Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for November 23, 2011

So far, the only mistake Toni’s making here is asking for aid from the same slimeball who suggested the confrontation that got Brad fired in the first place.

Something tells me this will ultimately lead to Toni quitting her job in order to get Brad his job back.

Practical AND legal would be good about now.

TJ,your ideas got everyone in this whole mess in the first place,and without your ideas you wouldnt be you. just keep things legal. and toni , think for yourself and be careful asking a nut like that for advice! lol!

At least he admitted he is never practical. Toni needs to listen to that and keep in mind for future references. TJ knows he can charm people into agreeing to his impractical schemes. At least in this instance, his charm is deflected. Finally.

toni should just propose to brad and then he could be a stay at home spouse and take care of the kids like any good husband should

And TJ has been at it for a long time. . .

http://www.gocomics.com/luann/1993/09/20http://www.gocomics.com/luann/1993/09/21

I like how one of TJ’s idea (the one about having a huge fire to show that the Fire Department is understaffed) was already mentioned several times in the comments section of previous strips. Some were even suggesting that TJ would be the one to start the fire. … I remember on another Luann forum a while back, when the Captain was planning to take his friend “Tony Gale” to the Firefighters’ ball, people were speculating that TJ’s real first name was “Tony” and that he was the Captain’s mystery friend and that the two were secretly dating. I wish I could find the link to it- it was hilarious. ….Perhaps Tony “TJ” Gale was about to suggest threatening to expose the dirty details of his relationship with the closeted Captain when Toni cut him off? Of course, the Captain wouldn’t actually get in any trouble for being found to have a relationship with TJ (unless the Captain was married, but that would be another weird story), but maybe he would still want to keep the relationship a secret.

Isn’t Mission Impossible already a movie? City will have to have a millage election to get more money for firefighters. That means starting a petition and getting signatures, all of which could spring Brad and TJ right into the nasty world of politics. Don’t see Greg going down that path.

Wouldn’t going to Brad’s or Toni’s captain and asking them if they see any openings in the department coming in the near future, be the most logical thing to do? /// Regarding today’s strip, I’m sure that TJ feels some guilt about how his suggestion to Toni, on how to handle Ms Awful turned out. He is deliberately going over the top to try and make Toni laugh a little. I guarantee that Brad’s going to get called back by the 1st of the year!

First honest thing tj has said.

TJ at his best. But someting may work if they do it toeghter.

It sounds as if I was wrong. It seems like TJ is completely off the hook for throwing Toni under the bus. And Toni really is nothing more than a stereotypical dumb blond. TJ’s last idea blew up in her face, and here she is asking him for more? And perhaps she also needs some education that Brad’s firefighter job no longer exists. He needs to get a “New” firefighter job. Unless the economy has turned around (it hasn’t), the quota’s will not change. He needs to investgate where an opening has occured due to firing, quitting, retirement or death. TJ can do nothing legal to help this matter. He is still just a big trash can full of stupid ideas.

If this is where Greg is headed with this arc, I’d say that the commenters that stated that Toni will quit to create an opening for Brad may be right. And it’s a good thing this is a comic strip, because no where, no way and now how in real life would this possibly occur.

Toni is asking a guy who has never had a job, how to get someone a job. She must be taking “Stupid” pills.

Why does Toni’s left boob stick ot past her tie, but the right boob is completely flat?

Or Toni you could just married him. and make him get another job!

Toni? Panels 1 and 3, yes. Panel 2, no.

Geeze Toni!! Why don’t you just emasculate him just a bit more. Brad needs to do this ON HIS OWN! If you interfere and “Get him his job back” he will think the ONLY reason he got it back is that you are together. HELP him get back on. NOT GET HIM BACK ON! Let him keep his pride at least!!!

In the end Brad will get his job back and the girl too because he is a decent person similar to his father who is no hunk either but married a very attractive woman. I guess the best is yet to come for Brad but deservedly so.

TJ always means well but is never mean.

When is Toni going to stop listening to this guy?

I can just see Brad walking up and seeing Toni and TJ talking, thinking that they have a thing going on. Probably during a hug (which he doesn’t deserve).

two words to open up a position for Brad at the station Toni – Maternity leave.

It boggles the mind to think readers discuss these cartoon characters as if they were real people.

I have been puzzled over Toni’s and Brad’s recent unusual behaviors until now. Why now? Because suddenly the fog slid away and I realized that Greg Evans has pulled a “Who shot JR – The Last Newhart Show” trick on us. The last few weeks strips are Brad’s dream following his dismissal from firefighting – it may even include the dismissal.

