Lio by Mark Tatulli for January 20, 2025

(googles) A TikTokker.

And when a more advanced “civilization” comes to “visit” another then it always ends well…

I always thought she was an alien.

Well take him to her, Lio.

Who?

WHO?

“When I get the reference but you don’t, it’s because you’re ignorant. When you get the reference but I don’t, it’s because the reference is obscure.”

In my newsfeed a while back, there was a headline beginning “Why Tom Morello says…” and a large number of the comments began “Who is Tom Morello?” If they read even the first paragraph rather than just the headline, they’d have known that Tom Morello is the guitarist for the band Rage Against the Machine (which I know because I read beyond the headline).

This strip provides no further information as to whom Bethenny Frankel is, but the first (and featured) comment did the googling for anyone who needs it, with further info it the sub-comments.

Okay, what’s up with the “Dior Bag One” written on the spaceship door?

For once I am with Free or Not. Who, and why do we care?

I think the alien and bethanny would make a cute couple

WHY ?

Who?

don’t think the cephalopod has the lungs for the trumpet.

And how did he rope Cybil into the festivities? He must have said they were bringing space gin.

And what is the well-dressed extraterrestrial wearing this season?

Cybil. Does he look like he drinks gin? :)

For those readers such as myself who have no idea who Bethenny Frankel [aka Bethenny Parisella] is, she is an American television personality, TikToker, philanthropist, entrepreneur and author. She was the runner-up on the NBC series ‘The Apprentice: Martha Stewart’ in 2005. She may be best known as an original cast member of the Bravo reality television series ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’.

She is also the founder of Skinnygirl, a lifestyle brand, and BStrong, a philanthropic organization that has provided disaster relief. She is also the author of four self-help books, the host of two podcasts and a YouTuber.

As for why she is referenced in this strip, I have no idea.

What? But we planned a big party upon your arrival…..who’s Bethany Frankel?

Even for Lio, this is weird. Like, Kliban random.

I recall an alien encounter with Ziggy: “Take me to Jim Henson”.

It’s weird that, in a contrary protest, a bunch of TikTok folk have tried to sign up to China’s RedNote – which IS owned by their government (not Singapore) and whose Chinese users appear to be actively resenting these gatecrashers on their site.