How do we know it’s Fred Flintstone he’s talking about? For all we know, it could be Fred Mertz, or Fred Sanford, or Fred Armisen, or Fred Astaire, or Fred Rogers, or Fred Willard, Fred Silverman, Fred Jones, Fred Allen, or even that annoying YouTuber from the late 2000s and early New Tens. Come to think of it, what’s with all of these famous Freds anyway, and where do they all come from? Is there some sort of a Fred Farm that produces nothing but famous Freds? And why do we need so many Freds? I mean, we have one Mario, one Elmo, one Yoda, why so many Freds?
Nil used to bat for the other team, and now he is just batty.
……………………………………….
Brdshtt PREMIUM MEMBER – 2 days ago
@howtheduck
After Bernice, he might just go back to batting for the other team. I predict it will be on Friday. Thursday. No, Friday. Definitely Friday. Mark my words…
……………………………………….
howtheduck – 2 days ago
@Brdshtt
How about Thursday and a half?
………………………………………….
Brdshtt PREMIUM MEMBER – 2 days ago
@howtheduck
Nope. Friday. My Magic 8 Ball never lies. It might get confused some time, but never lies.
Ok, Nil just dropping that tidbit of info on Bern kind of reminds me of the former front man of the ’80s band “The Smiths”; Morrissey, who has been known for being a bit off the wall at times though is considered by many to have been one of the great artists of the alternative/indie/jangle rock . Anyhow, Morrissey has always been aloof and an enigma concerning his actual sexual orientation which had been broadly speculated about until he started getting involved in alt right politics in the UK and got himself canceled in many circles.
Well then, maybe Tara would be a good date for Bernice. I suspect Tara goes both ways. I think she could open Bernice up a bit – at least emotionally. Nil could introduce them.
Nil is right. Problem is, I don’t think that the really possessive Bernice will manage not to be jealous of him and his new date. This may become too heavy for her. On the other hand, maybe Bernice will now feel free to try to go out with Jack and Nil will probably help her do it. But I don’t think this is the end of the love relationship between the two, it feels more like a pause. By the way, the fact that Nil is bisexual or pansexual is totally in character and I’m really happy for that♡.
And Bernice has officially been dumped! She should be relieved. Now all she has to do is get out of being this stupid muse thing and she can put this wacko in her rearview mirror.
Believe it or not, this is dating in a nutshell. In her head, Bernice couldn’t handle the emotions as the nerdy one who has to rationalize everything. Analytical and hormonal clashing.
Good! There should be a male gay character in this strip who is portrayed realistically (one hopes)…not a flaming caricature but a normal, average gay man. Most of their guys are drawn attractively…let’s hope Fred gets the same treatment. And relax everyone…gay people really do exist, everywhere. And they’re not after you!
Oh, Yea! Now it’s getting interesting. How’s straight laced Bernice the makeout muse going to react to her Bi/Pan kissing companion? I hope it’s a good reaction. I hope it doesn’t become her break up justification.
I have never cared what anyone does consensually behind closed doors, but I am very tired of being constantly bombarded with LGBT+++++ everything: TV characters, comic characters, movie characters, Pride Month, magazine covers, etc, etc, et;, ad infinitum.
This is not as big a surprise as you may think. The strip was probably due for a LGTBQ character to emerge, with Pru having been written away. Today, Nil is being depicted as being a B in that alphabet soup.
Major misdirection play from GnK, mostly, Karen I would think; Nil might be bisexual! Good one Karen, I did not think of that. Kind of goes back to the Bohemian lifestyle of artists, especially those who are painters, but it can extend to the whole artistic world, in including performing. From the quick read I see not many have figured this out yet, but in terms of story and already confused but deeply passionate Bern is even more confused. This will be new territory.
Let me make a general comment:. Karen, with the agreement of her dad have thrown down the gauntlet of modern, shall I say, progressive ideas in human sexuality and relationships by posing a bisexual which could be even a light-weigjt menage-de-trois. It’s interesting to say how already biased attitudes are showing, “oh please don’t bring this up” kind of thing. I have long believed there is quite a bit of repressed pushback against these more modern social trends, such as Pru or the subtle racism expresses toward Betw always denied. Now let’s see how raw it is here. I have hope, but life experience tells no.
