SF, Ep. 25

January 8, 2010—The Elbo Room roared with approval when LA fiction writer/visual team Matty Byloos and Josh Atlas successfully performed The Bell Jar in a heated final round of charades, which fans guessed in just over three seconds, barely beating out Laura Joyce Davis (Catcher in the Rye, 7 seconds) for the Literary Death Match Title.

Episode 25 was Literary Death Match’s first-ever multi-media event—in which each reader brought along some sort of visual element.  When the slated performance judge was a no-show, Intangibles Judge Michelle Tea nominated her companion, Ali Liebegott—fresh off a dinner from Burger Joint.  She enthusiastically took the chair, completing an all-star panel that also included Literary Merit twitter novelist, Matt Stewart.        

The first round pitted writer Laura Joyce Davis against science comedian Brian Malow.  Brian’s hilariously informative slide show about the alarming decline in the earth’s helium supply—and what would a world without helium look like?  [Cue slide of very sad child with a balloon that won’t float.]  Laura, a lovely young lady, asked the audience to imagine her as a 70-something leather clad biker woman for her story about a journey through the bleak Slab City.  Ali applauded Brian’s bravery for showing up, likening a scientist at a literary event to a lesbian at an Idaho rest stop.  In the end, Laura secured her spot in the final round.

See all the photos from the event here.

After winning the coin toss, Michael Capozzola charmed the audience with a story (accompanied by his own illustrations) about a boy with a crush on a DJ girl, waiting eagerly for her to play him a song on the radio.  Josh and Matty’s story featured a dentist and (live video footage of) group masturbation—and had the audience in uproarious laughter—and won them a spot in the final round.