# Explain this WSJ cartoon **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2020, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-wsj-cartoon/915665 "2020-07-18T13:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-wsj-cartoon/915665/1 "2020-07-18T13:24:05Z")
The 7/18-19/20 WSJ’s Pepper & Salt cartoon is an uncaptioned sketch of a peacock with his fan spread out and a long-stemmed rose in his beak. I suppose this is a reference to the debut of NBC’s Peacock streaming service, but what is the significance of the rose, and why is it supposed to be humorous? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-wsj-cartoon/915665/2 "2020-07-18T14:21:03Z")
Courting streaming services?.. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-wsj-cartoon/915665/3 "2020-07-18T14:26:34Z")
Other than a peacock thinking his magnificent tail display is inadequate for courting and thus the rose, I can’t imagine. The image would seem more fit for marketing something than humor. Unless there’s more to the cartoon? ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-wsj-cartoon/915665/4 "2020-07-18T14:53:05Z")
I was unfamiliar with Pepper… and Salt, but after looking at 30 or 40 cartoons it seems to be a step above Mallard Filmore, but nothing to expect consistent insight from. My interpretation is, “Hi I’m the new NBC streaming service, I’m trying to make an exciting and dramatic entrance, and I hope you’ll like me.” If there’s any meaning beyond that, it escapes me. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-wsj-cartoon/915665/5 "2020-07-18T15:01:35Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > I was unfamiliar with Pepper… and Salt, It’s pronounced, “[PEPAH!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nM2xkejpZI)” ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-wsj-cartoon/915665/6 "2020-07-18T19:17:51Z")
If I didn’t know about the peacock streaming service, I would think that this is a peacock presenting a rose to his chosen lady, like The Bachelor’s rose ceremony. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-wsj-cartoon/915665/7 "2020-07-18T20:00:34Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > I was unfamiliar with Pepper… and Salt, but after looking at 30 or 40 cartoons it seems to be a step above Mallard Filmore, but nothing to expect consistent insight from. I just looked through the comics and it felt like a dumping ground for abandoned Six Chix ideas.