Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 19, 2016

I hate jonah. Too bad he cant be beamed up into an alien spaceship and not come back. He could perform for them. Maybe get their equivalent of an oscar, emmy, or (ahem) even a tony. (pun intended) (yes I know they’re spelled differently)

A swell girls time out. (You’re such a jerk-wad, Jonah. How can you even call yourself that kid’s father?)

Well he’d get the audition probe, that’s for sure.

Kiddo reminds me of Kill Bill.

I hate that she gave in.

Toni caved, how disappointing.

Water works and loud WAAA in 10…9…8….

So, Jonah told her they would both be bringing her to the pool? Wow, so, now Toni looks like the “badguy” for not taking her there!!

I wonder how many shots with steel toed boots it would take, to break all his teeth

Don’t know what to say………..“disappointing” has already been used.

Have you noticed how poor Jonah’s enunciation is? That is among the needed skills he could have worked to improve but has not. A person can not claim to be serious about a career without working to master the basics of that specific career.

I hope she doesn’t head off to the pool while Toni is in the shower.

I think we are seeing the start of Toni and Shannon building cooperation w each other.

When I was very young, my parents BOTH took off (in different directions) to “find themselves, their lives and their careers.” Thank God my Grandmother “caved in” and took care of me. If it hadn’t been for her, I don’t know what would have happened to me. Toni is caving in for the benefit of Shannon, and she’s doing the right thing for Shannon. It is unfortunate that she can’t say no to Jonah without sacrificing Shannon, but that’s what happens to a lot of people these days. I will always be grateful to my wonderful Grandmother.

I recall that Shannon is all over the wedding stuff. The only problem will be getting her to shut up.

Don’t you just LOVE how he disappoints his little girl, with a BIG smile on his face? (sarc)

Do we know where Tonis parents are? Wouldn’t you naturally try to drop off your kid to your mom before pawning her off to your sister?

Has Greg Evans made Jonah look sufficiently negligent that it’s OK to start the “adoption” arc now, or does Jonah so far just look irresponsible and thoughtless rather than truly unfit? Maybe we’ll get a couple more cases of Jonah’s dumping Shannon off before everyone feels he’s genuinely evil, in which case no one will question the wisdom of having Shannon taken away from him. Can we fit that in before the wedding?

Can’t Jonah put Shannon in that day care place where Luann and Tiffany work? Probably can’t afford it.

=When= is this kid going to age along with the rest of the cast? The almost perpetual 6-year-old is wearing mighty thin.

Does anybody know what happened to Shannon’s mother?

Jonah doesn’t act like much more than a sperm donor.

Talking to Jonah is like talking to a brick wall. He is for himself, first, last, and always. He will have an excuse for everything. When he is old and unsuccessful, he will blame Toni for not “helping” him enough. No wonder Toni wants to hold off having kids. She already has two: Shannon and Jonah.

To give Jonah some credit – most young guys whose girlfriend had a baby and then split, leaving him with a kid from a short-term relationship, would simply have put the baby up for adoption right away. Jonah, however, kept her and has provided for her (she is clean, clothed, fed, and healthy) for 6 years. He is not just a “sperm donor”; Shannon clearly has deep feelings of affection for him.What Jonah needs is for Toni to give him a list of day-care providers and an ultimatum to hire one of them. Of course, that straightforward solution to the problem won’t happen; instead, Jonah will disappear from the strip and Toni and Brad will have an instant family. I just wish that scenario could be made to happen in a less melodramatic fashion. As it is, whenever Jonah shows up, you can almost see someone standing off-panel holding up a sign to the readers: “Villain!!! Boo, hiss!!!”

Toni needs a divorce.

And when Toni and Brad wind up with Shannon full-time, who do you suppose will complain that they “took his daughter away from him,” “turned her against him,” etc.?

Actually, it COULD be kinda fun to go to the wedding planning meeting. After all, Shannon will be included, right? Flower girl? Let her feel that she has a part in some decisions, even if she doesn’t. Example, knowing you want roses for your bouquet. Show her a photo of the type of roses and say, “Do you think that’s pretty for our wedding, Shannon?” I think little girls would love to do this. And afterwards, take her out for a treat. It’s not like she has to sit through a boring chemistry class! This definitely can be a fun thing if Toni is smart enough to make it so!

Another thought…..since Jonah has not been a vital or prominent character for a long time, (other than this arc), perhaps Greg is setting the stage for his upcoming demise. (Car accident on the way to audition?). That would leave Shannon available for adoption….Toni and Brad would get married quickly on the fly and set up housekeeping with their new adopted daughter. Otherwise I don’t see Jonah allowing Toni and Brad to adopt his daughter. And I don’t believe a court would overrule his desire. After all, he’s providing enough food and shelter for her and she loves him. He’s just selfish. That’s not reason to lose your kid. I think he needs to be bumped off. Let’s wait and see.

