Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 29, 2016

Wouldn’t have been nice to see the girls’ act? (What a profit you made, Leslie.)

While everyone else considers the show, Les shows why he shouldn’t be considered…

“Show And Tell”“Day New Monty”“Do The Aftermath”“A Wonder-ful World” (♬)“The Reflective Reflex”“Skip To My Hullabaloo”“The Shindig’s Connected To The…Whole Joint..” (♪)“What’s The Happening?”“Livin’ Col-la®ge”“On Crowd Nine”“A Motley Crew Cut Out”“Pleasant, Under Masses”“Over-ture Guide”

“Exit Marks The Spot”

“Good Night, Greater Pits Suburban Metropolitan Statistical Area And School District!”

Or“A Dispursing Of Interest”

Pretty bold of Les to be counting that money out in the open where everyone can see how much of it there is …

Poor Bwad.

Brad should be happy that Jonah is Toni’s brother and not her ex.

I doubt Les’ uncle is stupid enough to be fooled for very long. As for Brad, he should get over himself. So he missed out on a chance to be a big hero. Boo hoo. He should be glad Jonah did come in time to appear with Shannon. They never should have told the kid her dad wasn’t coming so soon. He was late, but not too late. They should talk to Jonah when Shannon isn’t around. He should have apologized for being late. Shannon loves her daddy, and the way to make Jonah more responsible, if there is a way, is not to pressure him. He’ll just get defensive and make excuses. Don’t put the kid in the middle.

Brad, you’re not Dad and you’ll never be Dad; accept it

Wow! You all sure turned on Brad, quickly. He seems to be considering how much Shannon loves her dad and the role they will play in her life. I think we should give him a chance.

He is working around trusting people, but his uncle isn’t so trusting…

Did Gunther the Magnificent accidentally make himself disappear?

Waiting for Mr. Gray to come to the rescue… any strip now.

so sadall happy ’cept Bwad

As or Brad’s expression – it’s totally enigmatic. I have to say it’s a nice change for this strip.

I think Brad’s expression is bemused.

Well, Brad, better marry that girl & get some of your own!

It would really be great if Les surprised us all and actually did something good with the money.

I wonder if Jonah had to dye his hair for a part, he used to have light brown hair… or maybe, he just has a desire to look more like his sister! :p

Having a charity talent night for kids is great and all, but, I wonder how this place will pay it’s bills, when, it’s hardly ever open?

I think Brad’s expression reveals that he has come to realize that, even though it hurt him, Jonah’s intervention was the best thing for Shannon.

Shannon is very happy, that is what should matter most to Brad.

Looks like Leslie is going to be the next subject. He has a prominent, noticeable position in the frame.

Crime never pays.

a simple review of the security camera’s by Uncle Al will reveal that Leslie is the same now as he was prior to his job.

I rather hope that we could be surprised and Leslie does the right thing. Not likely but we have already had a surprise for the week.

Ya know, maybe Les has had a change if heart and will turn the money over for the kids. Stranger things have happened!

When is Les going to get caught in his scam?

Frankly, I can’t believe it either, Bernice.

Prediction: some or all of the money will disappear, Les will get blamed ‘cuz nobody likes him, but it’ll turn out not to be him in the end.

Les reminds me of those charity scams, where the organization doing the soliciting gets 85% of the funds, and the actual people being helped get pennies on the dollar.

And all those who believe that, line up over there…

( sound of crickets chirping ….. )

We have nieces whose birth father has consistently acted EXACTLY like Jonah—not being there for his daughters but showing up a) when he’s in the mood, and b) he knows he can look like a hero to them with minimum effort. Our nieces have the same reaction as Shannon: THIS time means it will all be better from now on (because that is what their hope is). But it won’t happen and the cycle will repeat.

I will refrain from saying anything inappropriate .. but I do hope that Tiffany and Gunther are enjoying their own “afterglow”.

