Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for April 11, 2020

easy come, easy go

If Frank went to New York to do that, I think it might be the best storyline we have had in Luann for years.

Promote Ox to bartender & get Al to recommend someone to manage entertainment. Then rent the room to a student.

Forget all that. Just tell her what the infection rate is in New York. She and her partner will both come racing for your house.

They didn’t seem to be having financial problems before Brad left, and he wasn’t paying any rent. Why now?

Frank BRIBE Pru? LOL! Since when is he so free-spending, and has a “bribe stash” set aside?

Interesting to see both Frank and Nancy mention that they sorely needed Pru’s money. I thought they were well off. The Fuse was actually a “vanity project”… it was not truly necessary for them to sink their money into it to stay afloat. Now, with the theater part shuttered, it looks like only TJ’s Kafe Kablooie is the only true money-making source.

Frank should go to work.

Let’s see …the DeGroot’s finances were already so brittle that losing Pru’s rent money is a hardship … the Fuse is closed because of the lock down … next stop, bankruptcy?

“We have a rental house, we rent out our spare room, we own the Fuse, and you still have your day job. We need the money! – Well when you consider what a complete ditz our daughter is…”

Frank impressed

The main thing is that they now have a plan.

Well, I was right. To those who said Pru worked for TJ, I should have made bets with you. I did point out she was an event or facility manager and worked for DeGroots, not TJ, and pointed out that she rented the room to Ann for her lingerie event but that was ignored. TJ is the boss of Les , Ox and Tiffany. Someone made a claim Pru was seen at a Cafe Kablooie staff meeting. My guess is he thought everyone at The Fuse worked for TJ. The Fuse does have other functions: Live music, entertainment, and room rentals. That was Pru’s job.

Why do I get the feeling Tiffany will take over the room?

Before this – I thought Frank was just frugal – but now it seems they really are in a hurt for money. The Fuse never looks that busy – and if there are any profits – TJ and Al get part of the pie. Well the stage is set – some new tenant is about to make his or her grand entrance. Unless….Pru’s fiance makes another quick decision. So many plots – so little time.

They don’t need the “income” – they just need the help at the Fuse. Technically, Pru was cash-flow negative for them since they must have paid her more than she paid in rent… suck it up, put Lazyanne to work covering for her, all positive!

If Jack moved in…

How High would those Jinks be?

Hey, stranger things have happened.

Okay, so the set-up is complete. Next week how far will the object take us? I will wait, but it’s delicious to contemplate.

Good thinking, Frank – if you need the money and perhaps might be somewhat broke, how will you “bribe” Pru to come back? You may not get too far solely on your good looks, but I think that may not be of interest to Pru, anyway.

Quill and Prudence were interns in a theatrical program in New York.Prudence came to the Fuze to produce & direct a Holiday Program.Quill was a Moony University student in the drama department.Prudence decided to stick around because everyone was really friendly.

And bring back the virus, NO.

Frank-ly my dear, I don’t give a damn… just get the story moving!

Now Bernasty discovers Blackout party photos recently posted, with Tiffany in them. She gets several students tossed out of “her” dorm, just when Frank and Nancy have a room available. Will Luann find Tiffany or Hair in her sink?

I was just thinking that maybe Pru and her significant other. Met and fell in love with each other in New York. But she was then stationed in CA. That is why Pru was willing to go West. This way it would be easier for them to stay in touch. Maybe also be willing to help Pru out financially. There is no mention of how long her companion was a pilot. She may now be getting a retirement pension?

Winning lotto ticket AKA My Retirement plan ;)

“Folks” are betting on Al Grey to come up with a solution to replacing Pru at the Fuse and maybe even the new tenant. That might be true. I kinda like the idea that Luann’s new roomie might be an Ex Vegas Showgirl working her way thru college. Community College that it.

Or how about this? The new tenant and future Fuse Bartender is not Tiffany, but Tiffany’s long lost MOM? Down on her luck and needing a job and a place to crash until she gets on her feet?

THAT would mean Tiffany gaining an additional new “ally” plus Lu learning a little history on what made Tiff “tick,” by palling around with Tiff’s Mom!!

Ooooo, the improbable possibilities!!! ;)

And it’s almost COFFEE Time again!

There is nothing like some good sarcasm.

Pru hookup in New York fails. Or they actually hit Lotto (like I’d like to as well….but it’s only just enough for retirement….Yes!!!!! Jackpot!!! ain’t looking for a limo service or nothing like that…..) sorry just a moment of Lotto dreams…. :) What if Ox became the surprise renter? Now that would be insanely funny to say the least….probably would drive their poor souls nuts and flying to New York bribing Pru to come back after all….

Doesn’t sound good. They are close to retirement age and are desperate for more income.

jimmeh: Agreed. This doesn’t look good.

For Frank and Nancy.

Or us.

50/50 chance the arc continues. Starting to look like disappointment either way.

Mourning the loss of Pru – as tenant and worker.

This doesn’t look good.

I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Pru. This is too big of a buildup, and too complex of a story, to simply be a character’s send-off.

I’m guessing Evans will bring in someone new who will have a few appearances then disappear like Pru did through most of her tenure—the problem with having a cartoon with too many characters.

And bring back the Covid-19 virus to our dull, unexciting little town to ramp things up.

Yep. Pru gone. Without a 2 week notice. Seem to remember that Al Grey had some interest in the Fuse. Old shifty Al always has contacts, one being his sister. Disaster looms…Ann Eiffel re-enters the picture. Nooooooooo.

