Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 18, 2024

Tj needs to butt out. He is ruining Toni’s ability to tell Brad the good news in her own way.

Brad looks super excited at the thought that he’s going to be a daddy.

.

So will they head on over to the Roomie’s Privacy Hut and try to make a baby? ;)

Hey TJ, you have any more potatoes? Why don’t you shove some in your mouth right now, and take your time chewing?

As they say on M*A*S*H, T.J. has all the subtlety of a community bedpan.

TJ you not helping, This is for Toni to tell Brad, TJ kindly leave them to themselves, as Toni explains everything to Brad.

Geez – Brad & Toni must hate to cook – putting up with this guy for so long…

I’m kind of confused. I thought the test was negative. Is Toni actually pregnant?

Down, Brad. Down.

Seems we did this dinner a while back

That’s why you talk with the father first.

TJ. You’ve been a good friend to Toni but you gotta butt out. This is not a threesome. Anyway you can read all about TJ’s life story on Luann Fan Page. As far as he’s concerned the DeGroots are his family.

How can they afford a baby, anyway? Unless they dump Shannon.

Brad jumps to conclusions; he can only read the room one way, the way he wants it to be. He doesn’t listen first before responding.

Careful there Teej you might get Toni to change her mind

That permit joke was a good one.

It looks like Mr. Crazy Face in the middle panel is ready to be a daddy. And I thought he wasn’t getting any. “Clink”. A toast to a happy storyline.

Homina homina homina!

I thought the test was Negative?

There is just no way for me to connect this Brad, to the much younger Brad.

Don’t be in such a hurry. The test result was Negative.

He got the building permit, and baby got back.

Ok – my prediction: They try and try and try to get pregnant, but to no avail. Adoption is on the table. But instead of a baby, they end up adopting Shannon.

Why add a room when TJ could just move?

I don’t get today’s strip. Wasn’t the reading negative last week? Guess that’s why Toni needs to explain in her own way.

Oh dear…

Some people just will NOT btfo. Sadly for us, TJ is among them.

Slug him Toni and send him back to the kitchen.

\\//_

Wow! Didn’t think Brad had the necessary numbers of brain cells to figure it out.

TJ, stay out of it! This doesn’t concern you. This is between Brad and Toni.

I want my baby back, baby back, baby back ribs…

Could this be a sign of TJ’s exit from the “family” home?

WOW, TJ just can’t let Brad be married, can he? He just butts right in and now Brad is talking to TJ instead of his WIFE about having a BABY. G&K have made TJ so intrusive in the Toni/Brad relationship that Brad just comes across as a big goof ball now, not the mature fire fighter we saw awhile ago. He has that big moon face and pug nose back again, and no maturity to go with it. Is there some kind of a recessive gene in the DeGroot family?

Isn’t Brad like 22 or 23? I can suspend disbelief about him wanting to be married, but now a kid? I like this strip, but I think we’ve reached a point where we need to start aging these characters in real time or if that can’t be done how about have them acting like people their age.

I’m confused. Why is there a special meal of baby items when the pregnancy test came out negative? And why would Toni need a special time to tell Brad? Why would Brad even need to know about the negative test? Is Toni thinking about having a baby?

Easy, boy, eeeeeeeasy there…

The play ground is going to be open w/o restrictions!

They’re BOTH in a very hazardous, (but not very lucrative)profession. Maybe parenthood is not a great idea. BTW: what are TJ’s long term plans? Surrogate motherhood?

Here TJ should have let Toni speak, but I think it’s impossible for him to be discreet, especially on something that he knows will make his best friend happy. Just seeing how Brad reacts to the possibility show how Toni was right to take the test without telling him anything, he would have been too sad about the negative result and she wouldn’t have been able to have the calm to reflect on everything and understand that she wants to have a child

Seeing Brad and Toni with Shannon gives me hope that this is going to be a great addition to their family…. I wonder if “Uncle” TJ will stick around, it looks like they still will need a roommate to help with the expenses.

This is really funny if you ignore all the comments.

Exactly why I said she should not have been talking to TJ. There’s NO news.

Toni has no news to tell Brad. She is not pregnant. No need to get Brad’s hopes up with no news.

TJ spilled the beans to Brad!

When do these two have time to be proper parents?

“….or I’ll give him, her or them yours….at least I would if you weren’t such a good cook.”

Brad anf TJ share the excitment, Toni needs jer ferlings. .this is.a.3 or full of misdirection plays, which might end .a.positive result, but not , yet.

It’s nice that Brad is excited about having a baby, but is he in for disappointment? TJ was never one to be quiet when needed. It wasn’t too long ago, or was it, when Toni wasn’t interested in motherhood?

Did I miss something? I thought the test came up negative.

Middle panel looks like the old Brad.

I predict this is going to be an extended arc where the the cartoonists will have as big a buildup to the inevitable childbirth as they did to Brad and Toni’s wedding.

Aaaaand…. THIS is why is was a mistake to tell TJ anything.

Times when friends need to shut up!

Take advantage of that building permit, Brad. Use it often!!!

Now I know what TJ stands for. TOTAL JERK !

This may be a good time for TJ to take a restroom break.

It seems a lot has changed since Saturday.

I don’t understand why G&K are having TJ do this one-upmanship on Toni. It’s just not right, and poor writing for his character. He’s acting like she’s irrelevant and it’s going to be an adventure for just him and buddy Brad. It was so hopeful when he wasn’t grinning and being understanding. Now they’ve got him intent on stealing her thunder…about HER pregnancy. Really bad style G&K.

TJ is The Three Stooges all by himself when it comes to renovations. Don’t let him near the explosives.

First, I think Toni has just d cided to try to get pregnant. Nothing had happened other than a decision.

Second, TJ is protecting his place. He, like Toni, glommed on to Brad because they liked his family, his stability. TJ doesn’t want to be kicked out for a newborn.

WARNING NOTE—-Babies sleep when THEY want to, not when YOU want them to

Ugh…. TJ again

Just just up TJ. Can’t Toni tell Brad herself. Just shut up really.

Slow down Brad, and let Toni talk. TJ, you’re not helping and it’s not your place to deliver the news.

Brad got all geeked out

And THIS is why I said Toni probably wanted to take the test before telling Brad she might be pregnant.

so, when do they ’retire" to the boudoir? Friday? Saturday? tomorrow?

Their "temporary/permanent (choose one) “houseguest” is as much of a blabbermouth as Bernice. Maybe they should hook up with each other, hmmm?

Why so surprised? Isn’t that what . . . mmm-hmm . . . is sort of, um, for?

Don’t worry, Brad. Even with your past, you’ll never be as awful a father as ignorant, miserly, never-working Frank!

I just hope we don’t find out that Brad is shooting blanks.

TJ and his metaphors are messing up what Toni wants to discuss with Brad. And, Brad, about adding a fourth bedroom? Remember the disaster of adding Shannon’s room?

Maybe if you’d just said “Thanks for dinner,” like a normal person instead of emphasizing all the “baby” foods you wouldn’t be having this conversation.

This was nicely written. I can see how all this conversation could have been misinterpreted.