A Week of Highs and Lows for 'Sylvia'

By: Dave Astor It was the best of times and the worst of times this week for "Sylvia" creator Nicole Hollander.

The good news: Her name was an answer on Tuesday's "Jeopardy!" broadcast. "I was tickled," Hollander told E&P. "It was a dream come true to be on 'Jeopardy!,' even though I had never dreamed it!"

The bad news: The Oregonian of Portland, in a note to readers about comics changes it's contemplating, described "Sylvia" as "probably the most disliked strip we run based on reader opinions we receive."

Hollander said it's upsetting that some readers and editors find it hard to accept a strip like "Sylvia" that makes comics pages more diverse. Why don't they accept the strip? "It teases the government," she replied. "It's political. It bothers people to have everything questioned. And a woman is delivering [this message]. Sylvia is a very flamboyant woman. I wouldn't call her aggressive, but she's ironic." Many people, Hollander said, are still uncomfortable with outspoken women.

The Oregonian said it was considering dropping "Sylvia" and several other strips, and asked readers whether they agreed or would rather see other comics dropped.

In addition to "Sylvia," The Oregonian named "Judge Parker," "Peanuts," and "Cathy" as comics that might go. The paper described "Judge Parker" as "the last of the old-time serial strips and a reminder of the days long past of newspaper comics." It said "Peanuts" was "perhaps the most popular strip ever but now in reruns since the death of its beloved creator." And The Oregonian described "Cathy" as "venerable, but, readers tell us, pretty tired."

The paper is testing several new comics starting this Monday in place of "Sylvia," "Judge Parker," "Peanuts," and "Safe Havens." ("Cathy" will continue running at least until its title character gets married next month.) Already being tested is the newly syndicated "Brevity" as a replacement for "That's Life."

One person who e-mailed The Oregonian (and sent a copy to Hollander) said sarcastically: "By all means then, cancel 'Sylvia.' We wouldn't want the only thing that makes me laugh out loud each day, saying, 'Yup, she gets it,' make ... right-wingers have upset tummies."

"Sylvia" appears in about 50 newspapers via Tribune Media Services.