The New-Run Year in Review
Number of new-runs per month since the reboot:
30 September
17 October
16 November
11 December
18 January
12 February
19 March
10 April
16 May
12 June
13 July
11 August
185 – total
182.5 – goal ½ 365
Lynn exceeded her promised goal by 2.5 new-runs. As you can tell, aside from September, which Lynn promised would be all new, the new-runs hit their peak in March, and we have been on a steady decline since May. I know we have one more day in August, but my guess is that, with the lead-in we had on Saturday, the strip is headed towards the “Mike starts Grade 1” set of reprints on Monday.
The new-runs were originally touted as stories which would fill in the missing pieces of stories or tell stories that Lynn did not have time to tell the first time. So, what have we learned?
September, 2008 –
1. We learned that before Farley the dog came into the Patterson’s lives, we had Fred the fish.
2. We learned that Jean Baker operated both as Dr. John Patterson’s front desk and as a dental assistant.
3. We learned that Connie Poirier used to tell people that she was married to Pablo da Silva, but that was a lie.
4. We learned that Anne Nichols had 2 sons, Christopher and Richard, who are about the same age as Michael and Elizabeth.
5. We learn that John Patterson regularly had conversations with Michael while sitting on the green-striped chesterfield.
6. We learn that Elly works so hard around the house, she doesn’t have time to read the paper.
October, 2008 –
1. We learn that John has hired a hygienist who looks like Shania Twain.
2. We learn that Michael goes to preschool.
3. We learn that the same day Lizzie learned to walk; she was capable of running around aside in the rain.
4. We learn that Farley the dog was adopted when Michael was in preschool (and not Grade 1).
November, 2008 –
1. We learn that Anne Nichols’ son about Michael’s age is named Richard, instead of Christopher, when he gets into a physical fight with Michael. Anne begs Elly to call the fight “case closed”, but since the older Nichols’ son disappears after this point, clearly the case was not closed. Christopher the younger son is all that remains.
2. We learn that Michael and Lawrence take the bus to preschool, and Michael is completely obsessed with fellow student, Deanna Sobinski.
December, 2008
1. We learn that Connie Poirier is completely obsessed with Phil Richards, even before she meets him, for no other reason than he is single.
January, 2009
1. We learn that Fred the fish has been replaced by Frank the fish, who never reappears in the strip, most likely because Michael has encouraged Farley the dog to drink water out of the fish bowl. Death by Farley, would be my guess.
2. We learn that Deanna Sobinski is moving to Burlington during her preschool year, instead of Grade 4.
February, 2009
1. We learn that Elly snores and talks in her sleep.
2. We learn that Connie is 35.
March, 2009
1. We learn that Dr. Ted McCaulay is generally reviled by the female population of Milborough, and has a drinking problem.
2. We learn the Dr. John Patterson’s dental assistant bears a striking resemblance to April Patterson.
3. We learn that Michael’s preschool lasts until 4 pm.
4. We learn that when John takes care of Lizzie and Michael, they sleep in the same bed.
April, 2009
1. We learn that Elizabeth was the result of John and Elly going out on a date with each other.
2. We learn that Connie married Peter Landry after knowing him for 6 months.
May, 2009
1. We learn that John and Ted would go to a bar to watch hockey games.
2. We learn that Anne and Elly were around to help Connie through her divorce from Peter Landry.
3. We learn that Elly spit at John after he left for the dental convention, which led her to go on an outing to try to attract men.
June, 2009
1. We learn that Lawrence Poirier has bowel shyness.
July, 2009
1. We learn that Elly is obsessed with making sure Farley the dog is clean.
2. We learn that Elly doesn’t like Michael to play in the sprinkler.
August, 2009
1. We learn that Farley the dog was put in a kennel while the Pattersons went on vacation.
2. We learn that Elly Patterson doesn’t like to buy cheap clothing.
Of all those strips, the only one I can genuinely say was a story fleshing out the original storyline was the one where Lawrence Poirier admitted to Mike that he has bowel shyness.
30 September
17 October
16 November
11 December
18 January
12 February
19 March
10 April
16 May
12 June
13 July
11 August
185 – total
182.5 – goal ½ 365
Lynn exceeded her promised goal by 2.5 new-runs. As you can tell, aside from September, which Lynn promised would be all new, the new-runs hit their peak in March, and we have been on a steady decline since May. I know we have one more day in August, but my guess is that, with the lead-in we had on Saturday, the strip is headed towards the “Mike starts Grade 1” set of reprints on Monday.
