep?
And third, even if you do need help, like that guy with the ramshackle leg cast in panel 2, there’s a Call Nurse button within arm’s reach.

As for Gil Thorpe, the first panel reminds me of the heart-ripping scebe in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
paddywhack69
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:23 am [Reply]

*scene
Sundance
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:35 am [Reply]

I came across this blog a few months ago and now check it and my favorite comics almost everyday. The only time I see GT is when Josh comments on it but I agree with bupdaddy, itâ€™s really not very good? Same with TDIET. Why would someone follow these ones? Is it like not being able to go past an accident without slowing down to have a look?
Badly_Computer_Animated_Boy
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:38 am [Reply]

Coach is a sexy, sexy lady like Brigitte Nielsen was in 1986. Which is fine if you’re into tall, chiseled Euro-dommes but otherwise…
Zelda79
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:48 am [Reply]

Does anyone else find today’s B.C. Comic slightly naughty, in a very disturbing way?
bootsybooks
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:52 am [Reply]

MT: I think the “YEAAHH” just before the bear shouts “Get outta here” is Howard Dean rushing to Kelly’s defense.

Phantom: WTF? Yesterday he had a gun on Chatu and Chatu had a parachute. All of a sudden he can’t shoot Chatu? How precise does his shooting have to be? He’s only a foot away from the guy! And now he’s talking like he’s on a ship at sea. It’s pitching and the pilots have to hit the deck.

However, both panels feature a shot of his stripey butt, and you know how I like that.
MossMoses
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:54 am [Reply]

Ass arrow alert: The ass arrow is back in the grizzly today, after an extended and unexplained absence.

Aldo Kelrast is like Jason Vorhies in the way he stalks (and maybe kills) his victims. Much like the “Jay-jay-jay…son-son-son…kill-kill-kill” that always seems to sound when Jason approaches, how about

“Kel-Kel-kel…rast-rast-rast…stalk-stalk-stalk” for Aldo?
smacky
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:57 am [Reply]

#61: Great, now I have an image of the end of Boogie Nights, but with Aldo standing naked (but somehow still wearing the bowtie) weeping into the mirror. Somehow though, his reflection isn’t weeping, but is smiling.

God help me, I’ve become obsessed with Mary Worth!
Dan Coyle
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:58 am [Reply]

Can what the artist of Gil Thorp does be legitimately considered “drawing”?
AppleGirl
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:03 am [Reply]

#63 – Looks just like a woman I saw yesterday at the train station. Huge woman, quite like the Venus of Willendorf, wearing a very short dress, going commando. Ugh. The heat wave is making for some rude visual punishments.
Dan B
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:08 am [Reply]

#71: Apropos of B.C., it’s disturbing in the biblical sense.
MossMoses
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:24 am [Reply]

76: AppleGirl, you are so right about this heat wave. There should be a rule of thumb common fashion sense for morbidly obese women wearing midruff baring shirts that if the gut slops over the pants cantaliever style, it is not a flattering look.
AirForbes
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:28 am [Reply]

Say, have you ever wanted to see a comic strip where a little girl punches another little girl in the face?

Sure, but that’s not what I’m seeing in (DT)GT. That’s two 40 year old women with 1920s hair styles.

Gymastics coaches usually wear sweats or tracksuits, not leotards while running superhero-style.
Sylko
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:37 am [Reply]

My two daughters are in gymnastics, and their teachers do not wear the leotard. They wear spandex shorts and t-shirts.
MossMoses
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:38 am [Reply]

Jack Elrod is a true mysoginist. Women in Lost Forest are always helpless and clueless. At most, they are capable of blind and misguided ambition but are always incapable and incompetent and require people with x and y chromosomes to rescue them when their blind ambition and foolishness inevitably lands them in peril. This is actually not the second, third or fourth time Kelly Welly has acted foolishly near dangerous animals. It is the umpteenth time and twice in one episode is not exactly UNPREDICTABLE. The true unpredictable thing in this episode is the absence or presence of the Grizzly ass arrow. As for outrunning bears, that is one of those stupid urban legends that can get you killed if you try it. I actually heard (foolish) people in Alaska espouse the theory that bears are musclebound so they can’t run downhill. Dumbasses!
Library Cat
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:41 am [Reply]

What a rollercoaster of emotion this posting has been for me. #14 Geech! I had forgotten about Geech and it is available on the web. Click on link. That’s not a rerun of TDIET that is rerun of Geech, I remember that one. #32 The writer, Jerry Bittle, is dead; there will never be any more new Geech. Kinda bittersweet, the whole thing. I will be having a moment of silence here at my desk. Well, it is a library, so most of the moments are silent anyway. But thank you for reminding me of that comic and I will be looking at the old ones online.
D.A. Pennington
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:44 am [Reply]

Today’s FOOB: Is it me or did Gerald’s Mom slip a mickey in those refreshments.

