For Better or For Worse

[azaleaqueen]

Didn't Jeremy Jones throw April's harmonica out the school bus window? And after he got hit by the car, the Pattersons went to visit in the hospital and his mother said that his father was a musician who deserted them and that he played the harmonica?

My God, it's stuck in my brain, too.

[Deleted]

That's him.

[ivy]

Oct 22, 2008 17:14:13 GMT -4 azaleaqueen said:

Didn't Jeremy Jones throw April's harmonica out the school bus window? And after he got hit by the car, the Pattersons went to visit in the hospital and his mother said that his father was a musician who deserted them and that he played the harmonica?

OMG, that is the corniest, dumbest, most unlikely thing I've ever heard come out of this strip, and that's saying a lot.

Maybe Becky could marry Jeremy. He sounds like the type who'd grow up to go roadside.

[Mugsy]

I was being facetious about April marrying Jeremy Jones. She's only 17, three years too young in the foobiverse to desperately jump into an anti-spinsterhood marriage to a childhood classmate.

For all the sentimentality and storylines connected to the harmonica - Grandpa used it in the war (I think), gives it to April, Jeremy throws it from the bus, it prompts the Pattersons to learn a Very Special Lesson about not judging others, April gives it to Liz as a family memento when Liz goes up north - then Liz gives it to some random kid. Nice. I don't think that was ever addressed, although if April kicked up a stink about that, she'd be painted as selfish.

[BinkyBetsy]

Oh, but Jesse was not "some random kid"! He was a very special Native kid, with whom Liz had a totally inappropriate bond with! And his going through Liz's belongings and stealing the harmonica is not at all disturbing. Nor is it infuriating that Liz didn't even know it was missing until Jesse's aunt mentioned the harmonica she "gave" him, and that she apologized to him and let him keep it. And April did get upset when she found this out, and Liz whined, "Don't make me feel guilty!" Yeah, how dare she.

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2008 9:41:13 GMT -4 Mugsy said:

I was being facetious about April marrying Jeremy Jones. She's only 17, three years too young in the foobiverse to desperately jump into an anti-spinsterhood marriage to a childhood classmate.

I know. But it wouldn't have been terribly surprising (in terms of Lynn's "plotting") if the whole teasing thing had played into a relationship, and we all know you've got to marry the first person you date if you're a Patterson.

[Deleted]

I miss the fun of reading the daily plot developments and groaning and rolling my eyes. Mike's magical book advance, Warren's descent into stalker-dom, the free wedding. Good times, good times!

At least the rerun strips re-done to focus on "rodjohn the ass" can evoke from 1/4 to 1/2 of the groan factor the new strips used to achieve. "Sheesh, she's not even trying to be subtle, is she? Might as well having him kicking a puppy while he says that."

"Slice of life" strips like today's suffer from the same problem as Family Guy's pop culture references. It isn't enough to just make a reference and trigger someone's "hey, I've seen that before" reaction. If you don't do something funny or clever or insightful with it, then there really isn't any point.

"Hey, remember when 'Alf' used to be on TV?"
"Yes. Yes I do."
"Yeah. Me too."
"Good times, good times. Hey, is there anything left in that bowl?"

Works about as well as:
"Kids. Boy they sure do like to stomp in puddles, don't they?"
"Yes. Yes they do."

Except that the bowl is definitely empty.

[ivy]

My brother stumbled apon a FOOB comic in a book tonight. It's the one where John agrees with Elly to do the laundry because, as John's thought bubble tells us, "You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to FOLD 'em!" My brother said, "Oh my God, that's so lame! That is such a bad pun!" I told him bad puns are the only punchlines FOOB did for it's last five years or so!

The whole thing reminded me of how I miss coming here and trashing the FOOBs. They were such easy targets. Part of me actually wishes Lynn would go back to drawing new strips just so we could rag on them again. Or even do a spin-off. I think "The Adventures of Doormat Dee and her Small Sewing School" has a nice ring to it.

[Deleted]

So we are seeing the introduction of Farley this week. I'm sure it is just a coincidence that the [blue]huggable, plush Farley doll[/blue] is just now going into production.

[Mugsy]

See, this whole getting Farley plot is why the retread strips aren't working. Even those who didn't read Foob originally know that the Pattersons do get Farley, he lives with them for many years, and then dies a heroic death saving toddler April from drowning. Oops! I didn't just spoil that for anyone, did I? My bad.

And yes, Calvin, I'm sure the release of the Farley doll - right before Christmas, natch - is a total coincidence to the re-release of the Farley strip. Ah well, Lynn needs the money; she's dirt poor, y'know. Just like her fake best-selling writer son and his pharmacist wife.