The new-runs were originally touted as stories which would fill in the missing pieces of stories or tell stories that Lynn did not have time to tell the first time. So, what have we learned?
September, 2008 –
1. We learned that before Farley the dog came into the Patterson’s lives, we had Fred the fish.
2. We learned that Jean Baker operated both as Dr. John Patterson’s front desk and as a dental assistant.
3. We learned that Connie Poirier used to tell people that she was married to Pablo da Silva, but that was a lie.
4. We learned that Anne Nichols had 2 sons, Christopher and Richard, who are about the same age as Michael and Elizabeth.
5. We learn that John Patterson regularly had conversations with Michael while sitting on the green-striped chesterfield.
6. We learn that Elly works so hard around the house, she doesn’t have time to read the paper.
October, 2008 –
1. We learn that John has hired a hygienist who looks like Shania Twain.
2. We learn that Michael goes to preschool.
3. We learn that the same day Lizzie learned to walk; she was capable of running around aside in the rain.
4. We learn that Farley the dog was adopted when Michael was in preschool (and not Grade 1).
November, 2008 –
1. We learn that Anne Nichols’ son about Michael’s age is named Richard, instead of Christopher, when he gets into a physical fight with Michael. Anne begs Elly to call the fight “case closed”, but since the older Nichols’ son disappears after this point, clearly the case was not closed. Christopher the younger son is all that remains.
2. We learn that Michael and Lawrence take the bus to preschool, and Michael is completely obsessed with fellow student, Deanna Sobinski.
December, 2008
1. We learn that Connie Poirier is completely obsessed with Phil Richards, even before she meets him, for no other reason than he is single.
January, 2009
1. We learn that Fred the fish has been replaced by Frank the fish, who never reappears in the strip, most likely because Michael has encouraged Farley the dog to drink water out of the fish bowl. Death by Farley, would be my guess.
2. We learn that Deanna Sobinski is moving to Burlington during her preschool year, instead of Grade 4.
February, 2009
1. We learn that Elly snores and talks in her sleep.
2. We learn that Connie is 35.
March, 2009
1. We learn that Dr. Ted McCaulay is generally reviled by the female population of Milborough, and has a drinking problem.
2. We learn the Dr. John Patterson’s dental assistant bears a striking resemblance to April Patterson.
3. We learn that Michael’s preschool lasts until 4 pm.
4. We learn that when John takes care of Lizzie and Michael, they sleep in the same bed.
April, 2009
1. We learn that Elizabeth was the result of John and Elly going out on a date with each other.
2. We learn that Connie married Peter Landry after knowing him for 6 months.
May, 2009
1. We learn that John and Ted would go to a bar to watch hockey games.
2. We learn that Anne and Elly were around to help Connie through her divorce from Peter Landry.
3. We learn that Elly spit at John after he left for the dental convention, which led her to go on an outing to try to attract men.
June, 2009
1. We learn that Lawrence Poirier has bowel shyness.
July, 2009
1. We learn that Elly is obsessed with making sure Farley the dog is clean.
2. We learn that Elly doesn’t like Michael to play in the sprinkler.
August, 2009
1. We learn that Farley the dog was put in a kennel while the Pattersons went on vacation.
2. We learn that Elly Patterson doesn’t like to buy cheap clothing.
Of all those strips, the only one I can genuinely say was a story fleshing out the original storyline was the one where Lawrence Poirier admitted to Mike that he has bowel shyness.
posted by howard at 11:02 PM
11 Comments:
So Lynn made good on her promise to do 50% new material for the first year: kudos to her. If only that promise had been for 50% new interesting material, but it's clear from your summary that that was never part of the deal.
At least it gave us something to snark about.
Verification word: flopitu
Well, she lived up to an expectation I had going in; she'd have wasted our time doing something stupid. I thought going in that she'd flesh things out by making John into a bigger creep and vilifying Mira Sobinski some more; by squandering a year telling us that Lawrence has a behavioral quirk, she's pretty much been getting money for nothin' and her props for free.
