Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 19, 2016

you’ve no idea, “Bwad”

I hope not, but before I go to bed I wanted to say I see a very sad letdown coming.

Are those two married yet? If not, get on with it. It’s like going to the dentist. Putting it off won’t make it any better when you get to it.

Odds are her dad wont show. Brad may have to save the day!

I wonder why Shannon is back to calling Brad “Bwad” again. It seems to me that every time she is involved with some issue having to do with her father, that she ‘acts up’ with Brad.

I can remember when my younger sis’s first relationship broke up and she had to take her young daughter and go back to live with our stepfather. The little girl was upset about not getting to see her father, and mouthed off to all the other adults who were trying to make her situation better.

The question is who will be the stand-in?

I don’t know of any other character who’s been established as a guitar player, other than Quill, maybe, and I don’t see him putting in an appearance. Perhaps Mr. Grey will whistle up someone on short notice, or maybe Luann will show us that she’s been a guitar prodigy all these years, and we just didn’t know it.

Least likely, methinks, is that Fishbait will actually show up and play the gig.

Brad and Toni are TOO comfortable with each other. Its like they’ve already been married for 5 years.

“Well Versed”“Relatively Speaking”“A Little Worn, But A Lotta Love”“Up On My Feet, But Still Down On My Niece”“Wear And Tear”“Bedazzled And Frazzled”“Hanging By A Nerve”“Frisky Kid Was The End Of Mine” (♪)“Close Quarters…And Still No Change”“Finally Moving, After The Change Of A Dress”“It’s A Small, Small, Small, Small, Small, Small, Small World”“Close Encounters Of The Third Verse”“The Early Bwad Gets The Earworm”“More Of A Pinch, Than A Cinch”or“I Can’t Hold You Any Closer, Tiny Dancer!” (♪)

Don’t think Jonah realizes just how good he has it! Shannon has the love of her Aunt Toni and the Degroots to lean upon. In fact, Toni lovingly looks after Shannon, and what thanks has he even given her?

So this is Toni at her worst?

If Jonah doesn’t show, get the Fiddler on the Roof.

So has the 11 September wedding plan been stuffed down the memory hole? Have the old strips been retconned so that it’s December and always has been December?.I’m not surprised that the Evansi have reduced Bwad and Toni to extra status. Once they’re married they’ll only feature once in a few months to reassure the Trufans that they still exist.

It’s a Small World requires knowing only three easy chords.

I like it!

Hope they have a record player.

Maybe Les will be the one to save the day and we will see that he has some redeeming quality: talent. And maybe his character will start to change into someone more likable.

I see a different outcome looming. Jonah shows up, plays “It’s a Small World”, and gets hauled off by a force of Disney’s copyright lawyers.

….And there are plenty of strips (recent and past, weekly and Sundays) where Toni’s drawn wearing casual clothing, while she’s home, hanging out with Brad, going to the movies/other dates with him, babysitting Shannon, proposing to Brad, running into exes at the store, walking in the park with Luann…just to name a few occasions in the strips….

I see Jonah NOT showing up,as usual,and a crushed little girl being adopted by Brad and Toni.

Not intending on taking away any spotlight from Shannon’s upcoming performance, but I’m still curious as to just HOW Leslie is going to end up in this thread. Remember back when NUMEROUS people were putting in $10 or more, and Leslie indicated a total donation of only $16??

Even if daddy Jonah doesn’t show up it won’t matter to little Shannon, she’s been expending all her energy and will fall asleep in the car and WON’T WAKE UP to perform. The adults, however will be furious with him.

Yo, Shannon! Whether or (Probably) NOT, Your [COUGH] ‘Father’ shows up, are You taking Requests? Because I’d like for You sing “Go Now” by the Moody Blues followed by “Lawdy Momma” by Steppenwolf.

Dunno why. I guess I’m just longing for the 60s these days….,

Amazing as it may be to the Trufans, some people who belong to GoComics don’t even read Luann ever day, much less study it, memorize everything, and can quickly find particular episodes in the archives. Are those people not entitled to ask an innocent question here, to find out why what they do remember reading is now in conflict with the current plot? In few other strips would the response to such questions be, “You weren’t paying attention!!!”, when in fact, there’s absolutely no reason why they should pay attention to a comic strip in which they have only a mild interest. Is this forum reserved for only the die-hard devotees?

