Frankie Manning (1914-2009)

Of the many, many Brooklyn Emilys I know, at least two have memorialized the innovative and much-loved Lindy Hop aerialist Frankie Manning. Here's Emily Gordon. The other Emily used Facebook to share a fond memory of dancing with Manning at his 85th birthday party. I believe this is video from that event, held at Roseland.



Source (4:17)


And here's more of a glimpse of how Frankie liked to celebrate his birthdays. I'm glad I learned about him from the Emilys!



Source (2:56)

Name That Punctuation!

Readers of Blog About Town tend to enjoy contests and typography, so I want to make sure that all of you are aware of a punctuation-naming event at Emdashes, which is itself named after punctuation.

The challenge is to come up with a name for the upside-down question mark familiar in Spanish.

So far I'm especially impressed by Carolita Johnson's quiggle, which sounds delightfully naughty to me. My own suggestion is interroflip, a spin on interrobang.

So I suppose the upside-down exclamation mark might be called a bangflip or a flipbang.

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION COVERAGE CONTINUES!

Before tending to the caption contest results, I'd like to direct your attention to the winners of the Eustace Tilley contest. Fascinating—as is this link to Tilley history.


In Caption Contest 129 (Leo Cullum's patient with figure in diving suit), the winner is

"I wanted you to meet our colon specialist before we miniaturized him."
Thomas Fox (Houston, TX)

That's a fourth win for Texas, and a second win for Houston.


In the coming weeks, you can expect some real drama. Currently California and New York share the top spot in the competition, but in Caption Contest 130 one of the states might take the lead—or Colorado might steal the thunder. Then something's just gotta give in Caption Contest 131 (Mick Stevens's rain of safes), which is exclusively a contest between the two front-runners:

"And tomorrow there's a twenty-per-cent chance of anvils."
Richard Jones (Pasadena, CA)

"Great. Safes everywhere, and I'm on probation."
Blythe Million (Santa Monica, CA)

"Every time I wash the car."
Jessie Birks (New York, NY)

Thanks to Jessie for pointing this out. (See Jessie's comment here.)

My sentimental loser:

"Remember when it only rained pennies?"

In Anti-Caption Contest 132 (Mongol(?) swordsman threatening breakfast toast), the winner is

"It made me hot when you called me 'dirty whore' last night. But this is today, and I'd really prefer it if you just called me mom."
Shawn

My losers:

"You put the 'hun' in hunger, Hunter. Which is nothing compared to what I will put into your country's economy if you'll let me set up brothels there."

"So what if you're gluten-free. A slice of bread won't kill you."

"So the Giants won. No need to take it out on my breakfast, Tom."

Caption Contest 133 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 133 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

20 California
20 New York (17 from the Big Apple)

11 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania
6 Virginia (three from NOVA, two from Richmond, one from Charlottesville)

5 Connecticut (two from New Haven, three not)
5 Illinois (four from Chicago—two captions by Lawrence Wood, two drawings by Leo Cullum)

4 Maryland (none named Mary)
4 Texas (two from Houston)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 Florida
2 Michigan
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Utah
2 Vermont

1 Alabama
1 Alaska
1 Arizona
1 Delaware
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION COVERAGE CONTINUES!

The winner of Caption Contest 126 (David Sipress's human head in Mondrianesque artwork) is

"Pardon me, can you draw clothes?"
Tom Tyler (Alexandria, VA)

Of Virginia's six wins, that's the fourth since Caption Contest 109. The state is now in a three-way tie for third place.

In Caption Contest 128 (Carolita Johnson's big ol' dog in living room), the nominees are very Metropolitan Area, which doesn't bode well for front-runner California:

"Don't look at me that way—I wanted a giant cat."
Kristopher Wood (Brooklyn, NY)

"Well, what did you think a labrapotamus was?"
Peter Schooff (New York, NY)

"I'll walk, you shovel."
Zachary Phelps (Laurence Harbor, NJ)

My loser is the old-school

"His bulk is worse than his bite."

In Anti-Caption Contest 129 (Leo Cullum's patient with doctor and figure in deep-sea diving suit), the winner is:

"No, you’re just hallucinating. Just kidding – he’s really there. Just kidding again – you’re really hallucinating. Ha! I love this game!"
Deborah

My loser:

"We'd like to take a 365-day urine sample, if that's all right with you."