I don’t know if it would make a diff to me to learn that a romantic partner was bisexual, but I would want to know early on. Not cool for Nil to have kept the fact of his bi-ness from Bernice until now. Will be fun seeing her implode in tomorrow’s strip though!
Hahaha! Good one GnK! Sure got me one this one!Coin toss for tomorrow, is Fred a guy or a gal, or was it just a joke by Nil.I really liked Pru and miss her character.People of different sexual orientation have always existed. If you are lucky enough to have found love and companionship it is no one’s place to judge. We are all humans trying to get through another day.No more divisions! No more us against them. Peace people! Peace!
Aside from anything else I’d really like to see Nil and Bernice staying together as a couple. By tossing in the possibility that Nil might be bisexual (and not just making a joke) I think the writers – in the context of this strip while not necessarily in a similar real life situation – are adding another potential obstacle to that happening. Why can’t Nil and Bernice admit that they actually like each other and maybe should spend a little less time just making out but getting to know each other? It’s not an either/or situation. (As for bisexuality, I get the feeling that Nil is perfectly capable of monogamy so in the real world it would be a moot point in terms of their relationship.)
Forget the social issues… Basically what you have here is Bernice agonizing over breaking up, but Nils calmly telling her she inspires his art, but he doesn’t really love her or want her and could manage just fine if he was with someone else and he alreadys have some good condidates in mind. Bernice is annoying, but I tell her: RUN. This ain’t your guy.
But wait a minute. Nil is the one who originally wanted to date Bern. How is it so easy for him to switch gears like this after all the passion they have had together?
I was expecting this a possibility with NIL. He is an artist. Artists explore their feelings more than most. My question is BERNICE when will she break down those walls and explore her feelings. They are holding her back. She might think about what Nil sees about her.
So many assumptions based on an offhand comment. So much ignorance, misinformation and stereotyping. College is notorious for sexual experimentation. Also notorious is the number of males that girls are attracted to who turn out to be gay. That Bernice likes Nil does not mean Nil must be straight; that “Fred” is attracted to Nil doesn’t mean that Nil must be gay. BTW, “nil” is a word in itself that means “nothing,” or in Nil’s case it can represent minimalism like his current art style (or the little we ever see of Nil), or a blank canvas, on which the Artist has yet to reveal his masterpiece.
So many people are so angry that LGBT people aren’t being canceled anymore, and yet they’re calling this cancel culture—and they’re the ones canceling this strip for not canceling who they say ought to be canceled!
Hmm. Is Nil being outed (by himself) as either gay or bi-sexual, or are we being spoofed by an ambiguous use of the name “Fred”? Either way, it should have some effect on Bernie’s ardor….
What is in it for Bernice to be available as Nil’s muse? Ego trip for her? Because she doesn’t get his artwork at all. I don’t care if Fred is short for Frederica or Frederick,but you don’t give a girl a hickey and then announce that someone else has the hots for you. Not cool. And if Fred has been flirting for months with Nil, and he let it go on while doing whatever it was with Bern, that isn’t cool, either. Ol’ Cyclops has a lot going on under that hair fringe.
Namrepus over 2 years ago
I’m guessing it’s not short for Frederica.
lvlax over 2 years ago
Fred???
beb01 over 2 years ago
Fred? Short for Frederivk or Fredrecca?
And is Nil short for Niles or Nillessa?
Or os Fred one of Jack’s dogs?
Templo S.U.D. over 2 years ago
Uh-oh… first Prudence, now Nil has been hiding in the closet?
J. Scarbrough over 2 years ago
SNAP!!
alasko over 2 years ago
Dumped. For Fred Flintstone.
Tyge over 2 years ago
W H A T!?!? Please don’t go there!
Caldonia over 2 years ago
Haw haw!
Mordock999 Premium Member over 2 years ago
WAIT a sec.
Nil’s got a thing for Fred Flintstone??
Well. Okay. Fine.
Anyway, looks like Jack in back on the ‘table.’
