Well, we’ve certainly gotten to know our Maddie a little better over the last couple of weeks; for example (as snarker John commented on Wednesday), we’ve learned that she and Jinx are BFF’s. But although we know she’s in the band, when has it ever been demonstrated that she’s “musically creative like [her] Dad”? And how “musically creative” does one have to be to master “air guitar”?
And a musical “Moby Dick”? Why…it’s been done:
Maddie is shocked, shocked, to learn of the existence of plagarism checking sites. It gets worse: she’s paid good money for a plagiarized plagiarism! In the interest of full disclosure: in spite of the implausibility of the twice-“cribbed” paper (and anyway, what difference would it make?)…Maddie’s Moe Howard-like reaction made me smile.
I’m starting to think that TB is responding to readers who miss the “gag-a-day” format of Act I; except now, the situation derives from a “topical” issue, and of course the gags are absurd or unfunny or both. In today’s strip we get the setup/punchline formula, a la Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon…”Money is so tight for the football team…” “HOW? TIGHT? IS IT?”
“$600 a player?” Now I understand why Bull is so glum! The pay-to- play – participate – whatever fee in the schools in my town is a more down-to-earth 75 bucks. Turns out things could be even worse, though: according to the article that The Ridger linked to, these fees can run up to a grand! Unfortunately, it looks like the only ones in Westview who can afford the six hundred bucks are the parents of the uncoordinated skinny white kids. The punchline sucks, too: Bull would have to comprehend that Les is talking about “cutting” costs, not players.
What’s even more wearisome than the decades-old running gag about the lousy football team? How about a week-long arc about how hard economic times are affecting said lousy football team? What is a tip jar supposed to accomplish? Why doesn’t Bull get some advice from fundraising genius Harry Dinkle?
Son of Stuck Funky 