Jonah’s cocky glance at them says it all: the audition is for someone else. he’s playing Toni, Shannon , and someone else. he’s playing himself too, but he will find that out too late.

Always a “Big Audition”,never getting the gig.Loser.Maybe he’ll get the part of collateral damage in a drive-by.

Now, if Toni is smart, here is where she’ll outline Shannon’s role in the wedding… lead flower girl, ring bearer, or some such thing like that. If Toni can show Shannon her anticipated role at the wedding, I think she’ll be more receptive of going to this meeting and putting off the pool trip.

Save the day, Toni!

“You’re a MEAN One, Mr. Jo!”“Your Heart’s an EMPTY Hoooooole!”“You’re COMPLETELY Full of BullSh*t,”“You have Acid In Your Soul, Mr. Jooooooo!”

“Someone Should SMASH You in the TEETH with Ah,”“Four and a Half Foot Poooooooooooole!!!”

(Sorry Mordy – beat ya to it. And I don;t even drink COFFEE…)_____________________________________

SAY, Not Bad, Brdy. Not Bad at All!

It’s VERY ’Clever" but Not Really Mean, though.Here, let ME Show Ya, MEAN.

Instead of driving to the Scene of Yesterday’s Fire, Toni Drops the Kid off at the Local Child Protective Services Center, with a CHEERY:

“Okay Shannon! We’re Here at the ‘Pool!’ These Nice People will Take You to it! Oh don’t worry It’s in the Back! Oopsy, I LEFT My Bathing Suit in the Car! I’ll go get it and be Right back in about 12 Years! Have FUN, Shannon!” - Toni before Driving Hurriedly OFF to Her Wedding Planning Meeting. ;]

LOL, great scene!!!

How about a little towel slip?

Fun with anagrams:Is it really a coincidence that “big audition” anagrams to “a bung idiot”? And “Jonah’s big audition” anagrams to “Anguish! An idiot job!”

Shannon Tantrum coming!

This guy continually fails the biggest audition of them all: Life.

As many times that Toni has taken care of Shannon, we are sure she has spent money to support and feed this child. Toni should be able to claim Shannon as dependent on her tax return.

He’s such a loser!

I’m going to make a gruesome prediction: Jonah will continue to be thoroughly unlikable because, at some point probably right after the wedding, he is going to crash his car speeding to or from yet another audition, and die. Toni and Brad will begin married life as Shannon’s adoptive parents. Probably Luann will get involved as well, and gradually discover how good she is at mentoring children.

It could be fun for Shannon…just make her apart of the plans…Flower Girl Shannon!

“I have several words for Jonah, all of which would get me banned from posting.”_____________________________________

Well HERE, Let Me Help You.

“The Three Words that Best Describe Jonah and I Quote: STINK, STANK, STUNK!”

“…and then we’ll go to the pool.”

Oops, you’re right, I missed a letter in my post. Make that “I a bung idiot.” :-D

Kinda’ gives a new meaning to the character “Jonah Hex,” doesn’t he?

Do you get the feeling he’ll die in a car crash that Shannon would have been in had Toni shown any spine?

noticing a troubling trend, Shannon doesn’t even register any disappointment that her dad is leaving her AGAIN after promising to spend time with her,- all she focuses on is what she wants to do…….learning to close off any sense of loss of her dad’s time and attention. shows a pattern she is too accustomed too for it to hurt. that is sad.

I used to think, like some others here, that Jonah may die somehow, leaving Shannon to be adopted. But now I believe that Greg Evans isn’t Lynn Johnston (FBOFW). I don’t think he would be up to such a harsh event. I don’t think it’s in his basic nature. So Shannon’s status may remain as it is until Greg fully retires from the strip and his daughter and , what was that artist guy, a grandson?, take over.

knew it. knew the pool trip get cancelled and he’d pull that trigger. but Toni could promise swimming after super fun wedding planning. what a miserable excuse of a dad.

I actually have to give the characters some credit here. Jonah actually told Shannon the pool thing wasn’t happening, instead of saying that Aunt Toni was gonna take her. I honestly thought that he would do that despite her saying she had plans.

