November 22, 2009: Sunday Showdown!

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Clockwise from the bottom left:

• The classic American TV sitcom trope of a fat slob husband with an inexplicably attractive wife that has existed from "The Honeymooners" to "Family Guy" could have cut both ways here depending on who made the observation first. Had Leroy beaten Loretta to the punch, he could have spin it lament his lack of a good looking wife. However, it's the quick witted Loretta who draws first blood and leaves Leroy feeling insulted and discouraged. Loretta goes up 1-0.
• Despite the the obvious mockery of Leroy's alcoholism, Loretta's use of Leroy's precious beer as a bulletin board unfortunately falls short of a point worthy insult. As it has been the case all year, it takes two to insult and a cruel barb without the benefit of the other party is a moot point. Had Leroy been in the scene, looking annoyed and irritated at Loretta's choice of note placement, we'd have a definite point. For now it's a push.
  
• It would seem that Leroy is just being characteristically unpleasant and unnecessarily difficult with the poor mailman, but I suspect a specific method to his meanness. Since most of the mail Leroy receives are overdue payment notices and credit card bills, by turning up the old Lockhorn charm and completely alienating the mailman, he hopes he'll offend him enough to have him spitefully "lose" the Lockhorns' usual mail. Judging by the look of contempt on the mailman's face, Leroy is well on his way. It's a push.
• By allowing Loretta to attempt a parallel parking job, Leroy is basically sacrificing his car and opening himself up to liability for the damages to the two other cars on the street just so he can have an opportunity to ridicule her about her destructively awful driving skills. One has to admire the lengths Leroy is willing to go to place himself in a point grabbing position. It may cost three cars and the lives of any other pedestrians unfortunate enough to be anywhere near Loretta's parking area, but Leroy ties it up at 1-1.
  
• Having done a thorough job of deriding Leroy's work outside the home, Loretta now turns to deriding Leroy's work inside the home. Leroy's pride takes another critical hit as Loretta exposes Leroy's impotence and ineptitude at home improvement, which amounts to nothing more than putting duct tape on things. Not only does she emasculate him, but she hopes to cost him money by suggesting a professional repairman. Loretta takes the final panel and the day, 2-1.

Official Count:

Leroy - 104
Loretta - 129
Push - 93