I ran into someone yesterday who plays quizzo semi-regularly. I asked him if his team was gonna make a push this week. He said, “No, I think we’re out of it.” Not so fast. In fact, no one is out of it. Here’s the deal: two team in the Top 10 can’t make it, and two others are joining forces as one. That knocks out 3 teams right off the bat, and means that the teams currently tied for 25th have 3 points each. In other words: even if you’ve never played yet, all you need to do this week is finish in 2nd place, and you’ve got a pretty decent chance of earning an invite. I will have invitations on me tonight to hand out. Several teams have already secured their spots. If your team really wants to play, I would highly suggest taking part in the latest physical challenge on facebook.

As for the actual event. It takes place this Sunday at Urban Saloon at 4 p.m. $10 admission, and in addition to quizzo there will be jazz. Winner gets $400, 2nd gets $200, and top 10 teams present have a shot at $200 drawing. Gonna be a fun show, and after it’s done we’ll hang out and watch the Phils game, which is the Sunday night game of the week.

Tonight, an interesting development. Savage Ear has already earned a spot at the JGTSI, and rumor has it that they will not be playing tonight at O’Neals. That means that O’Neals could be a great bet to score a win this week and qualify your team. Action starts at O’Neals at 8 p.m.

We move to Bards at 10:15 p.m. Steak Em Up is tough to beat, sure, but that 2nd place spot is wide open. $.50 Mexican beers at O’Neals, $2.50 Lagers at Bards. Hope to see ya tonight!

Getting ready to go record another podcast, but in the meantime, check out this interview that Lee and I did with author Buzz Bissinger in which he talks about Brett Favre, the blessing and the curse of Friday Night Lights, and whether or not. Meanwhile, over at isportsacus, we’ve decided to go all haikus, all the time, the first Philadelphia sports blog ever to report the local sports news 17 syllables at a time. Oh, and if you haven’t already, sign up to follow the Philadelphia A’s on facebook, part of a grassroots movement to bring the A’s back to Philly.

I’ll have pics and scores up this afternoon.

I’ll be back with pics and scores this afternoon.

A pretty incredible week so far. First off, my team won at the Westbury on Monday, a week after finishing last. Plus, packed houses at every venue all week. A new team won for the first time at O’Neals. A new team won for the first time at Black Sheep. Steak Em Up should have lost. The Jams finished out of the money. Duane’s World finished out of the money. The weekly double had to do with the man above with the guitar in his hands (as we all now know, Khagendra Magar is a mere 22 inches tall.) It has been a crazy week so far, and I suspect it’s gonna continue tonight. French Fry Thursday. Ugly American at 8 p.m. Bards at 10:15 p.m. I am hoping tonight’s questions cause Steak Em Up to complain again. See ya there!

Ok, so this week’s quiz is…interesting. Steak Em Up told me after last night’s quiz that the final round was “awful”, and that the Weekly Double “May have been the worst double ever.” I take those both as compliments, considering the source. (Sadly, despite the “bad questions” Steak Em Up pulled off a narrow, narrow victory.) Meanwhile at O’Neals, I had a brand new team win and one of the best teams finish in the low 60s. So this week’s quiz seems to be a great equalizer for some reason. I have a feeling the “favorites” are going to hate tonight’s quiz as well. That means that tonight is an excellent opportunity for a new team to make a move in the JGTSI.

Action starts at 6:15 p.m. at the Locust Rendezvous. $3 Yards Pale Ales and $2 Miller High Life. Then we move to Black Sheep at 8 p.m. Things have been interesting at the Black Sheep lately. Newman’s Own won 4 straight weeks…and then disappeared. We have no idea where they went, and no idea if we’ll see them again. Duane’s World won the last two weeks. I think tonight we’re going to see a new winner. Will it be your team? 5 points at this point in the game would be HUGE.

Some people were wondering what I was talking about this week when I had my “Full On Double Rainbows” Round. Here it is. Enjoy.

First of all, the colonial photos are a hoot! The physical challenge is to show me a picture of a team member or two with someone in a colonial outfit, and several teams have chomped at the bit. You’ve got until tomorrow at 3 p.m. to earn points with a colonial photo!

