If Wilbur pays, it's officially a date! Mission accomplished, Wilbur. Now you can concentrate on writing "Ask Wendy." And perhaps I can get back to writing this blog.
We've had a few things go down at work and I've been working several 12 hour days, six days last week... Unlike Iris, I really haven't been too worried about Tommy. And, people, it's been so liberating! It's almost as nice as getting out of prison.
Hey, Check This Out -- http://maryworthcomics.com/
44 comments:
Welcome back, Wanders! Isn't it annoying when a paying job interferes with the really important things?
Of course, Tommy wouldn't know anything about that - or Wilbur, either!
Is the Mary Worth website new? How interesting that the first article is about Joe Giella's work on Batman. (Yes, Joe, please remind us when you drew more than bland mush on misshaped dishes.)
We missed you, Wanders! Tell that boss to lighten up.
What? They're not having lunch at Diner? Wanders fails to pay attention to the Worthverse for just a few days and everything changes.
Except this story line, which shows signs of dragging out to almost DawnandJimian lengths...
Glad you're back!
Iris and Tommy need to go on "Dr. Phil", although for the strip it would probably have to be Dr. Bill. It would be win-win for everyone, including KM, who seems to be sweating this storyline already.
Her post on the site you linked to is ridiculous. Every single one of us could write (and have, in Comments) better stuff than this in a red hot minute.
Now--who is going to leave a comment there and include a link to this site?
I agree, Nance. Unless she's pulling our leg, she seems to take this comic strip's story seriously. I had no idea. I thought it was some sort of test on how boring a comic strip has to be before people stop reading it.
Wanders, I reiterate the comments made above by my fellow denizens of the Worthiverse - yay!
When Iris forked over her cash to Tommy yesterday, she should have stipulated that he get a haircut and new clothes. Of course, $160 might be inadequate, especially since Santaroymart is off limits, and Tommy also might be persona non grata at Santa Royale Better Cuts.
I have to love the grittiness of this new eating establishment. A bit more Dubuque or Cleveland than Santa Royale, but change is good.
And I am sure that Tommy is being uber-responsible with Iris' cash right now.
Although I still have no idea how Wilbur supports himself...
Wanders, it's like I always say: a job just screws up your whole day!
To me, the story took the track to Crazytown with the Marilyn Monroe quote yesterday. (You'll see it on the 'throwaway panel" when you click "buy a print") How does the Marilyn Monroe quote "I don't want to make money. I just want to be wonderful" equate with what Tommie's doing? Marilyn Monroe was an icon...Tommie's just a worthless bum who takes a test for one job that he would have been disqualified for when they found out about his record and then just stops looking so he can go "downtown" with his equally layabout pals. Also, could Uncle Joe be more consistent in his drawing of Tommie. I know the guy's almost 100 years old, but from day to day, Tommie keeps shape shifting from male to female.
Also, if Wilbur and Iris have already have eaten, why is the silverware still neatly on the table. Is Wilbur going in for seconds (or perhaps thirds). They know him well.
Wanders, you really need to find a way to teleport yourself into the Worthverse. There you can live in a condo, eat salmon squares and not have to do a lick of work. I mean, it works for Mary, Iris, Wilbur Tommy and twelve year college student Dawn. Geez, I wish I could teleport myself into that world too! Like Tommie, I hate work getting in my way of doing nothing.
(P.S. I would tell you my WV, but it doesn't look very family-friendly.)
Wanders, I suggest that you put "Downtown" and "Get a Job" in the Charterstone Jukebox. Both pertain to Tommie's situation.
Break away from Mary's evil clutches, Wanders. Reclaim your life. You can do it!
Thank you, Wanders, for providing us all with a platform for our snarkiness. And thanks to Uncle Joe for keeping us diverted from Ms. Moy's interminable storylines with inspired artwork like today's panel two. Iris is somehow managing to stand between the seat and the table of a booth. Try that sometime. I dare you.
More like one percent inspiration and 99 percent stagnation.
Got the 15 inspiration part right. If this strip was my work output, I'd be sweating too, probably 99% as well.
Wanders, maybe you could allocate your extra work to Tommy. Just tell your boss you're delegating like Wilbur. i'm sure he'll be perfectly understanding (or you'll have more time to work on the site). Win-win!