Caption Contest 130 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 130 is here.


In other news, The New Yorker now has a Cartoonist of the Month blog, currently featuring Mick Stevens, who's doing a great job. (Thanks, Emdashes!)


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

20 California
20 New York (17 from the Big Apple)

10 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania
6 Virginia (three from NOVA, two from Richmond, one from Charlottesville)

5 Connecticut (two from New Haven, three not)
5 Illinois (four from Chicago—two captions by Lawrence Wood, two drawings by Leo Cullum)

4 Maryland (none named Mary)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio
3 Texas

2 District of Columbia
2 Florida
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Utah
2 Vermont

1 Alabama
1 Alaska
1 Arizona
1 Delaware
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Michigan
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

Before moving along to this week's winners and nominees, here's a nod to Erik Gunther's thorough interview with Emily "Emdashes" Gordon over at Yahoo! Picks.

And now for the main course....

In Caption Contest 119 (Danny Shanahan's businessman in large cradle), the winner is

"If he wakes up, you can give him a Martini."
Alan Schulman (Richmond, VA)

That makes two winners in a row from Virginia, which is now in fourth place. Va-va-voom!


New York, long in second place, now seems perched to provide a real challenge to front-runner California—especially if Lynn Tudor finally enters the winner's circle. That's because the nominees in Caption Contest 121 (Harry Bliss's "funny glasses" factory) are

"This part of the job is easy—it's the whoopee-cushion testing that annoys me."
Eric Lindstrom (Ithaca, NY)

"Yeah, that one's funny, too. Next."
James Keegan (Milton, DE)

"I'm just glad we don't make lingerie."
Steven Scher (Bronx, NY)

My appallingly clumsy loser:

"If only the masses understood the hard work behind their laughter."

On reflection, I think I should've gone with

"It wasn't even funny the first time."

In Anti-Caption Contest 120 (P.C. Vey's judge doing dishes), the winner is

"As a liberal judge, I need to keep my hands soft so those slaps on the wrist don't hurt too much. That's why I use Palmolive. It's more than just mild, it softens hands while you do the dishes. Palmolive: tough on grime, but soft on crime!"
Walt

My crude loser:

"Anyone who needs to take a piss while I'm doing the dishes can use the urinal on my left."

Caption Contest 123 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 123 is here.


And the latest on the Thanksgiving cartoon contests can be found here and here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

20 California

18 New York (16 from the Big Apple)

10 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

5 Virginia (two from Richmond)

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)
4 Illinois (three from Chicago, one from Lake Bluff)
4 Maryland (none named Mary)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio
3 Texas

2 District of Columbia
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Utah
2 Vermont

1 Alabama
1 Alaska
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Michigan
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

Let's hear it for Brooklyn women! The winner of Caption Contest 113 (Harry Bliss hotel maid with gun outside door) is

"Oh, now you want to talk, when all week it was 'Do Not Disturb.'"
Diane Ferraro (Brooklyn, NY)

So second-place New York keeps pace with first-place California, while poor New Jersey wallows in third place, winless since Caption Contest 88.


In Caption Contest 115 (Leo Cullum's man in radiation suit in bar), the nominees are perhaps more distinctive than usual.

"Ever have the feeling you forgot to turn something off?"
Preston Thomas (Chicago, IL)

"The way I see it, I'm the miner and you're the canary."
Melissa Muntyan (Tampa, FL)

"Trust me, background radiation—it's the new secondhand smoke."
James Gamble III (New York, NY)

My loser:

"Are you sure there are no peanuts?"

In Anti-Caption Contest 116 (Gahan Wilson's cartoonist aliens), the winner is

"Ha! That’s brilliant! Of course we’ll run it - thanks for submitting! Do you have any others?"
Deborah

My losers:

"I don't care what Mr. Shawn would think. You're fired! And by the way, where did you get your turtle neck? I'm starving!"

"I know I'm new at this, but don't you think a caveman would be funnier?"

"Looks like you had a great vacation! So why the big frown?"

John Bucher of Emdashes interviews Caption Contest 111 winner David Wood here.


