Finally, Tom and I were able to catch an Academy Award-nominated film: Slumdog Millionaire. And, it didn’t disappoint. I felt myself biting my nails, crying, laughing, turning away in disgust (at the jumping in a lake of poop scene) and cheering for the main characters of this movie. One thing that amazed me was the director’s unapologetic snapshot of the human condition of the Indian people over the last twenty years. The child actors in this film were outstanding. Their performances made me want to hold Henry just a little bit tighter when I hug him each night before he goes to bed.
Speaking of Henry, we’re entering a phase of Time Outs, him asking “why?” and for some reason, jumping on furniture every chance he gets. Instead of sitting and participating in his regular Saturday morning music class, he announces “I’m running away!” and hightails it out the door. Is this a sign of things to come or merely a phase? Judging by the perpetual twinkle in his eye, and his bionic-man energy level, I’m guessing we’re going to be dealing with things like this for a long time! We can’t believe he’ll be two years old next month, and I don’t know about you all, but I’d love to see him appear in the comic once in awhile.
What do you think? Would adding Henry to the comic mean it’s finally jumping the shark? Or did it scale the heights of sharkdom years ago?
Puting him in to make some sort of joke or jab at a kids movie makes a lot of sence…
It would only be jumping the shark if you suddenly have him age like ten years or have a future version of him show up to wreak havok. 🙂
I doubt Theater Hopper has any sharks to jump. I think part of the charm of Theater Hopper is the even tempered everyday honesty and humor in the story line. Adding a child occasionally would be realistic since families often have children. Since the Comic Cami was never pregnant it will be ineresting to see how you will introduce Henry. There is always the non-introduction where he just shows up.
Gotta love it when your wife asks your readers “has your comic jumped the shark.” Love ya, honey! 😉
Cami has wanted to introduce Henry into the comic for some time now and I’ve actually received e-mails from readers asking when we could expect to see him.
The thing I wanted to avoid was “Murphy Brown Syndrome.” I’m showing my age, but do you remember at the end of Murphy Brown’s run, she mysteriously got pregnant. It was a big controversey and Vice President Dan Qualye got involved? All was well and good during the character’s pregnancy, but once that baby was born, it was immediately forgotten about and the show still ended.
The same thing happened on Mad About You and when Rachel got pregnant on Friends. Once the baby is born, you can’t go as far out there into “Wackyland” because the nagging thought among your audience will be “Hey, don’t you have a kid to worry about?”
Having a 5 year-old or older is more feasible because they have preferences and can contribute to the conversation. But for a child to one day suddenly appear would be such a phenomenal cheat, I don’t want to consider it.
Besides, I kind of like it that the characters exist in this little pocket universe where they can continue to be immature while my real life is permiated by responsibility.
…aside from drawing funny pictures for the internet, that is!
Adding Henry to the comic doesn’t have to give the characters too much responsibility. A comic Henry doesn’t have to be a completely normal child. Look at Truman, in one comic he was flying a plane.
Good point about Truman flying the plane.
Could Henry become the Baby Stewie of the web comic set?
Cami, Theater Hopper jumped the shark after the first strip years ago. Luckily, it still has a huge following. 🙂 I would introduce Henry like he was always there, like he just hasn’t been in the comic yet. Those of us who care about the strip know about Henry anyway. That’s just my opinion.
I would avoid a Stewie theme as it gets tiresome very quickly.
Adding Henry is a tough call because you have to measure whether or not his being in the comic affects the punchline too much. Babies also turn some people away. Family strips are usually too safe in the material they use and tend to dumb themselves down a bit, unless you have those who take the baby too far (IE the Family Guy)
If Henry was added to the comic, I think the Maggie Simpson approach would be best. Tom is already a giant baby in the strip, giving him grown up responsibilities may take away from his charm.
I wasn’t really serious about making Henry the next Stewie. One Stewie is enough for the pop culture landscape, thank you very much!
(Tom is a giant baby?)
He is a kid with a bank account. He runs around and he enjoys life without worry. He’s a giant baby or child if you will. The character, not Tom the writer/artist. You seem like you are an adult and a responsible one at that.