The Nameless Wonder over 2 years ago
Nil is gay ……
Caldonia over 2 years ago
Honestly, she’s under no obligation to do anything. How inspired do you have to be to paint eyelashes on a blank canvas?
lvlax over 2 years ago
So was Fred the guy in the picture he drew before Bernice was his Muse?!?
Joe1962 over 2 years ago
Wilma might have a problem with that.
JD'Huntsville'AL over 2 years ago
It amazes me that so many of you think someone has to be either straight or gay. Haven’t you heard of people who are bi-sexual?
ronaldspence over 2 years ago
Nil is a deep well of intrigue! You do you Nil!
STEPUP over 2 years ago
Wow, it came out of left field for some!!!
BabyBlue over 2 years ago
Fred can’t be all that enticing if he’s been asking for months.
J. Scarbrough over 2 years ago
How do we know it’s Fred Flintstone he’s talking about? For all we know, it could be Fred Mertz, or Fred Sanford, or Fred Armisen, or Fred Astaire, or Fred Rogers, or Fred Willard, Fred Silverman, Fred Jones, Fred Allen, or even that annoying YouTuber from the late 2000s and early New Tens. Come to think of it, what’s with all of these famous Freds anyway, and where do they all come from? Is there some sort of a Fred Farm that produces nothing but famous Freds? And why do we need so many Freds? I mean, we have one Mario, one Elmo, one Yoda, why so many Freds?
j_m_kuehl over 2 years ago
Bernice: “Say Nil, could you introduce me to Fred?”
Faith :) over 2 years ago
Nil may be bi but I also think he’s messing with Bernice a bit.
Rhetorical_Question over 2 years ago
Apparently, Nil is not interested in Fred?
Brdshtt Premium Member over 2 years ago
howtheduck – 2 days ago
Nil used to bat for the other team, and now he is just batty.
……………………………………….
Brdshtt PREMIUM MEMBER – 2 days ago
@howtheduck
After Bernice, he might just go back to batting for the other team. I predict it will be on Friday. Thursday. No, Friday. Definitely Friday. Mark my words…
……………………………………….
howtheduck – 2 days ago
@Brdshtt
How about Thursday and a half?
………………………………………….
Brdshtt PREMIUM MEMBER – 2 days ago
@howtheduck
Nope. Friday. My Magic 8 Ball never lies. It might get confused some time, but never lies.
………………………………………..
Hahahahaha…
capricorn9th over 2 years ago
Ah. He plays for the other team. He sure had Bernice fooled with all that kissing.
Rhetorical_Question over 2 years ago
Nil had a gallery show? Did he sell anything?
mnexplorer+ over 2 years ago
Didn’t see that one coming.
Airman over 2 years ago
Does Fred know what’s under that coat that never gets removed?
TampaFanatic1 over 2 years ago
Ok, Nil just dropping that tidbit of info on Bern kind of reminds me of the former front man of the ’80s band “The Smiths”; Morrissey, who has been known for being a bit off the wall at times though is considered by many to have been one of the great artists of the alternative/indie/jangle rock . Anyhow, Morrissey has always been aloof and an enigma concerning his actual sexual orientation which had been broadly speculated about until he started getting involved in alt right politics in the UK and got himself canceled in many circles.
spikelovesmusic over 2 years ago
I dated a Fred, and she was pretty darned cute, too.
spikelovesmusic over 2 years ago
Those of a certain age may recall this gem from Jim Stafford: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX1U4jQYq60
kenhense over 2 years ago
Well then, maybe Tara would be a good date for Bernice. I suspect Tara goes both ways. I think she could open Bernice up a bit – at least emotionally. Nil could introduce them.
kenhense over 2 years ago
G & K are likely messing with us. “Fred” could be a nickname for Nil’s buddy Tara.
Don Draper over 2 years ago
The pearl clutching in this thread is hilarious.
Queen Wolfen over 2 years ago
Now there’s an interesting development.
Susan00100 over 2 years ago
AHA!!! The truth is out!!
Unless “Fred” is short for “Fredricka”.
Aladar30 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Nil is right. Problem is, I don’t think that the really possessive Bernice will manage not to be jealous of him and his new date. This may become too heavy for her. On the other hand, maybe Bernice will now feel free to try to go out with Jack and Nil will probably help her do it. But I don’t think this is the end of the love relationship between the two, it feels more like a pause. By the way, the fact that Nil is bisexual or pansexual is totally in character and I’m really happy for that♡.
