In today’s Blondie, the scene opens with Dagwood in his chair in front of the TV, with Blondie standing over him. The dialogue goes as follows: (In the interests of copyright law, I won’t quote the final panel. Besides, it ain’t mysterious. :))
The mystery - how does Dagwood know that the accordion recital conflicts with his television show? It is apparent that Blondie is informing Dagwood of the recital for the first time, and she doesn’t tell him what day it is scheduled for. Dagwood doesn’t assume that it is for tonight, as he says “that night.”
So kids, hop into the Mystery Machine, snarf some Scoobie Snacks, and solve this mystery!
Sua (disappointed in your choice of comics, but, I still love ya). The implication is that he doesn’t know which night, and is only attempting to get out of the recital, so, had Blondie said “and just what night is your favorite show on” he’d have been busted, but she instead naturally goes for the food joke.
It’s simple, really. The cartoonist presented today’s strip in medias res to edit out the uninteresting beginning of Dag and Blondie’s conversation. If you could see the panel before the first one today, it would probably feature this bit of dialog or one substantially like it:
[quote]
**Blondie: I hope you don’t have anything planned for Thursday night.
Dagwood: Why not?**[/quote}
This little bit of exposition would have been helpful, but not so helpful that it justified the extra panel.
And they would have got away with it if it weren’t for us meddling kids.
Oh, for goodness SAKES, Sua—EVERYONE knows that little Emily Dittleton’s accordian solos are held each Thursday night at 8:00! I guess Dagwood likes “Friends.” He has the hots for Jennifer Aniston.
Interesting explanations so far, but I think some people are straying from the vast array of facts presented in the comic strip. I have an unfortunately sinister explanation that fits all the facts.
Dagwood is having an affair with Dawn Dittleton.
It makes sense:
Somebody had to tell him before Blondie did. Dawn told Dagwood during pillow talk. Dagwood didn’t expect Dawn to invite him or Blondie;
Note the anxiety in his voice - “and you said yes?!!” When men are informed by their wives of a social obligation, we whine - “but honey, I wanna watch Friends that night”. We don’t shout. Dagwood is shouting due to his anxiety at the thought of being in the same room as his wife and his lover.
And hey, let’s face it - Blondie and Dagwood have been married for over 60 years now. One of them is bound to stray.
Yes, after an amount of time, excitement is hard to come by in a marriage.
Yes, in a search for excitement, one or both partners turn outside the marriage.
But, have you taken a good look at Dagwood? There’s no way that he’s play around considering how homely he is and how HOT Blondie is. What the hell is up with those sprigs of hair on the side of his head, anyways?
Close, Sua, but not quite. In the Bumstead’s neighborhood, “hear little Emily play her accordion” is the code phrase for a three-way. Dagwood was not shouting out of consternation, but surprised glee.
Don’t even get me started on those pervs at the Family Circus.
Robot Arm, my friend, you very nearly caused a rather expensive coffee accident, the cost of which I would have been forced to take out of your hide upon our next meeting. Consider yourself fortunate.
I don’t think someone named Dawn Diddleton is holding out for Fabio;
In rare strips from the 60’s, we are informed that Dagwood has an exceptionally long tongue. Blondie ain’t going anywhere.
Robot, I see a fatal flaw in your 3-way theory. Is any man going to say, “gee honey, I’d love to have hot animal sex with you and another chick, but Friends is on.” I don’t think so.
We can eliminate the possibility that Dagwood already knew the recital was on Thursday. From Sunday’s strip we have learned that Dagwood cannot even remember that his house will be covered by a giant tent.
Perhaps Dagwood’s show is a mini-series that will be on for several nights.
Perhaps the accordian recital is being given local TV coverage. Dagwood, from his chair, sees the local news report about the accordian performance, but is grateful that he doesn’t have to go. That TV coverage also reminds him of a show somehow. This is a daily strip so there is no time for these details–though much of it can be inferred from the chair.
Better question: Who serves chili at an accordian recital?
They aren’t hair at all, but actual handles she had surgically implanted into his head to help steer on those nights when Dagwood… you know… straps on the old face-saddle and lets her take a ride.
Who knew “The Information Super-Highway” would be used to talk about little Emily Diddleton’s accordian solo and the Bumsteads’ sex life? Somewhere, Newt Minow is smiling . . .
Cheffie, while the Pussy Snorkel seems like a good idea, I don’t think it is practical. In my own experience, my cunnilingus skills suffer if I have a massive case of the giggles. “It’s like breathing through your ears!” BWAHAHAHA