Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 28, 2011

Pony up, TJ.

Yes! A TJ scheme! I knew he wouldn’t disappoint. Today’s strip shows that one of the three predictions I posted yesterday is right. Now, Toni just needs to send her brother over to Brad’s fire station while Brad is pretending to work there. Jonah will probably catch on that it’s a scam (probably because one of the other firefighters is bound to say something). Then again, Toni may say that Jonah’s not stupid stupid, but he’s probably gullible (I mean he’s delusional enough to believe that he can be a big-time actor from some Hollywood agent just by being a part of a dinky little theatre group for Les Miz. Sounds like an older, male version of Tiffany). I’m sure TJ will be able to explain away any evidence that’s bound to pop up. Speaking of Jonah, let’s hope Luann and Bernice don’t find his Myspace page, since he seems delusional enough to fall for the Humongous Entertainment prank.

TJ to the rescue…so we know chaos will not be far behind.

what you thinking Bradley? that Toni loves you only because of your job? you selling her very very short, if there is no trust, than there is no love

ugh! This time, I am not happy where this is going…the TJ schemes are getting old. They never work out – we already know that much. Those belong in sitcoms on TV, but not in a strip. Once was enough.

Don’t listen, Brad! TJ’s scheme is sure to cause more trouble for you!

cuz me, but Greg has been completely silent with Toni on this subj. I believe both Toni & Brad were hired by the fire dept at the same time, but at diff stations. whats to keep Greg from having Toni layed off at her station, as the last one hired? wow, what a ongoing mess that would brew.????

only way “it works out” is if TJ is using reverse psych so that Brad realizes that Toni’s love does not come from the uniform, but from who “he is”

I hope that was not a serious suggestion. Lying to your girlfriend is one thing, but lying about something so easy to get caught at, just dumb.

I knew Brad had the ability to lose, Toni. Toni told him early on not to lie to her. TJ schemes ALWAYS fail. This has disaster written all over it. Brad – she loves YOU. She LIKES that you are a firefighter. You both work for the same business. There is no way you can keep her from finding out the truth.

Volunteer firefighters work out of volunteer stationhouses. Also, real firefighters don’t like volunteers. They refer to them as “Scabs”. They believe that volunteers are one of the things that cause them to lose their jobs.

You know what Brad? On SECOND thought, MOVE in with your parents. Your sister is dispensing MORE common sense THERE, than your idiot “best friend” is HERE!

..and YES I’m SHOUTING!!!

[grin] I for one, AM hoping that we are going to have a full-blown TJ scheme series…. I always find them enjoyable and entertaining.

I think that Brad is forgetting that he can hold a job. His work had to let him go because of budget issues. It’s not his fault that he was let go. Toni will be understanding of that.

How about Brad applies at other fire departments. Maybe, gasp, in another town, miles away from Mom, Dad, Sis and shudder Toni! Oh no! A real world situation that would introduce new characters and storylines not as old and tired as this one is.

Does TJ even have a job? Is he independently wealthy?

With the widespread attack on public employees as the source of municiple budgetary problems, there’s no guarantee Toni’s job is safe either.

I think Brad’s lay off is temporary . The strip has to have some kind of drama.

I still think part of the drama may be that Toni (who works at a different station and apparently had the day off) may be the low senority person in her station. If that is the case, she may also be getting the pink slip. That would be a VERY DRAMATIC turn for the Brad/Toni relationship. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Still, however, I am hoping for the a light-hearted comedic “TJ-inspired” misadventure instead.

I co-sign w/ JazzyBella – this is designed to show how real world issues impact the characters. But I am disappointed in Brad that he thinks him having a job is the only reason Toni is impressed with him.

Maybe Toni will have been fired and will also hang around her station in a uniform to fake it for Brad, this could go on for years!

Come on Greg. If Brad has a good record as a firefighter, he could apply to the county where he lives or the next town where he lives. It is very hard to believe that a young man, who has graduated from the fire academy and has proven his courage when Toni’s life was on the line would be afraid to see her and explain what happened. And, she would only love him more. You are trying to change a character you have already created. My man, you have lost your way again.

I was hoping TJ would do something positive. Does he have a job or a trust fund? Is he contributing to the household other than just cooking? I hope no more schemes!

There’s always Dirk. He has a job (garbageman) & wears a uniform too. You go Toni!

If the department is cutting jobs, how is it that Toni still has a job? Sure, she’s a woman and you have to maintain diversity, but wasn’t she hired after Brad?

actually thank you, tj, for lightening brad’s mood a bit. he needed that!

OH … Yeah … PJ is certainly part of the problem, NOT part of the solution.

OMG…when will Brad ever learn. He needs to man up, grow up and realize that Toni loves him for who he is…not what he does. To be honest, I am sooooo tired of his woe-is-me attitude.

Join the army! Brad

This would be funny if Brad were to try that…

It’s the sequence of events that Dirk has been waiting for. Brad will think lying to Toni is a good idea. He will, of course, get caught because it is a lousy idea. Toni will feel she can no longer trust Brad. In swoops Dirk, and not old Dirk, but the new and improved Dirk. And Brad deserves to lose Toni if he listens to that halfwit, TJ’s, plan.

Brad – In the first panel you say you’re not a fire fighter any more? Did you decide to give up on your dream career becuase a bad economy hit your neighborhood? Did someone tell you that any job you can’t walk to is not worth having? And FYI – Toni might be in the same boat as you.

well, as far as i am concerned, this shows that brad definitely has maturity and good judgement

i hope he continues not to pay any attention to tj’s ideas

Brad typically refuses to listen to TJ’s plans and plots t first, but eventually gives in. We suffer from no archives. Half the people here are all mixed up on the facts of the story.A couple facts, Toni was hired well before Brad, but only the prior class. TJ has trust fund-like income, but doesn’t seem “rich.”

Brad plans on job hunting, considers that “the easy part.”

This is a bit puzzling.

I’m actually sad to say I predicted this a few days ago, on these pages. I’m sad because this strip has actually lived down to my expectations. How much more predictable can Evans get?

Is

Mordock999

really shouting right now

OMG