Sunday, November 16, 2008

Comic strips: The last refuge of the old fogey

Pickles

This is one reason I love comic strips. Not only do the comics in general still appeal to old people--consider the number of legacy strips that have been around decades and don't seem to be going anywhere--but there are comics about old people. And the creators who make those comics about old people feel free to make references about other old people.

The basic structure of today's gag is familiar, but I just love the twist of the "Barnaby Jones" reference. In how many other mediums would some executive/editor would have told Brian Crane, "Hey, Crane, lose the Barnaby Jones punchline. Nobody's gonna know who he is. Can't you go with some old guy who's still around...like that guy on CSI?" And of course, HE would have no clue who Barnaby is.

(Thanks to Comics. com for today's "Pickles" by Brian Crane")

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