JonnyT over 2 years ago
Either Nil has a very quick wit or he’s Bi. Either way, good for him.
Pet over 2 years ago
Aaaaaaaaand I’m out.
Sorry guys, G&K have finally lost me.
dlkrueger33 over 2 years ago
Well, I guess now we’ll NEVER see Nil’s other eye.
Johnnyrico over 2 years ago
G&K should have it “Pat” instead… Then you don’t know if it’s Patrick or Patricia…
strodgers over 2 years ago
Question: did they flatly state Nil is a guy? I can’t remember.
comic reader 22 over 2 years ago
And Bernice has officially been dumped! She should be relieved. Now all she has to do is get out of being this stupid muse thing and she can put this wacko in her rearview mirror.
Ignatz Premium Member over 2 years ago
Interesting. My money was on Jack, not Nil.
Or maybe Winifred. Nil likes playing head games.
OneTime59 over 2 years ago
I’m guessing here it’s not Frederika.
Ichabod Ferguson over 2 years ago
Well, they wanted a way out of this mess of a story and now you got it.
jrankin1959 over 2 years ago
Crest falling in 3… 2… 1…
rrsltx over 2 years ago
Non-Binary Nil?
Yuban333 over 2 years ago
HE’S JOKING!!!!!!!!!!
Boredvet over 2 years ago
Believe it or not, this is dating in a nutshell. In her head, Bernice couldn’t handle the emotions as the nerdy one who has to rationalize everything. Analytical and hormonal clashing.
jalden1003 over 2 years ago
Good! There should be a male gay character in this strip who is portrayed realistically (one hopes)…not a flaming caricature but a normal, average gay man. Most of their guys are drawn attractively…let’s hope Fred gets the same treatment. And relax everyone…gay people really do exist, everywhere. And they’re not after you!
Ellis97 over 2 years ago
So, are you straight or not?
momcom over 2 years ago
Oh, Yea! Now it’s getting interesting. How’s straight laced Bernice the makeout muse going to react to her Bi/Pan kissing companion? I hope it’s a good reaction. I hope it doesn’t become her break up justification.
Ellis97 over 2 years ago
Oh boy. They’re gonna make Nil gay, aren’t they?
Aficionado over 2 years ago
I have never cared what anyone does consensually behind closed doors, but I am very tired of being constantly bombarded with LGBT+++++ everything: TV characters, comic characters, movie characters, Pride Month, magazine covers, etc, etc, et;, ad infinitum.
Lord Hearteater over 2 years ago
This is not as big a surprise as you may think. The strip was probably due for a LGTBQ character to emerge, with Pru having been written away. Today, Nil is being depicted as being a B in that alphabet soup.
luann1212 over 2 years ago
Major misdirection play from GnK, mostly, Karen I would think; Nil might be bisexual! Good one Karen, I did not think of that. Kind of goes back to the Bohemian lifestyle of artists, especially those who are painters, but it can extend to the whole artistic world, in including performing. From the quick read I see not many have figured this out yet, but in terms of story and already confused but deeply passionate Bern is even more confused. This will be new territory.
luann1212 over 2 years ago
Let me make a general comment:. Karen, with the agreement of her dad have thrown down the gauntlet of modern, shall I say, progressive ideas in human sexuality and relationships by posing a bisexual which could be even a light-weigjt menage-de-trois. It’s interesting to say how already biased attitudes are showing, “oh please don’t bring this up” kind of thing. I have long believed there is quite a bit of repressed pushback against these more modern social trends, such as Pru or the subtle racism expresses toward Betw always denied. Now let’s see how raw it is here. I have hope, but life experience tells no.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 2 years ago
Fredrick or Fredricka
BillGrigg over 2 years ago
At least it wasn’t Jack!
kaycstamper over 2 years ago
Wow. That was a bomb.
kingbrlee Premium Member over 2 years ago
How many 18+ year old boys would want to keep from getting romantic?
Ol' me over 2 years ago
UH OH!
