Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for September 16, 2014

Shannon’s got it right! ;)

Okay, T.J., explain yourself.

Brad’s got it right…there’s a Very good chance that old TJ did blow up his truck…and not on accident! ;)

“lucy, you got some splaining to do.”

“Cool, Calm, and Payment Collected”“Made In The Shade "“Accidentally On Purpose”“Sticky Slick Lam With Plenty Of Green Mint”“Cab Louie, Louie, Louie…” (♫)“Keep On Not Truckin’” “Croc(k)odile Smiles And De-Nile”or….“Fleeced With A Side Of Lam”

only Greg knows for sure. .I keep coming back for more…

I blew it up…on ‘accident.’ The kind of ‘accident’ that happens to people that annoy the mob…

I hate to ever say Poor TJ, but it doesn’t seem to have ever occurred to him that there might be anything fishy-seeming about the demise of the truck.

I still don’t trust TJ any further than I could throw Pelican Baysupermax.

Re: your post to Brdshtt – LOL! ;)

And I expect a lot of the King’s Horses and Men and maybe some Oprah and Montel and Dr. “Feel”….. but even Oprah admits defeat….

Left ya some replies….

I trust TJ.

Hey Shannon? ASK Your “Uncle Smiley” HOW and More Importantly, WHY His Truck “Accidentally” Blowed Up.

And we should trust Brad ’s judgement… why?

Does it look like TJ’s left eye is winking in the last panel?

I am going to shock my hub by coming upstairs before midnight! Had a rather “longish” day today and the heat wore me out. However, tomorrow temps will be in the very low 80s…Yes!!! I plan to take care of the cooler temps and spray my roses for the season. Also, pick up some more (!) apples that are falling from my apple tree! It turned out to be a crab-apple tree, so I let a neighbor pick as many as she wants. The ones on the ground usually have insect bites in them… And on that note, ’Nite all! ;)-—————————————————————————-“An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less.” (Nicholas Murray Butler, 1862-1947)

And catching people in lies (ref.: Ann)

The “staredown”… then she "went along with the bit "… –

cheating the insurance companies is normal nowadays. anybody saw 60 minutes 9 days ago (BP gulf coast spill settlement)?

“The Greatest Hits Of The Greatest Hits Of The…” –

Response: Ha ha! True!

TJ is stupid to be bragging about this..Should’ve just quietly deposited the check..He can be less than clever at times..He lacks restraint.

LOL! Now you’re doing quotes! Maybe I can dust off some from somewhere. That is, unless you and “Mouse” have taken all the good ones… -In that case, I’ll have to turn to another good source… And when I’m Out of Pee Wee Herman quotes, I’ll go to Spock, next….

Forgot to say that is a poigniant and sage piece of thought, there

TJ is happy to have been paid (I’d smile too if I had a check for $65000 in my hand) and is finally out from under something he hated. I think it was an accident.

Is that a wink from TJ?

I don’t trust him.

Wow., out of the mouths of babes… :-) You go Shannon!

TJ “Blowed up real good!…” accident or otherwise! :-PPP

Shanon’s a smart kid.

I have a feeling that something is going to bite TJ in the arse, he is way to happy especially when he says " goodbye truck, hello moolah". Secondly I wouldn’t be bragging about that $65,000 because if he brags to much word can get out and he could loose it all

so, where did he get the 65K for the truck to begin with?

T.J. reminds me of Jessica Rabbit. “I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.”

Good analogy.

it was an accident otherwise the investigator would not have approved the claim

The insurance company would have done an investigation. Brad is being overly suspicious of someone who is supposed to be his friend.

“Kids say the darnedest things!” *In fact, I do think it was an accident. It’s just that TJ wished he had been smart enough to have thought it up.

Getting the money isn’t the same thing as keeping the money. If Brad comes across evidence of fraud later on, he’ll be required to report it.

Glad old TJ is not going to jail. He is really important as a character type in this strip.

ha ha, oy.

I don’t think TJ has the mechanical skills to execute a successful arson / explosion; Of course, those same lack of mechanical skills explain why the truck blew up

Waitin’ for the other shoe to drop. Or as Yogi Berra would say, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

But I’m surprised that they sent the check so soon…

The results will show it was an accident, and the truck could have exploded at anytime…causing TJ to look at the world differently.