Caption Contest 117 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 117 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

20 California

17 New York (15 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)
4 Maryland (none named Mary)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio
3 Virginia

2 District of Columbia
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Vermont

1 Alabama
1 Alaska
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Michigan
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

We can now welcome Michigan to the Winners Circle thanks to Caption Contest 111 (near-naked man wearing shoes and socks):

"On second thought, it's more of a sandals day."
David Wood (Marquette, MI)

(As for winner Montana (James Montana, that is), John Bucher of Emdashes offers a charming interview here.)


In Caption Contest 113 (hotel cleaning woman with gun), the nominees come from front-runners California and New York.

"Oh, now you want to talk, when all week it was 'Do Not Disturb'."
Diane Ferraro (Brooklyn, NY)

"The time is 11:59. You have one minute to check out."
Lance Dickson (San Jose, CA)

"I can fluff your pillow the easy way or the hard way."
James Gendron (Syracuse, NY)

My loser:

"Someone's about to be 'disturbed.'"

Pretty close to Diane Ferraro's nominee, don't you think?


In Anti-Caption Contest 114 (Drew Dernavich lifeguard talking with woman while perched near giant cloud-enshrouded tower), the winner is

"That's the tower for your fucking cell phones, so you fucking out-of-towners don't have to suffer through five fucking minutes of being without your precious fucking cell phones. However, please note that despite my obvious contempt for your privileged lifestyle, I will still save you from drowning, should it come to that."
Francis

My losers:

"It is true that I am a lifeguard, but there is also a greater lifeguard, One who guards the lives of all lifeguards. Even though this Great Lifeguard cannot be seen, I have a deep and abiding faith in His higher presence. Would you like a pamphlet? It's waterproof."

"That's right. It’s the ill-fated lifeguard tower-to-nowhere project."

"Please move out of my line of sight. I’m on duty."

"For some obscure reason I want to call you Didi."

And I shan't let this pass without acknowledging these from B'nai the K:

On my nose? Zinc oxide. And (snif) coke.

I wasn't really into swimming as a kid. But do you remember this band called BLOTTO?

OK, let me see if I've got this right. A "caveman" wandered over from the comic strip "B.C.," went into that outhouse, slammed the door shut, stank it up something awful, and apparently wiped his ass with the pages of the Koran? Here are the two biggest things wrong with your story. First, this is the New Yorker, not the New York Post -- we don't carry "B.C." or any strip that Johnny Hart creates, and we never have. Second, though you'd be forgiven for thinking so, this actually isn't the New Yorker CAVEMAN Cartoon (Anti-)Caption Contest, they just got lazy and used caveman scenarios several times over a short period, so no, you don't have to make up stuff about cavemen who don't even appear in the drawing. And finally, you know, I'm not the caveman police, I'm not the outhouse police, I'm not the cartoon p.c. police. I'm just the lifeguard. See what it says right here? "Lifeguard."

Caption Contest 115 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 115 is here—with prizes!


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

19 California

16 New York (14 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)
4 Maryland (none named Mary)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio
3 Virginia

2 District of Columbia
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Vermont

1 Alabama
1 Alaska
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Michigan
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION!

This week there's a pause in the proceedings, so I will settle for noting the recent upsurge in caveman cartoons:

Contest 69 (Drawing by Mick Stevens)
Contest 91 (Drawing by Frank Cotham)
Contest 108 (Drawing by Michael Maslin)
Contest 112 (Drawing by Frank Cotham)

Maybe it has something to do with the outlook for real estate in New York.

Elsewhere in Captionland, Emdashes continues to offer great interviews with the winners, and I'm finally noting that Dan Radosh noted that giantess fetishists finally noticed Anti-Caption Contest 77.


Caption Contest 112 is still here. Anti-Caption Contest 112 is still here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

19 California

16 New York (14 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)
4 Maryland (none named Mary)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Vermont
2 Virginia

1 Alabama
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

OMG! This has turned out to be an unusually interesting time in Captionistan!! At least for me!!!

Over in Anti-Caption Contest 110 (ambulatory patient observes nurse pushing crash-test dummy in wheelchair), the winner is

"It seems incredibly unfair to me that a lifeless dummy gets to ride in a wheelchair while we humans are forced to walk."
Meatbomb

However, one of my own submissions made it to the Finalist spot! That would be

"I hear the nurse screws him all night long."

