NO-PUNCHLINE PUNCHLINE + MICHAEL SHOWALTER

April Fool's Day is the kind of holiday that I don't remember exists until it is the morning of April Fool's Day.  And even upon waking, it usually takes someone evil, like a brother, who puts potato chips at the foot of my bed to remind me(all in the name of humor, of course).

Or a boyfriend who pretends he has to move; "I'm moving to California" was his great joke, and me -- so relieved to hear what I think is news -- said,"Oh, okay."

In my experience, April Fool's humor can foster the worst kind of laughter, where one person comes out the victor and the other person is not laughing at all.  It often results in re-established boundaries and permanent damage (oil stains and unexpected break-ups), and the punchline (April Fool's!) offers little relief.

So. I'm calling upon you writer folks to make it a much more amusing day.

THE CONTEST:  NO-PUNCHLINE PUNCHLINE.  In 100 words or less, write something that amuses.   It's as simple as that.

THE JUDGE:  Michael Showalter

via Mahype.com

He was a founding member of the sketch comedy troupe, The State, which ran for three seasons on MTV. Michael is also a member of the comedy trio Stella, and, along with Michael Ian Black and David Wain, starred in its eponymous Comedy Central series. Both Stella’s full series and national tour are available on DVD. 

Showalter co-wrote, co-produced and starred in the cult comedy “Wet Hot American Summer.” He directed, wrote and starred in the IFC Films romantic comedy, “The Baxter” co-starring Michelle Williams, Elizabeth Banks and Justin Theroux. He has toured the country performing stand-up comedy and his stand-up comedy record, “Sandwiches & Cats” was released in November of 2007 on the JDub Records label. Michael and longtime collaborator Michael Black co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in a well-acclaimed series for Comedy Central, “Michael and Michael Have Issues,” newly available on DVD. Showalter also created a popular web interview series on Collegehumor.com called “The Michael Showalter Showalter.”

Showalter teaches screenwriting at NYU Graduate Film School. His comedic memoir, “Mr. Funny Pants,” hits shelves February 24, 2011 and is published by Hachette Book Group.  

(Bio via Michaelshowalter.com)

THE PRIZE(S):

One free copy of Showalter's memoir, Mr. Funny Pants.

Other prizes TBA. 


SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

No entry fee. To be eligible:

Subscribe to this blog Other Things (on the right margin) so you can be updated on future contests and literary events in NYC.

Email your entry (no attachments please) to aespach@gmail.com by Monday April 2, 7pm EST.  Please put NO-PUNCHLINE PUNCHLINE in the subject line, and include your name somewhere in the email, though all submissions will be read blind by Michael Showalter.

Winners will be announced here on this blog shortly thereafter.

WYOMING

So, today, I got on this plane...

Emphasis on this propeller....

Ended up here...

 Heaven?

Wyoming.  I can't believe there are places that are this beautiful.  If you live in the house pictured above, or in other houses of Wyoming not pictured, please come to the Riverton Public Library reading on Friday night at 7pm.  Will be reading, signing books, and agreeing with you about how beautiful everything is.

FICTION WORKSHOP

Hear ye, hear ye: 

Enrollment for my Monday night fiction workshop has begun! 

(Click here for sound of Westminster Abbey chimes).

This 7-week workshop will be from April 23-June 11, 7:30-10pm.  Two chances to workshop your own original short fiction.  All classes will be held in Park Slope. 

This will be my last workshop in NYC this year, so if you've ever wanted to join, now would be that time.  Email me (address on my personal website) if you'd like to sign up, and prepare to send a short writing sample my way.

THE PROFESSIONAL LIFE

You know when your apartment is so chronically messy that it's messiness starts to lose its shock value?  When you look around and see magazines scattered on the ground, books on tables, laundry  overspilling only a little bit and you think, wow the place hasn't looked this clean in awhile?

Gabe Wilson photographer extraordinaire came by my apartment last week to shoot photos for a project he is working on about authors and Brooklyn.  Here is what would have been a very stoic and professional-seeming shot had I remembered to remove the dirty t-shirt I stuffed there earlier that day in effort to "clean up" for the photographer who was coming.

My hand, trying to write a novel.  The Maxwell House, impressively steaming: 

I wasn't going to post the last shot because it's of my cat, and that would be the second time this week I posted about her.  But then I remembered how I warned about this kind of thing happening (ratio of cat photos to other photos) in blog post 1, way back when I was a wee little blogger. 

Thanks to Gabe for catching us mid-nanosecond when a spot of sunlight appeared on the ceiling and turned me into my cat.