And Shannon took the disappointment surprisingly well. Unfortunately I think the lack of reaction is because she’s too used to him letting her down to make much of a fuss anymore…

Addressing those who say that Shannon is well-fed and clothed, therefore Jonah isn’t that bad a dad. Sorry, I’ve seen lots of “parents” like that who believe as long as the kids are fed and clothed they are doing their job. Wrong, wrong, wrong! There is so much more to being a parent than this, and those kids usually grow up either in trouble all the time, or very, very disillusioned about the idea of parents and family. A sad, sad situation. After all, Jonah has to do the minimum, or he could get arrested for child neglect, which Jonah is not going to have anything bad happen to Jonah!As for Shannon feeling “entitled” and throwing a fit if she doesn’t get her way. Yes, she’s learning all this bad stuff from Jonah which would affect her behavior, BUT she’s also only 6 yrs old and undoubtedly gets lots of disappointments due to her dad. Her crying at the show, well of course she would. It probably was a rare treat that her dad would do something with her to begin with, and a show made it even more special. Why wouldn’t she get upset? I think her silence when Jonah dumped her once again in this strip (and I agree that Jonah makes it clear that he told Shannon that he and Aunt Toni were BOTH going to take her to the pool) illustrates her lack of surprise that her dad is once again dumping her and letting her down.

> I believe that “Kidz First” is a pre-school. Shannon would be too old for it (she’s 6).

I believe “Kidz First” is an after-school program at Lincoln Elementary (which is why Principal Jawbone is the boss). If Shannon does attend that school when she gets to first grade (which should be this fall, if she’s allowed to age at all in the strip), then Jonah could in fact put her in the after-school program.

If the story line doesn’t eventually have the dirt bag change, or have him lose parental rights, why even explore this story line? I guess we will have to see how good of a story writer Evans is.

I’m waiting for the day that Shannon calls Brad “Daddy” in front of Jonah. Reality check table 2 please.

Jonah has a face that a mother would love…to bash in…as would many of us…!^^yup hehe

7It is interesting… I must be on some kind of a roll…. some of my suppositions and predictions are actually coming to pass in almost the exact way I had envisioned in my head. From yesterday, I predicted that Toni would take Shannon to the wedding planning meeting.What next?1. I suspect that Shannon will balk at first (like most kids do who are set on a specific event happening) and may shed some frustrated tears. 2. I suspect this may be an event where Shannon will grow in understanding. If Toni were to handle Shannon’s becoming upset in a successful way, she could:a) On the drive to the meeting, calmly try to talk to Shannon about Aunt Toni’s need to go to this meeting.b) Explain gently that unfortunately, while she would too like to swim, that unfortunately her (Shannon’s) Dad did not really arrange with Aunt Toni the need for or timing to babysit Shannon, so it was unexpected for Aunt Toni. c) Explain that IF Daddy had made arrangements ahead of time for his audition, Aunt Toni would have been able to better prepare to be with Shannon.d) Reassure Shannon that she is loved, and that MAYBE after the wedding planning meeting, they may be able to do something more fun together… and MAYBE “Uncle” Brad will be able to participate as well. 3. Now again, do realize I am not excusing “donkey-hind-quarters” Jonah here. He was and is being utterly awful. But, I am actually pretty proud of Toni…. she is showing some (IMO) important qualities here concerning family. IMO, she is not being a push-over either. She is, unfortunately, having to acquiesce to some degree her own plans due to family, and she is doing so, IMO not because of the “need” Jonah professes to have, but in the spirit of being as kind as possible to Shannon and her needs.4. I still am thinking that initially Brad will be irate…. but I suspect he is a strong and good character and will (before the meeting is finished) realize where Toni is coming from in terms of protecting and helping Shannon, and he too will end up being able to go to whatever sort of “FUN” thing the three of them do after the wedding planning meeting.

I am actually impressed that Shannon turned and said, “well” to Toni; she might actually be open to doing the wedding party planning. Most kids that age would whne, complain, etc. Either she is used to her dad doing this, or she is starting to grow up a little bit for her age. Sad that she has to do it so young. But I can see her giving her input since she is going to be in the wedding. And if they have cake tasting…well what little girl is not going to want to do that?

I bet that Toni was an only child.

Been reading this strip forever, but don’t know if it’s ever been covered (and apologies if it had)…what’s the deal with Shannon’s mother? Left kid with Jonah, passed away, something else??

I am not overly disappointed, because now I get to see how Brad reacts to this, and strangely enough, Brad is who I really care about here.

Brad? This is your foot. This is the floor. Put your foot on the floor. Yes, the floor is “down”.

Because if you do not, you will spend the rest of your life as a doormat to a woman who has no real need of you and less respect, and her understandably but intolerably selfish niece.

Jonah is their concern, not yours. Your concern is getting Toni to commit to you even half as much as you are committed to her.

You’ve demonstrated you can be a nice guy. Now demonstrate some spine.

At least Jonah let Shannon down himself, rather than expecting his sister to say “sorry, no swimming.”

I have to wonder if he really is going to an audition or just using that as an excuse to go out with some girl or party with friends. If that is so, I’m hoping he gets caught. I had to play single parent for 3 kids and never dumped them on anyone. I arranged for childcare when I was at work and had no social life. The kids were more important than that. Their mother took off and only showed up to try to scrounge money from her family or me.

