News Release

Jim Davis Tells All in 30th Anniversary Q&A

Kansas City, MO  (06/11/2008)  Jim Davis will celebrate his 30th anniversary of creating "Garfield" on Thursday, June 19.

The big cat made his first appearance in the comics on June 19, 1978 in just 41 U.S. newspapers.

"Garfield" was the fastest-growing comic strip ever, eclipsing the 2000 newspaper zenith in just 9 years, according to Davis' company PAWS. Only two other strips, "Peanuts" and "Blondie," share a similar distinction.

Today, "Garfield" is the most widely syndicated comic strip in the world with over 200 million readers each day. Over 2,400 newspapers carry the strip and it's translated in 45 languages. Davis has written 10,950 "Garfield" strips.

Below is a Q&A prepared by his syndicate, Universal Press Syndicate, with Davis' candid answers. (Editors can reach Kathie Kerr to request art and interviews at kkerr@amuniversal.com or 800-255-6734, ext. 6945.)

Q: What’s the worst/most miserable job you ever had to do?

A: "Bailing hay is one of the most miserable jobs on the face of the earth. It’s always hot. The bails are always heavy. The hay chaff sticks to you and makes you itchy. You can never seem to get clean at the end of the day. NOTHING seems like work after having bailed hay."

Q: What’s your worst airplane/airport experience?

A: "I was flying to a conference of college and university presidents to deliver the keynote address. Denver was socked in, so we had to put down in Colorado Springs. The airport was so full, we had to park in a restricted area reserved for military aircraft. We weren’t allowed to leave the plane. So, there we sat on the tarmac with no food, no water and no phones for nine hours. I missed my speech. We were finally bussed to Denver and dropped off to fend for ourselves with no help from the airline. Oh, did I mention the airline was United?"

Q: You’ve been drawing Garfield for 30 years now. Looking back, what was the most exciting event that happened during your career with regards to the strip?

A: "While it can’t be considered an event, being embraced by the readers is what I’ve found most exciting about doing the strip. The knowledge that my effort is entertaining someone gets me out of bed in the morning. It’s a heady experience!"

Q: What’s the last time you laughed out loud over a comic strip that another cartoonist did?

A: "It was just a few weeks ago. The strip is PVP (Player vs. Player) by Scott Kurtz. His timing is flawless. PVP isn’t in newspapers, it’s online! Some of the sharpest stuff is being done online by some very talented, young artists. They keep me looking over my shoulder."

Q: Why doesn’t Garfield ever get to be a taster on those HGTV cooking challenges?

A: "Garfield isn’t a taster; he’s an eater. Maybe if they came up with a show called 'Binging with Emeril'…"

Q: If you were a bottle of wine, what would you be?

A: "I’d be an old burgundy because that stuff tastes funny to me."

Q: What’s your favorite vacation spot?

A: "Napa. (wife) Jill and I enjoy it very much. It’s romantic, the restaurants are great and the wine is fabulous."

Q: If you were Roger Ebert and could give any movie the very worse review you could give (double thumbs down), what would it be? What about the best one you've ever seen (other than the Garfield movies, of course!)?

A: "The worst movie ever? Dead Man Walking. It sapped all of the joy out of my being. However, I did get a little joy out of walking out on it. They did zap Sean Penn didn’t they?

I judge movies by what I call their LPM (laughs per minute). The movie with the highest LPM ever is Airplane. Every time I see it I laugh so hard I hurt!"

Q: If you could make one book for high school students mandatory, what would it be?

A: "James Michener’s Hawaii. This book uses individual experiences to symbolize the struggle of various races to establish themselves in the Hawaiian Islands. This book introduces you to characters who represent the best and the worst in human nature. I felt like I understood the world a little better after reading Hawaii. Oh, and it’s 937 pages. Any high school student who wades through a book that long will be better for it."

Q: Would you finance a start up Internet Company featuring a FaceBook for pets?

A: "No way! Cats are rude enough as it is. Can you imagine how cruel they’d be online?"

Q: Did you ever consider another name for Garfield other than the name of your grandfather?

A: "I originally planned to call the strip Jon, the adventures of a single guy who owns a cat. However, every time I wrote a gag, the cat got the punch line. I couldn’t write around the stupid cat. I finally had to admit that the cat had the dominant personality (and ego), so I named the strip Garfield, the adventures of a cat who owns a single guy."

Q: Who are you endorsing for President of the United States?

A: "It’s times like this that I really miss Pat Paulsen."

Q: Can you ever have too much money?

A: "I don’t have an opinion on that one… ask Ed McMahon."

Q: Will there ever be a time and will you ever reach an age where you begin to travel or pursue other interests and completely turn Garfield and the gang over to the care and supervision of others?

A: "I envision letting the day-to-day tasks go to other staffers while I’ll always continue to do the strip, at least until someone says, 'Uh, Davis, you’re losing the young readers with the liver spot jokes.' "

Q: If you were whisked away by aliens to serve as a dictator for a planet light years away, would the business of Garfield continue here on earth without you?

A: "Is that a cute way of asking, 'Will the strip continue after you’re dead?' In a word, 'Yes.' For as long as Garfield can continue to make people smile, I hope we have someone to do well by him."

Q: We know that you have two grown sons and a daughter and several grandkids. Did your kids or your grandkids ever take you or the giant costumed Garfield to show and tell?

A: "Garfield and I have never been to a show and tell. However, Garfield has been in a line-up. It was after a break-in at a local Dunkin’ Donuts. Oh, and I do have three perfect grandchildren. To my knowledge, none of them have broken into a donut store."

Q: We know at one time you had a dog named Molly; any pets now? If so, what are their names?

A: "We have Pooky and Nermal at the house. Pooky is a Yorkie who thinks he’s a Great Dane. Nermal is tiger cat who thinks he’s a Yorkie. At my office, I have a tiger cat named Spunky. She loves to eat. In the winter months, her name is Chunky."

Q: Of course you may not even like animals. Cartoon ones are much easier to take care of than the real things with their stinky litter boxes. Come on, you can tell us--do you even like cats and dogs?

A: "I LOVE cats and dogs!

(I have to… I work for them.)"

Q: What do you want to say to the thousands of newspaper editors out there who have continued to subscribe to Garfield for years and years?

A: “Thanks for your support. I hope I’ve helped make your readers as loyal to you as you’ve been to me.”

Q: What do you want to say to the millions of fans who love Garfield dearly?

A: "What I always say in the answers to their letters, 'I’ll do my best to keep you entertained.' "

Q: What little known fact about Garfield to you know that many of us don’t? For example, we’ve heard, but we can’t confirm, that in Garfield’s early years there was an increase in people seeking orange tabby cats, making them a much sought after item. How cool is that if it’s true?

A: "30 years ago dogs outnumbered cats in American households, now, cats outnumber dogs. Coincidence? I think not.

Here’s something nobody knows (until now): Years ago I did another strip called U.S. Acres. When I ended the feature, one character refused to retire. When Jon and Garfield visit the farm today, look in the background. Sometimes Roy the rooster peeks out from behind a tree and waves."

Q: What scares you?

A: "The shanks." (A reference to a golf swing that produces embarrassing results.)

Q: You’ve always been so laid back about people who do parodies or who poke fun at Garfield. What gives? Isn’t some righteous anger in order?

A: "Hey, if nobody cared, there would be no parodies. I’ll take the parodies."

Creator(s): Jim Davis

Contact(s): Kathie Kerr

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