Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 21, 2012
March 20, 2012
March 22, 2012
Transcript:
Ann: "TJ, I need -"
TJ: "Ah-ah. Remember the rule"
Ann: "Request permission to speak to you"
TJ: "Did you forget something?"
Ann: "Request permission"
TJ: "Hm. A bit grumpy, Ann"
TJ is holding something over her head – something so embarrassing or top-secret that she would agree to this submission. This is SO un-Ann like. She must feel she had no choice. Come on, Greg. Spill.
I have no love for Ann, but she should not put up with this at all. I don’t care how much money he is bringing in. I have a small business with a couple of employees. They would so not not have a job if they spoke to me like that. And I am a nice boss! (sorta…)
OK, I’ll go against the flow today and say that I have just gained a lot of respect for Ann today.She is one boss that realises the paramount importance of good salespeople. They are the most important people in any business.
And and AND: Anyone who believes that Greg does not read these columns or at least note which story lines generate the most responses is kidding themselves.Yes, I know that he works about two months ahead of publishing dates, but look at his blog. He has been well aware of Ann’s popularity.
TJ’s secret weapon is TJ and the sales and profits his charming ways generate for WeenieWorld. This is why Ann, with some reluctance (narrow panel 2), acquiesces to his “rules” for the moment. She is not being really submissive, just tactically delaying until she is ready to strike back effectively. Be careful, TJ!
It’s got nothing to do with “women’s lib”. Her gender has nothing to do with it – Ann’s been an abusive boss to any employee she could bully – they took her maltreatment because they needed the job. And now she’s having to taste her own medicine in order to keep her own standing with corporate..And yes, it’s exaggerated to the extreme, because it’s a comic strip.
Are you kidding me? Where’s all the outrage I saw when Gunther called Leslie a greaseball? Ethnic slur? Comic or not, this stinks of male chauvinism, white slavery, abuse, poor taste and an out-of-touch cartoonist. If I ever saw something like this, I’d knock TJ right over the counter & bury him in mustard and fries. Abusive behavior doesn’t belong anywhere, not even cartoon strips.
Flying Airman, I agree this is too unreal. I think we are seeing the build-up of resentment and anger in Ann, a bitter lava that will need to erupt.No, in real life, this wouldn’t happen. In real life, she’d know an employer cannot lose total control over employees. She’ll plot to “evict” him, as I did with Manipulator Mouse.
Eocene82, I agree with you. This strip is praised for it’s insight yet T.J.s supposed genius sale yesterday fell absolutely flat. That kind of hard sell turns people off, it doesn’t make them want to come back. Oh I forgot, this is a comic. No need for reality. Hey maybe tomorrow T.J. can pull a gun on the customers and make triple the sales!
You’re a good historian! I took a walk down memory lane today.
Ann Eiffel — an eyeful!
Funny that Ann likes TJ. TJ looks a lot like her other employee/crush: Zane.
Ann got sent to Tokyo at the end of that storyline. I missed how she ended back up in the States at Weenie World. Hasn’t learned any humility, has she.
You know, if a situation like this happened in one of the absurdist strips like say, Non-Sequitur or Dark Side of the Horse, you wouldn’t see anyone complaining that it doesn’t reflect ‘real life’
On the other hand imagine if this had happened in For Better or For Worse, which is ( was ) even more of ‘slice of life’ strip than Luann, there’d angry comments from here to downtown Peoria.
From the number of comments here, I’m guessing many people are enjoying this as much as I am. It’s a shame this doesn’t happen in many places other than the comics.
Comics do not have to reflect reality. Sheesh. But often they serve as a metaphor for the human condition. And sometimes they are just funny, like today’s!
Today’s strip was much. A little more subtle would have been funnier – like when Ann was messing with Brad. I would have enjoyed seeing Ann bringing in something from the dry cleaners to give to TJ.
Yes, Dave – It IS amazing! And also that people comment the strip is not interesting – too close to reality OR it’s not true to life as we experience it! That the cartoonist dwells too long on a dull weak character. That he should get back to a more lively confrontation – then when he does, THAT’S unreal and contrived..They want more Luann, but she’s not interesting – they want relationships to develop more rapidly (3 panels a day – 18/week). That’s what today’s 1/2 hour sitcoms have produced for attention spans..Awhile ago, I blew up and criticized a writer for saying something about leaving Luann off his daily watch list – and I was snarky about it, sorry to say. But often people post that if you don’t like it, just don’t read it but it’s like spitting into the wind. Some just want to criticize or express boredom, instead of critique the strip and the other posts.
