"I have Erik Estrada's birthday lunch next week"

So, Blondie and Mrs. Dithers are discussing the big anniversary party. It has been the theme of this strip since July 10. That's right -- we're on to the 18th consecutive "anniversary strip" with no end in sight. This better be one heck of a party!

And, when planning your anniversary party, who better to talk to than your husband's boss's wife??? Seriously, is this a close relationship a lot of people share? Actually, I'm very close to my husband's boss's wife. I'm closer to her than pretty much anyone I know, so I shouldn't be criticizing Blondie, I guess. Also, my husband is his own boss, so technically, I am my husband's boss's wife. I should go to a nice luncheon and just talk to myself.

Of course, two ladies can't get together without gossiping, and, like any "off screen" character in Blondieworld, she has a wacky name: Emily Gorkal! Heh. Remember Milly Crabknackle? How about the Glambuster Contract? I need to pay more attention to this phenomenon.

Anyway, I guess this Emily Gorkal (heh heh) is a name dropper. Mrs. Dithers and Blondie tut tut at such behavior, until . . . Blondie does a little name dropping herself!!! HA HA HA! Hypocrite! And what name does she drop? When trying to impress your friends and the comic reading audience about the very hip and well-known people you cater for, the name you drop is . . . . PHYLLIS DILLER????? Seriously? Phyllis Diller? Huh? Has anyone under 25 even heard of Phyllis? I mean, I know she's a stand-up comic. When I was growing up she would appear on episodes of the Love Boat or the Muppet Show or Carol Burnett or something.

I find this very intriguing. If Blondie and Mrs. D were real, I'd guess the reason Blondie name dropped Phyllis Diller is because Phyllis is the only famous person whose name she COULD drop. But Blondie and Mrs. D aren't real! Dean Young could have chosen any celebrity in the world, and he chooses Phyllis Diller???? I can't get over it. He could have chosen any ubiquitous, innocuous star of today (Teri Hatcher? Clay Aiken? Jessica Simpson? -- none of these choices are particularly cutting edge or hip). He could have chosen someone more appropriate to the Bumstead's age group (whatever the hell that is), but still well-known and worthy of name dropping (Tony Bennett? Sean Connery? Barbara Walters?).

But he chose PHYLLIS DILLER!!!! Phyllis Diller whose career had peaked by the time I watched her in Love Boat reruns. I mean, he could have actually had Blondie say "Carol Burnett" instead of someone who just made guest appearances on her show. She could have said "Mary Tyler Moore," or "Mel Brooks," or . . . anyone. But Phyllis Diller? I now hope that random Love Boat guest stars will start making guest appearances in Blondie: stand by for Charo, Sandy Duncan, Dick Van Patten, and Toni Tennille (and believe it or not, the previously mentioned Teri Hatcher.)

PHYLLIS DILLER!!