Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for September 28, 2020

Hobbes is searching for the remote right now.

Ah, it’s THIS storyline.

I remember making my own paper TV screen when I was a kid after I read this.

you’ve got quite the imagination, Calvin

I did this once as a kid!

this is a fun little arc

Oh yeah? Just try saying one of those George Carlin words through that thing in front of your mom.

If Calvin keeps this up, he might get advertisement offers on his TV.

Calvin could make his own version of “Saturday night live!”

Just as long as Calvin doesn’t have any infomercials, I’m OK with his TV station!

Wanna bet, Calvin?

Lets hope it clicks, Calvin.

“ There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: There is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to… The Calvin Show.”

Lookit! It’s three dimensional! And realistic sound! Do you suppose it’s interactive too?

I’m sure Mom can find a way.

They may not be able to turn you off, Calvin, but they can most definitely cancel you!

Truer words were never spoken.

Not sure if that’s a good idea, I find an off switch essential….

Oh really, Calvin? Someone get some rope and a gag… :-)

Too bad he and Hobbes haven’t gotten their own animated adventures. Not even a Christmas special.

CTV? Sort of like MTV but with more farts.

Funny… He HAS managed to ‘force’ his way into millions of people’s homes each day.

This will never work, there’s no antenna!

Turn the horizontal hold – I want to see him flip.

He’d make a good ad-man (aka con-man). :D

Lucy Ricardo did something similar once.

Except for on off switch.

Then COULD turn you off, but the repercussions are too steep.

I prefer to think of my life as a never ending reality show sponsored by Frito-Lay and Heineken.

So very true.

Wait a few years Calvin, blogging is on its way…

All they have to do is walk away….

Anybody remember “Winky Dink and you.”

Johnny Carson used to say that he had high standards for his show; he never achieved them, but he did have them.

try starting a youtube channel

This is awfully meta for a little guy who peers out at us from inked boxes daily. :)

This is like a preview of social media …

NOW we know know why it’s called an “idiot box”, Cal. Just kidding! :D

Calvin said, “Too bad I can’t really force my way into millions of people’s homes each day.”

Calvin, I think you do!

Now it’s s question of who’s watching us while we"watch" our smart TVs ?.

how many kids nowadays would recognize that as the shape of a television screen

Duct tape muzzle.

WHAT HAPPEN TO THE SCHOOL SERIES ? ? ? ??

Too bad there was never a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon back in the day. I definitely would have watched it.

If Calvin’s quote in the last panel is correct, then 1990 parenting was VERY different than 1970 parenting. My parents could “turn me off” with just a look! But I guess no matter what decade, it varies from household to household…

A nice little meta-joke, because when this particular strip ran, Calvin and Hobbes was indeed read by millions every day.

I bet they would love to turn him off a lot.

Your mom can or when you get tired