The world revolves around credentials. Now is the time to think about how to improve Brad’s credentials. Within a few years, it is projected that 80% of all jobs will require more than a high school education and supervisory jobs a lot more.

Marriage is a long term solution to a short term problem.

Unlike others, I don’t think TJ is a deliberate jerk. Yes, he’s an instigator but let’s be honest, Toni acted against Ann Eiffel on her own accord. TJ didn’t force her, he just gave her a reason to act as she wanted.

Sorry, did I call TJ a ‘jerk’? I don’t want a fictional character to have his feelings hurt, right, @mojitobaby?

No, No, Toni. You should have asked him if He had any ‘Stupid-Assed’ ideas.

And will SOMEONE Please TELL me why that Grinning Jackass is wearing a Smoking Jacket???

Toni either quits or more likely takes a leave of absence allowing Brad to come back on the job.

If she takes a leave of absence, then she’d have to leave town to make it look legit. That could be the end of their relationship with her sacrificing her job and relationship to help the one she loves.

Better idea: Someone retires and Brad is recalled.

I’m bored of this. Get to the good stuff.

OK, it’s too obvious….TJ is going to apply for Brads job…. screw it up so BAD that AE will want to hire him back in short order….. or…. TJ will befriend AE and while wearing a mic, get her to confess her ways of the wicked…. which he will then use to blackmail her into hiring B back with a huge raise. Oh the possibilities!!!

OR…..TJ will buy the franchise outright, he has the big bucks, fire AE outright, hire Brad as the manager, Toni gets knocked up and has to quit, but in return gets a lifetime supply of weenies.

Q and L elope to Pahrump NV where he sells used RV’s from their singlewide next to a liquor store, L takes on a part time job as a “hostess” and always happens to have a lot of ca$h..

Tiff finally finds a casting couch that pays off, becoming the newest reality TV star in her own mini-series “Teens of Tarzana”…. I like that one

somebody please stop me here…

They didn’t get to TJ’s plan to use the time machine to go back and alter history.

I’m still waiting for Mr. Evans to show how sharp-witted customers, quick with a camera phone, can gather needed evidence for a wrongful dismissal lawsuit. And yes, there is a child involved— Shannon. With her on-again, off-again father, she may be needing a stay-at-home parent before long.

Municipal workers like firefighters, cops, etc. are unionized, so “applying” to other houses within the city, or keeping tabs on who’s retiring would be a complete waste of time. It’s not like getting hired at a different Weenie World franchise if one lets you go..Brad was laid off due to city budget cuts, so if more money is found in the municipal treasury, or if someone retires, that’s when he’ll be recalled – but only if he’s at the head of the line for seniority. It’s “last hired, first fired”.

I will take that as a compliment…

Sigh! Toni is still getting involved in something that isn’t her concern. And her motivation is still because of how SHE feels. I think it’s great that she finally apologized without trying to justify her actions. But she’s still viewing this from how SHE feels instead of how Brad feels. And she’s still trying to take control of Brad’s problems.

She needs to lay off the mess. Let Brad make his own decisions and live with the consequences, good or bad.

I would like to meet Toni’s parents.

Toni may wind up on the sacrificial altar by giving up her slot for Brad, but it would be FAR better if she wound up AT the alter in a dress and veil,,,with Brad standing there !

Nope, you miss the point …Brad goes someplace else , no BraToni…and THAT won’t fly here !

Surely *some*body in the department is getting close to retirement? Or moving maybe?

A big fire? At a politician’s house? I thought we were going for a fire at Winnie World.

TJ get’s a bum rap. He means well.

LDover: thanks! Brad was “playing fireman” way back in 1993!http://www.gocomics.com/luann/1993/09/21

Toni should NOT quit to make an opening for Brad!!!!

at least tj didnt say to start the fire at ww.

Ok, don’t listen to him as the idea man Toni. Maybe plan execution, but…

Considering how well his plan to get Ann Eiffel to back off went…

Everyone likes to hate on TJ. He’s not a bad guy at all. Sure he has crazy ideas and causes problems, but he has a pretty good heart. Brad sees this, why can’t the rest of you? He is also a fantastic cook, and anyone who enjoys making good food for friends can’t be all bad.

It gives the phrase “having some friends for dinner” a whole new meaning…

What I don’t get is why Brad didn’t lawyer up. Eiffel’s behavior was textbook sexual harassment. She implied he’d benefit on the job if he were more friendly toward her. He should be suing Weenie World and Eiffel for all they’ve got. I was kind of waiting on Evans to reach the “teachable moment” here so all the “young people” reading the strip can see what they shouldn’t endure in the workplace they’ll enter someday, but no, we have to endure this childish scheming.

