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)
It’s embarrassing that I’m the first to admit to recognizing “Days of our Lives” in the last panel…
The original Bozo, was played by Willard Scott.