About LCD
"LCD :: Lowest Common Denominator" is an Internet-based comic strip created and drawn by Bryan M. Richter. It chronicles the on- and off-camera lives of three female reporters at a television station in rural northeastern Oklahoma.
The comic was created in the spring of 1997 by Richter and copyrighted under his name in June 1997. The strip had a trial -- unpaid -- three-episode run in a Tulsa, Okla.-based tabloid, Urban Tulsa Weekly, in the fall of 1997. After a number of failed attempts to get the strip idea syndicated, Richter began posting the strip on the Internet in October 1998. The strip did run a number of episodes in late 1999 and early 2000 in a Tulsa-based weekly broadsheet, The Oklahoma Eagle.
Since its run on the Internet, the strip has focused more on current events, television news commentary and political humor, although a number of story lines have centered on a personal aspect of one or more of the characters.
Also known as "WLCD" and "The News Chicks," the comic reverted back to its original name in early 2006 to reflect an upcoming story line which would affect the fictitious station.
Lead characters
The three lead characters in "LCD" are reporter Raven Svoboda, senior news producer and co-anchorwoman Julie McIntyre and senior anchorwoman Terry Sligh.
Raven Svoboda
Vitals
Raven is a dark brunette, standing 5-foot-3 and weighing 120 pounds. Her build is solid and athletic. She has long, naturally tousled black hair and dark brown eyes. Her complexion is described as anywhere from "caramel" to "coffee with cream."
Family history
Raven Dawn Svoboda was born to Raymond and Lorinda (Bitar) Svoboda Oct. 31, 1976 in Prague, Okla. [Prague, a real town, pop. 2,100, is pronounced "praig."] She was born two weeks past due date during a thunderstorm-induced power failure. Lorinda, an English and drama teacher, was hosting a Halloween costume party at home at the time. As entertainment, Lorinda was reciting the Edgar Allen Poe poem "The Raven" when the lights went out. From this, Raven had her name.
Raven has a younger sister, Amber, born in 1979. Her paternal grandparents were immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia during World War II. Her paternal grandfather is recently deceased. Her maternal grandparents are of Czech, Syrian and Sac and Fox descent. Her maternal grandfather is a U.S. Army veteran from the Korean War.
Work history
Raven was a tomboy and an accomplished athlete growing up. She was destined for an athletic scholarship in fast-pitch softball when a freak injury ended those plans. While going for the scoreless inning record as a pitcher for her high school, a batted line drive shattered her left ankle. Despite successful reconstructive surgery, her athletic career was over.
While in convalescence and rehabilitation, Raven received a video camera as a gift from her father. Raven would use the camera to record her sister Amber's athletic accomplishments. This inspired Raven to go into journalism.
Instead of state university, Raven attended a private Catholic university in central Oklahoma, close to home. In the summer before her senior year, she interned at a local television station in New York City. While covering an assignment on an art gallery opening, she met fledgling artist Chelsea Chattan. They became good friends. [See the Internet comic "Clan of the Cats."]
She graduated from university with honors in journalism. She returned home to Prague work briefly on the town's public access cable channel before joining television station WLCD Channel 66 in Cushing, Okla. [Cushing, a real town, pop. 8,300, is roughly equidistant between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The fictitious station was originally named KLCD, but was changed when research found a KLCD already in existence as a public radio station in Decorah, Iowa. Early strips mentioning KLCD have since been altered.]
[Spoiler alert, effective with story line beginning mid-2006]
After years as a reporter and substitute anchorwoman, Raven was initially tapped to become a permanent weekend anchorwoman. However, a newly hired news consultant, citing conflicting market research on Raven, suggests reassigning Raven to the sports department.
[End spoiler]
Personality
Raven is a caring, centered, spiritual person -- spiritual but not overly religious. She believes that a higher power exists and that things happen for a reason -- although her faith was shaken after the terrorist bombings of Sept. 11, 2001. Raven is torn between loving the everyday challenges of her job and hating the constant interference of management. She believes journalism is losing its bite, that it should go back to being more hard-hitting and investigative. Raven is a staunch conservative politically, and is openly critical or sarcastic when she senses obfuscation.
Julie McIntyre
Recently promoted to producer-anchorwoman. In charge of the station's new 5 p.m. newscast. Optimistic, caring, open. A natural charmer, sometimes a flirt. Lethal with a pair of eyeglasses. Treats co-workers like extended family. Thinks of Raven as the younger sister she has always wanted, even though their political views are completely the opposite. Thinks television news should concentrate more on positive stories.
Vitals
Julianne Marie McIntyre was born Jan. 19, 1973 to James and Jillian (Patterson) McIntyre in Owasso, Okla. She stands 5-foot-7 and weighs 145 pounds. She has strawberry blonde hair and green eyes. She lives with her boyfriend Charlie Banks, a computer programmer, and her dog Scoop (Julianne Marie's Sir Cronkite of the Oklahoma Plain), a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. [More to follow.]
Terry Sligh
WLCD-66 anchorwoman since her senior year in high school. Popular among viewers. Sees Raven as a younger version of herself when she was Raven's age. Has seen changes, good and bad, to the news business. Hates the growing influence of the business side of it. Wants to move into management, freeing up time to ultimately start a family.
Vitals
Teresa Elizabeth Sligh was born in 1964 in Sapulpa, Okla. She stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 140 pounds. Her hair color fluctuates between medium and dark auburn. Her eyes are brown. She is single but has a boyfriend, Steve Forrester, a helicopter pilot and instructor. [More to follow.]