Lenavid over 2 years ago
“Fred” better be a nickname for a girl, or Luann’s off the list. I don’t need a comic strip going “woke” with amoral Leftist Ideology.
ctolson over 2 years ago
Knew a girl named Fred which was short for Frederica. Named after her grandfather.
zootoid over 2 years ago
For some levity, that is the perfect reply.
Billys mom2022 over 2 years ago
Fie Berenices sake I h0pe he is kidding.
lorenkinzel over 2 years ago
I suspect Fred’s a girl. The whole “Fred-thing” was tossed in much like a grenade. Seems to have worked.
TexasLori over 2 years ago
PLEASE!! Don’t go there!!!
Airman over 2 years ago
calliarcale over 2 years ago
Well, that took an abrupt turn! Never knew Nil swung both ways.
Rotary12 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Ugh!
eladee AKA Wally over 2 years ago
Hope Fred is a cute girl and makes Berniece burn with jealousy.
jh14220 over 2 years ago
LOL, I didn’t see that one coming, but at least it’s not Jack.
brick10 over 2 years ago
And another plot twist! This should be interesting. Who is Fred?
alexius23 over 2 years ago
I am an older guy. I listen to people who tell me they are dating a person & not a gender
Same2Ubuddy over 2 years ago
In a couple of months we’ll hear about Nil getting the AIDS. Bernice will become his live-in caretaker.
notbornyesterday over 2 years ago
Aha !!
rebroxanna over 2 years ago
whoops.
CrazyLady Premium Member over 2 years ago
I knew it! He was just with her because she inspired him!
Squoop over 2 years ago
I don’t know if it would make a diff to me to learn that a romantic partner was bisexual, but I would want to know early on. Not cool for Nil to have kept the fact of his bi-ness from Bernice until now. Will be fun seeing her implode in tomorrow’s strip though!
hoffquotes2 over 2 years ago
Well that was a buzz kill
leighabc123 over 2 years ago
Bombshell! Nil is gay! Or bisexual?
bahamajohn Premium Member over 2 years ago
I’ll hate to have to leave this strip, like I did with (For Better or for Worse).
Tetonbil over 2 years ago
Hahaha! Good one GnK! Sure got me one this one!Coin toss for tomorrow, is Fred a guy or a gal, or was it just a joke by Nil.I really liked Pru and miss her character.People of different sexual orientation have always existed. If you are lucky enough to have found love and companionship it is no one’s place to judge. We are all humans trying to get through another day.No more divisions! No more us against them. Peace people! Peace!
BeniHanna6 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Dun dun dah!
Mark DeMist Premium Member over 2 years ago
Bernice the beard.
kauri44 over 2 years ago
Aside from anything else I’d really like to see Nil and Bernice staying together as a couple. By tossing in the possibility that Nil might be bisexual (and not just making a joke) I think the writers – in the context of this strip while not necessarily in a similar real life situation – are adding another potential obstacle to that happening. Why can’t Nil and Bernice admit that they actually like each other and maybe should spend a little less time just making out but getting to know each other? It’s not an either/or situation. (As for bisexuality, I get the feeling that Nil is perfectly capable of monogamy so in the real world it would be a moot point in terms of their relationship.)
Moon57Shine over 2 years ago
Fred could be short for Frederica.
GaryCooper over 2 years ago
Who’s Fred?
lexit07072017 over 2 years ago
Is Nil really a guy?
billdaviswords over 2 years ago
Forget the social issues… Basically what you have here is Bernice agonizing over breaking up, but Nils calmly telling her she inspires his art, but he doesn’t really love her or want her and could manage just fine if he was with someone else and he alreadys have some good condidates in mind. Bernice is annoying, but I tell her: RUN. This ain’t your guy.
JackReecher over 2 years ago
Who is Fred?
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 2 years ago
Holy crap!
Ordinary Average Guy over 2 years ago
Geeze, people— Nil’s just making a joke. Stop reading so much into it.
Woke folks have an impaired sense of humor. Lighten up, this is just a daily comic.
waerdawg over 2 years ago
LMAO! next panel is her mind blown over that……and then watch how “Fred” is his term for another woman named Fredericka….or not
reedkomicks Premium Member over 2 years ago
A great twist to weed out all the homo-phobes! Buh bye!
dbradway1 over 2 years ago
Oh, he knows Fredericka?
mindjob over 2 years ago
Does Fred have nice tats?
