As I watched Derek Jeter toss a ball to a young Yankees fan who was sitting front row at Fenway Park this afternoon, I imagined that the kid might go home thinking Derek Jeter is his new best friend. Maybe he'll get calls from Derek on his cell phone, but Derek will have to suddenly get off of the line before any of his friends can get on and talk to the celebrity shortstop.
It reminded me of the weekly email I get from someone who found my Meet The Makers interview with Darby Conley and needs me to help get them in touch with their favorite cartoonist.
Darby and I talked for a little over an hour one afternoon. His syndicate never gave me his number. He called me and I never checked the Caller ID. The email address I have for him is the same AOL address everyone else has, but if I hear from him, I'll let him know that you need to get in touch with him. And yes, I had a blast talking to him.
One of the first things they teach journalists (and groupies) is the difference between having a good one-time-thing and being in a relationship.
The second reminder was Niki IMing me today's Get Fuzzy for a little pick-me-up, laugh-out-loud Sunday Bucky.
Darb? If you're reading this, please call. I miss you!
GrimJack
EZ Street
Jon Sable, Freelance
Comments (31)
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Sarah 1231 days ago
I LOVE Get Fuzzy! It's pretty much the only thing I'm evangelical about when with strangers. BIG however though: This latest story line, with the vegetarian cat, is WAY off base. You make a cat a vegetarian for more than a couple of days, you'll have a dead cat on your hands. There's an enzyme (taurine) that is only found in animal sources that cats require in order to live. I was looking for Darby Conley's email to send him a note (it's irresponsible for him to portray something that ultimately ends up in a pet's death or serious harm, for those who don't know otherwise and would think it wise to try to make their cats vegetarian). See http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=careforcats for more info.
If someone has his email, please send along the info. Thanks much!
Dan Sexton 1247 days ago
Hi all,
Was great to find this Blog. My wife and I are also big fans. As a present my wife, a stained glass artist, made me a 14x22 stained glass panel of Satchel hugging Bucky. It is beautiful an I want to contact Darby to show him a picture of the panel. If anyone contacts him at all please share my e-mail (dan@catville.com) with him please.
Thanks
Joe Heslin 1310 days ago
Do you have copies of the dull computer saga???
Thanks.
Joe
Joe Heslin 1310 days ago
Forgot to post my email:
bbqjoe@frontiernet.net
Melanie Saunders (Aka Writer/Recording Artist Melody) 1327 days ago
Re: The Phenomenon Of This Blog And Darby Conley:
http://melodysdailydrivel.blogspot.com/
Bob Terry 1321 days ago
Next time Darby calls you please ask him a question. What happened to Satch's wrist watch? He has not been wearing it in recent strips shown here in Wimington, NC. If he in fact has lost it I would gladly sponser a program to acquire funds to buy him a new one.
Melanie Saunders (Aka Writer/Recording Artist Melody) 1328 days ago
Hi Brian,
I enjoyed your piece about Darby Conley. It caught my eye because I used to know Darby myself, having met him online years ago at the onset of what has become an extraordinary career. A writer and recording artist myself, we'd spoken about our dreams. He couldn't believe his was suddenly within his grasp, happily swamped with work and excited to tell me his Get Fuzzy strip had been picked up by United Syndicate. We exchanged photos. (I have one of him on a boat in shades with his brother-a professional musician with a similarly wacky side-somewhere.) I made and sent him for fun a mock up of one of the comics-adding drawings of he and myself with an ice cream cone on my face, seemingly courtesy of that handful of a cat. We talked about Bucky as though he were his flesh and blood feline family and pondered how he would respond in increasingly imaginative scenerios. I knew he possessed something wonderful. A great comic. An even greater heart.
I didn't know him well or for very long, for the busier we each became, the less time we had to chat. I don't even know myself how to reach him today. But I remember him with great fondness and respect. A wholly grounded and gifted person of superior intelligence and wit, he was great fun to know and I feel priviledged to have had the brief opportunity. (And at the risk of sounding 16, he's quite cute to boot.)
So Darby, write me sometime if you ever have a spare moment. I'd love to share another laugh.
And congratulations. I can think of no one who deserved success as much as you.
Melanie Saunders Aka Melody
MizMelody2001@yahoo.com
www.mizmelody.clubfreestyle.net
Melanie Saunders (Aka Writer/Recording Artist Melody) 1328 days ago
And he didn't believe that comic strip writers can have groupies. I say Ricky Martin's got nothin' on Darb.
Viva El Gato Loco!