7Yesterday I suggested that Brad will be the one who ends up performing with Shannon, and I still think that will end up being the case. I am not sure if Brad has any musical inclination or not (guitar, piano, vocal)…. so it may be a bit of a problem for him to assume a musical role. But, perhaps it will be that Brad somehow joins Shannon in the dance routine, or in some other fashion.To me, the prediction of Brad being the replacement for Jonah seems most in keeping with past “Jonah abandons Shannon” arcs. If Brad does join in with Shannon, and if Jonah gets to The Fuse just as Brad and Shannon’s act is concluding…. it gives Greg the opportunity for Brad (and/or Toni) to grimace and to be grumpy at Jonah. *************************************************Now, if I am incorrect about Brad & Shannon, what might be the alternative? 1. Jonah & Shannon DO perform together? I still think that is unlikely to be the story’s path, if past arcs with Jonah are any indication.2. Toni & Shannon perform together? With the tired/semi-exasperated expression Toni has had yesterday and today, I think it is unlikely that she will willingly step in.3. Prudence & Shannon perform together? This is possible, but with Prudence not being featured the last two days, and in only a minor way the few days before that, it seems a bit unlikely that Greg has that grouping in mind for the performance. Admittedly, Prudence DID indeed guide Shannon on the dance routine itself, so it is still possible. But, it just feels unlikely that is where Greg is moving the story.4. Shannon has NO ONE and she performs “solo”. This I hope is unlikely, as it seems the saddest of all paths for the story to take. I doubt Greg would write the story this way. 5. Shannon performs with some other character (Luann, Bernice, etc). Again, because there has been no suggestion thus far from Greg for anyone else, it seems rather unlikely.Again, it will be interesting to see what happens.

I vote that Quill comes back and saves the day.

Luis (aka Louis) was the cool guy who drove Gunther around for a while in Peru. Luis was the fellow who was drinking a beer at the cafe when Gunther ate the hot pepper and then grabbed the beer away from the fellow and drank it, leading to Gunther’s transformation (at least topically) in regards to growing out peach fuzz.

N-G49…. was Jonah actually married? I cannot recall if that is an established detail or if it has been just supposition that he was married to Shannon’s biological mother by many of us. In some ways, Jonah doesn’t really seem like the “marrying” type of fellow.

I’ve quit posting here. Mostly because of attitudes like yours. Made an exception today.

I think Toni is not going to want a kid (other than Shannon). That could be a big issue with Brad. What if that comes up before December 11?

Um, Kymberleigh? Perhaps that rather snarky and aggressive response was a bit unnecessary.

LuAnn will sing the horrible, awful song. Looks like it will be a capella, though.

Toni does not seem to like kids. She openly says, in front of Shannon, that she resents Jonah’s making her baby-sit for him. If Brad really does want to be a father, they should talk about this!

you go girl!

Okay maybe I’ve missed something in the script, but who/where is Shannon’s mother? Is she deceased? Because unless she is, basically what we have is TWO absentee parents.

Also: Let’s predict the arc of this week’s script shall we? “Daddy” never shows up…..and someone, probably Brad, steps up….

Really tired of this strip being taken over by this small child.

srmalone said, 2 minutes agoReally tired of this strip being taken over by this small child.^^^^^^^^^^^You could always go read something else. Lord of the Rings comes to mind…

Toni does not seem to like kids. She openly says, in front of Shannon, that she resents Jonah’s making her baby-sit for him. If Brad really does want to be a father, they should talk about this!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^WHERE EXACTLY does she say this??? Are you a parent? Have you ever dealt with an active excited child, who had to memorize something for school or something else? i had to hear my daughter’s ballet music over and over and watch her practice at home ( " Daddy look at me! LOOK AT ME! Daddy was i good? etc etc etc" ) because i did not go to the rehearsals due to work schedules. My wife took her to those. And you know what. She was good at it. I saw her dance in the performances. She was radiant. I sometimes wish she was a little girl all over again so I could get a re-run. My older son had to memorize lines as SGT Krupke in WEST SIDE STORY. I had to hear the soundtrack forever it seemed.

The end result was worth it. But the process, especially with a smaller child, can get nerve wracking.I myself, work on music constantly. people in my home have to hear music emanating from the home studio all the time. Stops and starts, retakes, etc. I am sure it drives them up a wall. But in the end I have 5 CDS out there.

I don’t really know what your deal is, but you are such a curmudgeon ( to be nice ). There used to be a character on SNL that I think you would get along great with. remember DEBBIE DOWNER?

Dad is going to be a no show. What’s going to happen? Brad to the rescue?

Shannon, no doubt, refers to Jonah’s mother as “Gwannmah!” As in: “Hewwo, Gwannmah!” Especially on the phone! (LOL!)

Schrodinger’s Dog said, about 3 hours ago@Kymberleighnah, that would require they make some effort to find such a strip! ( or whine about it here until one of us posts it ).Yes, Dog, then people doing that often do not read the answers such as Brd’s careful work posting it today, even though an included strip catches the eye when people scroll, and ask the same question again in a day or three.

