My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #993

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #993 from the issue of June 8, 2026, three pigs are seated at a trough in a restaurant looking at the menus. The one on the left is speaking. My submission is shown below. The drawing is by Avi Steinberg. 

"Could you explain for my brothers the advantages of having a brick oven?"

These captions weren't quite good enough for me to serve up:

"Is the slop fresh?"
"I don't suppose the catch of the day is wolf?"
"It appears the house specialty is bacon."

June 21, 2026 Update:  The Finalists

June 27, 2026 Update:  I voted for the caption from Pamplona.

July 4, 2026 Update:  The Winner

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #969

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #969 from the issue of November 24, 2025, we see a restaurant table where a horn of plenty has been placed before a couple. The waiter speaks. My entry appears below. The drawing is by Shannon Wheeler.

"Compliments of the chef, who went home early."

These captions were just a little too much:

"It's our special for Throwback Thursday."
"We ask that you consume conspicuously."
"There's a standard 1000% gratuity."
"How many doggie bags would you like?"
"It's an unusual commitment for a first date."
"Save room for dessert."
"I hope you don't have theater reservations."
"Compliments of the chef, who doesn't feel like cooking."

December 1, 2025 Update:  The Finalists

December 20, 2025 Update:  I voted for my own caption, the one from Princeton. It's the first time I got to do this.

On Monday morning, December 15, during an off-week for the contest, this result was briefly posted online and subsequently taken down. Is it the actual outcome, or just a reformatting of the captions in the order in which they were originally placed pending a final result? Stay tuned.

December 22, 2025 Update:  The Winner

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #939

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #939 appeared in the issue of April 7, 2025. A couple is seated in a restaurant. Medusa is at the next table. The woman speaks; the man does not move. My entry appears below. The drawing is by Jason Adam Katzenstein—you know, JAK.

"I should let you know I'm blind."

These captions didn't last through the first course:

"You looked, didn't you?"
"Don't move—oh, you can't."
"Did the place suddenly get quiet?"
"How's the Mexican stone soup?"

April 18, 2025 Update:  The Finalists

April 26, 2025 Update:  I voted for the caption from Melbourne.

May 3, 2025 Update:  The Winner

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William Hamilton: A Young Man's Milestone

An original New Yorker drawing by William Hamilton was sold on eBay in November.

"I'll bet not many men your age are in the Yellow Pages."
William Hamilton
Original art
The New Yorker, February 3, 1973, p. 30

A prominent listing in the Yellow Pages could be purchased by any business with sufficient funds, so it wasn't really any sort of status symbol. Dining in that elegant restaurant, though, was.

William Hamilton's signature

Caption

"I'll bet not many men your age are in the Yellow Pages."
William Hamilton
Original art
The New Yorker, February 3, 1973, p. 30

Detail, left

Detail, right

William Hamilton
eBay listing ended November 22, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267065490565?_skw=signed+William+Hamilton&itmmeta=01JJG5RQKYQ07C5CVGGNT1G5Q8&hash=item3e2e57fc85:g:lDgAAOSwQaBnN3O0&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKluLcUmglgL%2BIcvMrFJiqwDqCz6kMI3Xx2qL5Po9HkGA7lJLRE9RBkFgO8DtQ7mMwQs8p6XLas2WAYzNLfRWeks5A3W7bEnoYVy%2Bx0ki%2BIJiXC%2BrjQVu41OhbQXdwRMU3Kdn5kvtU3cD8Oa4rGERba1RlvTWSgG6xGXlXcizbVIqky1ytak%2FOjQX%2BXSSlSbSyNjtX0OIwkqXpC0Q%2FgfbIZkSH81rolHfx7kHsXGbVLoEoOSpzDHS99nL0zye3EivdM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4764oWUZQ

William Hamilton
eBay item description

William Hamilton
eBay bid history
One bid placed early was all it took.

Image added January 29, 2025

"I'll bet not many men your age are in the Yellow Pages."
William Hamilton
The New Yorker, February 3, 1973, p. 30

"I'll bet not many men your age are in the Yellow Pages."
William Hamilton
Original art
The New Yorker, February 3, 1973, p. 30

With drawings by William Hamilton and William Steig

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1973-02-03/flipbook/030/

The Yellow Pages TV Ad

William Steig's drawing shows a couple at a masked ball. Are they hiding something? Steig's gentle touch contrasts on the page with Hamilton's bold impression. 

William Steig
The New Yorker, February 3, 1973, p. 31

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #918

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #918 from the issue of October 21, 2024, a seated couple is having wine in a restaurant. The man's head is a surveillance camera and the woman, who seems to be upset, is speaking. My submission is shown below. The observant drawing is by T. S. McCoy, which is short for The Surreal McCoy.

"I wish you'd take your Ritalin."

These captions didn't chance upon anything worthwhile:

"What's more interesting than I am?"
"See if you can find our waiter."

November 2, 2024 Update:  The Finalists

November 9, 2024 Update:  I voted for the caption from Weston.

November 17, 2024 Update:  The Winner

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Sidney Harris: Hungry Hungry Hippos

In the August 8 Illustration Art sale at Heritage Auctions, two original cartoons by Sidney Harris were sold. The first had been published in Playboy and was posted here yesterday; today's is from The New Yorker and features two hippopotamuses seated at a restaurant reading their menus. Hippos, by the way, are herbivores, which is probably a good thing.

"You folks ready to order?"
Sidney Harris
Original art
The New Yorker, March 27, 1995, p. 64

"You folks ready to order?"
Sidney Harris
Original art
The New Yorker, March 27, 1995, p. 64

Verso

Sidney Harris
Heritage Auctions listing accessed July 13, 2024

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/sidney-harris-american-b-1933-you-folks-ready-the-new-yorker-magazine-interior-march-27-199/a/8174-71228.s?ic16=ViewItem-Auction-Open-JumpLot-PreviousLot-050318

The presale estimate was $700 to $1,000, the same as the Playboy beer cartoon in the previous lot.

Sidney Harris
Heritage Auctions item description

Sold! Alas, my $2 bid was not successful.

But to my surprise, the Harris Playboy cartoon seen here in yesterday's post sold for considerably more than his New Yorker cartoon.

"You folks ready to order?"
Sidney Harris
The New Yorker, March 27, 1995, p. 64

"You folks ready to order?"
Sidney Harris
Original art
The New Yorker, March 27, 1995, p. 64

With cartoons by Sidney Harris and Frank Cotham

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1995-03-27/flipbook/064/

Note:  Sure I'd like to check out your original Sidney Harris cartoon art. I thought you'd never ask.

While you're at it, why not send some images of Frank Cotham art as well.

"We got him onto an exercise bike, but I'm afraid it was too late."
Frank Cotham
The New Yorker, March 27, 1995, p. 65

04719

William Steig: Home Restaurant Service

Cartoonist William Steig, throughout his long career, saw his style reinvent itself time and again. Nevertheless, his illustration of a home restaurant doesn't seem typical of Steig's work of any period, although it does seem to belong squarely to mainstream 1950s magazine illustration.

The ink shows evidence of bleeding.

William Steig's signature

William Steig
New York City Estate Auction listing accessed January 20, 2024

https://auctions.nyshowplace.com/lots/view/4-CIR1RV/william-steig-home-restaurant-mixed-media

Sold!

04599