Karen W 1366 days ago
So, how bad is the injury to Darby's arm? Are we talking days? Weeks? RE-RUNS?????? While I don't mean to sound shallow and uncaring, a morning without getting fuzzy is not a good one.
Oh, speaking of getting fuzzy, my son just asked what something was on his shirt and I had to break the news to him that it is cat barf. Now you know why we love Get Fuzzy.
Brad Farmer 1343 days ago
Absolutely the only comic strip to read. Remember that story line where Bucky does in Satchel's Benny Beaver mascot because he thinks beavers are evil? Well, I found this site that completely agrees with Bucky. Maybe he's onto something.
http://www.beaverconspiracy.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=5
Rock on, Darby!
american in kiwiland 1379 days ago
Rob wears an ALL BLACKS (not Silver Ferns although the silver fern is their logo) jearsy and cap sometimes. It's because they are the Rugby team for New Zealand, and Darby is a big fan. The crazy foreign language dance that Bucky did a while back is what the team does before each game, and Bucky probably saw it on Rob's rugby video game.
JK 1373 days ago
Sox fan also waiting...
I, too, am waiting to see what Darby does to honor the Sox' World Series victory. There were a few strips, which ran about two weeks ago, about their win over the Yankees (and how to break the curse), so I thought the World Series theme would appear the following week or so. But not yet! I did notice that Rob has been wearing his Sox hat more lately, and, this past Sunday, even a Shilling shirt! (with a baseball lying on the floor) But he just HAS to do something to mark such an historic occasion. Maybe both Darby and Rob are still in too much shock to take any action. :) Hopefully, the delay is just a matter of timing with the deadline for submitting daily strips.
MK 1388 days ago
Curious
As mentioned by the young lady from New Zealand, there are a lot of Kiwi references in the strip. Rob sometimes wears a Silver Ferns cap or shirt. Sooooo ...just curious (as is Miranda ...hehehe), why ?
BTW ... the best strip going !
Hilary 1390 days ago
Love Get Fuzzy, but.....
I love Get Fuzzy and it's the only comic that I MUST read on a daily basis. However, I have a question that perhaps you can answer since you are Darby's new best friend....The Red Sox have just won the World Series but Rob hasn't even mentioned it...how is this possible when last year when they lost to the Yanks he had to go on vacation just to forget about the loss? Just wondering...
Lee 1390 days ago
Red Sox
I am sure there will be mention of the glorious victory...however I am quite certain Darby Conley is 3-4 weeks ahead in his strips for publication...we might have to wait a little longer....sigh
Jessica 1408 days ago
I am in love with Darby
His comic strip is the best thing to come into my life after Calvin and Hobbs ended. It ony gets better that the character Rob is a Red Sox fan(this is our year, I just know it). If Darby does ever contacts you again, tell him any man who can make me laugh like that on a daily basis is worth his weight in gold. If he is single, please, for the love of all that is good in this world, have him email me!!!!!!!!
Pat Tovo 1392 days ago
fuzzy lover
Geez, "Get Fuzzy" makes me laugh so loud, coffee comes out my nose. It's my tonic on a dreary day. Wanted to send my thanks to Darby, but he seems to be incognito...the comics Web site doesn't link to him. I have no AOL address like the rest of you. I'm a newbie to the strip, so I need to ask, what does V.V.S. on Rob's shirt stand for?
David Group 1452 days ago
a fan
i think get fuzzy is tha best comic in tha paper. it is nice to see that my bruther satchel is in a gud home, thogh thou tho i think that bucky the cat shud be put to sleep becuz he is so meen and picks on satchel alot
bosley
Heidi Strock 1429 days ago
So JEALOUS
Get Fuzzy is the ONLY comic I read. I read that same interview and was pleasantly surprised at how completely cute he is (yes, I sound 12, I know).
It inspired me to write my own blog entry on him. Though, it ended up being more about me, as my blog tends to go.
Still. I'd like him to be my boyfriend already.
Cassandra 1408 days ago
Bucky is my God.
I've changed religions - Bucky is now my God. *hails to all mighty god Bucky*
Seriously though, I only heard about Get Fuzzy when I saw it in one of those calendar stalls in a mall just before Christmas last year - and my only question is: how has this been kept a secret from me for so long?
Being a full blooded kiwi chick, the strips referring to the All Blacks are totally wicked. And Bucky doing the Haka... OMG! needless to say I have this print framed on my wall :D Darby if you read this, and you need any gear, I can send you whatever (or anyone else for that matter - GO BLACKS!!)
