My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #979

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #979 from the issue of February 16 & 23, 2026, a family goes on an outing in a car that is lifted by balloons. The woman who is in the front passenger seat speaks. The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Go back down. We forgot party favors."

These captions wouldn't float:

"That settles it. No more party stores."
"All the gas stations have the wrong kind of air."
"So we can't move without wind?"
"Great, but we still have no place to park."
"The kids want to try some of the helium."
"I told you the balloons were for the kids."
"Why should we play The 5th Dimension?"
"Finally, we can't hear the neighbors."

March 6, 2026 Update:  The Finalists

March 15, 2026 Update:  I voted for the caption from Athens.

March 21, 2026 Update:  The Winner

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The CartoonStock Cartoon Caption Contest No. 187

In the CartoonStock Caption Contest number 187, we find ourselves in a recording studio. There is an incongruous cat being held up in the soundproof booth.

The rules of the monthly cash prize contest have not changed (and neither has my description of them): Five dollars buys up to three entries. Real cash prizes are $500 for first place and $100 for each of five runners up. As of this writing, I've put $160 into the first thirty-two pay-to-play contests and this thirty-third challenge brings my total cash outlay up to $165. Having achieved runner-up status with two previous entries, I've collected $200 from CartoonStock, so I'm still playing with the house's money, thank goodness. In fact, so few contestants enter that the odds may generally be considered favorable even for us less-gifted caption writers. My three entries are shown below, above the break. I thought many people might submit something similar to the lone caption below the break, so I eliminated it. The cartoonist is Farley Katz.

"Cue the Meow Mix."
"She's not into music—or anything else."
"She's my mews."
* * *
"Be honest—am I the coolest cat?"

December 15, 2024 Update:

The Judges Deliberate

January 4, 2024 Update:  The Winner

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #840

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #840 from the issue of March 6, 2022 comes ready to wear. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Why would you take another TikTok challenge?"

These captions were too wrinkly:

"Why would you trust a video on TikTok?"
"There are a few things we need to go over about permanent press."

March 13, 2023 Update:  The Finalists

March 26, 2023 Update:  I voted for the caption from Chicago.

April 2, 2023 Update:  The Winner

I'm disappointed.

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #811

Life's a beach in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #811 from the issue of July 25, 2022. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Isn't it ironic that they're all afraid of sharks?"

August 2, 2022 Update:  The Finalists

August 8, 2022 Update:  I voted for the caption from Washington. Sorry, Paul.

August 15, 2022 Update:  The Winner

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #790

This week I drove right smack into The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #790 from the issue of February 7, 2022. My entry is shown below. The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"I have collision and I'm not afraid to use it."

These captions just couldn't stay in their lane:

"It was all they had at the dealership."
"These have a wide-open supply chain."
"After an hour, it stops being fun."
"Hey, kid, let's trade places."

February 21, 2022 Update:  The Finalists

March 6, 2022 Update:  I voted for the third caption, from New York City, deluding myself that my own caption bears a passing resemblance to it.

March 13, 2022 Update:  The Winner

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #677

Are you mysteriously drawn to my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #677 for the issue of September 16, 2019? The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Now I'm the one who needs a rescue."

September 23, 2019 Update:  The Finalists

September 30, 2019 Update:  I voted with LA. It seems to me the cartoonist's intention is to have the man under hypnosis speak the caption, but the three captions selected by the editors each had the cat speaking instead. The incorrect attribution of the caption happens every now and then and there's not much one can do after the fact. The caption I voted for can, I think, be said by either character whatever the contestant's intention.

October 7, 2019 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week cartoonist Paul Karasik's caveman cooked a giant drumstick on the barbie, and he wasn't even Australian. Grab a paper plate and head over to Contest #676.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Farley Katz

Cats

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and More

Attempted Bloggery's Hypnotic Index

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #638

Hover over my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #638 for November 5, 2018. The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Now you can ditch those suspenders forever."

November 12, 2018 Update:  The Finalists

November 19, 2018 Update:  I voted for the first caption, it being the closest to my own.
 


December 3, 2018 Update:  The Winner

Note:  Last week cartoonist P. C. Vey gave us a man raking up the leaves behind a rope barricade. Fall into Contest #637.

Then see my older posts about Farley Katz before he went all high-tech.

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #629

Rise up to my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #629 for September 3, 2018. The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Why not scale the face of Mount Everest instead?"

These captions didn't hold up:

"As the old flag said, Don't Tread On Me."
"Don't step anywhere I'll regret."
"Just watch your step, young lady."
"Made it by a nose!"

September 10, 2018 Update:  The Finalists

September 17, 2018 Update:  I voted for the second caption, I think, unless I was too late. I thought it was outside of the box.


September 24, 2018 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week cartoonist Pia Guerra had a fish talking to a bartender. My caption was politely escorted from the premises. Drink in Contest #628 like a fish.

Then ascend the heights of my older posts about Farley Katz.

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #624

Wake up to my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #624 for July 23, 2018. The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Just give me some time to decompose myself."

These captions won't ever see the light of day:

"You're just not my blood type."
"But what would your grandchildren think?"
"Look, my lying next to you was not my choice."
"That settles it. I'm going twelve feet under."
"I need to be alone with my thoughts."
"You know, this is a cutaway view. We can't really see each other."
"But how do I know you're a woman."
"Sorry, but I'm allergic."
"I'm a loner. I'm not playing hard-to-get."
"No way I am doing any digging in this suit."

July 30, 2018 Update:  The Finalists

August 13, 2018 Update:  I voted for the first caption, of course.


August 20, 2018 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week cartoonist Joe Dator took us to a kite park. My caption just wouldn't fly. Soar into Contest #623.

Dig down to my previous post about Farley Katz.

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #493

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #493 for October 12, 2015. The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Who prefers freestyle?"

These captions wouldn't fly:

"Not another blockbuster exhibition!"
"No way the art market is going to crash."
"I'm just saying we could be more graceful."
"Their technique stinks but their form is inspiring."
"I think the pain medicine is working."
"Let's join them in 'Ring Around the Rosie.'"
"We may have taken safety too far."
"Whose idea was landing on the museum?"
"When did this become clothing-optional?"

October 19, 2015 Update:  The Finalists

November 2, 2015 Update: Winning Caption

Note:  Last week Liam Francis Walsh took us on a fishing expedition. My caption was all wet. See the sporting outcome of Contest #492.

This is the first appearance of Farley Katz on the blog.

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