We passed being sick of puns a LONG time ago! I remember a time when Pearls was an actual comic strip. I pray every night that Pastis will find the courage to go to rehab.
I read through the first panel, move onto the second, then realize something’s coming. I re-read the first two panels, hoping I can figure out the pun, but, as usual, I can’t. I always thought I didn’t like puns but I think what I didn’t like was that most were too obvious. Then I met Pearls.
This happened to be one of those 20% of times where I knew the punchline from the first panel. It then becomes a journey of how does he get from initial setup to punchline?
I SWEAR Stephen has HUNDREDS of notebooks stacked in his room and office of HORRIFICALLY WONDERFUL puns and how to get there. Once his brain goes kaput, humanity is doomed.
Extra groan from my side of the pond. That song has become the theme of the football world (the soccer definition), so I got momentarily confused as well as having to empty the earworm.
What pun? There is no pun in this strip. I wish he would lay off this idiotic type of gag and give us good strips like he usually does the rest of the time.
BE THIS GUY about 2 years ago
Rat is also a Yankees’ fan.
Bilan about 2 years ago
Stephan must like the QB suite. He’s always getting hit after his delivery.
ronaldspence about 2 years ago
Looks like Rat gave the "Bomp, bomp, bomp to Pastis…
noahproblem about 2 years ago
Bad puns come to America…TODAY!!
WhatsTheJoke about 2 years ago
GROAN !!
GeorgeInAZ about 2 years ago
Stephan is truly a creatively funny guy.
david.bruce about 2 years ago
Nothing like a little Neil Diamond in the morning!
BasilBruce about 2 years ago
Everyone around the world . . . they’re coming to beat Stephan up.
B UTTONS about 2 years ago
Pastis is in need of a stay at the wellness hotel, perhaps one that help him with the D-Line Care Suites in Thyme.
jmarkoff2 about 2 years ago
I was expecting something with Parsley, Sage, and Rosemary.
tudza Premium Member about 2 years ago
The artist is now in the hospital. He’s twisted something terribly.
comic4matt about 2 years ago
Looks more, to me, that Rat is STICK of puns…
Gent about 2 years ago
Rat would rather loves to has the baseball suit than the football ones.
Gloria Fleming about 2 years ago
Love it!!
Jayalexander about 2 years ago
I told them to my girlfriend Cackling Rosie, to make her laugh.
lavender headgear about 2 years ago
Stephan’s puns are the equivalent of Billy running all over the neighborhood in Family Circus.
Neoprene Wedgie Premium Member about 2 years ago
Have you no shame, Stephan?!
Packratjohn Premium Member about 2 years ago
Puntastic!
franki_g about 2 years ago
I’ve been inclined
‘Coz I’m on a warped planks of wood
PetrGasparik about 2 years ago
I got the reference to Neil Diamond, but I didn’t get the last window. Anyone can guide me?
blunebottle about 2 years ago
As for me: I am, I cried!
iggyman about 2 years ago
Sweet Caroline “boom,boom,boom” heard at weddings!
iggyman about 2 years ago
Very inventive, Pastis!
dlkrueger33 about 2 years ago
Didn’t see that coming until the last panel. Love these puns.
John Smith about 2 years ago
We passed being sick of puns a LONG time ago! I remember a time when Pearls was an actual comic strip. I pray every night that Pastis will find the courage to go to rehab.
Imagine about 2 years ago
Sweet suite.
hariseldon59 about 2 years ago
Mr. Pastis, Neil Diamond’s lawyer is on the phone.
hariseldon59 about 2 years ago
I’d never heard of steaming thyme before.
JoeStoppinghem Premium Member about 2 years ago
To no one there…
phredturner about 2 years ago
Not sick of them, I come by here for the Sunday Punnies
JoeStoppinghem Premium Member about 2 years ago
Checked out “Star Girl” on the WB network. This year’s premier ran Neil’s “Coming to America”. What a great song.
Brich027 about 2 years ago
Great, I got that song stuck in my head, Sweet Caroline! Good times never seemed so good…
MS72 about 2 years ago
Sweet what?
wrd2255 about 2 years ago
He should have choreographed the bat: “Sweet Caroline”, Bop! Bop!
