In the CartoonStock Caption Contest number 204, a cow is concerned about a human child who is refusing to eat hay with her calf. The cow, wearing her apron, is the speaker. The cartoonist, new to this blog, is Katherine Bettis.
The rules of the monthly cash prize contest have not changed: 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 $245 into the first forty-nine pay-to-play contests and this fiftieth challenge brings my total cash outlay up to $250. Having achieved runner-up status with three previous entries, I've collected $300 from CartoonStock, so I'm still playing with the house's money, thank you very much. In fact, so few contestants enter that the odds may generally be considered favorable even for less-gifted caption writers. My three entries this round are shown below.
"I make it while the sun shines." "I promise you the hay is grade A." "Tell your friend not to have a cow."
In the CartoonStock Caption Contest number 202, a creature I take to be Bigfoot is giving a statement to the news media. He is the speaker. The cartoonist is Bill Whitehead.
The rules of the monthly cash prize contest have not changed: 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 $235 into the first forty-seven pay-to-play contests and this forty-eighth challenge brings my total cash outlay up to $240. Having achieved runner-up status with three previous entries, I've collected $300 from CartoonStock, so I'm playing with the house's money, thank you very much. In fact, so few contestants enter that the odds may generally be considered favorable even for less-gifted caption writers. My three entries this round are shown below, above the break.
"I don't know my shoe size. Why?" "If you want to see more of me, I'm on OnlyFans." "I ask that you leave Nessie and me alone." * * * "Is it any wonder I don't come out of the woods?" "Again, no comment."
In the CartoonStock Caption Contest number 199, a family visits a shelter to adopt a pet. The father spots what appears to be a demonic creature of the night lurking outside of its cage, and speaks.
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 $220 into the first forty-four pay-to-play contests and this forty-fifth challenge brings my total cash outlay up to $225. Having achieved runner-up status with three previous entries, I've collected $300 from CartoonStock, so I'm playing with the house's money, thank you very much. In fact, so few contestants enter that the odds may generally be considered favorable even for less-gifted caption writers. My three entries this round are shown below, above the break. The cartoonist is Kate Isenberg. She's new to the blog, but not for long; this week she finds herself in The New Yorker's latest caption contest.
"We can save on food. It forages." "Look how its eyes track you around the room." "It's called a battypoo." * * * "This one has no waiting period." "Aw, shucks. It got out of its cage." "This breed has excellent night vision."
In the CartoonStock Caption Contest number 194, we find two frankfurters being heated on a hot dog Ferris wheel. The smaller, shriveled hot dog is speaking.
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 $195 into the first thirty-nine pay-to-play contests and this fortieth challenge brings my total cash outlay up to $200. Having achieved runner-up status with three previous entries, including the most recent contest, I've collected $300 from CartoonStock, so I'm still playing with the house's money. 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 and, yes, I went there. The cartoonist is Mike Shiell who is new to me and thus new to the blog.
"Do you think I WANT to be chosen?" "What's your secret, Cialis or Viagra?" "I had to retire from porn." * * * "Worst amusement park ride ever." "Do you know a better survival strategy?" "My friends who hydrated are all gone." "May I call you Little Indian?" "I thought I got on a Ferris wheel."
July 2, 2025 Update: The Winner
The Judges Deliberate
Video added June 29, 2025
At 19:30 in the video, Lawrence Wood admires my first caption very briefly. He later mentions it in his caption contest commentary:
In the CartoonStock Caption Contest number 193, we find two men eating sandwiches at the edge of a sinkhole in which a car has settled. The man standing on the left holding a sub is speaking.
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 $190 into the first thirty-eight pay-to-play contests and this thirty-ninth challenge brings my total cash outlay up to $195. 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, just barely. 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. The cartoonist is Todd Condron who is new to me and new to the blog.
"I sold the hazard signs and bought lunch." "This is perfect—except for me forgetting the parking brake." "Let's never go back to eating over the kitchen sink." * * * "Eat slowly and savor the schadenfreude." "Agreed. After dessert, we look for survivors." "I can never repel into a sinkhole on a full stomach."
June 7, 2025 Update: The Winner
The Judges Deliberate
Image added May 30, 2025
From my perspective, there are some highlights. At 4:20, Bob Mankoff gives his supposed opinion of the quality of the entries. At 25:40, Lawrence Wood chooses my first caption and fights for it being added to the top six. Thanks, Lawrence. The caption is the subject of discussion through minute 28. Then at 29:25, Todd Condron, the cartoonist, discusses my third caption in his top ten. My first caption is ranked among the finalists at 44:00. At 50:15 during the big reveal of the winning contributors, Larry is the only one who seems to recognize my name. From the others, crickets.
Wood's Caption Contest Commentary mentions these same two captions:
This week, I am pleased to be the guest on the one-hundred tenth episode of The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest Podcast. It's my very first podcast, and the podcasters' first talk with someone who's primarily a blogger. I talk about the history of New Yorker cartoons and many other things.
The rules have changed once again for the CartoonStock Caption Contest #157. It still costs $5 to enter three captions. Cash prizes are now $500 for first place and $100 each for five runners up. The drawing is by Jon Adams.
"Would it kill them to write us into the Marvel Universe?" "Apparently no one is too big to fail." "We would have a complementary sushi bar in Tokyo."
These captions were too small-minded:
"Exactly. It's the pictures that got small." "Damn Marvel Comics." "How did the Marshmallow Man get in here?"
August 30, 2022 Update:Lawrence Wood, now the eight-time winner of The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest, had a lot to say about my second entry, but it still did not make it into the top six:
.jpg)
.jpg)
