Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 09, 2020

And so Tiffany goes in alone. You know? There a slim, SLIM chance that Tiffany might pull this off by this coming Saturday, and there’ll be a happy, happy ending.

Yes, I’m Joking. What Tiffany is doing today is like riding her bike down a steep hill and shoving a long stick thru the spokes of the front wheel. Those gentle readers who said Tiffany will chicken out might want ice up the champagne and prepare to pop the cork.

Unless, Les is waiting outside to pop in for a surprise visit.

break it down gently, Tiff

What I’m trying to say is you don’t have a child. Well, obviously you do, but Ann doesn’t. No, wait…

I am getting confused and I know what she is trying to say.

Nice house. ✨

The worst part of this is that we have yet to eliminate Tiffany’s interest in Tom’s money. Those of you who have speculated that Tiffany was going to ride with “makes daddy happy” – well, we see how that just panned out.

If it were me, I’d cut away to elsewhere for a week or so and let the details of what follows remain a mystery for now.

Something that may have gotten forgotten about is – that even if Ann is not pregnant right at this moment, that could change without prior notice. Ooops.

Well, my expectations for GnK’s plot line have been proven wrong yet a second time. My only saving grace is I couldn’t see a good plot, but I still had expectations that GnK could pull it off. I was wrong.

Ya know, I wonder what Luann’s doing these daze.

;-}

Wow, she actually gets to talk to him without Ann in the room. Imagine how easy resolving some of the prior issues could have been with that kind of access.

Tom, I’ll put it to you as gently as I can. The thing is, THE WITCH IS LYING TO YOU! SHE’S A FRAUD! DUMP HER, ARREST HER, JUST GET HER OUT OF YOUR LIFE!

Trust in Tiffany to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

A) How did Tiffany get past Ann to see her father? Ann seems to have been pretty effective blocking access to him. B) did she never think to rehearse what she was going to say to her father? You would think on a matter this important Tiffany would have practiced what she was going to say. However since it’s no where’s close to Saturday stupidity like this has to be expected. Heaven forbid that a punchline come before the weekend!

Sooo many possibilities. What happens next?

(1) Tiffany tells Tom about Anns’s deception and he believes her?

(2) She tells him and he rejects her story out of hand?

(3) She tells him, he calls Ann in, and he believes … which one?

(4) She tells him and he confides that he knew it all along but didn’t say anything because …?

(5) She tells him and he says, ``Who’s Les?’’ And then, …?

(6) Before she can tell him, the conversation is interrupted by …?

(7) She decides not to tell him about Ann’s fakery and instead says …?

(8) We don’t find out whether or not she tells him because we have an unusual mid-week cut to an arc about Brad, Toni, and Shannon.

(9) Something else?

Tom recognized the ultrasound right away. That’s a start. Next, Tiffany tells him the truth as she knows it. Then … we’ll that’s up to him.

My guess …. he becomes the poster boy for the old saying “Marry in haste – repent at leisure.”

He’ll take Ann’s side now and two years from now we’ll see the War of the Roses sequel.

Tiffany, it can’t be that difficult, can it? You’re an actress (as well as an accomplished liar). Just say your line. “It’s an ultrasound of Anne’s son who’s twenty years old” ; it’s not like you haven’t had AMPLE TIME to rehearse it.

JUST TELL HIMMMMMMMM

This already hurts.

In the general scheme of things, don’t fathers usually have larger bodies / heads than their daughters?

ya know even if he doesn’t believe her at all i give her props for having the balls to actually do this. i say that because it has to be hard to go to a parent with this kind of info or anyone really. and it makes it even harder cause i doubt he’ll believe her

I don’t know how Tiff managed to get her dad alone, but whatever she’s going to tell him, she’d better say it quick. Ann will no doubt come busting in any minute.

Wait for it…wait.

Poor Tiff is trying not to hurt her father, even though she knows she may have to in order to get Ann out of the picture. There was a time in this strip where she wouldn’t have had this much compassion.

Tom’s reaction: “That’s great news! Now I have a daughter AND a son! Bring that young man in. I want to meet him!”; Tom (poor besotted Tom) loves anything and anyone connected to Ann. As to Tiffany, how can Tom ever thank Tiffany for bringing him such wonderful news? However, Ann’s reaction might be different; ya think?