I have to admit that I like most of the comments because they bring views to the strip that I hadn’t considered and that’s helpful and often funny. But the continual one-note monologue on sexual orientation when it’s not a real issue is annoying and aggravating..Rant over…. until next time.
Ha! Someone has been reading “Fifty Shades of Grey”. TJ is channeling his inner “Christian Grey” and having a great time of it, too. But, Ann is no “Ana”. Thank goodness.
Would there be ANY comments if it were Bernice who was making Ann grovel to keep her selling numbers up? What about all those posters who were oh-so-enthusiastic when Ann was sexually harassing Brad, weaving fantasies about how hot she was and claiming how much they’d enjoy it, where was all the “white slavery” outrage and call-the-ACLU-on-Greg attitude then? Because that lack of indignation means that women aren’t seen by them as being capable of being predators. .People in positions of power often misuse that power, very rarely do they get a taste of their own medicine. Horrible Bosses was pure wish fulfillment about payback, I see this as just more of the same.
Another corporate big wig (this time for Weenie World) will show up due to increased sales, and Eiffel will probably take all the credit and be promoted (yet again) to someplace else…Maybe they’ll send her to the moon!! LOL
Let me get this straight. TJ is Brad’s boyfriend/roommate and he takes a job he doesn’t need to humiliate a female manager that offended his boyfriend. Question…would he do this to a male manager? Are there any girls in his life? How would you feel if you walked into this sleezy restaurant and saw some guy treating your girlfriend, sister, or wife this way? Don’t play semantics with me, whether the abuser was boss, fellow employee, or garbage man, any guy would grab him by his shirt and throw him into the closest wall.Men who humiliate women piss me off. Call me PC if you like, but I felt that way before I even knew what PC was. Even cartoons and comics can be in bad taste…..David Letterman comes to mind, and now I’m adding Greg to the list.
Wow, such hostility! This has nothing to do with gender, I absolutely TJ would do the exact same thing if his boss was a male. The whole point of a storyline like this is to build up to a twist. I like Luanne, but I also like the other storylines that weave in and out of this strip. It keeps it fresh and interesting.
she sees tj as her chance to move up the corporate chain. his boosting sales will get her noticed and she’ll do just about anything for that….maybe anything.
Except that those of us on Troll Patrol flagged kanukles when it first started posting, and it had no problem with English then. Therefore the deterioration and/or “errors” are deliberate.
Hard to figure out the motivation behind this- the Ann character, in fact- everyone seems to be out of character and doesn’t make sense. Sorry, but I see it as mental masturbation… Far-fetched, anyway.
Can’t think of anything that hasn’t been said umpteen times here already.. Except: isn’t this just about what everyone hoped Greg would do with this arc? Hmmm?
Bittsen over 12 years ago
WhoooooHOOOooooooAnn is a SUB!!
It suits her
Professional Rookie over 12 years ago
Wow.
FatTonyBalducci over 12 years ago
Did I see mirrors on TJ’s shoes??……..[uhoh]
barbarasbrute over 12 years ago
I’m speechless.
ShagsCA over 12 years ago
Check the knees for calluses…
ComicLaff over 12 years ago
How in heck does TJ do it?!
Catfeet Premium Member over 12 years ago
Can a dog collar be far behind?
andy_spandy over 12 years ago
Awesome! Pretty dang funny that TJ has pulled this off
Bogy Premium Member over 12 years ago
No wonder TJ enjoys his job.
jennifer over 12 years ago
Flabbergasted!
kmf65 over 12 years ago
TJ needs video of this to show Brad & Toni!
eocene82 over 12 years ago
Seriously? God, this keeps getting stupider and stupider. Nothing in this strip is based on anything that would happen in reality at all anymore.
seyleigh over 12 years ago
Is TJ trying to get Ann to moon the customers? That skirt is too short to bow in.
Trollbridge over 12 years ago
I see a romance blooming. Or is that bloomers?
ZacBSM over 12 years ago
TJ is holding something over her head – something so embarrassing or top-secret that she would agree to this submission. This is SO un-Ann like. She must feel she had no choice. Come on, Greg. Spill.
