Speeling it-out fore yoo

Yo, as they say on the Coney Island Boardwalk. Thanks for attending last night's Big Quiz Thing (or merely reading this blog post, if you did not attend). We were without EDP, the crowd was on the light side (perhaps you're a better Jew than I), and Fantastic Fourincators won…a-gain! Such is life in the business we call show.

First, the particulars: We brought back the "Proofread-O-Rama" (click here for the first edition), a video round near and dear to my grammar junkie heart. Now you know all about the conditional mood; sad that it's too late to rub William Safire's face in it.

As for the audio round, "Jazz for Dummies," you all clearly are not dummies (or perhaps you are, since you did so well). Hurray to the two teams guessing DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Now, the standings. Yes, the Fantastic Fourincators won yet again, so let's see what we can do about this. Perhaps I might hobble them. Some options:

-- I make them all play wearing blindfolds, with dispensation for one member designated the team secretary. Would this impact their trivia ability? Perhaps not, but it might be amusing.

-- I impose upon them, and them only, an eight-drink minimum.

-- I dock them a tenth of a point for their first wrong answer. Then a two tenths for the next wrong answer. Then three tenths, etc. This will give me a math headache.

-- I spend much of my spare time investigating their private lives and personal interests. Then, I craft the questions to veer decisively away their expertise. The advantage of this is that we all learn a little about these mysterious blackguards: Which Fournicator has an extra finger on his left hand? Is it true that another member once interned for Diane Von Furstenburg? Who's sleeping with whom? The possibilities are endless.

I like the blindfold idea. Perhaps. Your thoughts?

Otherwise…

1. Fantastic Fournicators
2. Strippers for Stephen Hawking
3. Gerard Depardouche
4. Squirrels on Film
5. Jefferson Davis Starship/Sugah Titz (tie)

Join us again, friends, on October 12. "The Movie Quote Thesaurus" and the long-awaited Wizard of Oz audio round. My chest hair is tingling with excitement.