Well, of course lunch is ON Wilbur. He didn't use his knife, fork, or napkin. Tsk.
Uh oh, you've been gone too long, Wanders. You've forgotten that we expect our daily secret message!
Welcome back, Wanders, darling. xoxo
I can't believe that that naive Iris has allowed herself to be sucked back into my Dad's orbit! I pity the fool.
Dear fellow Worthiversians, I totally understand the complaining, but to put things in perspective, over at Apartment 3-G, Tommie (nowhere near as exciting as our Tommy here in Santa Royale) has a wild deer in the back seat of her car, and she's having a conversation with it as if it were a person. Mary Worth plots may be slow, but they do move forward eventually, and they make sense, and they don't just leave you hanging, wondering whatever happened to Mr. X? like they do over at A3G. Just sayin'.
Hey, sorry to bother you again, but did you see that the official MW site has merchandise?!?! There's a T-shirt with Mary saying "You look like you can use some advice!" I want it! Yes, Mary, I want your advice! And you T-shirt! And your platitudes!
Lunch was on Wilbur all right - it appears to have been water. Since the utensils are gone, I suppose Wilbur told the server "You can take these, we won't need them."
Speaking of the server, maybe Tommy should apply for a job at Jerry's. He'd fit right in. (I first thought this guy was holding a magazine called "Men," which reminded me of Dr. Drew.)
@Dawn Weston's Evil twin--my now third grader has that shirt. He proudly wore it to dress down day at school in first grade.
I'm waiting for Wilbur to look out the window and see his laptop walking down the street in the arms of it's new owner, with Tommy walking back to Alley with a fist full o dollars. See Wilbur - you did do more!
@Dawn Weston's Evil Twin: Gotta agree with you about Apartment 3-G. The plotting is even worse than MW, and as for the artwork, well, it really makes you appreciate Uncle Joe.
Jerry's Sandwich Shop reminds me of another Jerry--doesn't it look a bit like the hangout in "Seinfeld"? Maybe Wilbur is channeling George.
Wed.:
re: Iris' comment that Tommy wants a job that he likes and can stay put in for awhile: he may need to widen his net on those expectations.
re: Iris' comment that Tommy shouldn't settle so early in the game: there's no time like the present (read with pointer finger raised skyward), and this point who are we kidding that he's settling for anything?
Has Tommy checked to see if the 'ham sammich maker' position in Wilbur's apartment is still available? Cmon Wilbur--how badly do you want to date Iris?!
If Tommy "wants a job that he likes and can stay put in for a while," returning to prison might be a good move. This time he should commit a more serious crime with a longer sentence, say life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.
BTW, "wants a job that he likes and can stay put in for a while" is vintage Karen Moy awkward wording.
Wilbur: "Widens his net"; Mary: "Stretch his net." Is this why Mary is now writing "Ask Wendy"?
Why are Iris and Wilbur talking into their sandwiches in panel 2?
And even more importantly, why do I even care?
"Tommy shouldn't settle so early in the game?" He's going to be lucky if anyone wants to give an ex-con, especially one who couldn't pass a simple test at the post office, a job. He should be settling for asking, "Do you want fries with that?"
The Post Office exam is actually quite challenging. They're looking for people who can distinguish bits of similar information from one another quickly, so you get thrown a lot of stuff very quickly.
Granted, the test I took was 35 years ago* and before computerization of the system, but I bet the exam hasn't changed that much because the non-computerized jobs haven't changed that much.
Would you let that man touch your burger and fries?
THURSDAY--
Uh-oh Wilbur... that look on Iris' face suggests that she's thinking you should stick your opinions in a slightly different location than you're shoving that sandwich.
Hey Wilbur, you seem to be forgetting Dawn, the able-bodied perpetual student you're supporting! Actually, Iris and Wilbur are made for each other - two dysfunctional, delusional parents. Maybe they should introduce their progeny to each other. Dawn and Tommy might really hit it off.
FRIDAY
I don't blame you, Tommy. This has got to be, what, the 3rd or 4th job you've inquired about?
At first I thought, "Jeez, Iris is even paying for Tommy's smartphone!" However, a closer look indicated that Tommy is glaring at a Casio calculator.
