Ah, Jeff… what can we say, eh?
I think this is a great example of what the entire series is all about… the day to day happenings of our gang in 1977. Oddly enough, it doesn’t feature the other three at all and yet strikes me at the moment as the “nail on the head” of how the year 1977 was (well, for me).
The opening frame is a really obscure reference to the Chicago Bozo the Clown. Ring Master Ned (the smiling head) would ask “Who’s your favorite clown?” and the kiddies would go “Bozo!” and then the actor Bob Bell dressed as Bozo would walk in front of the camera and go “HEEEYYYY!! THAT’S ME!!” I did an impression of this one time during an episode of Battlestar Galactica (where they rescue the humans from that silly planet run by the Cylons) as everyone hoisted up the Admiral chanting “Adama! Adama!” I then in turn went “Hey! That’s me!” Like Bozo and my oldest son spit out his drink. I love doing that to him…
“Pet Sounds” is probably the best freakin’ studio album of it’s time in 1966. It features “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “Sloope John B” as singles and influenced every one, even the Beatles, on how they recorded albums (Brian Wilson took MONTHS to finish the album and this was unheard of back then when albums were cranked out in days or hours). The Beatles reference this album when talking about the recording process for “Sgt. Pepper” and rightly so. It was a turning point in rock recording.
I’m using the title here to refer to Jeff and his pets but it also is a pointer on what’s about to come for the band as they start to perform and record soon.!
ALSO: Sorry for the freakin’ delay. My post below explains it all. Damn ISP!!!!
I grew up on the Southside of Chicago. Loved Bozo! Ringmaster Ned. Not Ringmaster Frazier Thomas. But the real deal. Ringmaster Ned and Bob Bell as Bozo. Good times, good times…
Lunch with Bozo and “The Grand Prize Game”! Those blinking arrows picking out who gets to play the GPG. Man I wanted to play that game. I even practiced with a bunch of coffee cans and a rubber ball. TWTDs
i live in texas so i didnt get to watch bozo when i was a kid but when we got cable around 1980 and after they started airing wgn on the network i got to see him dont remember much (was waaaayyyyyy too stoned by then) but i do remember the ball game. about the comic i wish i could pay my electric bill with just 3 joints that would be so cool. id save hella money. (my december bill was over 600$ way more expensive than pot)
11 in 1977 – Well, he’s “borrowing” power from his neighbor to keep his pets alive, so three joints would do the trick for the moment.
RE – Bozo the Clown… The Chicago Bozo was the most popular and well known one I do believe. Bob Bell, an announcer here in Chicago, played Bozo for decades. Krusty the Clown’s voice is based on Bob Bell as actor Dan Castellaneta is from the Chicago area (went to NIU I believe). And WGN being a “superstation” on cable TV led our Bozo to be a nationwide hit.
I too grew up watching Bozo at lunchtime wanting to play the “Grand Prize Game” where you toss ping-pong balls into numbered buckets. Is that on YouTube? Hmmm, will look once I get a high-speed ISP back.
But I always loved the “HEEYYY!! THAT’S ME!!” part and had to mention it at some point.
😀
It’s embarrassing that I’m the first to admit to recognizing “Days of our Lives” in the last panel…
Finally someone recognizes that line from “Days of Our Lives”!! I watched Days during my senior year in college (my roommate was hooked) and I’ve kept up via my wife’s watching of the show. That line is from an actual storyline going on in 1977 where the “evil twin” of Marlena, Samatha, had taken the good doctor’s place! I go deep for my refernces sometimes!
Also, I see you’re working your way through the archive! Good for you, man!
🙂
One year later, going through the comics (fantastic, BTW) and I recognized it as well. Although I was born in ’78 and don’t remember Samantha, Roman and Marlena were still at it when I watched in 8th grade. I stopped after Marlena became possessed by the devil.
Yeah, the show took a real turn there. I watched “Days” in college with a roommate of mine. Didn’t pick back up on it until I got married and my wife is a big fan. They’re bringing a lot of the old characters back here of late as I understand “Days” is coming to an end soon. It’s been a good run.
Thanks for reading!
My grandmother used to watch Days of Our Lives and the various other soaps on that channel as part of her routine. I remember at one point coming over for a visit something like 6 months after our prior visit and finding the story picked up pretty seemlessly from what I remembered. I asked, “Wait, they’re still working through this same issue?” and she replied, “Well, for them, it’s still the same day. I think it’s only about an hour later.”
At that young age, I didn’t know about comic time yet, so that was a real revelation to me. I mean, I knew the story lines progressed slowly, but I didn’t realize how slowly.
The Samantha / Marlena situation sounds familiar, but I don’t really remember it. That said, I was probably something like 5 at the time. I probably remember more from hearing about it in connection with Soap and discussions about what inspired their various bits.
But then, this is probably a bit early in the year for talking about Soap, since it didn’t come on until September. (I don’t remember it *that* keenly, but it’s easy to check Wikipedia about these things.)
I watched “Days” in college only because my roommate did. As hyperactive as I am, storylines that takes months to move along was too much for me. The irony is that I now write a comic that progresses one page per week, so I’m not exactly moving at light speed either. Happens as you get older. 🙂
The original Bozo, was played by Willard Scott.
I am not sure if Willard played Bozo or not, but I’m fairly sure he was the first Ronald McDonald back in the day. And he was quite scary too.
😛
I see you’re making your way through the archives! Welcome to the party pal!