Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for May 23, 2021

That’s why I listen to to a commercial free jazz station. Avoiding the Kars-4-Kids commercial is worth the donation. Now, here is something to cleanse your ears.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEOo28lsbc

_

Yodeling Kid at Walmart flashbacks.

That’s actually quite mild compared to this:

“We buy any car! (dot com)

Any! Any! Any! Any!

We buy any car! (dot com)"

oh, the inhumanity

I guess I should consider myself lucky. We don’t have that ear worm here (assuming that’s what it is).

NOOOO MY LIFE IS HAUNTED

Evil, pure evil

Okay, I’m assuming this refers to an actual commercial, but see no need to google it, or to follow a link from anyone who did.

There’s no way I’m going to click any link in this thread. I’ve never heard it, which is surprising since I live in the same TV coverage area as Pastis. We must watch different stuff.

I’ve never heard of it. Maybe that’s a good thing.

I’ve heard it, but not for years.

Will you all just SHUT UP AND STOP THAT?! PLEASE!!

Do you know the (probable myth) that there was a group of psychologists who worked to put such earworms into the minds of the upper staff of the Third Reich, including Hitler (“and that, my friends is how we won the war”)

I consider it cruel and uncivilized. LIKE THAT STUFF UP THERE ⇑⇑⇑

Wait…don’t they play this on a loop in THE BAD PLACE ?

I hate that commercial. Whenever I hear it, I turn the radio off. Problem is, sometimes I forget to turn it back on.

Could have been worse, could have been the Celleno and Barnes ad.

I saw it coming and skipped right over the offending panel…(1-877-kars-for-kids….DAMN!!)

Fortunately for me, the station I listen to has never played that ad, so I don’t know what it sounds like. And I’m not going to search it.

This is why I listen to Cds and Pandora!

I’m so sorry everyone is having problems getting rid of this ear worm.

I wish there was some way I could help. OH, I know!

877-CASH-NOW

I can’t hit the mute button or change the channel fast enough when the commercial (any version of it) starts.

Could have been “Sugar Sugar”

This little ditty is used to great and humorous effect in “The Good Place” (an American TV series, for those not familiar).

never heard it, but then I listen only to NPR..but they have a ‘donate your car" blipvert. so it’s moot.

I prefer Kars-4-Sluts, One caveat though, they only accept cars with a big backseat.

<3 :D

I see that commercial from time to time!

ask yourself, why do these kids need cars and should they even be driving? I’m not giving some 6 year old a Buick even if I could afford to.

It’s the song that never ends.

Another what made you think this was a good idea moment;-)

Pastis you A-hole! I stopped listening to broadcast radio because of that stupid commercial!

Unfortunately, this is an example of the old cliche that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. The company undoubtedly loves this. Among the 175,000+ readers of this strip on GoComics and the hundreds of thousands of newspaper readers, more than a few are bound to check out the web site and donate their cars.

That’s nothing. The Charmin Booty Smile won’t leave me alone.

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHGGGGGGG , AAAAAAAAAHHHHHGGGGGGG , EARWORM, and the first thing in the morning, you unspeakable Evil @÷#% and unspeakably etc. Etc

Wouldn’t be a Yankees pregame without it.

The most annoying radio commercial ever. If I had 10 card to donate they would not get a bent hubcap from me.

If you REALLY want to fill your head with bad songs, read “Dave Barry’s Book of Bad songs.” Hilarious how many of those songs we all know. . .sha-na-na-na, sha-na na!

The only cure for Earworm is a cup of Coffee and sitting on the porch listening to the Birds sing ., I’m putting down my tablet now going to do that right now !!!!

You sonofabitch!!!

No need to put your tablet down. I’m in my back yard with my tablet right now. Too much sun on front porch, I was out there earlier this morning though. Plus I can blame typos on using my tablet.

Do not Google Kars-4-Kids, it will show up in all the ads on your computer for MONTHS (speaking from experience!)

After this, we are owed a very bad pun. And soon. Make it stop!!

Hey, it COULD be worse… just think “It’s a Small World After All…”

Why would anyone donate a car to a kid? They are too young to drive it.

So Pastis is now a shill.

Fine. You wanna play dirty, I’ll see your Kars and raise you the “Sailor Moon” theme song. >:D

JaJaJaJaJaJa

If that is a TV commercial, then TIVO, TIVO, TIVO (or equivalent). I never see them.

I had to check it out. we don’t have that commercial here in Richmond Va..glad. however"be this guy" Gershwin is great way to remove it!

Help help.

Think of the underarm deodorant theme song.

Byyy… Mennen

The real zombie apocalypse.

I’ve never heard that commercial. Sounds like I’m lucky.

Since I have somehow inadvertently avoided this supposed jingle from the fiery depths of He(double hockey stick), I shall enjoy the rest of my life, as I now do everything in my power to avoid this ad.