I think that's the best I've done so far, so naturally I'm very proud of that caption. Still, I wouldn't want to neglect my loser:

"Either I'm NUTS, or he's got a couple of loose SCREWS!"

Meanwhile, in Caption Contest 109 (aircraft passenger seated next to giant microbe), Contest 73 winner Colin Nissan has resurfaced among the candidates:

"I hate connecting through Roswell."
James Montana (Arlington, VA)

"This guy's wife lets him drink on the plane!"
Shawn Broderick (Cottage Grove, OR)

"I don't care if he's single-celled, he should have bought two seats."
Colin Nissan (Brooklyn, NY)

So watch your back, two-time weekly winner Carl Gable!

And my loser?

"Next time you get the middle seat."

At Caption Contest 107 (man with beer and dog near woman teaching equations to cat), the winner could only have been from top-two states California or New York. When the dust settled, the Golden State had taken the prize with

"You want to impress me? Drive to the store and get me more beer."
Ken Hoffman (Los Gatos, CA)

So that gives California a 19-16 lead over New York, with New Jersey trailing in third place with 9 wins.


In other news, Emdashes drew my attention to the Mick Stevens's collection of "First OK" stories of New Yorker cartoonists. And I note that, on the West Coast, Ben of I Can't Believe It's Not Better! conducts his own caption contest coverage.


Caption Contest 110 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 110 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

19 California

16 New York (14 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Maryland (none named Mary)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Vermont
2 Virginia

1 Alabama
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

In Caption Contest 106 (lab monkey at typewriter), the winner is

"Have you considered writing this story in the third monkey rather than the first monkey?"
Robert Gray (Manchester Center, VT)

That's the second win for Vermont.


In Caption Contest 108 (caveman sweeping outside garage-like structure), the nominees are:

"He needed a place to park his wheel."
Ruthie Hayden (Owensboro, KY)

"Yeah, but the weirdest thing was, once he built it I suddenly felt compelled to give him a list of things to do around it."
Stephen Fielder (Arlington, TX)

"He's always thinking outside the rock."
Jonathan Williams (Owings Mills, MD)

My loser was another experiment in verbosity:

"Sweeping the ash is a pain, but just imagine how bad the shoveling must have been during the Ice Age."

In Anti-Caption Contest 109 (man seated next to giant microbe on plane), the winner is

"I don't trust that Arab guy sitting back there."
Harry

My losers:

"The cilia tickle my ear. It's driving me nuts!"

"I've heard of viral advertising, but this is disgusting!"

"I told her not to drink the water, but she just had to learn for herself."

Caption Contest 110 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 110 is here.


In related news, the Los Angeles Times reports (and Emdashes notes) that The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Game is now available at Target.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

18 California

16 New York (14 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Maryland (none named Mary)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Vermont
2 Virginia

1 Alabama
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

Thanks again to Emdashes, this time for linking to Blog About Town's second, invaluable, guide to the first 100 winning New Yorker weekly cartoon captions.

And now, on to the latest results!


The winner of the Caption Contest 102 (two dogs watching dog toss stick) is

"He's his own best friend."
Jennifer Iverson (Santa Ynez, CA)

The nominees for Caption Contest 104 (cop car passing "bum" angels amidst clouds) are

"Except here it's always good cop, good cop."
Gary Rawitz (New York, NY)

"They have a really hard time meeting their quota."
Elizabeth Goldberg (Amenia, NY)

"I don't mind cops, but you'd think God would have let in at least one exhaust specialist."
Andy Leighton (Arlington, VA)

My loser?

I don't have access to it now, but I'm workin' on it! Nudge me if you feel like it. Ah yes: "They used to patrol Hell's Kitchen."

In Anti-Caption Contest 105 (Tom Cheney's picture of a tidal wave in a built-in pool), the winner is

"Let's get another lawn chair to go with the chaise longue, I says. No, you says, I'll just bring one out from the dining room when I want to sit by the pool. What about when it rains, I says. Oh, I'll be sure to take it in so it never gets wet, you says. Well I hope you're happy now, cheapskate!!!"
Vance

My loser:

"Looks like Al Gore was right--and it’s all Cheney’s fault!"