I can’t imagine Ann working a day in her life!

This couple is really made for each other♡. What a lovely irony. I continue to suspect that Pru will return, with a broken heart or with her wife, I don’t know. But I think she will return!

I wonder what Luann would interpret that if she overheard it.

Above, I speculate that perhaps it’s time to drop Luann from the comic strip.

For plot devices, keeping her at home requires a new “sibling” – ostensibly the role Pru tried to play. But Luann could do just the same by moving out and getting a roommate.

But we’re already up to our ears with roommate drama – Gunther and Les, Tiffany and Stefani.

Luann in a real romance likely would end the strip – a reason G&K keep putting the kabosh on them for her.

Luann’s interactions with other characters in the strip have not been that beneficial – especially of late.

Maybe G&K have run out of ideas for the title character.

Maybe it’s time to Barney Google the Luann!

If being the owners and managers (?) of the Fews doesn’t pay enough for your cost of living, get a real job! Geez! These plotlines never make any sense.

BTW, either Pru tended bar for free because of Stockholm syndrome, or Frank and Nancy were paying her salary which she used to pay her rent. The huh? Good luck trying to explain that, lol.

Pffft! Easy solution. Adopt Pru, toss Luann out.

I can Tiffany renting the room to solve her cash flow issues. It would have to be cheaper than the dorm.

Will Nancy be bartending in the near future?

The new renter will beeee… (wait for it) The Backlight Blackjack dealer!! Problem (and mystery) solved.

Now we know where Luann gets her sarcastic streak!;-D

Next week: The saga of Tiffany continues, where she is having trouble coming up with enough money to stay in the dorm, not to mention the fact that Steff is driving her crazy. Oh, if only she could get a promotion at the Fuse! If only there were a cheaper room she could rent somewhere!

Hilarious, thanks for the chuckle.

I see a Brad/Toni/TJ/Shannon arc coming while GnK figure out what to do involving Luann.

What is there to do with the strip’s eponymous character? She had a triad of friends at Pitts C.C. in Jack and Tara with maybe Nil thrown in. But they seem to have been broken up lately. Tiffany, Bernice and Gunther form their own “natural” triad at Moony, with maybe Bets thrown in. Plot lines are difficult to weave without an established constellation of characters. Interaction across the Moony Uni and Pitts C.C. has been minimal and contrived when it occurs.

Bringing back an old major character (Aaron, Quill, Rosa) would be ssoooo trite. Maybe another mentor stint for Luannn. Perhaps Lindy, Shannon’s cousin from 1998. Maybe a phone date swoon arc?

All so very confusing.

Obviously the Degroots are overextended; Why do they need the extra income? Is the Fuse a money pit? Are they in debt to the Los Vegas mob? Are they subsidizing Brad and Toni’s housing costs when two working firefighters, no kids, should be paying market rent or move out so the house can be sold? Does Frank have a mistress on the side? Does Nancy have a secret drug habit? Does Luann need to step up to the plate and contribute financially? Whatever. Changes, voluntary or involuntary, will be made. Unless that lottery thing happens.

The unconstitutional Quarantine (you only quarantine sick people, not healthy) prevents travel to NYC. Strange what happens when politicians decide not to obey the constitution. Nobody seems to care.

Time for Tiffany to move in and drive Luann crazy on a daily basis.

That’s right! Quit wasting your money buying all of those loosing tickets.

Nancy could get a job or take Pru’s place at the Fuse. They could evaluate Luann’s earnings for Kidz-1st to see if she can make a contribution to her tuition, all this combined while they search slowly and carefully for a renter that they would feel comfortable with.

Oh, right, Pru went to New York. Right into the heart of the outbreak. Considering that comics lag by weeks, she gets there about when cases skyrocket.

People, the COVID-19 virus has already appeared in California. Yet it hasn’t made an appearance in Pitts. Maybe that is intentional. Not every ’toon needs to reflect all the miseries in the real world…

You see, it really is all so simple!

It’s hard to tell if she’s facetious.

I’ve always thought paying Pru for her work at the Fuse and Pru paying the DeGroots for rent kinda balanced out…. what were they paying her? 1000 a month? How much was she paying for 1 room? 300 a month? I never could figure out how the DeGroots were getting ahead with this business. And… does anyone else find it odd to just rent a room from a family? One would have no kitchen or bathroom liberties, plus, no place to relax, except in her own bedroom.

I either vote for a whole new person, or Rosa, who comes back with a child in tow, who just happens to look an awful lot like Gunther…

Monday finds Nancy behind the bar at the Fuse mixing drinks.

Put Luann to work as a server and managing the entertainment and promote Ox to bartender. Luann can still go to school part time and also interact once more with her old frenemy, Tiffany at work. I think them having to work together is a better setup for them ultimately getting along better than if Tiffany rents the room. And in time the “roomie arc” could even come into play if her Dad cuts her off completely when he marries Ann.

Considering that the Coronavirus has just hit NYC hard.

Methink’s Pru is going to come back and stay with the DeGroots a little longer.

Tomorrow: Shannon and Brad discuss proper handwashing to kill the “bi-rus”.

Sounds like a plan to me, Nancy!

Tally ho, Frank!

Frank, you’re at that age. Do you want to be a cartoon all your life? Do you want to live at the mercy of some ink slinger? Well, I advise that you stop using some guy who works in a party store running the lottery machine as your financial adviser.