Bashis over 12 years ago
That just seems kinky :)
reedkomicks Premium Member over 12 years ago
TJ is unstoppable, that is till he hits a wall.
reedkomicks Premium Member over 12 years ago
funny how Ann’s skirt gains a stripe between the first and last panel.
whayle over 12 years ago
I have no love for Ann, but she should not put up with this at all. I don’t care how much money he is bringing in. I have a small business with a couple of employees. They would so not not have a job if they spoke to me like that. And I am a nice boss! (sorta…)
lance96816 over 12 years ago
Ooooooo im liking this
ReneTray over 12 years ago
Yes.
slug_queen over 12 years ago
Freakin’ awesome. A match made in heaven!
flowerladytoo over 12 years ago
Unrealistic, I know, but absolutely hilarious ;-D
pnorman1 over 12 years ago
Nicely done Sir, nicely done!
raphae_zx over 12 years ago
….. wait …..what?! _
Ottodesu over 12 years ago
OK, I’ll go against the flow today and say that I have just gained a lot of respect for Ann today.She is one boss that realises the paramount importance of good salespeople. They are the most important people in any business.
Ottodesu over 12 years ago
And yeah, Ann does look so cute in her short skirts.Even with optional stripes.
Ottodesu over 12 years ago
And and AND: Anyone who believes that Greg does not read these columns or at least note which story lines generate the most responses is kidding themselves.Yes, I know that he works about two months ahead of publishing dates, but look at his blog. He has been well aware of Ann’s popularity.
Sisyphos over 12 years ago
TJ’s secret weapon is TJ and the sales and profits his charming ways generate for WeenieWorld. This is why Ann, with some reluctance (narrow panel 2), acquiesces to his “rules” for the moment. She is not being really submissive, just tactically delaying until she is ready to strike back effectively. Be careful, TJ!
Joel Ivy over 12 years ago
hmmmm flip flip flip scan scan scan……….. ahhhh here it is: yes in correct latin to english translation: "vengence is TJs sayeth the lord. :p
TheRealWildWilson over 12 years ago
really?
The Old Wolf over 12 years ago
No wonder Eiffel is grumpy. We’re definitely in Fantasyland here, but I’m really curious to see where this is going.
SwimsWithSharks over 12 years ago
Nice skirt.
thewoodman1 over 12 years ago
we all know what she needs…lol
Skeptical Meg over 12 years ago
I just want to know where I can get that dress! I love it!
Skeptical Meg over 12 years ago
And, on today’s theme, everyone who wrote a comment had to click SUBMIT :D
Mordock999 over 12 years ago
R.I.P. Ann Effiel.
One of the GREATEST Villians EVER created for VAST Luanniverse DESTROYED by its CREATOR for cheap laffs.
How COULD You, Greg Evans…..,
gobblingup Premium Member over 12 years ago
FYI – that extra trim on her skirt is called the “submission stripe”.
LiviaBay over 12 years ago
My how the mighty have fallen…watchout TJ
david black Premium Member over 12 years ago
did TJ buy this franchise? that could make sense to me.
Tinyman over 12 years ago
@Ashburn:In this case Anything TJ says goes.
Tinyman over 12 years ago
I wouldnt be surprised if TJ has something bigger up his sleeeve
Tinyman over 12 years ago
If I was TJ I would have made her bow VERY LOW. LOL
smiling4Him over 12 years ago
She’s disgusting.
mojitobaby over 12 years ago
It’s got nothing to do with “women’s lib”. Her gender has nothing to do with it – Ann’s been an abusive boss to any employee she could bully – they took her maltreatment because they needed the job. And now she’s having to taste her own medicine in order to keep her own standing with corporate..And yes, it’s exaggerated to the extreme, because it’s a comic strip.
Airman over 12 years ago
Are you kidding me? Where’s all the outrage I saw when Gunther called Leslie a greaseball? Ethnic slur? Comic or not, this stinks of male chauvinism, white slavery, abuse, poor taste and an out-of-touch cartoonist. If I ever saw something like this, I’d knock TJ right over the counter & bury him in mustard and fries. Abusive behavior doesn’t belong anywhere, not even cartoon strips.
milania over 12 years ago
to eocene82: If you want “reality” go to CNN.com. Don’t read the comics.
milania over 12 years ago
So glad we’re off Gunther! Seen enough of that dweeb to last the rest of 2012
Doctor11 over 12 years ago
And the torture of Ann Eiffel continues. Hehehehehe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BrianCrook over 12 years ago
This is stupid.
JoeStoppinghem Premium Member over 12 years ago
May not happen in real life but we all would love to see it happen in ours. Especially the way corporations are run today.
violinrules over 12 years ago
holy…
lynchmother over 12 years ago
So, does TJ own Weenie World????
dieseldude over 12 years ago
I think Ann wants his body
tedunn5453 over 12 years ago
and that is why it is a comic strip. Do you have the same reaction with “reality tv”?