Here’s hoping he listens to her…

Well I guess there will at least one more guest (possible groom’s man) in the wedding party and thy name be Les.

I don’t know if it’s going to end up a deal breaker. He was planning to marry Ann before he learned of the baby. The only mitigating factor is how she’s been milking the misunderstanding.

One thing for sure. Tom has a much nicer and neater room than Leslie. Another thing. He already knows Ann for what she is, and he won’t flip out.

Tiff, now you’re starting to sound like Luann!! Land the plane, get to the point!!!

Tiff stop screwing around and get to the point.

I have a feeling that no matter how carefully Tiffany tread here, the outcome is not going to be good.

This guy is supposed to be a high powered attorney yet I would not trust him to judge the evidence necessary to determine if his own bottom was clean.

“Tiffany, what are you trying to tell me here?”

.

“Well, er, um, dad, you will be getting a son out of all of this, but not the one you think. Here he is!” (pushes Les in front of Tom) “It is his ultrasound image you have been looking at…”

.

“What th’?”

.

“You mean Ann didn’t tell you?”

.

“I didn’t realize he was so big already…”

Just tell him the truth Tiff

The whole situation with Tif and her father is heartbreaking. Tif really needs therapy, and some counseling. She was amusing as the mean girl before her character was fleshed out, but now that we see how she became that mean girl, it’s truly sad, having been emotionally distanced from her father for years. It doesn’t appear he has ever been a real father to her. She’s just been some sort of accessory. And Les doesn’t just resent his mother, he actually (if understandably) hates her. Pretty tough situation for a comic. Greg might be doing a good turn for a lot of folks out there if he has Tom, Tif and Les get some professional help.

With a response like that, no wonder he fell prey to Eiffel and went into financial chaos.

There are more active brain cells in a cemetery than in Tom Farrell.

The one odd thing is that nobody has mentioned that all ultrasound prints have a date stamp on them, which should have meade for a massive undoing of Ann’s plot….

1) Finally, this plot may be moving forward. That was shock #1. A bigger one would be that Ann is actually getting some kind of comeuppance. I’m not holding my breath on that one, GnK seems to love creating chaos. Sort of like one of our infamous politicians.

2) Tiffany – in the words of one of my favorite TV characters: you can start scaling Mount What’s-Your-Point any day now.

Arrgghh! She went in alone. And now she can’t even spit out the information. Just like in any soap opera, she makes the dumbest choice possible or there’s no story. Just hoping that this doesn’t drag out too much longer and Ann goes down in flames and goes away for a while. Maybe they can bring back Aaron Hill. That would stir things up!

And it would get Luann back in the strip! But I’m all for sticking with the Ann/Tiffany storyline as long as it concludes fairly soon and with Evil Ann’s comeuppance.

I like this strip. Tiffany has already told her father that Ann’s “baby” isn’t his by the second panel. In the third panel, Tiffany pauses as she realizes the enormity of the impact this news is going to have on her father. Tiffany isn’t thinking about getting rid of Ann, or even about keeping her inheritance intact. She’s thinking about her dad, and that’s why we see his face again. Whatever happens next, Tiffany is growing up.

Next Tom’s phone rings. “Hi Ann …… are you OK …… I love you too …… I’ll see you tomorrow”. Tom tells Tiffany – “That was Ann. She is out of town on business. She fell and had a miscarriage.” Last panel Tom ask Tiffany “What are you trying to tell me?” Tiffany answers “nothing dad”. And WE get to read 700 ANGRY comments!!

Tiff really should have practiced her elevator speech before she went to her dad with it.

Tiffany, tell your Daddy about Leslie Knox, Ann Eiffel’s son.What are the odds that Leslie Knox’s Ultrasound is an exact match of what Ann Eiffel provided as proof of pregnancy.

Will Tiffany finish her explanation or fold like a pyramid of cards?