I’m hoping to see Toni do a pole dance

o-t-d… while you are correct that in some real world situations the absentee Jonah would/could be a person with a drug problem…. just as likely in the real world, there are folks who just, very sincerely are “flighty” who do not seem to recognize or respond to responsibilities life gives to them. To my manner of reading the comic, Jonah is just a flighty, “flake” who just kind of does what he wants and is just not “aware” enough of societal expectations to even attempt to follow most of them.

I continue to be puzzled about why so many posters think that Brad will be the one who saves Shannon’s act, by stepping up to play the music for her. I am not a long time reader of this ‘toon, so maybe I missed this, but when has Brad shown the ability to play a guitar or any other musical instrument? I didn’t see this as one of his abilities…

December, NG.If you scroll up, Brd included that strip in today’s comments.

Perhaps we’re being distracted. At the Follies, Team Evans might have a surprise for us coming out of the blue! What could it be— Ann Eiffel sees Shannon? Jonah know Les? Les funds a camp for dancers? Mom & Dad fly to Paris?

Hahahaha! I know how Toni feels. The “It’s a Small World” ride at Disneyland was 5 min of grueling torture. Cannot imagine a more worst punishment for a parent.

Meh.

Frank plays guitar.

Don’t worry Toni, after the show you won’t have to hear it anymore. (Hopefully)

Some of the best songs ever written are simple and only use three chords. If Jonah doesn’t show up, virtually anybody who has ever played a guitar could step up and play the guitar part for It’s a Small World.

A contrarian’s view: I cringe every time that helmet-haired little brat shows up.

Brad should spend more time taking care of Shannon. He has more patience with her than Toni does, and he seems like he actually likes the little girl. Toni never seems happy to spend time with Shannon.

Sorry, Shannon, but your daddy has run out on you yet again.Maybe someone else can provide accompaniment for your dance routine. Let us hope so, lest the disappointment by Daddy Jonah provoke a tantrum on stage….

in re: e.n. : ditto

Puzz writes:JPuzzleWhiz said, 10 minutes ago@SukieCrandallYes, i know that at times the people who flag can themselves get in trouble for doing so…

That’s if you mention that you did so. GoComics considers such actions as “making personal attacks”. I found out about this the hard way. My policy since then has been that when I feel the need to flag someone, I just simply click the “flag” button and say nothing, and let the GoComics moderators handle it. That’s their job, not mine.Thank you for the clarification, Puzz! Well, i guess this is something i have learned today. If i have to be mute for a while, do not worry about me then. Yes, i fully understand that the choice is the moderators’; for a bit over a decade i was a co-owner and moderator of a site which educated people about veterinary care and had to make some hard choices myself, though obviously i woukd rather this not turn out in such a way because for the most part the comment section here has a constructive community that is a relaxing addition to my days. Their site, their choice, though. The vitriol and repeated nature of so many personal attacks against a fellow commentor by one person here just got to me.

Puzz, in keeping w the policy, now that i am clear on it, i have removed that post in respect for guidelines. Thanks again for the education!

Suppose Brad says to Toni, “You know, Jonah is a really irresponsible guy, and he doesn’t devote enough time to raising Shannon. When we’re married, do you think maybe we could adopt her?” and Toni replies, “God forbid! It’s bad enough having to care for her just on the times when I do, much less full time. I really don’t want to have kids.”That would certainly be a major pre-nuptial complication, wouldn’t it? However, I doubt that they’ve talked this over at all. Folks in this strip are just about the worst people anywhere at communicating with one another.

The idea that Jonah giving his daughter up for adoption is a good thing is really wrong. Here is a six year old child who has a mother that has “disappeared”. She seems to love her dad and would be devastated if her father gave up on her. Can you imagine the trauma that kid would carry for the rest of her life. Two parents who didn’t want her. Swell, right.

I did see them, but it was pretty late! I think we both missed “Bare Necessities” (♬)…

rad certainly has evolved ovr the years. I remember him beintg fat, pig nosed with bad hair.

In Luanntime, it’s been about four hours since Jonah told Shannon “Break a leg, kid” and said that Toni would get her home.*Don’t think he would have said either statement then, if he planned on being her backup.

In this specific case, the attack I believe did fit your criterion, and crossed the line into a repeated personal attack. clicking the “pennant” was entirely apropos.

NG, if i got to have a dime for each time i have been wrong it would make quite a pleasant nest egg. We are each only human. If we were perfect we’d be ferrets. Wait! Dogs! Don’t get upset, Dog, i meant to type “dogs”. ;-)

You wrote:Night-Gaunt49 GoComics PRO Member said, 16 minutes ago@SukieCrandallYou just have to be very sure of whom you flag since some people erroneously think a troll = disagreement. As we know it doesn’t. I am very frugal of flagging anyone at any time. Personal attacks is the key for me. Direct attack not some general disagreement which some also think is an attack on them directly. But it isn’t.Strongly agreed! Disagreement is just part of people discussing.

