Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for May 07, 2020

Not easy being a college student and being a waitress, is it, Tiffany?

Going to Les for comfort? Who woulda thought…..

Well, he called it. ✨

Well, at least it isn’t Tom pulling the rug out from under her or Ann pulling some evil shenanigan.

Tiff must really be desperate, hanging on to Les that way. I’m almost starting to feel sorry for her. Even after all she has done in the past…

Listen to T J , Nancy. Before you stick your nose in make sure it is your place to do so.

Failure is a great teacher.

Half way into this first week of reading Spanish Luann and Spanish Alley Oop.

Luann in Spanish, not bad. Adds some fun missing from the regular strip.

Alley Oop, not so much. The story line is so dumb, it doesn’t even seem worth trying to translate.

Tiff is not one to keep her problems to herself.

I’m still betting that soon Tom tells her he’s marrying Ann Eiffel. Waiting…

Does it count as eavesdropping if you do it from a mile away without any amplifying techniques?

This has been an interesting direction. Initially we (along with Tiffany’s dad) were impressed that Tiffany had the ambition to learn how to run a business. Instead Evans seems to have led us down the path of what happens when someone ignores their education for such a long time that they are hopelessly lost and are incapable of reaching their goal.

I know when my son and daughter attended college, at the beginning they gave the students a series of competency tests that were intended to determine where the students were lacking from their high school education. Then they were required to take classes that were created for no other purpose than to bring those students up to those standards. It would appear that Tiffany needed that kind of testing.

Not sure where this is all going – EXCEPT – Les is not going to help Tiffany with her classes.

Lotsa other college students juggle a part-time job as well as college studies. The issue is focus. We all knew months ago that Tiff wasn’t doing that well in economics class, and we hadn’t seen her take up Bet’s offer of help. So, for all we know, she’d been floundering on her own, reading and re-reading text that’s incomprehensible to her.

And, after her futile and time-intensive efforts had exhausted her, she decided that she “needs a break” and goes off to a party with the Hall-A gang. Bad idea, but it’s not a sin to want to go to a party. However, the opportunity was there to go to the Study Ball and Bets was right there… all she had to do was ask for study help.

Actions have Consequences. I don’t like seeing Tiff’s sacrifices to end up being in vain. But she made her choices… work hard, exhaust yourself, party and then fail, or work smart.

Poor Tiff is trying to paddle her canoe away from a mighty waterfall and she’ll lose the battle. I almost wish that she really was upset because she brought the wrong shade of lipstick. Get away from useless classes, and embrace your true calling. Tiffany, you are a bimbo of great magnitude. A star. You are good at it, and could have a happy career in makeup and fashion and fingernails. Don’t be like bossy, crabby Bernice or the nervous nerd, Gunther.

I also find it interesting about how nonchalant TJ is towards Tiff’s histrionics. Does she do this all the time? Has she cried “wolf!” often enough so the rest of the K2 crew has learned to take it as “yawn, another day working with Tiff”? Does she make mountains out of molehills daily? And is Linda Ronstadt’s “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me” a constant fave on the ol’ jukebox?

Disappointed that it’s not something Nancy could help her with.

TJ’s getting wiser over time.

Aw, Tiffany. You figured that you might when you took that Cynthia J course. AND you have been partying. Some kids can handle partyin and classes – such as Tara – but you’ve never been the academic type so you gotta choose…partying or studying. If you choose partying, drop out of school. Go to the CC with Luann. Heck, you might make a fast friend with Tara.

