Launched on January 7, 1970, "Baby Blues" is an American cartoon created by the writer Jerry Scott, who's biography I depicted in Zits - Part Two: Strip Writer, Chapter 11 of my Funny Pages book, and cartoonist Rick Kirkland.

Receiving the National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Comic Strip Award in 1995, Rick Kirkland also garnered their Reuben Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2012 for his efforts with "Baby Blues." In addition, Kirkland served as the co-executive producer of the animated television series Baby Blues on The WB television channel aired from July 28 to August 4, 2000.

Another five episodes of the animated Baby Blues were shown on Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network in 2002. The Canadian Rock band known as Barenaked Ladies provided the theme song "It's All Been Done" for the animated Baby Blues television adaptation.

A humorous illustrator prior to "Baby Blues," Kirkland's work appeared in multiple magazines including the Saturday Review, Good Housekeeping, the Saturday Evening Post, Parents Magazine, Redbook, Money Magazine, and on the Children's Television Workshop. Some of Kirkland's past clients were the Bic Corporation (known for their lighters, shavers, and stationary), America West Airlines, Campbells Soup, Best Western Motels, and Ramada Inn Motels.

Focusing on the MacPherson family, consisting of Darryl, Wanda, Zoe, Hamish (Hammie), and Wren, the first "Baby Blues" strip took place in the hospital room soon after Zoe's birth. "Baby Blues" was first syndicated by Creators Syndicate from 1990 to 1995. This publisher was the original syndicate to allow cartoonists ownership rights to their work. "Baby Blues" was then syndicated by King Features from 1995 to 2022, and by Andrews McMeel from 2022 to the present.

Additional families "Baby Blues" centers around are:

-Bunny, who all main adult characters dislike because she is viewed as self-seeking and tasteless.
-Butch, who is Bunny's divorced husband
-their three children Bogart, Wendell John, and Wendell Jon (these two are twins who strip characters can not tell the difference between, including their own mother Bunny)

-Yolanda, and her husband Mike, who are close friends of Darryl and Wanda MacPherson
-their two children Keesha and Dziko (better known as Dizzy)

Sally, and Snoopy, from "Peanuts" have made a cameo appearance on "Baby Blues."

To date, there have been forty scrapbooks, eight treasuries, two compilations, and three gift books featuring "Baby Blues."

Next Time: "Family Circus" Writer Bil Keane

Coming Attraction: "Family Circus" Writer And Main Character Jeff Keane