I like the first idea of starting a big fire, but maybe it will all work itself out if Weinie World catches fire somehow.

TJ is practically an idiot.

why does everyone hate TJ so much? Sure he’s a little Kooky but at the end of the day he’s a good friend.

It’s always fun to wander back into this forum and catch up with the comments of the day. I liked imbaldeagle’s response to milania on why people discuss cartoon or fictional people. And, of course, there’s always mojitobaby (the Herodotus of the entertainment world) who will put a historical validation on anything that is brought up. These are compliments, people, not criticisms.

Maybe WW does burn down Then AF would accuse Brad and Dirk would arrest Brad. Meanwhile, Delta goes to law school, passes the bar in a week, becomes an attorney and saves Brad from prison.

It could be as simple as someone leaving Brad’s station and his boss calling him back to work there. Have TJ and Toni plotting and scheming and then Brad gets his old job without even needing their help!

Those ideas are crazy even for him.

TJ is the guy who reached into his own pocket to pull out $3,000.00 to help out Brad. That sort of behaviour tends to put people in the deep end of friendship in the real world. As does Toni’s concern and behavior. Neither has any other reason to assist Brad at this time, their personal lives could go on fine without their involvement in trying to look after him. TJ could clearly afford the rent on his own, and Toni is not a dependent. Being dingbats does not make them bad people.

That is the most honest thing TJ ever said to my knowledge… LOL

Maybe Toni should just stop interferring.

As twisty as that resolution would be, Greg’s ending will be different, as clearly the problem he’s created and needs to resolve is Toni making up for “losing” Brad’s job for him. Nothing else but making up for that will even the scales here..Toni will come up some sort of plan to get Brad his job back. She’ll either threaten to quit to so that the FD has no choice but to hire Brad back, or TJ will have to cook meals to save money. Whatever it is, it’ll be some ridiculously illogical, yet caring-based, gesture that would never work outside of a comic strip and will make anyone who ever had a union contract want to put their fist through a wall. .It will probably end up with both of them at the same house – that’s a degree of how lacking in reality the outcome will be. This whole arc has been annoying as hell in that regard, so I don’t see why it should change now.

Actually, plan execution of Tj sounds pretty good. Except take out “plan”. Then you get “Execution of TJ”. Then he won’t make any more stupid plots.

It appears TJ is coming from his meeting of the Super Committee.. Super (Failure) Committee, that is. No practical ideas from there either.

Seems like they need to petition the city council for more funding for firefighters.

trollboi, you don’t have any friends at all so picking and choosing between “Bradley” and TJ would never be an option for u. Beggars can’t be choosers.

You must be from PA! Most engine companies use the term “house”, not “hall” (the magazine’s called Firehouse, not Firehall, for that reason…).

Of course that would be contrived, which is why it would fit in with this whole arc. That’s kind of my point.

too much of your ’pissed off” argument above sounds like “he made her do it”.

Only if “he”=Greg. Toni actually stood up for herself to Ann, rather than let Brad “handle” things, and of course Ann retaliated by firing Brad. .I don’t consider TJ “made” Toni do anything – it was her decision to confront Ann. Toni’s taking all the blame for getting Brad fired, yet Brad took none of the blame for letting it get to the point where Toni had to confront her. I consider he displayed a severe lack of cojones by asking her to meekly roll underthe bus – he knew it as wrong, yet did it anyway, and then blamed everyone else for how it all ended. .And he now seems perfectly fine with not having that all-important job, to the point where he quit. Which is why I’m calling “contrived” on this whole thing.

Originally criticism wasn’t pejorative but a means of explaining with both for and against.Now it means only against.

Unless you feel that unquestioning, slavish devotion is the only way to approach the strip – and Greg has never has that “worship me” Brooke McEldwney demanding attitude going on – your explanation of “criticism” seems very inaccurate to me. .By definition criticism weighs and judges the merits and flaws of a work. However, there’s no law that says for every failing you must offer up a praiseworthy factor. Other than troll entries, most comments that find fault do explain themselves, it’s usually not just mindless slamming. .And unless people are typing, “Greg’s a jerk” or “What does a 60+ guy know about high schoolers” and I missed it, your use of the word “pejorative” is way, way, off base – it means demeaning or derogatory. .Greg has presented some amazing arcs in the past (that was a positive statement, btw – one of many I’ve made before), and for me, that’s the standard that I hold him to when I look at what he does today.