Glancing through the comments the focus seems to be on Les and Tiffany in some sort of relationship. Yes they are in a relationship, friends, who share a very difficult upbringing by, or lack thereof, and relationship with their respective parents. I have been theorizing that the Nancy arc is a way for the warm influence of Luann’s parents, loving, if doofus sometimes (especially Frank who is a grown up Brad/Gunther combination in a way, to help heal the two main protagonists who were not so lucky, in that regard. Les and Tiffany are the only two characters other than Luann and Gunther where parental relations are even featured as much and there is a reason for that. Tiffany just spent a nearly month long arc, where she lied, manipulated, made bad decisions, all over whether she should party, or study, partying winning. She lied to Bernice, got Bets and Gun(ther) to lie for her, did not study, was already flunking as least one course, losing the support of her distant father, who is off to Italy with her possible evil mother-in-law, who is Les’s mother: how more obvious can it be that Nancy will step in the mothering breach to some extent, and don’t give me that young adult garbage. Age does not mean someone is not repaired who is injured. They might just get worse. I agree I think Tiffany might end up at the DeGroot’s and at the Community College. Ann will win dad, and he will not send Tiffany anymore money, but she will need a place to stay, a job, and classes she can afford. It will resolve so many arcs, including the relationship between Luann and Tiffany. It is happening the way I called it. There will be turns and twists but that is what is happening per Luann1212.

Holy crap- TJ without a smile! Don’t see THAT very often!

Remember the worst semester that I had in college — taught me that it didn’t come easily and that I had to work. One B, three D’s, and an F. Came out to 1.18 /4.0. Sobering, to say the least.

Wow, this is quite the surprise.

I flunked college big time the first time out. Joined the service. After getting out and working realized I needed a career and went back and graduated with a 3.75 GPA. It was important this time.

What a surprise. Not sure how she even got into a college.

Not funny, but it’s what happens when you don’t study

Tiff, just marry Les and get it over with… Or go into the “oldest profession.” Plenty of money in that.

Now you have found what you are not good at, go forth and seek that which makes you succeed.

Doctors prescribe a common cure for bad-grade-itus, take one these as a cure: Less Partying = Better Grades. Works everytime and has helped millions.

ARGY BARGY on that other site, had a great idea on what’s next for Tiffany at the Fuse. But I’ll let her tell it here.

But what can Nancy do to help Tiffany? Will she offer uplifting advise that’ll get Tiffany to stay in school and work harder? I’m hoping that’s the case. The real issue is, will Tiffany be able to stay one more semester Mooney on academic probation? I kinda think/hope that’s what happens. And that she lets Bets, Gunther, and Bernice help her with her studies, like she SHOULD have been doing along.

Now Tiff may lose her dorm room. But no doubt Les will offer Gulag lodging again. Tiffany probably take him up on it this time. Wonder how long it be before Al and Irma will find out Tiffany is staying there and Freak?

So, Tiffany’s crises are like a normal daily event at “The Fuse”… and Les seems to have gotten so used to comforting her that he seems almost bored… Anyway, now Nancy knows about Tiffany’s grades problem and she can’t stay indifferent.

It’s not fair that she is failing grades? We knew this day would come. Get over yourself and study. Don’t party so much.

I know how Tiffany feels.

Well, I just hope Nancy doesn’t end up taking Tiffany in. For the past several months most of the characters have been moving onwards and upwards with their lives.

I thought it was ann getting a bigger allowance?

No surprise there.

Besides we have a shipment from Greg to open.

Beauty College is the answer for Tiffany. They teach what she is interested in and already has knowledge in cosmology. She could move into Pru’s room at Luann’s, work at The Fuse until she can afford to put herself through the school and then live her dream.

Tiffany is quite simply, “the designated sexy girl” in this strip. She needs someone solid, like Ox, to care for her, and she needs to realize this.

Quel choc!

And who does Tiffany turn to for comfort? Well, maybe they deserve each other.

What would be the moral here? Study less, party more? No wait, it must be something else, if I could only think…

She probably failed Introduction to Typing.

This is probably a really unpopular opinion, but, I actually wouldn’t mind if Les and Tiff were to become a thing. Both have come a long way from their high-school bully stereotypes, both have family issues, and they work surprisingly well off of each other. I don’t really ship them, but if G&K were to try it, I’d be down just to see how it would play out.

Failing classes?!? Gosh, what a shock. Would never have anticipated that, nosiree.

Okay… I am willing to admit I was wrong about Tom marrying Ann Eiffel in Italy. But I fear it’s just a matter of time before we all see another example of just how stupid Tom Farrell really is…

Perhaps now she’ll finally realize that her partying days are over. Or, at the very least, on hiatus until she gets her business degree. After that, things should be easier since she’s skilled with cosmetics.