I was hoping Tiffany would decide to stay out of this. Now Tiffany is with Tom and she’s beating around the bush. Tomorrow we might see Ann walk in before Tiff can get to it. Then Tom is left with the idea that Tiffany is telling him Ann is cheating on him. It will all hit the fan. Ann can handle a s…storm better than Tiffany. Hello – DeGroots…

“I’m trying to tell you that you’re a mere shadow of a human being. Your motives are a mystery, because you have next to no personality. I don’t even know anything about you, and you raised me. You’re also totally brain dead. Your brain is just a wet sponge. You’re engaged to a criminal who treats your daughter like a slave, and you haven’t even noticed. And you forgot you had vasectomy years ago.”

Unless Tiff has backup waiting outside this is going to be a “Tiff said”, “Ann said” argument and we know how that is going to unfold. I still think Eiffel might pull the ""Boo Hoo", Honey, I lost our Baby" act and then accuse Tiff and Les of trying to get revenge and that Les is a horrible creature she disowned and has now corrupted Tiff. I hope it will not happen but I can see bad things in store for Tiff, unless she has more than that ultrasound and Les’word to bring to the table to convince Tom…….

She’s gonna screw it up . . .

Isn’t it odd Ann is not more careful about keeping Tiffany away from the McMansion? She knows Tiff and Les know each other. Why isn’t she afraid Tiff might bring Les up to Tom? Unless Tom already met him…which I doubt because Les would have told Tiff. Something is off.

I KNOW Ann will breeze in and Tiff’s next word will be in the midair without ever saying it. Tom turns his attention to Ann and says “Look! It is sweet of Tiff to give me a copy of your ultrasound. I am getting it framed,” and walks out of the room with Ann as they discuss what kind of frame to get. Tiff’s revelation all forgotten. Tiff gives up.

I’ve never had any children that I know of, but don’t most ultrasounds look pretty much the same? (Although we learn above that they’re usually date-stamped, which would make sense.) And is an ultrasound—which could be anyone’s—really proof of an individual’s pregnancy, in the absence of other signs? Is Ann’s evil plan to marry Tom on the basis of her supposed pregnancy, then quickly poison him for the estate, them have a fake miscarriage?

Tiffany’s dad reminds me of handsome actors from the golden age of Hollywood e.g. Clark Gable, Cary Grant…..

Typical Tiffany, poor girl, no women she has a scattered mind doesn’t know what to do, then blindly barges ahead

If this goes sideways like I expect it to I am going to delete the strip off my favorites.

I love reading the comments – there is always more drama than in the comic strip itself! Some of you regular contributors should get paid for this!

I think that I hear James Bond music playing in the background.

Do none of them realize that ultrasounds have time/date right on them?

Point to the date, Tiffany! Show him the date!

If she tells you, you probably won’t even listen to or believe her. That bimbo, Eiffel has already brainwashed you beyond repair.

Oh my god just tell him the truth.

Enter Ann, stage left. Stealing Tom’s short attention while shutting down Tiffany with double talk.

Well, I’ll be… Tiffany finally has a moment alone with her father! There may be hope yet…

Now, how long will it be before Mr. Lawyer/Businessman looks at all that information underneath the photo? You know…, the part that proves that the son he’s been waiting for is fully grown… and not his?

Please, please don’t let Tiff “fudge” long enough for some distraction to walk in the room and keep her from telling the tale altogether. That’s the trick soap operas have used for decades to keep the faithful mesmerized. But it’s irritating as all get out.

And the beat goes on… and on… and.on… – Sonny & Cher

Or, the plot twist is that Ann is pregnant and Tiff/Less/dad just don’t have a lot of experience looking at ultrasounds….

“Where is the signature character in the strip; Luann? I don’t think the crew knows what the “next big emo thing” is for Luann yet!” — Sheriff Mordecai.

That statement was made way back in the era of Luann’s mentoring of Fay and the early Al and Irma romance, c. mid-2017, early 2018. It was made by none other than or friendly neighborhood colorist. So even way back then there was puzzlement being expressed over the absence of any major arc involving the Luann character.

Since then, arguably, Tiffany has dominated the strip. Most would say she has exhibited (suffered through) more trials and changes than any other two characters combined.

After all this time the ”next big emo thing” has not been determined yet.

I’m holding out for the possibility of a previous husband showing up before the nuptials. Why? Just to have something to do during these doldrums.