“Livin’ On The Fault Line” (♪♬)“Overtime On The Blame Shift”“Burned By Jonah Shark”“String Along Theory”“Fingerpointing For Kindergartners”“Gong Back To The ‘Well’ "“Stop Dragging My Heart Around” (♬)“Make A Meal Of Some Bright Eyed Kid…” (♪)“Every Time I Try To Walk Away…” (♪)“Something Makes Me Turn Around And Say Yes, Anyway”And“I Can’t Tell You Why….” (♪♬)

Jonah has replaced quinn as my least favorite character on this tune

me too

We don’t know how much “quality time” Jonah spends with Shannon. It could be anywhere from zero to a lot, since it’s one of those things that is never shown in the strip, so we just have to speculate about it. The only times we see Shannon is when Jonah has left her with Toni. Most of the time she is with Jonah, and we don’t know what their life is like together (other than that she clearly loves her Dad, as we saw at the Talent Show).

Suppose Jonah actually hired a baby-sitter to Care for Shannon when he can’t, instead of leaving her with Toni. Would he then be an unfit father, as people are claiming he is now? I would say no, since that’s exactly what single parents do, some on a daily basis (if they have nannies or day-care centers). In that case, the issue isn’t Jonah’s fitness as a father, it’s his rudeness in imposing on Toni. That’s a very different matter, and it is certainly no reason to have Shannon taken away from him in a custody fight.

leWhiz said, 20 minutes ago@SukieCrandallI am waiting for Brad and Shannon to have fun sampling cake and icing options, causing Toni to laugh about their messy faces, and her agreeing to go w their choice.

You don’t suppose they might push cake in each other’s faces, do you? ;o)Those two? They woukd probably draw icing grins on each other and love every second of it!

Re: “In a bug, idiot” and “I bug an idiot”: Pretty good anagrams, but I like mine better. :-PIt’s more appropriate to the context (Jonah), which was what I was going for.

Thanks!-“Wedding Planning? But I Planned On Getting Wet!”“Auntie Social”^Ha Ha Ha! And look at you too, with the wordplay!

Judas Jonah should be swallowed by a whale!

My stomach hurts from reading this arc.

Jonah & Shannon. Reminds me of the song “Cat’s in the Cradle”. Barring some kind of intervention, she’ll grow up just like you, dad, she’ll grow up just like you. He will get old and Shannon will be too busy to look after him.

Maybe he gets the job and has to go on the road until Shannon is in her mid-20s and Brad and Toni take her and raise her -don’t see her brother consenting to an adoption, however.

Come on, Toni! Step up to the plate. It’s such a simple word – just two little letters….NO.

It is impossible to think charitable thoughts about Jonah. May the Fates eat him alive.Shannon will go with Aunt Toni to her meeting and enjoy it….

Yo, JPuzzleWhiz!

To answer Your question about Jonah and Redemption, here’s what I’d like to see:

Jonah indeed gets a big part and takes the kid and moves to Hollywood.

Team Evans later announces in 2017 that They are “Fast Forwarding” the Strip about 8 years or so.

In the Luanniverse of 2025, the gang have long since graduated college, gotten jobs and some have gotten married. The DeGroots have retired and left the family business to Luann.

Unfortunately, Jonah is now box office poison and is on His 3rd failed marriage and is hitting the bottle.

So in typical ‘Jonah Fashion’ He shows up and dumps the now teenage Shannon off on Brad and Toni, who happen to have a couple of kids of Their own, while sorts out His ‘Life.’

And the strip will continue to feature the Older, established characters, the New Focus of the strip will be Shannon coping with Parental Abandonment and the Trials and Tribulations of a Teen Girl, in a Post-Clinton America.

All of a sudden I have a sense that something is going to happen to Jonah… it seems like there is some kind of foreboding… Like, no, actually you WON’T take her to the pool later, b/c you are about to die (a car accident – like his parents)

and that’s how Shannon will come to live with Brad & Toni

My problem is that it is not consistent in Chicago print, and that is how I get hooked on strips. It is weird. My second favorite strip is Curtis for example, and of course there is always Doonesbury, but the problem with Chickweed is before I can follow it, it’s gone. Luann has always been in Chicago papers, and now of course I follow it on my computer or phone. Ah technology!!

Brad will be one pissed off BF. It will be directed at Jonah cuz he luvz Shannon.

That was supposed to be “Burned By Jonah Snark”, not shark. Stupid autocorrect!

Relatives who think your only reason for existing is for their use and won’t take no for answer. Everyone who is not a user has at least one.

@cdgar Who needs aliens? Don’t skimp on your wedding feast! Eat Jonah!