First Annual Alf Landon Bad Writing Contest Continues

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The entries to the first annual Alf Landon Bad Writing Contest have been pouring in, and let me be perfectly honest: they are hilarious. I want more! Please send your entries in today so I have something to read over the weekend! You may enter as many times as you want. Deadline is this Monday at 5 p.m. Winner gets two tix to Natural Science Museum and a $20 gift certificate to the Bards.

Johnny responds to the Haters

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Philebrity posted something about the column I wrote in yesterdays Metro, blasting some of my picks. Which is all fine and good. The sole reason of writing a column like that (to read the column, click here) is to spark some light-hearted debate. But he took a few liberal swipes at quizzo which need to be addressed. Early on, he writes: Quizzo is f****** unbearable. (Since when is going into a bar and drinking and bullshitting simply not enough.) Even more unbearable, however are the lumpen hordes who make quizzo their weekly hobby/habit, at the expense of actually having a real conversation…

Wow, where to begin? First of all, “the Philebrity team” finds quizzo unbearable without ever having played my quizzo. Don’t hate the playa if you’ve never played his game. Since when is going into a bar and bullshitting simply not enough? The statement is nothing short of preposterous, coming from a website whose entire ad revenue comes from places trying to get you to go to a bar and listen to bands and DJs. Why isn’t going into a bar and bullshitting simply enough on those nights? There is plenty of real conversation at quizzo. It may not be about some crappy indie band that sounds exactly like that other indie band that was hot last year, and so the convo may therefore be indecipherable to you, but it is conversation nonetheless. He goes on: it’s just that, if you ask us, this is no kind of job for a grown-ass man. This coming from a man in his mid 30s whose chief source of income is blogging. Industry rule #4080: A hustler should never knock the hustle.

Part of quizzo’s success is that it hasn’t been dragged down by the insufferable tight jean wearing whiners who have no sense of humor and dress like circus clowns. There were plenty of them that used to come to our shows at the Trocadero, and let me be honest: they were the least interesting and least fun people I have ever met. So please continue to blast quizzo, as your efforts as King of the Hipsters will continue to keep those miserable scarf wearing rock star wannabees away. And for that I thank you.

Quizzo Tonight

Kick it off at the Good Dog at 8 p.m. This is by far the quizzo with the most parity, with a new winner almost every single week.
On to the Bards at 10 p.m. Not so much parity there, but a chance to run with the big boys of quizzo, as you take on Philly’s least favorite squad, the Sofa Kingdom. Hope to see you tonight!

You So Want Me…Oops, wrong number. Sorry Dude.


Last night after quizzo I went to say hi to a friend who works as a bartender in our fine city. You may not know this about me, but I am somewhat of a flirt, so at one point in the evening, I decided to send her a joke text message (trust me, I would never actually be this bold): “You so want me”. But as soon as I sent it, I realized that I had made a mistake. I had accidentally send it to the 9 dudes I had just moments earlier sent a text to about how much I hate the Phillies. Frantically, I tried to stop the message. I cut off the phone. Too late. Within seconds I had two messages. Within minutes I had numerous responses, which are posted below:

  • NATE: Not as much as you might think.
  • BRETT: Uh, wrong Mary.
  • KOOB: You’re absolutely right, Johnny.
  • ART: Boy I hope you sent this to the wrong person/gender.
  • But the best answer came from GARBO, who very matter of factly wrote: I assume this is depression from the Phils crappy work today. I won’t count them out til this next series.
  • STEVE-O apparently got the message this morning, as he wrote: Drink a little last night?

I have to admit I am a little disappointed that I did not hear from D-Mac or Vaughn. And as for Adam, who runs the Sidecar, well, as long as I never show my face in his bar again I should be fine. Here’s the impressive part: something even more embarrassing happened later, but I think I’m gonna save that one for my comedy act.

Win Sort of Big Prizes in the 1st Annual JGT Bad Writing Contest!

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Bob T. was kind enough to inform me about the recent Bulwer-Lytton Writing Contest, where the goal was to write the worst opening sentence to a non-existent novel. Well, I am going to run our own little Philly contest in a somewhat similar fashion.

I am hereby offering Two tickets to the Academy of Natural Sciences and a $20 gift certificate to the Bards for whoever writes worst opening sentence to a non-existent novel (I’ll give a little leeway for an extra sentence, but total must be 75 words or less). 2nd place gets a $10 certificate to O’Neals. Historical fiction, sci-fi, romance novel, whatever. But here’s the twist: Your sentence must include the words “Alf Landon”. Alright, just send your opening sentence to me by Monday, September 15th at 5 p.m., and we’ll post them and vote next week. I’ll start us off with mine.

Alf Landon looked across the plains, the vast magnificent plains, and dipped his spoon into his Tapioca pudding.

JGT World Premiere Manana