As for tonight, things have been bumping the last couple of Thursdays, and we’ve been having a lot of fun. First off tonight, the Ugly American. Quizzo start there at 8 p.m. Dollar off all drafts and $1 Corn dogs. And trust me, the corn dogs are really good. These are the best $1 corn dogs you’ve ever eaten.

On to the Bards at 10:15 p.m., where the past few weeks have been like old times, with good crowds on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. A great chance to score points, as after Steak Em Up different teams seem to finish 2nd and 3rd every week. And of course at least two teams tonight will win free fries, and I have some totally sweet last place prizes. (I think the guy who won the “Sleepless in Seattle” nightgown at O’Neals was this week’s big winner.) Hope to see you tonight!

Last week’s speed round: What are the ways that Bubba thinks that Shrimp can be prepared? Bubba gives the answers above.

The JGT Empire expands into Manayunk tonight as Mike Minion takes his quiz to the Terrace Taproom. I’ve played Mike’s quiz. I’ve also been the Manayunk. I am predicting that the winning score tonight is a 45. I keed, I keed! The Terrace Taproom is apparently an excellent bar with a very interesting beer selection. And I have to admit, I am dying to see how Mike goes over in the ‘Yunk. I kind of like tonight’s theme round. I think I might play. Regardless, now that he’s got two quizzes, I am expecting twice as much carpentry this week. Here’s what Mike’s gotta say:

Tonight is the kick-off for a new quizzo venue!  Starting this evening, The Terrace Taproom in Manayunk (2847 Terrace Street) will be the site of the early Monday quiz.  The debut takes place at 7 PM.  The Taproom is only three blocks from the Wissahickon Transportation Center (and one block from the corner of Ridge and Manayunk), so it’s not to difficult to reach, should any of our Center City regulars wish to give it a try.   And by the way, the owner tells me the folls from Magic Hat Brewery will be there tonight with some great beer specials and lots of prizes.  Should make for a very festive opening night!

The JGT Empire expands into Manayunk tonight as Mike Minion takes his quiz to the Terrace Taproom. I’ve played Mike’s quiz. I’ve also been the Manayunk. I am predicting that the winning score tonight is a 45. I keed, I keed! The Terrace Taproom is apparently an excellent bar with a very interesting beer selection. And I have to admit, I am dying to see how Mike goes over in the ‘Yunk. I kind of like tonight’s theme round. I think I might play. Regardless, now that he’s got two quizzes, I am expecting twice as much carpentry this week. Here’s what Mike’s gotta say:

Tonight is the kick-off for a new quizzo venue!  Starting this evening, The Terrace Taproom in Manayunk (2847 Terrace Street) will be the site of the early Monday quiz.  The debut takes place at 7 PM.  The Taproom is only three blocks from the Wissahickon Transportation Center (and one block from the corner of Ridge and Manayunk), so it’s not to difficult to reach, should any of our Center City regulars wish to give it a try.

The Westbury quiz continues to build drama.  We’ve had three different winners in the past 4 weeks, and the crowd is usually quite lively.  Tonight’s theme round is 1980’s sitcoms, which really opens up the field.  This is a great opportunity to get points in the JGT Invitational.  Who knows, with a pop-culture theme like this, even JGT himself may give it a try!  As a bonus, tonight’s tap special isGreat Divide Brewery’s 16th anniversary double IPA at $4.  Starting time is 10:30, as usual.

Hope to see you at one of the venues tonight. May the sun never set on the JGT Empire!

We’re back in action tonight, and yes, the Locust Rendezvous quiz is on Wednesday this week. Action starts there at 6:15 p.m. Truth be told, there’s good competition at the Vous right now but not that many teams, so you’ve got yourself a shot of scoring JGTSI points tonight. Furthermore, they’re offering Abita Purple Haze for a mere $3 a pint and Lager Light bottles for $2. At the Black Sheep, it’s been a packed house lately. If you’re playing tonight, I would highly suggest getting there early to get yourself a table. Oh, and one team took up my offer on facebook and scored two bonus points. But the offer is still on the table for another team. If you’re looking for points, this is a good way to earn them. I’ll have a new chance to earn points on facebook tomorrow morning.