This is prob my fave luann in a long time! Isn’t it cute that Tiffany runs to her stepbrother!

I must admit to being disturbed by this turn of events. Is this actually just histrionics by Tiffany or a continuation of the characters descent into a mental breakdown? I’m especially disturbed by the seeming juxtaposition of Nancy as Tiffany’s alter mother as so many commenters now believe. For awhile I had expected Irma to be the rescue mama. She’d be perfect in that role; wise, doting and caring. In fact, that seemed to be where the strip was headed in the “Dinner at Irma and Al” arc that ran from May 30 through June 17, 2017. It would be fruitful to review the whole arc since there was much to be gleaned from the dynamic between Tiffany and Gunther, Les, Irma and even Al. Tiff thought Al was “cuddly” at the time.

Doesn’t TJ technically own the Fuse?

Something very strange has happened to this Luann strip. In his oft quoted 2016 interview Greg said “So when I can put a clueless with an obsessive or an evil with a wacky, sparks fly. Those are my favorite story lines.” He went on to say: “The fun ones are evil (Leslie Knox, Dirk), wacky (Knute, Goth Guy), obsessive (Bernice, Gunther) or totally clueless and self-absorbed (Tiffany and, sometimes, Luann).” It was also brought out that Karen was taking a larger role in developing story lines.

Since that interview the strip has taken on a much darker tone in its story lines. Indeed, there have been some truly depressive arcs. We now have a Gunther/Bets pair-up; an obsessive with an obsessive. What used to be a major self-absorbed-obsessive matchup (Luann/Bernice) is now relegated to Tiffany/Bernice. Most of the college students are “wacky” or wacky/evil (Dez, Tara). Then there’s the clueless. Self-absorbed Stephanie. Tiffany has morphed from clueless to clueless-obsessive. Jack has been a mystery. He started out as a “whacky” character then morphed into a normal, dull character (Frank, Nancy).

It’s hard to see where this cartoon is headed! But hilarity is becoming few and far between!

Oh grades

As the broad with little brain, Tiffany surprises none of us with this information. (Winnie the Pooh reference.)

Great expressions in the last frame!

TJ speaks form experience.

@EasyEight You keep responding to me with stupidity. You started this whole thing and made it personal. There were others who agreed with me. You singled me out after I responded to you. You lied a bout me, made stuff up in an effort to bolster your failed argument. We can take this off site and I promise you will never win the argument, because I can back up my story 100% you have nothing but words, elder bias and worthless opinions to bolster your claim. By your own admission you care not for those over 60 and hold us responsible for your problems. GET OVER YOURSELF. You also said I was swearing at you. never happened. This is absolutely the last time I communicate with you. You have been making stuff up about me all week. This place needs a block function.

You can see Les fighting the urge to let his hands drift south of the equator…. ;)

I did another “deep dive” in order to get the full context of the “locker room photo” arc. Here’s the consequences. But what I found interesting was the reference to Tiff’s parents (plural) being notified. So, that means that Ma Farrell was in Tiff’s life until at least age 16 (and maybe longer).

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2005/09/16

Let’s not feel too sorry for her, thinking she was a motherless child.

So, that goes back to our more recent “Tiff moves in with the DeGroots” speculation. What parent would not feel incensed with this? “Mean-girl uploads a photo of your daughter in a state of undress in the school locker room to the Internet, where any old creepy perv can oogle at her.”?

That should be a deal-killer. Especially if your daughter and the very same perp would need to share a bathroom in your own house. That sort of past can’t be blithely ignored. Tiff has a lot to answer for.

Maybe you should have gone to the study rather than that party.

Now you know!

But it is appalling that the Tiffster ran to Les, of all people, for comforting….

Well yeah! If you go to parties rather than studying, things like failing tend to happen.

Is this strip so bereft of plot lines that it must carry two Tiffany arcs? 1) Tiffany’s new situation in Hall A, namely, new roommate/potential bf/party life, and 2) failing grades potential expulsion.

Remember, Big Daddy isn’t funding Mooney U’s endowment fund any more. Tiff’s on her own.