My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #976

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #976 from the issue of January 26, 2026, two waiters sit holding covered serving trays and two others walk by with trays holding champagne and beer. The sitting waiter with the bow tie makes a wisecrack. The drawing is by E. S. Glenn.

A similar image, reversed and with some basketball gear on two of the trays, was put forth by Glenn in late 2020 for the Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #107. Here are the three winning entries from that iteration of this cartoon:

https://attemptedbloggery.blogspot.com/2020/12/cartoon-collections-caption-contest-106.html

My entry in the current contest is shown below:

"Whatever it is, I hear it's best served cold."

This caption went down a little too easily:

"Who the hell decided drinks go first?"

February 7, 2026 Update:  The Finalists

February 9, 2026 Update:  I voted for the caption from Catawissa.

February 28, 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 #834

This week, I sank my teeth into The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #834 from the issue of January 16, 2022. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Brian Hawes and Seth Roberts.

"You look like a couple of empty nesters."

These captions just wouldn't fly:

"Don't try this without the napkin."
"I'm trying to branch out."

 

January 27, 2023 Update:  The Finalists

February 4, 2023 Update:  I voted for the caption from Scarborough.

February 12, 2023 Update:  The Winner

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #795

This week's New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest is served up by Felipe Galindo, Feggo to his friends. It's #795 from the issue of March 21, 2022 and my caption is shown below.

"I trust you will continue to enjoy date night."

These captions got sent back to the kitchen:

"Why, yes, I am the head waiter."
"We do everything to enhance the romantic experience."
"Madame has made a fine selection."
"Is there anyone else I might get you?"

March 28, 2022 Update:  The Finalists

April 10, 2022 Update:  I voted for the caption from Madbury.

April 17, 2022 Update:  The Winner

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The CartoonStock Caption Contest #140

Admittedly, it was slow going for me these past weeks, as it was for the two diners in the CartoonStock Caption Contest #140, which I never even got to. Although there are now two weeks to work on each contest, I did not manage to write even one caption, let alone the three permitted. And I don't even feel remorse. The drawing is by Phil Witte.

"————"

October 27, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #107

It's time to make sense of the Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #107. The drawing is by E. S. Glenn. My three captions are below. Go ahead, count 'em.

"As a rule, I disapprove of deconstructing dumpsters."
"What the hell is conceptual dining anyway?"
"Why does everyone laugh when I say I hate non sequiturs?"
"I was hoping they'd assign me lighter fare."
"I could just dribble, but I don't want to look ridiculous."
"Aren't you dying to see the mystery dish?"
"I say we should have left all this in the lost-and-found."

January 10, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #87

Having recently run a few nearly indecipherable caption contests, Cartoon Collections relented somewhat on this one and explained for all to see that contest #87 features "aliens dining out." To be even more specific, the image file for the contest is labeled Alien Fois Gras. Perhaps that's too specific. Anyway, my caption entries are below. The drawing is by Ivan Ehlers.

"Tonight's special is Tang."
"I'm sorry, but I'm told your dinner just reached escape velocity."
"Any slime allergies?"
"Tonight we're featuring delicacies from Earth, anything but escargot."

August 19, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Ivan Ehlers

Aliens

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

All the Collected Cartoon Caption Contests

Attempted Bloggery's Tangy Index

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #703

My entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #703 for March 30, 2020 should provide some food for thought. The drawing is by Jon Adams.

"Actually, those aren't genuine tears."

These captions weren't sharp enough:

"Promise me you won't let any of that bowl go to waste."
"Will you be staying for the dinner theater reenactment of 'Live and Let Die?'"
"Don't feed the drama queen."
"'See you later, Erica' just doesn't have the same rhythm."

April 6, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

April 13, 2020 Update:  I neglected to vote, but I'm sure I would have gone with Woodbury.

April 20, 2020 Update:   The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Drew Panckeri took us to a barber shop where the customer had some nesting issues. My caption's style was so last year. Make an appointment to see Contest #702 and dream about the day we can all return to the beauty salon.

This is Jon Adams's first appearance on Attempted Bloggery. All that hard work, Jon, only to end up here.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Restaurants

Alligators

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and Then Some

National Doctors' Day (March 30)

Attempted Bloggery's Ravenous Index

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #701

Today's special is my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #701 for March 16, 2020. The drawing is by Mort Gerberg.

"How is the cheese plate prepared?"

March 23, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

March 30, 2020 Update:  I went with Worcester.

April 6, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Kaamran Hafeez showed us a centaur at a pharmacy. My caption must have been a placebo. Still, you might want take a generous dose of Contest #700. I'm sure you'll feel better.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Mort Gerberg

Mice

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and Even a Little Bit More

Attempted Bloggery's Cheesy Index

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #696

Grab a mouthful of my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #696 for February 3, 2020. The drawing is by Hartley Lin.

"Well, Trevor, if the shoe fits..."

February 10, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

February 24, 2020 Update:  I voted with Idaho Falls, although I was tempted by San Diego.

March 2, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Elisabeth McNair sent a slice of bread to the wrong side of a restaurant. My caption was equally out of place. You could dine out on Contest #695.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Hartley Lin

Restaurants

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and Then Some

Attempted Bloggery's Four-Star Index

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Ronald Searle: Oh Les Beaux Jours

We have seen how Ronald Searle created original lithographs from barely a handful of his published New Yorker covers. There is a curious counterexample of him creating one New Yorker cover based upon an original lithograph. The print, Oh Les Beaux Jours, dates from 1971 and depicts an impossibly ancient waiter carrying an impossibly fanciful bird on a platter. The lithograph is seldom seen despite having been issued in a limited edition of 99 plus a total of thirty-five artist's proofs. The image cannot be very well known even among Searle aficionados and the New Yorker's editors could scarcely have had an inkling of it. From Searle's New Yorker cover two decades later one can trace a direct lineage back to this lithograph.

Ronald Searle
Oh Les Beaux Jours
Gurlitt 71
Edition of 99, 1971

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ronald-searle-british-1920-2011-happy-time-78C4CD1A12

Ronald Searle

The New Yorker, March 19, 1990

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1990-03-19/flipbook/CV1/

The lithograph's catalogue entry:

Galerie Wolfgang Gurlitt Ronald Searle catalogue

Here are a few more images of the rarely-seen lithograph:

Ronald Searle

Oh Les Beaux Jours

Gurlitt 71

Edition of 99, 1971

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ronald-searle-british-1920-2011-happy-time-78C4CD1A12

57/99

Does this magazine cover look familiar? The New Yorker reused the image on the cover of Secret Ingredients: The New Yorker Book of Food and Drink published in 2007.

Secret Ingredients: The New Yorker Book of Food and Drink
Edited by David Remnick, 2007

January 11, 2020 Update:  And then there is this reportedly untitled 1979 lithograph:

Ronald Searle
Lithograph, 1979
Inscribed

https://www.artprice.com/marketplace/1585539/ronald-searle/print-multiple/untitled#!#zoom_image

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The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #53

Shiver me timbers! The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #53 has alas closed. The drawing is by Christopher Weyant.

"Cutty Sark?"
"Perhaps something a bit more dry?"
"I understand you're in dry dock."

December 18, 2019 Update:  The Winner

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Christopher Weyant

Pirates

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

All These Cartoon Caption Contests and Then Some

Attempted Bloggery's Time-in-a-Bottle Index

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