“One second, Honey. I gotta go talk to Your “Uncle Brad.” Brad? I just wanted You to know how much I Appreciate You Being willing to Step Up and Fill in for Me Tonight, and ALL those Countless Times I Haven’t been Around for Shannon, for Ab-so-lutely No Good REASON. I THANK You! Oh, and Joan, Paula, Beth and Various and Sundry Other Winsome Voluptuous Young Lasses I’ve been Cavorting with while PRETENDING to Look for Work, Thank You, Too! But Now that I’m Back in the Picture for the Next 30 Minutes, You may Get LOST while I take Full Credit for EVERYTHING Positive that has gone on in MY Daughter’s Life. Gotta Run! Oh, by the Way, WHO is that Creepy Guy Over There Counting All that Money??" - Jonah Daytona From the Deleted Panel Two.

It isn’t the magic of the theater that brings joy to Les.

That poor child is starved for attention and affection from her Dad. Someone needs to have a “come to Jesus” talk with this guy before she is emotionally damaged.

I don’t like the look on Les’ face.

Les’s face just gets more punchable every time I see it.

Any second, Les is going to slip away with all the money and they will never see him again.

Apologies if someone has already said these things, in which case I agree. There seem to be two smirks here, on Les and on JonahI am hoping that tomorrow Shannon drops her father’s hand and runs back to hug Toni and Brad. She has shown caring concern and appreciation before and seeing her do so again would be a great way to begin a weekend.I grew up in a harbour town w many old sea captains there, and calling someone a Jonah had its own negative meaning. Jonahs placed a vessel at risk.Yesterday I asked people what characters from fiction (books, movies, etc) she knows woukd remind Shannon of the primary people in her life. I think in many ways her Dad in Peter Pan. He at times shows up at the last minute to save the day, but he refuses to grow up. If Shannon has not yet run into any of the stories created around Peter Pan, i habe to wonder how they woukd affect her, especially if she runs into the modern story created for the movie which had Robin Williams as Pan, and which is often on tv.Later i will get to comments reading as needs allow today. Kym will be taking over the work of the Q and A/faqs. That way of sharing work is a real help for me, so THANKS, KYM!As is usually the case with donated time in this kind of setting the primary rule involved is, “My time and work, so my choice.” Most people have observed that courtesy with small suggestions only. For those who want big changes, the second rule, which is an offshoot of the first applies: if you want something vastly different then do the work yourself – without swiping what is other’s work though using resource leads is okay – and put in your own labor to create what you want, so in that case it becomes:My time and work, so my choiceBut IF and whenyour time and your work, then your choice.

The after glow!*Bern actually generated some laughs.Mom & Dad made some money.Pru has a new entry on her resumeLes completed a successful con.Shannon thinks this will be repeated again and again.*Will any of these turn out to be reality?

HeHE, Has Bernice ever looked sillier?

Jonah’s hair, it is to DYE for!

5Brad seems calmer now, for which I am glad. I am very happy for Shannon that Brad doesn’t seem poised to confront Jonah here, in front of Shannon. I think that shows maturity on Brad’s part, and shows deeper caring for Shannon’s feelings.Jonah’s expression irks me today. His expression is one of “smugness” in my opinion. I was hoping for him to have a “happy” expression, but not a smug expression. My read on his face is that he is basking in the “glow” of having been there for Shannon, and her current adulation allows him to continue to remain oblivious to whirlwind of stress he has caused in others (including Shannon).If I were to suggest what would have been my “pipe dream” expression for Jonah, it would have been one that is a happy/chagrined expression (happy to have made in time for Shannon and chagrined at having caused others stress). Of course, that sort of expression by the damn “flake” is a true “pipe dream”.Les… are we seeing what appears to obviously be him during his scam to pocket all the “charity” money… or might Greg through a real surprising curve-ball in…. and actually have Les turn around and do a nice thing? I suspect the former is truth and that the latter is only a false hope. Other points of interest to me: 1) I am glad Bernice had fun! 2) I am really liking Pru’s high energy style and eagerness to work hard to make things happen at The Fuse. 3) I am very pleased that Mrs. DeGroot has been shown to have taken the time to thank Pru. That was a very nice thing for Mrs. DeGroot to have done.

What SHANNON is likely to run in as a child IS the “dizzy” type of approach, though, and THAT is why those were mentioned because they would be in context.

Brad and Toni gonna have their own kids so it’s not the end of the world.

And now we’ll see how much joy it brings Leslie.

and shortly Mr. Gray will act subtly, though Les is of age, some things shall have to come home to roost.