Tiffany, stay strong! He’s your father and you want to save him, ever if that’s mean destroying his heart. But… I still have the sensation Tom will not care about Ann’s “little” lie. Unless he will say something like “And who is Les?”.

she should have taken Les. just the sight of him as ‘annes’ grown son, is going to get tom,’s attention.

It’s Greg’s baby. look on the back, Tom.

Tiffany is winning! How will Ann get out of this one? We will find out by Saturday!

With such a successful track record, are we to believe that Tom is some kind of dummy? Not likely. I just feel that this arc has run it’s course, for now. There will be a wrap up, not a blow up.

It’s really easy Tif…open your mouth..grow a spine…

Come on Tiff; you can do this. Spill the beans before ‘you know who’ comes in.

Alright, Tom. Here’s the thing: Ann isn’t pregnant at all because she’s using sonogram of her son, Les, in order to get you to believe that she’s expecting. Plus, if the date of the current sonogram matches of the one that has Les in it, then you’ll find out that Tiff’s been telling the truth this whole time.

wait to see how Ann talks her way out of this one; she will of course. What if this is a setup where AE and Les conspired to get Tiffany out of the picture……..

Soooo Stupid! She should have taken Les as physical proof. Get ready for the usual Tiffany crash and burn scene.

Tiffany needed to plan this better. Didn’t she used to be an actress?

This is just cruelty to the viewer.

Super dumb move unless Les is with her to back her up. And even then, Ann will probably claim they’re both lying and that Tiffany made a copy of the ultrasound she found to try and break up her and Tom.

Hopefully Tiffany has a Plan B. like a home pregnancy test so Ann can prove on the spot that she’s pregnant. Or Tiffany asks for the number of Ann’s obstetrician and the place where she had the ultrasound done.

Oh, Tiffany, PLEASE tell him fast before that witch pops in!

If all Tiffany has been through with an and got any Street smarts or common sense, then she would have had last waiting outside to meet his future stepdad armed with his birth certificate listing antipholus is Mother an officer knocks is his father and the original sonogram complete with date stamp so that Tom could have compared it to the one that and gave him.

I am still hoping for a moral victory and freedom for Tiffany in light of Independence Day and to honor my parents this weekend on what would have been their 65th wedding anniversary. They were married for 52 years when dad went to heaven and they were reunited this spring when mom went join him. Rest in peace mom and dad and know that your love and respect for each other was not in vain that you taught me what love and understanding and mutual respect is all about. If we don’t get any positive resolution for this for Tiffany and an understanding between her and her dad this weekend then I am done with this comic. I just feel in my heart and conscience that I cannot contribute to the poison culture any longer on the that I know that there is still some good in the world and want to learn how to cultivate that. Take care of my friends and please know that by taking care of yourself is not forsaking others. We are all in this together. But we all have to work together in order to help each other. One person’s weakness is another person’s opportunity to lend their strength to teach the other to become independent and full of self-love and self-worth

Is Tiffany’s dad Dickie Smothers? It sure does look like him.

Repeat after me, my beloved Tiffany:

“This is Leslie’s ultrasound from way back.”

Gonna get real deep, real quick!

English, Tiffany. You both speak English.

Don’t screw it up, Tiff!!!!

Here’s hoping Tiffany can be both gentle and assertive with her dad. Also, her dad looks a LOT like Robert Goulet.

Wouldn’t shock me if Ann is trying desperately to get pregnant to continue her scam.

yes to all those who have said that Tiff needed to be more prepared. She didn’t think in advance about what she wanted to say. But there’s just one thing she needs to say “…Dad.. do you really know the person you are about to marry?…”. That would put the ball in Tom’s court and get the conversation rolling.

7

I am very glad that Tiffany is showing trepidation and concern about explaining this situation to her father. It shows that she cares about him and his feelings. I like that a lot. For me, it diffuses much of the “revenge against Ann” aspect of this story and converts it into a more thoughtful story about Tiffany seeing her Dad in a different light.

Perhaps this awakening of Tiffany, which could be argued to be an awakening from Tiffany mostly seeing her Dad as an ATM… to Tiffany seeing him more fully as a more full-fledged human being…. is the true point of this arc? Perhaps we were given this clue initially because we the readers also saw Tom more fully than ever before by Greg showing Tom’s face for the first time via this arc?