Re: Fiddler on the Roof. If Jonah doesn’t show, and the man on the roof won’t come down, then hey diddle, diddle, the cat has a fiddle

Actually, the girls in “Sally Forth” read one another’s minds! Compare this to the Piro / Bernice / Gunther / Tiffany muddle, or to the (now deprecated) Quill / Pru / Luann crisis. All of these situations could have been resolved in a single sitting if someone just came out and asked another person a straightforward question and received a straightforward answer, but instead they resulted in weeks upon weeks of incorrect assumptions and misunderstood actions.

> Oh she wants kids——— her own!>That may very well be the case. Remember that the whole reason she proposed marriage was that she saw Dirk and his wife with their baby. She no doubt thought that had things gone a bit differently, that kid would have been hers, and she started to worry about missing out.

Shannon could easily do her dance routine as a solo – anyone could download the song and play it over the PA system. But if there’s going to be “live” accompaniment, and given that (as far as we know) none of the regulars are particularly musically inclined… my dream pairing would be Shannon and Ox! If nothing else, it would be cute to see the gentle giant with the pint-sized ball of energy!

Toni explains why she proposed:-

I have not been able to get into the bog much today, but I do notice the usual background warf between those who are Trufans, those who coined that term, and in spite of themselves know enough about the strip to always critique, and those who are clueless. Let me defend the first two, we need Trufans, and we need skeptics. On the clueless, well, if they are offensive or just plain wrong then we can ignore, or criticize them. Can I say one thing? And I will not name anyone, they know who they are. But in spite of what they sometimes say, they are just as addicted to the strip as any Trufan, and that is not a bad thing. Like I like to remind, this is a little, few minutes in one’s life, and diversion from the world we live in today. It is very well done, and whether we trufan it, or criticize it, we are committed to it. I think that the skeptical commentators should leap to the defense of the strip when there is something so offensive, or just so wrong. Do it sarcastically if you want, but it can’t hurt and does not make you a Trufan. Just a fan who is true to his or her personality and perspective. I will be glad to pick myself up off the floor if you do (lol).

If Dirk had been a total jerk, or even a violent thug, to Toni in that meeting, then it would lend credence to her saying that meeting Dirk again made her realize how good she has it now. However, he was a perfect gentleman, and Toni later told Luann that he seems to have changed totally. So the meeting didn’t make her happy that she was no longer involved with him; it made her a little bit regretful that the baby she saw him with wasn’t hers. That’s my interpretation of what happened, not of what she said. Your mileage may vary.

So, are you saying that someone who’s reading the strip for the first time shouldn’t be allowed to make a comment, even if it’s intelligent?

No, I answered “maybe”, with a qualification (“if”), to the original question.

And you and I both know, Puzz, that it’s not the first time readers making intelligent comments who draw my ire (or “rudeness”, if you subscribe to Caldonia’s interpretation).

Is it really that difficult to answer a newbie’s question – without snark? The thing is that without new blood, the forum will eventually shrink to pointlessness… and we know what comes after that. Unfortunately, I’ve seen it happen (or am seeing in happen) in other fora.

I guess maybe what it boils down to is how a question reads.Does it read like it is from a newbie?Does it read like it is from an intermittent reader asking a reasonable question?Does it read like it is from one of those people who over and over again ask the same question just trying to become annoying?There are some situations where one or another of these is quite clear for most or all, but there can be others which one commentor will read one way, while another reads them in a different way.Then there are the times when multiple new names or known ones which fit the third category pile up against one known poster with exaggerated attacks. I wonder at times how many of those “different” ones are the same individual using multiple names. In those instances i think they(?) are trying to rile up regular posters against a legitimate one, often by misrepresenting and figuring people will not go back to see the full post which started it all, but will just see their (?) posts. Sometimes they(?) have some success, too.

The Baha Men were actually releasing albums before and after that song became a hit (thanks to that Seattle Mariners announcer guy…[said sarcastically….]). They were still touring for a while, but don’t know about this year….

Spoiler: can’t have them check when more is for Les.

It’s like Godwin’s Law of Luann Tunes where within the first page of comments someone invariably asks when Brad and Toni are getting married and then the conversation gets hijacked by a debate of whether they are getting married in September or December.

@SukieCrandall

For some reason, can’t use the ‘reply’ function at all.

Your Spoiler was great. Mine isn’t as good: Reappearance fo a bad penny.