198.23.5.11 over 2 years ago
Nil wants to paint Monstro in the nude
locake over 2 years ago
If Fred has been asking Nil out for months, that means Nil has been saying No for months. Nil is not interested in Fred, male or female.
patrickschreiber1951 over 2 years ago
Tyge, why not go there?
TwilightFaze over 2 years ago
Nil is bi? Good on him. Folks in the LGBTQ+ community don’t get enough representation. Bi-males especially. That’d be a nice change of pace!
RSH over 2 years ago
uh oh
darker7image over 2 years ago
yes this is going to get fun … ty ty ty
RSH over 2 years ago
But wait a minute. Nil is the one who originally wanted to date Bern. How is it so easy for him to switch gears like this after all the passion they have had together?
ron over 2 years ago
Egad. These days no TV drama is complete without a “gay” relationship, not even NCIS Hawai’i.
The Quiet One over 2 years ago
I did not see that coming.
Willow Mt Lyon over 2 years ago
First clue was that he drew naked men.
shamest Premium Member over 2 years ago
I was expecting this a possibility with NIL. He is an artist. Artists explore their feelings more than most. My question is BERNICE when will she break down those walls and explore her feelings. They are holding her back. She might think about what Nil sees about her.
kjnrun over 2 years ago
Oh Oh, the CINOs are going to go crazy!!
ctb11365 over 2 years ago
Freida
Holilubillkori Premium Member over 2 years ago
My friend’s Mom name is Fredrica and they call her Freddy….
filops over 2 years ago
Ugh.
MT Wallet over 2 years ago
Brad reference: today’s Judge Parker (May 27).
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 2 years ago
Fred could be male could be female.
Bobbin Dobbins over 2 years ago
So many assumptions based on an offhand comment. So much ignorance, misinformation and stereotyping. College is notorious for sexual experimentation. Also notorious is the number of males that girls are attracted to who turn out to be gay. That Bernice likes Nil does not mean Nil must be straight; that “Fred” is attracted to Nil doesn’t mean that Nil must be gay. BTW, “nil” is a word in itself that means “nothing,” or in Nil’s case it can represent minimalism like his current art style (or the little we ever see of Nil), or a blank canvas, on which the Artist has yet to reveal his masterpiece.
William Ellwin Premium Member over 2 years ago
Obviously Bernice is still looking for more kissy-face, hickeys, heavy petting and whoopty doo…
montylc2001 over 2 years ago
Please….don’t go there with this strip.
Dreamdeer over 2 years ago
So many people are so angry that LGBT people aren’t being canceled anymore, and yet they’re calling this cancel culture—and they’re the ones canceling this strip for not canceling who they say ought to be canceled!
Michael McKown Premium Member over 2 years ago
I think it was Woody Allen who cracked that being bisexual doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night. :)
RonBerg13 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Fred??
Not that there is anything wrong with that…
Sisyphos over 2 years ago
Hmm. Is Nil being outed (by himself) as either gay or bi-sexual, or are we being spoofed by an ambiguous use of the name “Fred”? Either way, it should have some effect on Bernie’s ardor….
kittysquared Premium Member over 2 years ago
What is in it for Bernice to be available as Nil’s muse? Ego trip for her? Because she doesn’t get his artwork at all. I don’t care if Fred is short for Frederica or Frederick,but you don’t give a girl a hickey and then announce that someone else has the hots for you. Not cool. And if Fred has been flirting for months with Nil, and he let it go on while doing whatever it was with Bern, that isn’t cool, either. Ol’ Cyclops has a lot going on under that hair fringe.
Moonkey Premium Member over 2 years ago
Non-liberals are not all straight. I hate to burst your bubble.
childrenspoems Premium Member over 2 years ago
Please do go there! The world has changed and sometimes, like this, it’s for the better.
dmostroff over 2 years ago
AC/DC? I hope Bernice finds someone new.
bakana over 2 years ago
So, he’s in the “Undecided” camp?