"Can’t you ever tear yourself away from the Tube?"

Caption Contest 106 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 106 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

18 California

15 New York (13 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Maryland (none named Mary)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Alabama
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

Thanks to Emdashes, Radosh, and Andrew Sullivan's The Daily Dish for sharing in last Monday's 100th winner posts! It was good to mull over the feedback, which ranged from fervid applause to caustic criticism. As I mentioned, there's more to come...probably later this month.


Also last week, Emdashes posted another fun interview, this time with Contest 99 winner David Wilkner.


Davids had won Caption Contests 99 and Caption Contest 100, but that "streak" came to an end with Caption Contest 101 (man in suit talking with priest, cop, and fireman on ledge), won by

"Excuse me—does this joke need a lawyer?"
Eric Friedenwald-Fishman (Portland, OR)

So Oregon now has two winners, both from Erics from Portland.


There's something funny about the nominees for Caption Contest 103 (birdwatchers observing bird wearing "truss"). The nominee

"It's a thongbird"
Sandy Sommer (St. Louis, MO)

is a lot like Anti-Caption Contest 103 finalist

"No, theriouthly, it'th a thongbird. With a T."
Trout Almondine

The other nominees in Caption Contest 103 are

"The Speedo would suggest that he's not native to Vermont."
Melissa Muntyan (Tampa, FL)

"Honey, do you have any dollar bills?"
Kester Wise (San Francisco, CA)

They are also very similar to Anti-Caption submissions. My loser:

"They're usually seen at Gay Pride parades."

The winner of Anti-Caption Contest 104 (cops driving by two "angels" drinking on the sidewalk amidst clouds):

"It's a shame that the horrific warehouse fire had to ruin our annual municipal employees costume party."
rjwhite

My losers:

"Oh crap."

"They're here in case all hell breaks loose."

"Take us in? Only when heaven freezes over!"

"Oh, right--the Republican convention meets here this week."

"On Earth I was a female 'protagonist' in a boardroom scene drawn by Victoria Roberts. And now...this? I just don't get it!"

Caption Contest 105 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 105 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

17 California

15 New York (13 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Maryland (none named Mary)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Alabama
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CREEP AHEADCONTINUE!

What were the chances of winning any one of the New Yorker Caption Contests so far? About 1 in 6,724, as per this Emdashes item.

The latest beneficiary of those odds--as applied to Contest 99 (doctor examining patient addled with arrows)--is

"I’d like to get your arrow count down."
David Wilkner (Pawtucket, RI)

So now Little Rhody ties DC and four other states that have two wins each.


The next trio confronting the odds--in Contest 103 (man in window talking to priest, cop, and firefighter on ledge)--consists of

"Fellas, your empathy for victims is outstanding."
Darryl Brown (NY, New York)

"Excuse me—does this joke need a lawyer?"
Eric Friedenwald-Fishman (Portland, OR)

"I know this may not be a good time, but the rioters are burning down the cathedral!”
Carlton Holt (Albuquerque, NM)

My loser:

"I don't suppose you clean windows."

In Anti-Caption Contest 102 (dogs watching sexless dog prepare to throw stick), the winner out of an excellent, laugh-inducing field is

"Somewhere there's a human licking his balls."
Mssr Bouf la Tete

My loser:

"'Fetch this.' 'Fetch that.' Who came up with this crap?"

Those with a sense of history will reocognize the crib from Caption Contest 19.


Caption Contest 103 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 103 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

17 California

14 New York (13 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Maryland (none named Mary)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 New Hampshire
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Alabama
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Oregon
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CREEP AHEAD!

This is one of those weeks when The New Yorker doesn't start a new contest, so many of us must seek another object of obsession.

The ever-thoughtful Dan Radosh fills the gap by recycling a James Thurber cartoon for recaptioning and promises to reveal the original caption as well.

I'd be willing to wager that Emily of Emdashes already recognizes it.

She and Radosh have also linked to this interesting profile of Caption Contest winner Fairleigh Brooks of Louisville, Kentucky. Here's the winner that put Brooks on the map.