It is VERY popular on XM radio stations. I have to change the channel to save myself from psychosis.

There are really some very annoying ads out there! So bad I have to mute the TV and or shut the radio, especially while driving!

Never heard that before…left off listening to commercials many years ago, but I understand getting songs stuck in the head.

That is ALMOST as irritating as Toyota TV commercials.

And here I thought this referred to “867-5309/Jenny” a 1981 song performed by Tommy Tutone … guess I’ve been spared the agony of this Kars-4-Kids thing.

I have a kid to trade—sounds like a good deal to me!“Kars4Kids is a nonprofit car donation organization based in Lakewood, New Jersey. Kars4Kids is a United States-based 501 nonprofit organization that states that its mission is “to fund educational, developmental and recreational programs for low-income youth” through programs largely facilitated by its sister charity Oorah, which focuses on Jewish children and families. It was founded in 1994 and is currently headed by Eliyohu Mintz"

Eh? I don’t gets it.

That’s just funny.

Scams and hype. https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-81903_20942-343248—,00.html

I. HATE. YOU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8UV7SAhvG4 #Mhuahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

So true!! So freaking annoying! I turn the station when that comes on!

I can’t mute the radio or change channels fast enough when that comes on! If I had 100 cars, I wouldn’t give one to them just b/c of how annoying that commercial is!

Yow! I DON’t listen to anything with commercials and I just googled this Kars for Kids song and I’m ruined for the rest of the day.

I can’t wait to tell my friends in Oregon about it, and the Free Vacation Voucher they can get! (radio disclaimer: “Vacation voucher not available in Oregon”) oh well…

Ok, so If i trade in my car to them how many kids do I get in return? I’ve always wanted to take up goat farming.

Here’s an antidote

https://youtu.be/1_47KVJV8DU

Kill him now……

PHEW! I was afraid it’d be “It’s a Small World!”

It’s a legal scam, the owner is making millions and donating the minimum to keep the company’s non profit status, you notice they never tell you where the money goes or how it helps kids. I’d burn my car before I’d donate it to them.

I don’t care for that jingle either, and will change the station sometimes when I hear it. Other stations play some of the same ads and public service announcements thousands of times. It can be maddening.

Judging from all the above commentary, this seems to be another reason to believe that I am blessed that I am no longer subjected to U.S. television or radio advertising. That’s not to say there are no annoying ads and earworms on television here – there are! They just seem easier to ignore.

https://youtu.be/HQFvwi5iKCU

But what about 1-855-KIDS-4-KARS?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0WzU7py9VU

“Who just gives away wood?” My favorite commercial right now. Jamie rules!

I’ve never heard it.

SP: you da best!

The only effective way to get rid of an earworm is to force in something more powerful you like. This is my go-to: https://youtu.be/MbsuAbTTsV8

I think there might be a joke in this somewhere. In 2009 the government had a Cash for Klunkers program (it was the financial crisis and people weren’t buying new cars). Now in 2021, the government has a cash for kids program. If you have a kid, you get extra tax credits.

I can have some ad jingle in my head for a full day at a time. It’s horrnedous.

“Punch brothers, punch with care…”

Do they mean Johnny Carson?

I’ll know what region of the United States you hail from (and that you are approximately my age) if this is familiar:

“Just dial DIAMOND…D-I-A…M-O-N-D…”

I would love to own the phone number 1-877-CARS-4-KIDS. Not as my main number but something to look in at every now and then.

Thankfully, I have no idea what this jingle sounds like, and you can’t make me find out…I dare you…

That opening panel could apply to this strip anyway.

Oh! my head!!! (I had “The Wizard of OZ” by Meco playing and this ruined it!!!

What have I done?! Must… find… antidote!

I have no idea what this is about, beyond the general idea of an earworm. Perhaps that’s an effect of NPR and netflix? And why would anyone be selling “kars” to kids?

Oh, a wise guy, eh? O.K. Mr. Pastis, try this one on fer size: “EIGHT-HUNDRED, FIVE-EIGHT-EIGHT, TWO-THREE HUNDRED, EMPIIIIIIIRRRREEEEE!!!!!!!” Turnabout’s fair play, yes?

…and for Most Greenest!! It is Pig again!!!

Your first place prize for that one is a Manchurian Bath Robe, P-I-G.

We don’t have it here (India) and we’re not complaining…I don’t watch any television anyway.

Can’t miss this perfect opportunity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

You are a sick and twisted evil man.

I offer some relief (not much, but some. Maybe. Probably not).

https://youtu.be/utwHjdUegko

And…

https://youtu.be/AP6ohFJMl5g

Is it bad that I don’t get it?

Is this a West Coast thing? I have heard of similar charities here, but have no idea what that song is.

Please !!!! Don’t tell me this is coming back… no. no. no.