Alabama Al over 12 years ago
OK, the strip has now entered the realm of the Twilight Zone.
froglunch over 12 years ago
aaahahahaha this is AMAZING
Skeptical Meg over 12 years ago
I think the point here is, what will Ann do for money. This is a great thread but Greg is treading kind of close to the prostitution line. :)
Airman over 12 years ago
No man should treat a woman that way, no matter how cruel she might be. TJ needs a fist in the mouth. Where’s Ox when we need him?
ST Joe River Premium Member over 12 years ago
Speaking of stupid I think this guy is a prime example of stupidity must hate his life and be a real loner pity this person.
ST Joe River Premium Member over 12 years ago
Ok think we need to move on Greg as this is just about over the line. Been kind of boiring the last couple weeksLOL
ACTIVIST1234 over 12 years ago
Flying Airman, I agree this is too unreal. I think we are seeing the build-up of resentment and anger in Ann, a bitter lava that will need to erupt.No, in real life, this wouldn’t happen. In real life, she’d know an employer cannot lose total control over employees. She’ll plot to “evict” him, as I did with Manipulator Mouse.
Gerry Lee over 12 years ago
Eocene82, I agree with you. This strip is praised for it’s insight yet T.J.s supposed genius sale yesterday fell absolutely flat. That kind of hard sell turns people off, it doesn’t make them want to come back. Oh I forgot, this is a comic. No need for reality. Hey maybe tomorrow T.J. can pull a gun on the customers and make triple the sales!
buchser over 12 years ago
I cant believe how PC all you woosy guys are. Geeze! You guys are a bunch of PW metrosexuals.
Not real life? after having spent a large part of my life in the restaurant business, I have actually seen this occur numerous times. Get real!
Sheriff Mordecai Premium Member over 12 years ago
Hey, Bill – now THAT was funny. Keep ’em coming. Drill, baby, drill!
dave21ma over 12 years ago
They are soooo going to hook up!
ladyellen2 over 12 years ago
Good… let her taste boot polish for a while!!
smsrt over 12 years ago
I didn’t realize how many pervert write comments here. Please remember that this is a comic. Take it at face value… its what makes it special!
tigre1 over 12 years ago
Give it UP for TJ.
SwimsWithSharks over 12 years ago
You’re a good historian! I took a walk down memory lane today.
Ann Eiffel — an eyeful!
Funny that Ann likes TJ. TJ looks a lot like her other employee/crush: Zane.
Ann got sent to Tokyo at the end of that storyline. I missed how she ended back up in the States at Weenie World. Hasn’t learned any humility, has she.
weblais over 12 years ago
Black lipstick?
Simon_Jester over 12 years ago
You know, if a situation like this happened in one of the absurdist strips like say, Non-Sequitur or Dark Side of the Horse, you wouldn’t see anyone complaining that it doesn’t reflect ‘real life’
On the other hand imagine if this had happened in For Better or For Worse, which is ( was ) even more of ‘slice of life’ strip than Luann, there’d angry comments from here to downtown Peoria.
coldsooner over 12 years ago
From the number of comments here, I’m guessing many people are enjoying this as much as I am. It’s a shame this doesn’t happen in many places other than the comics.
sunsohot over 12 years ago
I love a good mystery. There’s no way Ann is acting this way over sales….TJ must know some big secret about her…
tbritt99 over 12 years ago
Omg I love it
Corey Karvonen-Lee Premium Member over 12 years ago
Comics do not have to reflect reality. Sheesh. But often they serve as a metaphor for the human condition. And sometimes they are just funny, like today’s!
REDROCKER51 over 12 years ago
mebbe the Born Loser should take notes
BudLyte over 12 years ago
It’s a comic. What is it supposed to have in common with reality?
BudLyte over 12 years ago
Oh, I know! Like all the strips with talking dogs, cats, pigs, alligators and such. Those are reality at it’s finest.
kenhense over 12 years ago
Today’s strip was much. A little more subtle would have been funnier – like when Ann was messing with Brad. I would have enjoyed seeing Ann bringing in something from the dry cleaners to give to TJ.
imbaldeagle over 12 years ago
Yes, Dave – It IS amazing! And also that people comment the strip is not interesting – too close to reality OR it’s not true to life as we experience it! That the cartoonist dwells too long on a dull weak character. That he should get back to a more lively confrontation – then when he does, THAT’S unreal and contrived..They want more Luann, but she’s not interesting – they want relationships to develop more rapidly (3 panels a day – 18/week). That’s what today’s 1/2 hour sitcoms have produced for attention spans..Awhile ago, I blew up and criticized a writer for saying something about leaving Luann off his daily watch list – and I was snarky about it, sorry to say. But often people post that if you don’t like it, just don’t read it but it’s like spitting into the wind. Some just want to criticize or express boredom, instead of critique the strip and the other posts.