TJ despite always having tricks up his sleeve, in this case is innocent. The expression on his face back when it happened, was total shock and dismay. His problem is being falsely accused by a friend.

poor TJ…so misunderstood.

Even Shannon suspects!

thanks… I love this strip… but obviously I’m in kindergarten when compared with the knowledge and experience of most of the rest of you… thanks again…

I might be more inclined to give T.J. the benefit of the doubt if it weren’t for that annoying grin he’s got pasted on his face.

Sounds like modern times, doesn’t it?

TJ is innocent, I tells ya! Innocent!!!!! :) Regardless, however, he is a great character in this comic.

If he did do it on purpose he wouldn’t be gloating about it so much. He knows there is no evidence of any criminal act so he is free to gloat. Just a very lucky explosion for TJ.

Called out!

TJ didn’t do anything! He’s a good guy!!!

Let’s see, he gets a job to con/scam/harass someone who wanted his friend to work. He scammed at the firefighters meal thing, really would love to know how he is important to this comic aside from getting away with things that would have him in jail in the real world.

Speaking just for myself, I never said that I hated the guy (TJ). I just take a stance similar to Frank and Nancy when Brad was first talking of rooming with him: “Look him straight in the face with one eye…. and keep checking around you with the other ….”

I still can’t get over the fact that TJ actually looked surprised when the truck blew up.

Yay TJ! I knew you could do it. (Not that I think you DID it …)

Hmmm. Usually insurance companies won’t pay out on this type of claim until an investigation is complete.

Wouldn’t be much of a strip without Gunther, etc. ^Oh, gotcha! Same way with Tiffany. (Incidentally, was interesting that Mr. Evans depicted TJ and Tiff as having a bit of chemistry…) – I usually compare it to Moriarty. He gave Holmes purpose, and the same with Holmes to he…

SOOO distrusting.

I don’t know about your statement…. “I think Evans is starting to realize this kind of character doesn’t have a place in the current direction of the strip.”++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++I tend to think TJ is a perfect character to maintain in the strip. Think of the countless number of “bad guys” that have gotten redeemed over the years in movies and tv. If you consider TJ a “bad guy” due to his scams and hijinks… that could be the route he is on…. redemption. Personally, I hope Greg keeps him pretty much the same… having lots of ideas, most of which are a little on the edge, and most of them never panning out. It is, at least to me…. fun to see and read.

Perhaps the explosion was a lot bigger than he was expecting.Like Jessica Rabbit – I’m not [surprised]. I’m just drawn that way.

With his perpetually running mouth and flip attitude, TJ could yet find himself in trouble even though he is innocent, with Shannon’s planting seeds of doubt…. Yes, this would be an opportune moment for the Revenge of Annie Awful Eiffel….

“Doctor or Mister?”^Oh, yeah, forgot, thanks! The one with the pointy ears. Oh, wait… the one with a book. No, they both did! Okay, then, the one with albums! Yeah! (Wait- come to think of it, what if Ben Spock did put an album out?…)

For some reason, I believe we’re all being led to believe TJ intentionally blew up his truck…but it was truly an accident…could be wrong though…

I suggest you all examine the strip where he’s packing up the trash to dispose of. There’s a pot on the stove, steaming, that he apparently forgot about. As he’s dumping the trash in the trash can, the van explodes and the expression on his face is of complete shock and surprise. I don’t know what was in the pot that would case an explosion, but I’m sure the insurance company would have thoroughly investigated it before handing over the check.

And some insurance companies can be quick in paying a claim. Our roof needed to be reshingled badly. The claim adjuster said it was shot, as in really bad hail damage over the years. He came in July and the roof was paid for in August, with a 30 year warranty on it. So it probably depends on the company. The slow ones are the ones who would rather not pay the claim while the others are, so they can keep their clients.

Gloria Steinhem was quoted as telling the doctor that he was a figure of repression to women, just like Freud was. Spock revised his original book many times over the years, and one of the revisions was apparently intended to remove comments about how women should stop trying to be like men.

Maybe I’ll look into switching to them, then. Thanks!

I would agree that Brad needs a male friend, but lots of time, TJ is a friend to no one but himself…

I expect TJ to continue in the strip mostly because Brad needs a male friend. Besides, his antics add drama to the storylines.

Well, he could swap with Toni for her appt. once she and Brad are married. That would keep him in town… perhaps open a new business. But I’m thinking that Brad might be busy otherwise… First, with Toni… then with Shannon (I can’t see them not adopting her or at least being foster parents)… I dunno how much time TJ would be getting from Brad.

