There's nothing funny about the economy, unless you're 'Beetle Bailey'

November 3, 5:29 PMComics ExaminerBrian Steinberg

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When you're out of material, just riff on the economy. 'Depression in your skull'! That's gold! (Chron.com)

The scene: The studios of Mort Walker Consolidated Amalgamated Humor Incorporated.

The players: Mort and his Humor-Wielding Cronies, a group of cigar-chomping, root-beer drinking associates who toss out one hoary old one-liner after another, and in the process create the recycled and barely relevant humor that is the bricks-and-mortar of such funny-page institutions as "Beetle Bailey" and "Hi and Lois" and whatever else the Walker clan has its hands on these days.

Mort: OK, crew, time to get to work

Crony #1: I'm out of ideas. How about one in which Beetle tries to get out of work by pretending to peel potatoes, but in reality he's...

Mort: Sweet Jesus! Again? I oughta hit you like Sgt. Snorkel would a plate of meatloaf...

Crony #2: Wait, wait: OK, Ms. Buxley gets confused about the meaning of "casual Fridays" and...

Mort: September 7, 1985! And February 12, 1994! C'mon man!

Crony#1: (Sighs) Gosh, Mort, this recession has really sapped our creativity...

 Mort: That's it! People are still smarting about the economy. Quick: Drop as many economic puns as you can into the strip. Here's what I'm thinking: Get a pad  and paper and take these down! Sarge is duking it out with Beetle. He's getting ready to foreclose on Beetle's very life unless Beetle can get a bailout from Gen. Halftrack. Get it? Foreclose! Bailout! That'll have em screaming for days, because it's the language of now. It's modern. It's of the moment!... Work up a bunch of econ jokes and put 'em in word balloons.
 

Crony #2: Mort, that's genius.

Mort: You're darn tootin'. Now it's time for lunch. Let me see what you come up with by the time I get back from devouring a meatball parmigana sandwich over at the "mess hall."  Get it? I write a strip with a military theme and I said I'm going to the mess hall! Good Lord, I'm funny. Boys! Work up a strip with a couple of jokes about the stock market and real estate and recessions and money and stuff! People will laugh all day!

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