Just the other night, my friends and I were talking about the ridiculous yet awesome haughtiness that is a New Yorker cartoon caption, noting that the only way to truly win the magazine’s caption contest is to write something oblique about therapy or alimony. Perhaps country crooner Brad Paisley should have taken heed when he submitted two captions to the venerable publication back in 2007. He didn’t win, but The New Yorker graciously posted his losing entries today, and I have to say, they weren’t awful. The first entry actually made me laugh. However, the caption simply lacks too much of that urbane patter we’ve come to expect from cartoons, and that’s simply no good in the land of Eustace Tilley. The second entry is more of a wah-waaaah experience, but amusing nonetheless.
Mr. Paisley’s foray into wittiness after the jump…
To read the full back story on this, check out The New Yorker’s tale here. (found via Vulture)
hm. My 3 seconds of thought offer:
1. “Oh, hello.”
2. “Taint that a surprise.”
I love the first one. Love it.
He’s no Addams, that’s for sure.
The first one is fantastic!
They can’t all be as good as Addams, nor George du Maurier, for that matter. Du Maurier’s famous cartoons for Punch actually coined phrases!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_du_Maurier
The first one would be a winner if it weren’t for that misplaced comma. Embarrassing! For the second one, I’d go with something like “Would you believe it? I forgot my cell phone holster.” They never accept my submissions, but I’m pretty sure it’s because my humor is just TOO cutting edge.
You got to the comma comment before I did! It’s quite possibly the reason he didn’t win.
Is it really a misplaced comma? I’m sure he wanted a slight pause. I’m wondering what would have been better?
Comma = pause is one of the most horrific grammar myths circulating. I guess he could have gone with “I still wish we’d gotten a pool…not this ridiculous sculpture.” I’d like to know what the winning caption was for that one!
The sentence doesn’t need a comma at all.