Some pretty funny entries by this guy from the first (Squiddy the Chef) cartoon caption contest:

Here's my entry: "I can't in good conscience recommend the hand rolls tonight."

My runners-up:

"Well, the tuna never takes it personally. Try that."

"Yes, ever since we were kids. Honestly, he hasn't given it much thought."

"Work release program. It was either this, or menace the shipping lanes."

"Extra wasabi? Won't make much difference either way."

"The special requires real teamwork to bring to the table."

As he says, "I'm planning to submit an entry each week until I'm asked to 'please stop doing that.' " Now, that's the kind of attitude I like. I'm officially supporting Matt Shobe to win the next contest. If a bribery opportunity becomes available, I'll take it. And for the love of Pete (or in this case, Leo—no, not the NYer's fair Leo Carey; sorry girls, he's taken), don't forget to vote today in the current contest! In case you've forgotten already, here's my endorsement.

And if you want to be more like Matt here, put your thinking cap on and enter the current contest. I can hear you right now; you're whining, But I just like making sour little quips with my friends all day long on the internet—I don't like exposing myself like that! That is lame. (Here's an upsetting account of cartoon caption contest writers' block.) Both contests expire at the stroke of midnight tonight, so go. If you need more inspiration, here's an interview with Dan Heath, the winner of the squid contest: "The mystery of the cartoon is: doesn’t he see how wrong it is? He’s selling out his own kind! I got really worked up about it. It’s like a little morality play with tentacles." See, he's a famous man now! This could be you!

The Squid Stays in the Picture [Q. & A. with cartoonist Alex Gregory, New Yorker]
Cartoon Charisma: Capturing the Moment [Boston Phoenix]
New Yorker State of Mind [Eye's Guy Leshinski, on the contest]

Categories: NYer, Cartoons, Contest