ADDENDUM And now Emdashes offers an original (and funny) interview between intern John Bucher of Canada and Caption Contest 98 winner Richard Hine of New York. Hine, it turns out was also a nominee in Caption Contest 82 with "It's like paradise for the first few days. But you wouldn't want to live here."


Caption Contest 101 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 101 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

17 California

14 New York (13 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Maryland (none named Mary)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 New Hampshire
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Alabama
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Oregon
1 Rhode Island
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

Welcome to the latest weekly round-up of cartoon caption/anti-caption contest results, duly recorded here and on this handy map!

Before getting into the results this week, I'd like to offer a friendly "hello" to John Bucher, the new intern of Emdashes. John, who hails from Canada, will now perform all sorts of services for Emily Gordon in her attempt to capture the essence of The New Yorker in blog posts. Feel free to leave a welcome for John in the Emdashes comments section--where you'll be in good company with the likes of Carolita Johnson--cartoonist and NYkette.

And now...the captions!


In Caption Contest #95 (two business men observing a filer fending off a tiger), the winner is

"You know, I'm gonna miss this when we go paperless."
Christopher Farber (New York, NY)

Let's hear it for Brooklyn's Farber, who has reduced the gap between New York and first-place California to a mere four points! Rah rah rah.


In Caption Contest #97 (whack-a-mole office), the candidates are

"Go fetch your mallet, Wilkins--we'll play doubles."
Joel Brouwer (Tuscaloosa, AL)

"I'm having my tech guys set them to music."
Laura Shanahan Egloff (Los Angeles, CA)

"The negotiator for their union was very timid."
Arthur Litoff (York Springs, PA)

My loser:

"What a holy mess."

In Anti-Caption Contest #98 (office with guy pointing telescope thingy into wall), the winner is

"Hey, is that some sort of artillery gun barrel protruding through the wall? Why don't you look at it and see. Heh-heh-heh... (Sound of armor-piercing depleted uranium rounds being loaded in the next room.)"
John Tabin

My loser:

"Tom, Tom, Tom."

Caption Contest #99 is here. Anti-Caption Contest #99 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

17 California

13 New York (12 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Maryland (none named Mary)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 New Hampshire
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Oregon
1 Rhode Island
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

Before the usual salute to the latest winners and losers, I'd like to take note of the animated New Yorker cartoons now available on the Internets. Thanks to Emily of Emdashes and then Dan Radosh for spreading this awfully exciting news.

And now...the results!


The winner of Caption Contest #84 (doctor accosted by ghost in scrub room) is

"So sue me."
Daniel Crossen (Los Angeles, CA)

That extends California's lead to four over New York.


California could gain another win in Caption Contest #86 (golfers confront militarized zone on the links). Here are the nominees:

"If we truly believe in golf, I don't think we have much of a choice."
Jonathan Steinhoff (Burbank, CA)

"I support our troops as much as the next guy, but do we have to let them play through?"
Charlie Freund (Glendale, CA)

"Tom, I think you should stop shouting 'Bombs away!' every time you drive the ball."
Kiran Ghia (Brookline, MA)

My loser:

"I think I see why we couldn't find a caddy."

A winner in Anti-Caption Contest #87 could be announced at any moment, but I don't want to wait any longer.

Caption Contest #88 is here. Anti-Caption Contest #88 is here.


THE STANDINGS
Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

15 California

11 New York (10 from the Big Apple)

8 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 Connecticut (both women, both from New Haven)
2 District of Columbia
2 Illinois
2 Maryland (both women, neither named Mary)
2 New Hampshire
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Arizona
1 Iowa
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Oregon
1 Rhode Island
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

BLOGS ABOUT TOWN

Addled Writer

caprice's glob

Emdashes

Maud Newton

newyorkette

Old Hag

Random Thoughts from NYC

The Week in Pictures LXXVI

Scoboco

Trish Mash

WFMU's Beware of the Blog

EMDASHES VALENTINES. Hold on to a fruitcake long enough and it'll morph into a Valentine's Day gift! That's the kind of thing that happened with a bunch of New Yorker gift ideas solicited last year by Emily Gordon of Emdashes from yours truly and others including Daniel "Lemony Snicket" Handler, Carolita Johnson, and Patricia Storms. Check 'em out here!