The people responsible for that ad should feel the sting of the cat o’nine tails!

Distracted driving. My car radio ‘mute’ is on the steering wheel and the race to silence this obnoxious jingle has so often put us in a dangerous place that Bev reaches for the “OFF” before I can react. And thought I was alone.

You monster!

Cartoon-Boy is an agent of Satan!

That K-kommercial on radio is the most annoying, hateful thing ever! Every time I hear it (and that is far, far too often), I start wishing every car they get would blow up or crash! Talk about reverse-Mojo!

Shoot me now! I can’t get that earworm out of my head!

This is your fault, Cartoon-Boy!

Why would you DO this to us??

That is the most hideously obnoxious commercial; I dive for the volume switch whenever it starts. I will never give a penny to that organization.

never heard it

’Round here, we have “We Buy Any Car – dot – com! We Buy Any Car – dot – com! …etc., etc….”

This past week, a car slammed into a building on a local “car dealer row” street. It was the We Buy Any Car (dot-com) building!

I just wanna know, did they BUY it???

There is also, “Baby Shark”. I’m surprised no one has mentioned that.

where’s that “comic censor” guy when you need him!?

Get a rope – for Pastis!

Is that Kids for Cars an Epstein — Trump organization swapping kids for cars?

.. I love you, you love me, we are happy ..

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea ….

I’ve never heard that commercial until today. Damn my foolish curiosity.

This commercial used to play on local radio stations all the time. I haven’t heard it in a while, but considering I don’t listen to the radio nearly as much as I used to…

Thanks for the apology Stephan, not that it helps.

K4K counts on people being too lazy to research the fact that very little of the money raised goes to charitable purposes, and the money goes to a sister organization that runs conservative jewish summer camps. It is not, as one might infer from the commercials, a secular charity working in the best interest of children.

Pastis, you should be sorry! The little girl is a robot and gets on my nerves. But the song that’s an ear worm for me- “Let’s make lots of money.”

?

Could be worse. Could be a My Pillow commercial.

When I was ten years old, we moved to Phoenix, AZ. There was a car dealer radio jingle that was so bad, it is still stuck in my head. And that was 54 years ago…

Anyone else here old enough or nerdy enough to remember “Tenser, said the tensor”….

A couple of years ago Stephan came to Boise, to visit a friend I believe. I would be delighted if he returned, and opened up to his fans again. How would I know if, when and where?ns@rincover.com

Fortunately, that commercial is recent enough that I’ve never seen it, so I have no idea what music goes with those lyrics.

That’s the only time I switch radio stations is when that jingle comes on. I only listen to a.m. radio when I’m driving so it’s easy to push a button and I only have to listen to the first second or so of that jingle before it disappears :-)

Charity is hard. Govt. gonna do it anyway! I’m good. Jingle TOO HARD!!

it is not stuck in my head

This is definitely ONE time I’m not clicking on ANY of the links.

What most people don’t realize is that donations to Kars for Kids benefit Orthodox Jewish programs for children. Not that I have any problems with religious donations (I’m very active in my Buddhist temple and we’re always asking for donations), but I think such organizations should be a bit more transparent in case someone does have an objection to supporting religious causes in general. They also seem to have higher than normal overhead.

https://www.charitywatch.org/charity-donating-articles/costly-and-continuous-kars4kids-ads-disguise-charity39s-real-purpose

Meh. I’ve never heard the song.

Can’t be worse than Baby Shark…

867-5309

You must turn the Evil to Good. Growing up, there was a TV commercial that had a jingle with their phone number. I still remember the number. But I replaced it with MY number, and taught it to my nieces— singing it at random while driving them around, until it was buried in their subconcious. They now can call me in an emergency without having to look me up. Downside is, I can’t give my number to anyone without singing it.

Oh my god, I remember this. DEAR GOD

YES!!!! I hear almost EVERY FREAKIN DAY on the radio show I listen to out of New York City…. please… KILL ME NOW!!! :)

I would rather stick flaming arrows in my ears than listen to that commercial.

GRRRRR!!!!!!

This is brilliant. I have not laughed out loud this much at a comic strip in a long time.

Most obnoxious ad ever! It’s been on northern California radio stations for years. I bet if the other advertisers knew they followed it, they’d be upset, as you automatically change the channel after the first note!

It’s been running here in Chicago for years too. I’ve actually practiced quick-drawing my radio remote for fastest mute time as soon as it comes on. Obnoxious ad and a “charity” that spends more than half its money on advertising and doesn’t even say what its purpose is. Why anybody gives them anything is beyond me.

i hate that fucking kars 4 kids jingle

to learn more about our program, visit kars4kids.com! that’s kars with a K! pickup is quick and easy. you also get a vacation voucher and maximum tax deduction! help me

I’m reading this in 2023 and NOTHING HAS CHANGED!