The most brilliant comic ever! *passes beer to Rob, pats Satchel, avoids Bucky coz he's lying pointy side up*
jeffrey 1475 days ago
The Dell Parody
I want to just add to all the others and show my appreciation on the "Dull Computers" series. It was really rib tickler especially since i have been part of that experience....
I love Get Fuzzy and read it religiously everyday. Keep up the great work Darby.
:)
Jeffrey
Elaine 1467 days ago
Dull Computers - Ouch
Ouch because sadly, his experience is real. Ouch because ... my husband works there.
There is one exception I take to the strips: techs do not refund money. Our job is to fix your broken hardware. Now, if you are a nice big corporation, you get to take to certified techs in America when you call for help. If you don't - well, it's anyone's guess where you will end up and the results will be about the same.
Also, the accents aren't faked. Most of customer care has been outsourced to India.
If Darby is writing about his own experience and still has not gotten his money back, tell him to write to michael_dell@dell.com - might even include links to the strips that he wrote about the experience. It will get results.
If not, I'll eat my Dull computer.
tom armstrong 1481 days ago
showing up DELL computers
I am one of the thousands that have had the sad, frustrating experience of trying to get help from a person that cannot speak intelligible english and, not by their own design, make it very difficult to get help. I give them credit for being nice (overly polite actually; it gets irritating) but I regert buying a Dell PC since i have had numerous problems with it and not much help from 'customer service'. I very much appreciate your recent strips on the obstacle courseus consumers have to try to maneuver thru after paying for a product that doesn't do what it was supposed to dop, according to the manufactuer's ads. It isn't limited to Dell but Dell is sure my worst experience so far.THANK YOU, Mr Conley!!!!!!!!!!
Brian Alvey 1481 days ago
Recalling my Darby Conley interview
Darby Conley was a voice-double for my Uncle Lynn. Both are guys you might want to hang out with at a barbecue. He sounded really laid back and humble about becoming a cartooning superstar.
It's amazing that people are searching for him and finding a blog entry I did back in April, but people are really identifying with this recent "Dull Computer" series of strips.
It reminds me of how everyone who worked with me at the Apple dealer when I was in college would clip Bill Amend's Foxtrots that showed how easy it was to install a Mac. That was years before Jeff Goldblum's "Step three? There is no step three." Apple ads -- and years before there was an Apple Store.
Lee 1477 days ago
mail for Satchel
Satchel seems so damned happy to receive mail...makes me want to send him some....wondering how I can do that...any ideas?
;)
Lee
Chris 1493 days ago
Well - what is it?
Please email me his aol email, a google on Darby Conley email @aol.com or just aol, or Darby Conley email finds nothing, now his about author page has also gone.
What is up with this guy? They beat Wales so hard I thought Greenpeace were gonna storm the field. I am Welsh. I almost pissed myself laughing! Can't even give him kudos.
Chris
Brian Alvey 1492 days ago
Great question
I can't find it in my email archives, but it was an AOL address and I know he got lots of fan mail (and spam) on that address so it wasn't kept a secret. All of my contact with him was through his syndicate or over the phone (him calling me).
Good luck!
Christine 1483 days ago
Appreciative reader
Having spent the better part of the last 2 weeks trying to get a Dell Computer representative to address my laptop issues, (which are still unresolved), I can't tell you how much the recent story line of Get Fuzzy has made me laugh. My frustrations with Dell pushed me to my breaking point and just then, the "Dull Computer" saga started in Get Fuzzy. Kudos!! It made me laugh over something that I never expected to laugh about.
Dena 1188 days ago
I so love get fuzzy. Also the picture of Patch in one of the books looks so much like my beloved Jaimee who has past on. I love Buckys comments. I almost wet my pants reading some of them. I have two cats and a dog. I always wonder what they are thinking about their corner of the world. I also love Rob's shirts. I collect teddy bears and Smacky is da bear. I live in a city in Iowa. They used to run 'Get Fuzzy'. But after the cartoon took a position on the current war the paper stopped running it. Despite many letters from me they still won't run it. Thank God I can get it emailed on my computer. 'Cuz I can't stand Beetle Bailey. Ugh. Thanks Darb for the best cartoon on pets since Garfield.
So Cal Willie 489 days ago
I just started reading Get Fuzzy a couple of mopnths ago i love it, Darby's use of Charlie Watts as a "coolometer" is briliant, keep up the good work
cathy loder 346 days ago
i just love darby's comic strip get fuzzy. i especially love the ones from their canadian vacation (what's a gnish and why do we hate them?) bucky is evilly adorable and satchel is so sweet but so dumb. keep up the great work and never stop doing this column.