I think of a comic strip such as this one from 2009 as “hitting for average.” In four panels, it has no less than three gags. In the first gag, Arlo makes a quip at the expense of Ludwig the cat; the third panel is a sight gag, with Arlo as caveman facing down a saber-toothed beast with what appears to be a seven iron, or perhaps a six; in the fourth panel is the standard punchline. I say “hitting for average,” because it’s like the indispensable baseball player who can be depended upon to get on base with above-average regularity. Of course, it’s the homerun hitters who make all the money.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday.
183 responses to “Evolving Situation”
Busy night at the crossroads.
Glad it worked out for you, Jerry.
Mark, I didn’t want to look around too much. Fear of spoilers. But nice to know a resource if I get lost.
Forgot the important egg news since I am our surviving chicken farmer in Village. My chickens lay an egg!
We have it on display in a lovely red ceramic egg carton in the kitchen. It is a lovely beige pink color.
Trula brought it in while I was on phone with Debbe. Who laughed at how excited I was. I explained this was the first egg my flock had produced and this was first flock, all four hens.
My chickens are four different breeds because they were the last four half feathered chick’s no one wanted. I paid full price for my four rescued pullets and they are pets, like the cats and birds and dogs.
Old truck was Black Beauty new one has not told me her name yet.
Like Ann McCaffrey’s Dragons they know their name – unlike her Dragons
sometimes they are reluctant to reveal that name.
emb
I thought Bill did a good job today – thought he may have missed you, but there
you were next to last. Two good selections to end the show.
Has it been 6 years?
Jackie
Hugs back to Debbe. As you know this is probably the hardest job she will ever
do but probably the most rewarding. (Eventually)
Morphy, that line was also the punch line of a Porky Pig cartoon where he was a casting agent. In fact, now that I think of it, it was the same trick, but with a fox instead of Daffy.
Sideburns, I didn’t recall that one. I have a vague idea it sounds like something a banana like Lou Costello might have said. That kind of material got passed around a lot. And Looney Tunes/Warner Bros enjoyed their version of a hattip nod to old vaudeville routines.
I had a mental realignment when I first saw It Happened One Night. When Gable is offering Claudette carrots for breakfast, I don’t think he actually says ‘what’s up, Doc’. But the tone and posture is all there. I’d never figured Bugs as Clark Gable before.
And, as you say, they were fond of reusing their own jokes as well. I had fun teaching my kids the duck season/rabbit season bit.
Which also sounds like a Stooges bit, doesn’t it?
‘I know no one in Oklahoma that would invite me . . ..’ I’m surely not the only Yankee who would, but it’s a long way, even for LVB. OTOH, if you plan to be in Bemidji any of 5 appropriate Sunday afternoons per year, I can spring for a BSO concert and dinner at too few decent eateries. Must try that new Thai place. They were having too-long wait problems, but should have it together by now. Eric Haugen, our ‘cello prodigy, graduated from U Mich. and now in grad school [I forget which], is doing a recital at BSU next wk. You do NOT want to be here next wk. Siberian cold is headed here.
Peace,
Thought Bill ‘may have missed you, but there you were next to last. Two good selections to end the show. Has it been 6 years?’
Yep, 28 Dec. ’10, about 1130. Don’t think Bill mentioned that LVB Sym. 4, 2nd movement = ‘Marche funebre.’ [funebre now in dictionary]
I commonly ask that selections be in the last half hour, in case I won’t be home until supper or w/b snoozing. Plan, of course, to hear J. Strauss, Sr. again at the end of the live 0900 concert of the Wien Phil. on MPR, Gustav D. conducting. Whoops! I’m reader at BUMC, so will miss the end. C’est domage! [both also now in dictionary]
Peace,