Yes. Peace for a few hours. They’ll wake up groggy, but no serious after effects
MaryAnnTheRest
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:45 am [Reply]

#79: Awesome. COTW.

I have this superstition that if (DT)GT makes sense to me, I’m going to have a lousy day, and if it doesn’t make sense to me, things are right with the world. Today? The coach got skin grafts at the Olympics? How does one relate to the other? Maybe she meant… oh, forget it, I’m going to go have my good day now.
Library Cat
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:46 am [Reply]

83 Oh surely not, she’s such a nice, thoughtful lady.

Wasn’t she just cussing them out yesterday?
Morokiane
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:51 am [Reply]

I’d hate to tell R. Harbourne who submitted that wonderful TDIET story that t.v. does not equal reality…did that Dr. on the t.v. really stay there for 3 days…umm…no because it’s an actor. Anyone who thinks that reality operates like t.v. needs to get away from the t.v. and go outside…oh yeah!
Pansy
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:52 am [Reply]

Alice (#25) — I thought I was the only person plagued by that annoying Rosemary Clooney jingle! But it’s, “Extra value is what you get, when you BUY Coronet!” What you get when you USE it, I dunno. I wonder if Mary Worth ever sings that little song to herself?

Alice, thanks to you that miserable ditty will be stuck in my brain all day.

Re: TDIET — A lot of these seem to take place in hospitals. I guess that’s an indicator of its target demographic. You have to be able to make the “yeah, I know how THAT is” connection in order to enjoy it. Well, maybe “enjoy” isn’t quite the word, but you get what I mean.
philip
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:16 pm [Reply]

janisonthewall (#3) said:

Anyone notice how Hayleyâ€™s mom looks like Captain Kangaroo after a serious bender?

So, is it possible that Hayley’s mom and Aldo Kelrast from MW are brother and sister? The same person? Horrors!
Musicfan
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:19 pm [Reply]

In Gil Thorpe: Is that Ann Landers doing the beating?
Dan B
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:27 pm [Reply]

I hadn’t looked at Garfield yet today, but I think Stalkeraldo might want to offer a hand to someone who actually needs help bringing in the groceries. Jon has no luck with women; Stalkeraldo has no luck with meddling 75 year old women. Why not try each other?
mere cog in the machine
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:29 pm [Reply]

#79:You are quite right. They don’t look like two little girls fighting so much as two aging flappers doing the Charleston.
Laura Brown
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:32 pm [Reply]

Pluggers: If “a plugger is first a stay-at-home mom,” then Mama Kangaroo is clearly not a plugger, despite the fact that Grandma Bear is. I can think of two possible explanations for this. If the bear is the kangaroo’s mother (I can’t work out how species is inherited in this strip), then today’s instalment suggests that pluggerism is not necessarily passed on from generation to generation — that it might, in fact, be determined by environment rather than heredity. On the other hand, if the bear is the paternal grandmother, then it’s possible that her plugger son has — gasp! — married a non-plugger. In that case, one can only imagine the maelstrom seething beneath this family’s cheerful exterior.

And what about Baby Roo? Will s/he grow into an upright and honest plugger, or be sucked into Mama’s unAmerican and elitist world of dentists’ offices and floor mops? This could turn into a generational drama to rival FBOFW.
Craigers
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:58 pm [Reply]

Following up on some of the anagram talk from two days ago…

For Better Or For Worse = FERRET-FOOT BORROWERS or FORT WOOF’S TERROR BEER

Mark Trail = I’M KARL RAT

Family Circus = CLARIFY MUSIC, IS CALCIUM FRY, CRUCIFY MAILS, and my favorite, F. U.! I’M ACRYLICS!

Mary Worth = RAM-WORTHY (clearly Stalkeraldo’s favorite anagram) or WHO, MARTYR?

Gil Thorp = LIGHT PRO

Pluggers = EGG SLURP

They’ll Do It Every Time = MY TEETH RIOTED EVILLY or YELL THY TERMITE VIDEO or MY TOILET: THE DELIVERY

Mallard Fillmore = IMMORAL LARD FELL
Propaniac
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:59 pm [Reply]

I love that 4/5 of today’s GoogleAds are about where to buy leotards.
Craigers
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:59 pm [Reply]

Oh, forgot my favorite.