I have to admit that I like most of the comments because they bring views to the strip that I hadn’t considered and that’s helpful and often funny. But the continual one-note monologue on sexual orientation when it’s not a real issue is annoying and aggravating..Rant over…. until next time.
mamawagsx2 over 12 years ago
Ha! Someone has been reading “Fifty Shades of Grey”. TJ is channeling his inner “Christian Grey” and having a great time of it, too. But, Ann is no “Ana”. Thank goodness.
mojitobaby over 12 years ago
Would there be ANY comments if it were Bernice who was making Ann grovel to keep her selling numbers up? What about all those posters who were oh-so-enthusiastic when Ann was sexually harassing Brad, weaving fantasies about how hot she was and claiming how much they’d enjoy it, where was all the “white slavery” outrage and call-the-ACLU-on-Greg attitude then? Because that lack of indignation means that women aren’t seen by them as being capable of being predators. .People in positions of power often misuse that power, very rarely do they get a taste of their own medicine. Horrible Bosses was pure wish fulfillment about payback, I see this as just more of the same.
davidpepper over 12 years ago
TJ’s driving the dagger deeper, up to the hilt! But I still think they’re going to end up romping in the hay.
4shadow over 12 years ago
Taming of the Shrew?
btsnboy over 12 years ago
Another corporate big wig (this time for Weenie World) will show up due to increased sales, and Eiffel will probably take all the credit and be promoted (yet again) to someplace else…Maybe they’ll send her to the moon!! LOL
JeanieB813 over 12 years ago
Gosh! What happened? I moved to Florida from Arizona a couple of months ago and this strip is not in our local paper! I am obviously way behind.
da11a5 over 12 years ago
we need to abduct TJ……his way with human females is what we need.
Airman over 12 years ago
Let me get this straight. TJ is Brad’s boyfriend/roommate and he takes a job he doesn’t need to humiliate a female manager that offended his boyfriend. Question…would he do this to a male manager? Are there any girls in his life? How would you feel if you walked into this sleezy restaurant and saw some guy treating your girlfriend, sister, or wife this way? Don’t play semantics with me, whether the abuser was boss, fellow employee, or garbage man, any guy would grab him by his shirt and throw him into the closest wall.Men who humiliate women piss me off. Call me PC if you like, but I felt that way before I even knew what PC was. Even cartoons and comics can be in bad taste…..David Letterman comes to mind, and now I’m adding Greg to the list.
Gracey James Premium Member over 12 years ago
Wow, such hostility! This has nothing to do with gender, I absolutely TJ would do the exact same thing if his boss was a male. The whole point of a storyline like this is to build up to a twist. I like Luanne, but I also like the other storylines that weave in and out of this strip. It keeps it fresh and interesting.
reedkomicks Premium Member over 12 years ago
Thanks cowboy.
bjballard1 over 12 years ago
@eocene82: You can always stop reading. Me, I’m glad TJ’s back. I never saw it playing out this way. Go TJ!
sfknight over 12 years ago
she sees tj as her chance to move up the corporate chain. his boosting sales will get her noticed and she’ll do just about anything for that….maybe anything.
chinds000 over 12 years ago
Isn’t it about time for the regional manager to come around and see why sales have increased?
Phosphoros over 12 years ago
Boy, he must REALLY be good.
mojitobaby over 12 years ago
Except that those of us on Troll Patrol flagged kanukles when it first started posting, and it had no problem with English then. Therefore the deterioration and/or “errors” are deliberate.
Cornelius Robinson Premium Member over 12 years ago
She’s so sexy!
auramac over 12 years ago
Hard to figure out the motivation behind this- the Ann character, in fact- everyone seems to be out of character and doesn’t make sense. Sorry, but I see it as mental masturbation… Far-fetched, anyway.
mojitobaby over 12 years ago
;D
Snoopy_Fan over 12 years ago
She’s cute when she’s pissed… and her short skirt doesn’t hurt either…
Northern_Man over 12 years ago
Can’t think of anything that hasn’t been said umpteen times here already.. Except: isn’t this just about what everyone hoped Greg would do with this arc? Hmmm?
tinac69 almost 6 years ago
3 shades of gray teenager addition.