Scott Meyer

How to Handle the Unexpected

Added 2025-06-16 07:00:07 +0000 UTC

Back in the original run, Mullet Boss played the trombone. I took the trombone away from him and thrust it upon Rick for three reasons:

1. Mullet Boss doesn’t really show up anymore. I didn’t deliberately choose to write him and the angry client out of the comic; it’s just that I don’t work in a traditional office or deal directly with customers anymore. I am self-employed, and the closest thing I have to either customers or direct supervisors is you all, the patrons reading this commentary. For the most part, you are all reasonable, which is good for my quality of life, but makes it challenging to come up with ideas for comics about unreasonable bosses and clients.

2. Trombone was too rich a vein of humor to pass up. I avoid doing strips that involve ribald “bone” puns, but even without them, the trombone is an inherently funny instrument. It’s flashy. It looks kind of silly, with its big slide. It calls to mind guys in straw hats and matching vests. And it's used to make humorous sound effects.

3. The real Ric plays the trombone, and most of the trombone humor I come up with stems from actual conversations he and I have. He has a healthy sense of humor about the trombone, because you would have to.