Apartment 3-G : TRAP & TAG 3 MEN
Deckard Canine
August 3rd, 2006 at 1:02 pm [Reply]

#90 – Yikes. OK, somebody do a mashup please!

#63 – Thanks, I was going to comment on TFM but forgot. Specifically, I was wondering why cavemen. Here are some possible reasons: (1) the only way to make up for the dull punchline is with a halfway exotic setting, (2) there’s the idea that prehistory was full of giant versions of today’s creatures, and (3) any excuse for a butt gag.

BTW, Glenn McCoy, who also draws “The Duplex,” draws the worst butts of any comic strip artist I know. It doesn’t really show today, tho, because the cavemen are big all over.
Dingo
August 3rd, 2006 at 1:04 pm [Reply]

Josh, thank you! Can’t believe it’s been a few days since I was on (that damned thesis is finally done). I came on today and – BAM! – I’m COTW!!! What a great way to start life after the thesis.

I’ve gone from “Aaugh!” to “Aaaaaah.”
camster
August 3rd, 2006 at 2:09 pm [Reply]

Further to getting Captain Stalkeroo’s name out of our collective minds, has anyone else had this little ditty running through their head? (You know the tune….)

Kelrast
Aldo Kelrast
He’s the sickest fuck in Charterstone

From the
kitchen window
He’s dreaming about giving Mary the bone

…and so on…
Rebecca
August 3rd, 2006 at 2:22 pm [Reply]

#92: Note the look of quiet despair on mother Kangaroo’s face. Her eyes are closed, her head down, she can’t bear (hah!) to look back. The guilt radiates right off the page. She works only because economic circumstances require she does, not because she wants to. Thus, she can still be a Plugger, just one that’s already pawned all her electrical equipment, jewelry and the copper piping in her shoddy bungalow. Now she must strike out and work, leaving her innocent child in the hands of a predator. Weep for her.
The Big B
August 3rd, 2006 at 2:53 pm [Reply]

That “thug girl” in the Gil Thorp cartoon is Gil’s daughter. Quite frankly, I find it refreshing that one of his children (he also has a mutant son) appear in *any* strips other than the annual “Merry Christmas Everybody!” strip.
rich
August 3rd, 2006 at 3:08 pm [Reply]

A special honor should be given to mon-ma-tron (Distinguished Comment Award?) for being the first person on this website to say “Mary Worth is being stalked by Captain Kangaroo!”, back on July 5th. Dennis Jimenez was second. (I think I was about number eight — and so on..)
MossMoses
August 3rd, 2006 at 3:18 pm [Reply]

Mon-Ma-Tron, astute observation.

Did you notice a grizzly bear with a missing and reappearing ass arrow, by any chance?
Craigers
August 3rd, 2006 at 3:29 pm [Reply]

Grin and Bear It : “Ram Rod Military School”? If I don’t ask, will you promise not to tell!?
catastrophile
August 3rd, 2006 at 5:14 pm [Reply]

52 — “The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my kidsâ€™ favorite movies right now. Itâ€™s on all the time. Over and over. And now I will always hear â€œAl-do Kel-rast, Al-do Kel-rastâ€ when that song plays.”

MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!
Marion Delgado
August 3rd, 2006 at 6:20 pm [Reply]

Alice, catastrophile – you scoff at my warnings – NOW.

The learned tell us there are some Secrets that are chthonian and forgotten, buried deeply in the shreds of burnt scrolls and crumbled tablets for good reason – some Names that truly are Unutterable – some Beings, elder by far than our religious imaginings – that must never be summoned.

If you value your souls, your sanity, your UNCORRUPTED SKIN, never speak the name encoded by wise souls as TSARLEK ODLA *ALOUD*!!
catastrophile
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:26 pm [Reply]

Hey Marion, did you ever notice that TSARLEK is an anagram for KESTRAL?
Hank Kimble
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:54 pm [Reply]

Pluggers are familiar with this jingle. . .There’s a store right here in town, it goes a long long way. That store is independently owned, check out IGA.
Alice
August 6th, 2006 at 7:10 pm [Reply]

(To #45) Fred P.,
Okay, so like, five years later I check back here. Nope. Never heard that show, radio geek though I am. Anyhoo. Also: Luckily, I don’t have a clear memory of any tunes from that Tim Burton film. Thank god. I may be wounded, but am not irreparably scarred by Mary Worth. (Yet.)

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