Gandalf about 2 years ago
Well, I’m a Believer!
bpscg about 2 years ago
My new game: See how quickly I can figure out that there’s a horrible pun coming.
If I don’t spot it on the first panel, my life is a failure.
awcoffman about 2 years ago
Stephan Pastis, a.k.a. Atilla the Pun.
Ellis97 about 2 years ago
There’s no use telling them to stop making puns.
b.john71 about 2 years ago
Ahhh, nothing like the smell of Pastis bleeding in the morning.
Goat from PBS about 2 years ago
Nothing like song lyrics I don’t recognize.
Aficionado about 2 years ago
I am ashamed to say, I love it.
YippiKiAyMofo about 2 years ago
Bum-bum-bum!
Count Olaf Premium Member about 2 years ago
How about the one that also has some parsley sage and an escort secks worker named Mary who shows up just in thyme?
Huckleberry Hiroshima about 2 years ago
lmao I did NOT see that coming.
beezzll about 2 years ago
You might think that Rat would love such a cheesy pun. It goes well with Sparking Rose. Thanks…a great start to my day.
P51Strega about 2 years ago
I’m never sick of a good (bad) pun-ch line.
ChristineMurphy about 2 years ago
And I will love puns forever, although sometimes my daughter has to point them out to me.
Zebrastripes about 2 years ago
Ha! Funny!
Cary Rodda Premium Member about 2 years ago
Don’t listen to Rat…bring on the puns!
Lee26 Premium Member about 2 years ago
Absolutely LOVED the last panel! It put the Cherry, Cherry on top!
garcoa about 2 years ago
I’ve never heard the Offensive and Defensive Lines referred to as the O-Line and the D-Line. But then again, any port in a storm.
figuratively speaking about 2 years ago
I read through the first panel, move onto the second, then realize something’s coming. I re-read the first two panels, hoping I can figure out the pun, but, as usual, I can’t. I always thought I didn’t like puns but I think what I didn’t like was that most were too obvious. Then I met Pearls.
bunrabbit99 about 2 years ago
love it!
RobinHood about 2 years ago
After Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show, and a bat, I’m A Beliver.
LilPeruna about 2 years ago
This happened to be one of those 20% of times where I knew the punchline from the first panel. It then becomes a journey of how does he get from initial setup to punchline?
oakie817 about 2 years ago
holey Holly Holy, Batman!
CaveCat87 about 2 years ago
I think Rat needs therapy, he’s always so violent whenever these puns happen. What does he have against these puns anyway?
whelan_jj about 2 years ago
Why do I read Sunday PBS? It’s the lead up, not the pun at the end. I do like mazes and puzzles.
Charles & Susan Premium Member about 2 years ago
You got me again! Ugh!
Baucuva about 2 years ago
Excellent!
Bucinka about 2 years ago
So bad! So bad! So bad!
Snolep about 2 years ago
Thyme for the 7th inning stretch.
Old27F20 about 2 years ago
Hahahahaha, love the pun strips…..you da man!!!!
dadlivonia about 2 years ago
oh, the inhumanity
Just So So Premium Member about 2 years ago
Now that song will be in my head all day.
mtrimberger Premium Member about 2 years ago
I used to enjoy Neil…
Phydeux about 2 years ago
Took his Suite Thyme trying for a Gem but only got a Diamond in the rough.
zeexenon about 2 years ago
Daddy, what do football players do with Caroline?
paullp Premium Member about 2 years ago
I always support punning in this comic, but since I’m not at all fond of Neil Diamond, on this one occasion I’m siding with Rat.
eladee AKA Wally about 2 years ago
Not even the chair.
patrickab7 about 2 years ago
Bravo, sir.
Carl Rennhack Premium Member about 2 years ago
Welcome to the Hotel PASTIS-fornia! I’m surprised I’m the first to reference that great Eagles tune!