Today seems quite a philosophically powerful set of panels to me.

"Yes sir, that’s (her) baby – No sir, I don’t mean maybe! … "

"Yes sir, (but there’s a MAYBE, now!!)

Focusing as I try to do on the story, both in the day’s set of panels, and in the arc, and also how that all fits into a larger story, first of all my sympathies go with Tiffany in this situation, no surprise. It is not at all surprising to me then that she has a hard time trying to tell her dad that the woman he is so deeply (apparently) in love with is trying to pull a scam on him. Actually what she seems to be setup to do is bring up or show the “two” ultrasounds (which actually are the same one) to dad, which raise the question of course of what Ann is really up to, and introduces him to the fact that he will have a stepson once the marriage happens. How will he react to this information, and how will it affect Tiffany and Leslie. Of course, as he is so wont to do, Greg could throw in another twist, Ann has not shown up yet. She is quick on her grifter feet; she really could be in love, but nah, I am not buying that possibility. If she is then she is not a fully developed sociopath.

(Repeated from above)

Summarizing other comments on this page:

AL: Given his advice to Les last time out with Tiffany and Ann, do we REALLY want him involved?

For all we know – and I’m starting to think – Al’s advice was as much to PROTECT Ann as it was to help Les.

ANN: With Tiffany’s stuttering today, it’s Thursday, I’m assuming it’s to buy time for Ann’s entrance tomorrow, Friday.

Yup. That’s it. This arc is stick-a-fork-in-it done.

And none of us gets the resolution or closure we were looking for.

Villains rule the day in this comic strip!

Good Lord this man is dense ! HOW did he get rich ? (I ask myself that every time I see a badly-driven BMW or Mercedes…which is very, very often.)

Oh, just spit it out already!!!

For heavensake, why you making Tiff act so weak?

Tiffany’s dad had a face? Who knew?

I’m not getting this; Tiffany should be seething with indignation and resentment (and disapproval of Anne’s duplicity), all emotions that should make it easy to come right to the point. Plus I suppose she has her dad’s best interests at heart, though maybe not—there have been indications that they haven’t ever been close.

Here comes the son…

I think this awful character has no business in a comic that I used to think was fun. This isn’t fun anymore.

I do hope this is the end of Ann. I like this comic except for the toxicity of Ann and am about to delete it from my list.

It’s not really difficult to put into words. “Dad, Les identified this as an ultrasound of him. He remembers the waving hand”Saying those words, on the other hand, is the difficult part.

I like that Tom called her ‘sweetie’. And when he returned from vacation, he opened up his arms and said ‘I missed my daughter’.

Right into the fire. I would have procrastinated a few more days.

I’m so glad she has the cajones to go ahead and explain it to her dad NOW!

Say it! Say it! Say it!

Most ultrasounds are time-coded. If he looked, he might see that the picture is close to 20 years old.

I think Tiffany would call him daddy.

Time for Anne to walk in and blow a gasket. Or stage a crying meltdown, accusing Tiff of slander and treachery.

She did it. Wow. Our little Tiffany is growing up.

Say it! You want this to be done with, don’t you??? Come on Tiff, woman up!

Take a deep breath.

Now, spit it out, Tiffany, in simple, direct English that even your father can understand!.

Or give up this war with Ann as lost forever and learn to grovel at her feet. Your choice, and now is the crux….

Can this end well?

Looks like he already knows and does not care, or he has something up his sleeve for Ann. I hope she gets the boot. Nail biting

I still think that daddy has taken steps to protect his assets. No doubt he has seen his share of gold diggers. But now, look at Tiff, looking all conservative and grown up in her black outfit. Will Tom see her in a new light? Will he see her as an attractive and loyal asset in his law firm? Is this Tiffany’s big chance to reconcile with Tom? Do they have a legal assistant course at her college? Is this bye, bye, bimbo?

To everyone here: I think you’ll be pleased by tomorrow’s strip. (Just a bit of the preview: no, Evil Ann won’t be confronted, yet, but nonetheless, what you see may satisfy you.) If you don’t want to be kept in suspense any longer, pay Arcamax.com a visit. If you, don’t tell anyone else here yet! We want it to be a surprise. :)