I think we might need a separate entry covering things we have "unlearned" after learning contradictory things from the new-runs. :)
forworse,
If only that promise had been for 50% new interesting material, but it's clear from your summary that that was never part of the deal.
There are ways you can tell stories and fit them in with the existing continuity, but that would not be the Lynn Johnston way. There were so many continuity flaws, it seems clear that Lynn was operating completely by a very faulty memory. In other words, the most interesting part of the new-runs was seeing just how incredibly lazy she would be in doing them.
DreadedCandiru2,
I thought going in that she'd flesh things out by making John into a bigger creep and vilifying Mira Sobinski some more
There were strips which made John look like a bigger creep, but that wasn’t anything I learned just from the new-runs. The lack of an appearance by Mira Sobinski was a surprise. I would have figured that going back to tell the story of why Deanna Sobinski left Milborough would have provided Lynn with too tempting a target for Mira blame. As it turned out, she told even less of a story than I expected, with Deanna only saying she was moving because her father got a job, instead of anything having to do with an opportunity to buy a business.
aprilp_katje,
I think we might need a separate entry covering things we have "unlearned" after learning contradictory things from the new-runs. :)
And there are the things we unlearned from later new-runs that we learned from earlier new-runs.
Wow, you made me realize just how screwed up the whole thing about Annie's kids is.
(Sorry that sentence came out awkward.)
I actually sent in a letter to Coffee Talk asking how many kids Annie has, and Beth answered and said she had only one kid, who was Lizzie's age.
Verification word: whist (something I'd rather be playing than reading Foob.)
muzition,
I actually sent in a letter to Coffee Talk asking how many kids Annie has, and Beth answered and said she had only one kid, who was Lizzie's age.
Yes, they finally ended up with the right number and right age. It would have been fun to have seen Lynn's face when the Coffee Talk monitors informed how badly she had messed the Nichols kids up vs. their established story.
And there are the things we unlearned from later new-runs that we learned from earlier new-runs.
True! "Things we have unlearned from new-runs and repeats"? :)
It would have been fun to have seen Lynn's face when the Coffee Talk monitors informed how badly she had messed the Nichols kids up vs. their established story.
Not just seeing her face, but also hearing her inevitable diatribe. That would have been fun, for sure.
aprilp_katje,
Not just seeing her face, but also hearing her inevitable diatribe. That would have been fun, for sure.
I can imagine that conversation going a little like this:
Bev: Lynn, you can’t have both the Nichols boys be the same ages as Elizabeth and Michael.
Lynn: Of course I can. That way they can play with each other.
Steph: Lynn, you have a whole storyline in the second year where the second Nichols boy is born. Are you just going to skip doing those reprints?
Lynn: Of course not. That’s vacation time.
Bev: Lynn, how is this going to work? You have a strip with a kid already born and then you run a strip where he is born. I think people will notice.
Lynn: Bev, how many times do I have to tell you, my fans will eat up anything I produce, even if it was 30 years ago. There is not a one of them out there smart enough to notice it or stupid enough to complain about it.
Steph: Lynn, actually we have gotten some write-ins to the Coffee Talk.
Lynn: The what?
Steph: The Coffee Talk. That thing on the website where people write in.
Lynn: Stephanie. That’s only for people who tell me how wonderful I am. No one’s going to write in something like that.
Steph: Well, they have.
Lynn: Damn it! What is wrong with these people? Don’t they know that if they make me angry I am going to just stop making new stuff and go to straight reprints? Is that what they want?
Bev: Well, it would solve the continuity problems, if you stopped doing new material.
Lynn: If I stop doing the new material, then the syndicate cuts my pay in half. There’s no way I am going to stop doing new material. You should know that, Bev.
Bev: Well, Lynn, couldn’t you read one of your collections before you did new material, just to remind you what the story is about?
Lynn: No research. I said I am not doing any more research. If I say the Nichols boys are both born, then they are both born. What’s wrong with the two of you? Didn’t I tell you my mantra.
Bev / Steph: Get the most money for the least work.
Lynn: Don’t you forget it.
Psst... Bev is Elly's SIL; Beth is Lynn's SIL. (But I wouldn't be surprised if Lynn habitually called Beth "Bev." And Beth is probably not allowed to correct her!)
Get the most money for the least work.
Heh. So true.
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