I'm getting tired of this too.
SATURDAY
Someone should email Tommy the link for the previous poster Sagheer. Sounds like he's someone who could hook Tommy up with a great job ASAP! But only after Tommy finishes watching his complete DVD collection of the Star Wars series and has another bowl or 5 of cereal.
Tommy is a permanent adolescent because that's what Iris wants him to be. It keeps her young (that and the Botox, of course).
Is it just me, or does today's (April 6, 2014) strip seem to insult the readers intelligence? I can't quite place my finger on it, but today annoyed me with both it's lazy writing (which I am used to) and almost condescendence at the reader! **FRUSTRATION**
Does the Isadora Duncan quote foreshadow Wilbur getting his neck broken when his comb-over gets caught in the wheels of the new sports car Tommy will buy with his drug sales earnings? And what happened to hoagie-like sammich Wilbur was holding in front of his face all week? Shall we conclude that he finished it and is now having a hamburger for dessert?
The best thing for everybody concerned is for Tommy to go back to jail, iris back to her squalid little apartment near the prison, Wilbur back to work, and Wanders and the rest of us back to something worth commenting on.
Anyone want to talk about Rex and June Morgan's sociopathic five-year-old? She could teach Tommy a thing or two.
I admire Wanders for taking some time off. He has a job (unlike most characters in this "comic" strip). He provides for his family. He supports and nurtures them in many ways. Take all the time you need, Wanders! We love your observations and humor, but many, many things are more important than a daily dissection of MW.
I was going to rail a little bit about KM and Uncle Joe, but after a bit of introspection, decided not to. I will, however, comment briefly about Uncle Joe. Look him up and read a bit about his career. You may then understand a little bit about his artistic style.
I do know that he is the kind of guy that I would love to share a cup of coffee with sometime. (Not saying that he couldn't use some help with continuity issues; yes, I'm volunteering!)
@fauxprof: Sarah Morgan creeps me out, too. I also don't understand why she needs a babysitter at the museum; wouldn't Ms. Lanning watch her? She's the one with the whole "Widdle Sawah in the museum" idea. And the way that Sarah thinks she can just blackmail Kelly (?) the babysitter for the rest of her life, just because she caught the babysitter smooching with her boyfriend on the couch!?! A five-year-old sociopath, indeed, our "widdle Sawah," soon to be a published author. You can see I pay too much attention to these soap opera strips!
On to Mary Worth: What bothers me about this strip is the fact that it IS hard in this economy to find a job, and it IS hard for convicted felons to reintegrate themselves into society, but this stupid strip is making it into a joke. It's all that lazy Tommy's fault because he just wants to watch movies and eat cereal. Give us a break! This is an opportunity for some hard-hitting social commentary.
I just can't see why Wilbur is still on the market; you'd think some lucky lady would have snapped him up by now....
I just can't see why Wilbur is still on the market; you'd think some lucky lady would have snapped him up by now....
Monday
@The Voice of Reason at 7:03 p.m. on Sunday zeroes in on something that bothers me as well. A former felon trying to reorient himself into society and find a job is a serious subject indeed, yet KM portrays Tommy as a scruffy layabout who happily sponges off his co-dependent mother. I don't expect hard-hitting social commentary from MW, but more sensitivity would be welcome.
Back to Jerry's Sandwich Shop: I hope tomorrow we'll see other patrons fleeing as Iris turns over the table onto Wilbur.
KitKat, I agree.
I have a relative who did a short stretch and then married a fellow ex-felon (smart, I know, but she seems to love him) and they have had huge difficulties getting gainful employment. He has a somewhat iffy "community service" job (picking up litter by the highway) and they get by on food stamps. It's a very sad situation and I hate to see it dealt with so trivially.
How old is Dawn? Is she gainfully employed? Could we even say that Wilbur is gainfully employed?
Maybe Tommy could take over Ask Wendy. He's got more experience with reality that either Mary or Wilbur. And nobody would have to see his hair.
Wilbur- never poke a Mama bear when her cub is nearby. Ya don't always have to say exactly what you're thinking (unless of course you want to lose the only chance you've had for romance in the last umpty-seven years).
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