You state:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

" I think TJ’s petty scams are played out, and it wouldn’t make sense for Brad/Toni to continue to hang around a character of questionable morals."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

While I can see your point…. I also think that for MANY folks, even folks of upstanding moral fiber…. the “ties that bind” with family and friends will often times transcend these differences. And, in regards to TJ, anyhow, I see him as generally harmless, silly, schemer who is usually fun to have around. And, in my recollection, he has really never done anything morally mean-spirited. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++So, I tend to see him still filling a very valuable role… the sidekick, who is a bit “different” from the main character. Brad and Toni are the main characters of these story arcs, and TJ is the perfect foil for this, in my opinion. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Now, I suspect that TJ will become a less frequent character (unfortunately), because I think there will be far less interaction between TJ and others who are not Brad or Toni (due to life circumstance, such as college). TJ no longer fits in very well with the OTHER major story arcs (Luann, etc).

As a “ko-winky -dink”, I was going to address that very matter. Though it has just been discussed, I’d still like to point to a couple of highlights… – (1) Notice Brad’s ability to “manipulate” people into action, as evidenced by his “encouraging” Toni to confront Ann. – (2) I also think his expression in the last panel when Brad comes home is “priceless”. A “D-oi!” moment, a “Ruh-roh!”…. – (3) Though he meant well, there can be a bit of concern at how his schemes are not always "well thought out’, as evidenced by the fact that it almost had the potential to end Brad and Toni’s relationship for good, as it could have gone the route of ending, even though there was an explanation. It was a good thing that there was resolution by Brad, lest he could have resented TJ for “stirring” up this situation (though Brad was regretful of Ann’s treatment of him, and his being confident that he could have found another way out)…

And another note of interest, note the “Cafe TJ” shirt that Tiffany is wearing, in 2007 ,, in the fifth strip down….

Hey, Shannon. TJ blew up his truck accidentally on purpose ;)

-Not at all. Homeowners ins. is different than car ins. The aluminum door was so pliable that the car was unscathed, so no report needed.

Thanks for putting that whole firefighters series together! Weird how different everyone looks.-I think it would be really interesting to see an arc where TJ gets knocked for a loop, like really falling for someone and getting his heart broken. Something that would humble him.

every married guy needs a single male friend to get him into trouble …. ;-)

True….. I guess…. :-)

From what I’ve seen on the Law and Order shows, sometimes the villains hurt themselves in order to take suspicions off themselves.

That’s because you’re in Good Hands like me.

You’re right. Everything would be dull.

Wow, no wonder it’s so hard to trust TJ—he changes color like a chameleon!

Next on Fox: “When Arson Investigators Attack!”

TJ is definitely winking.

@ORM (from Sunday, trying to catch up) “. . . but her body looked like a teen’s…sigh… ;)”

I know what you mean . . . sigh.

Okay, just a side note. I’m in San Diego; It was 95 degrees yesterday, today it’s 105. Driving home in one area it was 107. Help.

Here’s one that needs blowed up:

LOL, when compared to Miguel-ito (Buick), Elvis-wood (Engineers are still arguing over that car’s name), Stuart (Geo in a Lincoln’s Chassis) and even Les (GM, post bail-out), I guess so….

TJ’s “charity” as Luann likes to call it was not a scam until the DeGroots started volunteering themselves and their friends.TJ (with Tiffany’s salesmanship) had contracted with the firefighters to provide meals at a set cost, and was, in fact, preparing those meals when Luann, et al barged in to “help”And why is Frank p*zzing and moaning about paying for the meals?Nancy volunteered their checkbooks and he was happily willing to pay to give firefighters a free meal, so what’s to grouse about?

Hey! Good to “see” you back! ;)

Re: your home struck by lightning…what happened?! =-O

“Just misunderstood classics.”^LOL! And the tables turn!!!

Yeah, I “zapped” that one myself, because I wasn’t sure if it was “worded” right. Sometimes I say to myself: “Uh, that won’t come out sounding the way you think it would…”

It was just the one where I said “tables turned”… well, now that and this one….

And the one explaining why I deleted the “misunderstood classics” one….

“When I came back out, my bottle of water was gone, but my cell phone was still there…”

Good one!

The “this one in question” was the additional response: “It was just the one where I said “tables turned”… well, now that and this one….”