Off-scene director: Ok comic strip characters, this show will start with or without you.
Off-scene director: We will not be intimidated by your absence.
Off-scene director: Huh oh, the producer...
Off-scene producer: Why did you start this series without any characters?
Off-scene director: Contractual dispute, they want more money.
Off-scene producer: How can airing comic strips without characters be any good?
Off-scene director: Negociation tactic. The characters will feel less important than they think.
Off-scene director: Ok comic strip characters, I have a clear mandate to bring you on board.
Off-scene character: How much will we get paid?
Off-scene director: Not much, but you risk total non-existence if you refuse.
Off-scene character: We'll think about it.
Off-scene producer: What about that big star we were about to hire?
Off-scene director: He used us to renegotiate a larger contract with his current employer.
Off-scene director: Though business.
Off-scene director: And who might you be?
Off-scene assistant: I'm your newly appointed comic strip stage assistant.
Off-scene director: I obviously had too much to manage.
Off-scene director: I see that you are a woman.
Off-scene assistant: How observing of you.
Off-scene director: Funny. It's for the benefit of our audience.
Off-scene assistant: You need more help than I thought
Off-scene director: I always play though when trying to negociate with characters
Off-scene assistant: Yes, I've noticed the fruits of your brilliant tactic
Off-scene assistant: Why didn't you mention that the producer was also a woman?
Off-scene director: Because you were going to do so in this comic strip
Off-scene assistant: I need to lay down
Off-scene director: That does it! If no characters want to go on stage then I'll do it myself.
Off-scene assistant: What's wrong?
Off-scene director: Stage fright
Off-scene director: The name's Bond, James Bond
Off-scene assistant: What are you doing?
Off-scene director: Trying to build self-confidence before going on stage.
Off-scene assistant: Still have stage fright?
The director mumbles unclear words.
Off-scene director: Darn stage fright
Off-scene assistant: Old trick. Imagine going in front of naked comic strip readers.
Off-scene director screaming: Aaarghh!
Off-scene director: I realize that my desire to go on stage was partly ego-oriented.
Off-scene assistant: Don't worry. Your stage fright probably did your ego a favor.
Off-scene director: That does not help at all.
Off-scene assistant: You're welcome.
Off-scene director: Huh oh, the producer again...
Off-scene producer: I thought the comic characters' labor dispute was resolved.
Off-scene director: They have cold feet about having their career associated forever with us.
Off-scene assistant: I have a suggestion to improve the series.
Off-scene producer: Who is she?
Off-scene director: The new comic strip assistant you hired to help me out.
Off-scene producer: Hi there. Though job. You deserve a raise.
Off-scene assistant: Thanks. Now if you'll excuse me.
Off-scene assistant: Any progress with the character negociations?
Off-scene assistant: Never mind
Off-scene director: Perhaps you could go on stage.
Off-scene assistant: It's not part of my contract.
Off-scene director: Your contract is to help me out.
Off-scene assistant: And to help you sign clearer contracts.
A reader's letter: Dear PsyZoo author, when will you be moving on with some real characters?
Off-scene director: Weird. This sounds more like a prayer.
Off-scene assistant: To a higher being that probably does not exist
Off-scene director: For those who are not yet sure about who we are...
Off-scene producer: I'm the comic strip producer (and big boss)
Off-scene director: I'm the comic strip director
Off-scene assistant: I'm the director's assistant
Off-scene from the bottom of the scene: I'm nobody
Off-scene director: Please comic strip characters, don't quit on me a second time
Off-scene director: Please comic strip characters, don't quit on me a third time
Off-scene director: The producer urges us to present our new characters
Off-scene assistant: But we don't have any characters hired yet
Off-scene director: I'm starting to question your attitude
Off-scene director: Oh no, here comes the producer again
Off-scene producer: I thought you said we had some characters hired?
Off-scene director thinking: I need a good lie...quick
Off-scene director: They telecomute
Off-scene director: The producer is considering cutting our comic strip budget
Off-scene assistant: What? we have a budget?
Off-scene director: Charlie Brown accepted to appear in our comic strips
Off-scene assistant: That's great news!'
Off-scene director: ... but only if we pay him millions of dollars plus luxury spa retreats every weekend
Off-scene assistant: Wow. These never-aging comic strip stars are so spoiled in real life
Off-scene director: Apparently, people in the entertainment business have a greater psychological need to be admired.
Off-scene assistant: I sure hope that's not our case.
Off-scene director: We need to increase our female viewership.
Off-scene assistant: How about having something to view first ?
Off-scene director: Do you always need to be such a rational geek?
Off-scene assistant: It's funnier with a male audience.
Off-scene director: Darn, the lights just went off
Off-scene assistant: We never show anything anyhow
Off-scene director: Good point
Off-scene director: I did it!
Off-scene assistant: Did what? Can't see a thing.
Off-scene director: I overcame my stage fright
Off-scene director: The producer urges us to present the new characters
Off-scene assistant: But we don't have any characters hired yet
Off-scene director: I'm starting to question your attitude
Off-scene director: We make the best comic strips in the world
Off-scene assistant: You can't be serious
Off-scene director: I seriously need another confidence boost
Off-scene director: What if we make our comic strips in 3d
Off-scene assistant: There you go...
Off-scene assistant: Nothingness in 3d
Off-scene director: What if we add a fourth square to our comic strips.
Off-scene assistant: I'm not sure this qualifies as an improvement
A reader's letter: Dear PsyZoo Team, you dudes rock! You're able to make pathetic look cool.
Off-scene assistant: Humm, I suppose that was a compliment...
Off-scene director: What a great comic strip season we're having!
Off-scene assistant: Another self-confidence boost?
Off-scene director: No, trying to play on the fear-of-missing-out to hire characters
Off-scene assistant: I can already imagine them aligning at our studio's door.
Off-scene nobody: Would you happen to have a none-character job?
Off-scene director: Maybe, but you would need to start at the bottom of the ladder
Off-scene nobody: I somehow already got that impression.
Off-scene director: Please don't!
Off-scene director: That's the most action we had in a while
Off-scene assistant: Like forever
Off-scene assistant: Will we be doing scary comic strips?
Off-scene director: Ok, I'll let the new janitor know that the stage can be cleaned now.
Off-scene director: Ok, who's the wise guy doing puppet shadows with the comic strip's projector?
Off-scene assistant: Huh... hi everyone
Off-scene director: Why the urge to waste comic strip templates?
Off-scene assistant: What's up with that?
Off-scene director: A negociation tactic I've read in a book to entice characters to work with us
Off-scene assistant: Possible you've made a too literal interpretation of the advice?
Off-scene director: Shh... we must also show strong support between team members.