Odds and Ends
I am sure everyone's waiting on tinterhooks (whatever they may be) for more information about the News & Observer's quixotic quest to improve the comics. Part I was Friday. There, the paper listed all the comics people wrote in to say they disliked. Sadly, many that I like were on there.
I was too busy to post yesterday, but Part II listed the comics people wrote in to say they wanted kept. Happily, many that I like were on there. So were a bunch I disklike. Ugh. OK, I will grudgingly admit that there are people "out there" who like Hagar, Hi & Lois, and (oh dear lord of all that is holy) Family Circus. THANK GOD there were no votes for Marmaduke or Dennis the Menace. What is shocking to me is that there are people who like Family Circus enough to EMAIL THE NEWSPAPER IN SUPPORT OF IT!!! It just can't be. I think whoever did that (note it did not get multiple votes) was just kidding. Right? Has to be.
So, today was Part III where the paper lists for us comics that might be good replacements. Yay! Pearls and Swine! Boo! Willy and Ethel! One Big Happy? Do NOT look at it. Avert your eyes. It got added to the Washington Post lineup when I still lived in D.C. It is AWFUL, and the worst part is that it doesn't have the excuse of being around forever like some of the others do. It's like how Doug Flutie just got signed with the Superbowl champions. That's cool, because it's DOUG FLUTIE, but any other guy with Flutie's current level of talent isn't getting signed. One Big Happy is 40 year old Flutie talent with no famous Hail Mary or 20 years in the NFL to provide good will.
Two points of note:
1) You can look at those and tell the N&O what you think. There are some really great ones on there. Oh, Tom the Dancing Bug how I loooove you (enough to make it a sidebar link!). It's not a daily, though.
2) Frequent poster John Norton's George made the list!
Also, remember when Opus made the point that there aren't any female animal comic strip characters? Well, the last few days of Rhymes with Orange have been attempting to correct that (start with the May 9 strip). I enjoy Rhymes with Orange. Because it's written by a woman, and I prefer its perspective to that I'm normally forced to endure (the big boobed, house cleaning, fancy dressing, cheery moms)? Perhaps. I will say, though, that as much as I tend to complain about the overabundance of hot chicks in the comics, the women in RWO . . . well their NOSES are usually bigger than their BOOBS!! That's . . . well that's unfortunate for those poor gals.
I was going to start a "Worst April Dennis the Menace," but sadly, won't have the time in the forseeable future to go through every April DTM. So, we'll put off the "Worst of" contest until June. Emily suggested "Momma," but since Emily always seems to win these things, I'm NOT letting her pick! No way!
And, I almost forgot: Click here to see why it is that Hagar and Eddie got stranded on a deserted island (Hagar is a really horrible Viking). Gaylord's got a lot to say about Broom Hilda, and it starts here (did you know she feeds him road kill?)
I was too busy to post yesterday, but Part II listed the comics people wrote in to say they wanted kept. Happily, many that I like were on there. So were a bunch I disklike. Ugh. OK, I will grudgingly admit that there are people "out there" who like Hagar, Hi & Lois, and (oh dear lord of all that is holy) Family Circus. THANK GOD there were no votes for Marmaduke or Dennis the Menace. What is shocking to me is that there are people who like Family Circus enough to EMAIL THE NEWSPAPER IN SUPPORT OF IT!!! It just can't be. I think whoever did that (note it did not get multiple votes) was just kidding. Right? Has to be.
So, today was Part III where the paper lists for us comics that might be good replacements. Yay! Pearls and Swine! Boo! Willy and Ethel! One Big Happy? Do NOT look at it. Avert your eyes. It got added to the Washington Post lineup when I still lived in D.C. It is AWFUL, and the worst part is that it doesn't have the excuse of being around forever like some of the others do. It's like how Doug Flutie just got signed with the Superbowl champions. That's cool, because it's DOUG FLUTIE, but any other guy with Flutie's current level of talent isn't getting signed. One Big Happy is 40 year old Flutie talent with no famous Hail Mary or 20 years in the NFL to provide good will.
Two points of note:
1) You can look at those and tell the N&O what you think. There are some really great ones on there. Oh, Tom the Dancing Bug how I loooove you (enough to make it a sidebar link!). It's not a daily, though.
2) Frequent poster John Norton's George made the list!
Also, remember when Opus made the point that there aren't any female animal comic strip characters? Well, the last few days of Rhymes with Orange have been attempting to correct that (start with the May 9 strip). I enjoy Rhymes with Orange. Because it's written by a woman, and I prefer its perspective to that I'm normally forced to endure (the big boobed, house cleaning, fancy dressing, cheery moms)? Perhaps. I will say, though, that as much as I tend to complain about the overabundance of hot chicks in the comics, the women in RWO . . . well their NOSES are usually bigger than their BOOBS!! That's . . . well that's unfortunate for those poor gals.
I was going to start a "Worst April Dennis the Menace," but sadly, won't have the time in the forseeable future to go through every April DTM. So, we'll put off the "Worst of" contest until June. Emily suggested "Momma," but since Emily always seems to win these things, I'm NOT letting her pick! No way!
And, I almost forgot: Click here to see why it is that Hagar and Eddie got stranded on a deserted island (Hagar is a really horrible Viking). Gaylord's got a lot to say about Broom Hilda, and it starts here (did you know she feeds him road kill?)
posted by big al at 6:53 PM
4 Comments:
NO FAMILY CIRCUS!!! UGGGHHHHH!!!
They are even invading the postal system. One of those brats is used to spread the word about the May 14th USPS Food Drive. We cannot get away!!
LK
I think it's really cool that George got on the list. It looks like the only un-syndicated strip they listed. If anything maybe it'll get me a couple more readers!
However, the strip was recently rejected by UClick.com, which I believe is Universal Press Syndicate's comic strip website. I think I may have to force some hard copies down their throats (I just sent them a URL).
A few, maybe as many as 10, years ago the N&O did what looked like a more scientific survey than this one.
I'm sure they dropped Marmaduke, but quickly restored it after complaints.
The N&O did carry Mary Worth. Cannot say it was dropped as a result of that survey.
dale
Dale,
When I was in Washington, the Post did a more scientific survey, too. That's how we got ONE BIG HAPPY. UGH.
I do NOT understand complaints about the loss of Marmaduke.
1) Close your eyes.
2) Think of a big dog.
3) Imagine him doing something dog-like (wagging tail, pulling his owners on a leash, stashing things in his dog house, begging for food).
4) Laugh.
See, you don't need Marmaduke in the paper! You can do it yourself!
Post a Comment
<< Home