(One for you…:) The commercial jingle comes to mind: “…Break me off a piece of that ‘Kid-Cash Bar’!” (♪)

Les is counting the money in front of everyone. He won’t be able to make off with it without people knowing. How much could there be anyway, a couple hundred? Not enough to risk his reputation over.

I like using resources likehttp://www.charitywatch.org/homeWhich i guess is no surprise.

Since Les is the one who was selling the tickets originally for the talent show, I think they have put him in a position of being the money man and it would not seem unusual for him to be counting the money in front of everyone. Although most establishments usually have a back room where the money is counted. Maybe it is going to be a while before anyone realizes he is ripping them off.

I think this episode is showing that Brad is maturing and now realizes he loves kids (Shannon). I really hope he and Toni stay together and have one of their own. Brad will be the nurturing parent.

Lots of clues from the expressions on peoples faces. Shannon and Jonah’s performance will further cement the bond between them that Brad will never be able to sever. The look on Jonah’s face suggests that he is aware of Brad’s efforts at being a surrogate Dad; he senses the competition and perhaps views this as a score. I think Brad is realizing how much Shannon loves her dad, something he hadn’t seen previously. As for Les ( sneaky crook), we can only hope that his days at the Fuse are limited.

Hurry, Gray. Leslie is getting ready to swipe the money! Or are you watching him to see what he will do with the money? Trying to give him the benefit of doubt?

Shannon loves Uncle Brad (she sees him as uncle whether he is married to her aunt or not) and Brad loves her too, but every child still needs to know and feel loved by a parent…it is just a fact. Jonah might not be an ideal parent, always chasing acting auditions, not giving his daughter the attention she needs, always dumping her on his sister, but he is still around, and seems to interact with her seeing that he practiced the skit with her for The Fuse’s theater night. She was thrilled her dad wanted to do that with her and Brad should be happy for Shannon and thankful Jonah at least showed up.

Now, if Brad would just turn his head the other way, He could be the one to see and know what Les is up to.

Sukie: do ya think anyone here has ever cleared a crowded pool this way? You know, by deftly dropping a couple of raisinettes and chocolate peanut clusters in the water?

Don’t know if anyone mentioned it above, but wondering if Mr. Gray will suddenly appear and pounce on his nephew.

@SukieCrandall

Well, Sukie, what you know less about than I, is the strip comic business, in most cases, the average reader has NO idea that the assistants even exist; not only does the syndicate promote the illusion that the artist works solo, they prefer to keep it that way, in the mind of the public. Thus, when you compliment the cartoonist, the praising of the assistants, is assumed.

and also the same day Richard Thompson, creator of ’Cul-de-sac". a sad day indeed.

Good fellowship and cheer for the performers, and a hearty brava to Pru for a job well done!Now, will somebody please take down sleazeball Leslie?!

It’s a comic strip, I don’t get why some people comment like this is a reality show and the characters are going to read the comments………just curious

This too was a new experience for Bernice. I see now that Luann really did want to force Bernice out of her comfort zone of nerdiness and of overthinking everything, by making her get up on a stage in front of others. They did a dry humor comedy routine, probably made a lot of people laugh, and Bernice realized that she could connect with people on a level that she had never imagined.

Uh oh… I don’t like Les’s face here. Looks like maybe he’s helping himself?

Multiple notes:Night-Gaunt49 GoComics PRO Member said, about 1 hour ago@JPuzzleWhiz@IamJayBluE(One for you…:) The commercial jingle comes to mind: “…Break me off a piece of that ‘Kid-Cash Bar’!”*-wasn’t it “Kitt-Katt bar” or am I confusing several jingles here?It is a chapter title with some great punning, NG.

JPuzzleWhiz said, 20 minutes ago@Sheriff MordecaiKaren is now a member of the National Cartoonists Society.

Meant to ask the first time:

Does this mean Karen’s name could soon be appearing on the byline with her father’s?Well, if it works like in some other industries that will wind up by contract partially up to whether the distributor is okay with it, what they think of its marketability…

SPOILER

Could New Yorker Prudence really be this naive, or does she have a plan to ‘knox’ some sense into a certain head?

You are still not my mother. Give it a rest.