Original Commentary
Terrence is writing this arc, thankfully. I have my hands filled with ND right now. When he wrote them, the first and last were in order, the rest were in a random order... so every time I'm about to start one, I'd have to ask Terrence is "the comic about so-and-so next?". But, in the end it all worked out, and for the most part the scripts are there.

Is Brisbane totally regretting not saying "Yes" then going out the next say to get gift cards for everyone? You betcha. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
So, Fibber McGee and Molly had one plots, with two variations: "Everybody comes by to visit the McGees, one at a time" and "The McGees go out and visit everybody".

Basically, a character shows up, they do their schtick, briefly touch on the episode's main point (eg. Fibber tries to bake a pie), and leave. Then the next character shows up and we repeat.

This is that kind of thing. We've got the frame of the story here. Then we come up with as many relevant gags as we can on the subject and choose the five best. Which is why we didn't have a running order until much later in the process- Terrence

Original Commentary
When Terrence was first writing this arc, his original idea was an arc completely about what Kimberly was going to get for her father for Christmas, since this was the first Christmas they have had together in a long time. I reminded Terrence that this was the second Christmas they had spent together, considering Brisbane and Kimberly were married in March (I could have sworn at the time they were married in November, so part of my solid gold case of "Why this is their second Christmas together" went flying out the window). Of course, it still worked out, and he still got to make a comic about it, so it all works out. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
I like Kimberly's line in the middle panel. She's been disappointed before by family. No point getting her hopes up for it to happen again - Terrence

Original Commentary
In every Phonix Wright game, there's a stepladder. When you examine it, you get dialogue very much like:
Phoenix: It's a ladder.
Maya: No, actually it's a step-ladder.
Phoenix: I wonder what the difference between a ladder and a step-ladder is, anyways.

I meant to include something very much like that in the second panel, but it got cut for space and because it'd seem too bizarre if you hadn't played the games. I don't want people to think "I guess it's supposed to be funny, but I don't get it" - Terrence

Modern Commentary
Lola is sweet and kind and understanding. And really, really bad about getting building maintenance done.

Our apartment complex at the time, was pretty good about maintenance when we reported things. Just a lot less personable. - Terrence

Original Commentary
This is a reference to this comic. I don't imagine that Sofia's gotten much better about buying presents for Kimberly or anyone else. My goal, throughout all of this, is to remind and reinforce character traits. I figure this says a lot about Brisbane, Sofia, and Kimberly - Terrence

Modern Commentary
We all know that Brisbane is going to end up providing the fifty bucks that Kimberly gives Sofia and the fifty bucks that Sofia gives Kimberly.

That's the price he's willing to pay to keep up the polite fiction that they get along. $75 each would be ostentatious and $100 each would be far too much - Terrence

Original Commentary
Terrence has been doing a lot of last-minute changes to these scripts... one of these days I'll remember to keep the first drafts around so I can share them with you. One of these days I'LL remind myself to do the same. X_X

Wow, Brisbane, that was almost a year ago- you really know how to hold a grudge. I applaud you! -Isabel

Modern Commentary
I wish we had the original script so I could tell you what the original commentary is talking about. Unfortunately, we I don't. Generally, I'd have my copy of the scripts file with its extra drafts and half-finished ideas, then I'd clean it up so Isabel had something that clearly showed which bits went where.

But that was several hard drives ago and I have no idea what happened to the drafts for this. But you've got to keep things a little organized - Terrence