Joan Tinnin Premium Member about 2 years ago
Stephan’s puns are the only ones I like. They are excellent
sheashea about 2 years ago
I thought that was hilarious. Thanks for the belly laugh Stephan.
dlaemmerhirt999 about 2 years ago
I SWEAR Stephen has HUNDREDS of notebooks stacked in his room and office of HORRIFICALLY WONDERFUL puns and how to get there. Once his brain goes kaput, humanity is doomed.
alanoodle about 2 years ago
Baaa, baaa, baaaaaaah!
Rose Madder Premium Member about 2 years ago
I like that Stephen stuck another of Neil’s songs in the last frame – - no pun intended.
Linguist about 2 years ago
Full Marks, Mr. Pastis! A triple header at that!
onespiceybbw about 2 years ago
That took quite the set-up.
John Jorgensen about 2 years ago
Steamed thyme? Is that really a thing?
Buckeye67 about 2 years ago
Well played rat. Puns are the lowest form of expression.
Another Take about 2 years ago
I smelled a pun coming after reading the first panel. The last panel should’ve been the first.
gldoutt Premium Member about 2 years ago
Well-developed pun, and for the record, I like Neil Diamond. How many of you trolls made it as big as he has?
hitek1st about 2 years ago
HAH!
JLChi about 2 years ago
This is probably the first time I’ve agreed with Rat. I find puns tiresome and strained. Oh, my gosh, did I really write that I agreed with Rat!
schaefer jim about 2 years ago
I am so stunned I am at a lost for words!
magdala666 about 2 years ago
I love a good, laugh-out-loud pun, especially one I can sing! Thank you, Stephan, for a wonderful morning chuckle.
NGregory1 about 2 years ago
Extra groan from my side of the pond. That song has become the theme of the football world (the soccer definition), so I got momentarily confused as well as having to empty the earworm.
Tallguy about 2 years ago
And no one heard at all, not even the chair!
Eric S about 2 years ago
You’re not being punny enough
cdgar about 2 years ago
I’d like to give Stephan an extra whack with the bat.
MRBLUESKY529 about 2 years ago
it is a September morn.
hmofo813 Premium Member about 2 years ago
What pun? There is no pun in this strip. I wish he would lay off this idiotic type of gag and give us good strips like he usually does the rest of the time.
knight1192a about 2 years ago
They were good many years ago…. when you weren’t punning on a regular basis and actually worked to create a good pun.
And personally I prefer Caroline to Sweet Caroline.
Rosabell about 2 years ago
Love the set up! And I wouldn’t have seen it coming… except out of the corner of my eye I can see the baseball bat. :-)
Publius10608218 about 2 years ago
Go Rat! I hate that song for personal reasons
pamela welch Premium Member about 2 years ago
G R O A N — LOLOL
jth4510 about 2 years ago
to no one there. and no heard at all, not even the chair.
dwkiser28603 about 2 years ago
Well, Rat isn’t the only one here on that matter!
Nobody_Important about 2 years ago
If Rat didn’t like this one, tell him to stay away from Frank and Ernest today!
Sisyphos about 2 years ago
Rat steps up to the plate O’ Pastis! And it’s a hit, a palpable hit! Well stroked, Rat!
(Never did care all that much for Neil Diamond’s sound, anyway.)
DaBump Premium Member about 2 years ago
[sings] Aaaaah I’ve been inclined, to believe they never could!
Soo5002 about 2 years ago
Yup. It’s official. This one caused to spew my morning coffee! (Tears in eyes)
Grover St. Clair about 2 years ago
I did meet Ted before he filmed this scene…. https://youtu.be/4Uk94_crZn0
sisterea about 2 years ago
May Neil Diamond not sue you
198.23.5.11 about 2 years ago
Out at Fenway Park,“Sweet Caroline” elbowed out “Tessie”,which had been the Red Sox theme song since the early 1900’s!!
Oh,Tessie,I love you madly.My heart weighs about a pound".
During 1903 World Series—"Oh Honus Wagner,at b at you look so sadly…
Hey,why don’t you get out of town".
thomas.overmyer Premium Member about 2 years ago
Well thank you for putting that tune in my head for the rest of the day!