Sunday, October 14, 2012

October 14, 2012: Sunday Showdown!

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From left to right:
  • It appears that while "The Lockhorns" have returned to the traditional five panel Showdown from last week's carnival based craziness, they are staying with the consistent story arch between the panels approach. The theme for today is: the Lockhorns take to the skies. I am actually starting with the top left panel instead of the bottom left since there is an obvious order now for these scenes. As for the first scene, we see the extremely rare sight of Leroy saying he can actually afford something, albeit relative to a shopping trip with Loretta.  Leroy's line about the vacation being cheaper than a trip to the mall is a gross understatement. An all inclusive, year long, trip around the world would be cheaper. Purchasing your own private jet would be cheaper. Leroy scores a point and takes off to a 1-0 lead.
  • I'm not sure if the Lockhorns made up a generic airline that just happened to have the same name as a small Mexican airline or if they really have an ax to grind about their seemingly appalling customer service; they have often incorporated real world (mostly Long Island based) businesses in the past. In any case, I would be quite wary of an airline that engaged in such meaningless sadism; just look at the expression of pure rage in the face of the flight attendant. She looks like Mussolini giving a speech at a rally. It's a push. Leroy still leads 1-0.
  • Leroy really does deserve to get a point here, but unfortunately my hands are tied by the rules. If Loretta had any clue as to the serious ogling that Leroy was up to while she was looking at some farmland below then Leroy would get the recognition. Unfortunately Leroy will just have to settle for the quiet personal victory of checking out the sexy stewardess's ass while the wife is distracted. Those towering bimbo stewardesses must have the worst time on these flights. Aside from the nonstop ogling, they can't even stand up straight in the planes. It's another push as Leroy hangs onto his slim 1-0 lead.
  • We discover yet another personal vulnerability of Leroy that Loretta has turned to exploit: he is deathly afraid of flying. Maybe he's just afraid of the landing and takeoffs. He seemed pretty relaxed and at ease in the previous panel, comfortably leering away. Perhaps he keeps his anxieties under control by getting plenty drunk and distracting himself with the ladies; it's as good a plan as any. The scene is at an interesting angle, the decision not to show a shot of Leroy sucking his thumb seems to work here as we can let our imagination run wild at the image of an infantilized Leroy. Loretta gets the point and we are tied going into the final panel.
  • This is the only scene I've encountered, to the best of my memory, where neither Lockhorns are featured. These are strange and dynamic times here at the Showdown. A small leap of plausibility is required here though. When did the Lockhorns suddenly become wealthy enough to afford valet service (with two separate valets) to take them home from the airport? Aren't these the same Lockhorns who are often worrying about having electricity in their home for another day? Also judging by the totally forlorn look on his valet's face this "Roth" fellow (who I'll just assume is acclaimed novelist Phillip Roth) seems to be somehow even worse than the Lockhorns. It was an interesting panel and an interesting Showdown overall but it and the day unfortunately ends in a push, with the final score 1-1.
Official Count:
Leroy - 100
Loretta - 115
Push - 73

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