4/30/01 UPDATE!!! VOTING NOW CLOSED!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER TYLER DURDAN FOR "SAVING RYAN'S DATE"!!!

Here's the winning entry, which received 22.7% of 926 votes cast!

2001-04-19 15:47:26
From: Tyler Durdan
Subject: Saving Ryan's Date
Comment: This was back in the fall of 1998. I was 14 years old, and I had just gotten my first girlfriend, Patricia. For our first date we decided to go on a double-date with another couple to the movies. I'm a nervous wreck the night of the date: I'm wondering when I should put my arm around her, kiss her...all the stupid stuff. Anyway, we get to the movie theater and I find out the movie we're going to see--SAVING PRIVATE RYAN! I trying to keep my composure, knowing that my girlfriend is gonna hate the movie. We sit back with popcorn in hand, and the lights dim. Right at the first scene of the movie (you know, the amazing beach scene), Patricia horrified runs out of the theater. But I, being a film buff, stay and watch the movie. She comes back after ten minutes and I find out she threw up in the restroom. Let's just say there was an ackward silence between us for the rest of the night (and for the rest of our relationship). We broke up after about two months. I miss her a lot and wish we'd go back out, but it'll never happen. But do I regret that I did not leave with her: HELL NO!! SAVING PRIVATE RYAN KICKED ASS!!

...

UPDATE!!!
VOTING NOW OPEN!!! CONTEST EXTENDED!!!

Well, folks, due to popular demand, we decided to extend the contest! 18 nominees were ultimately chosen, and you now have until this Sunday 4/29/01 at midnight CST to vote for the winning submission.

Who will win Liv's lingerie - not to mention the prop dumbbells? It's up to you.

To vote, just return to the main page and scroll down beneath the headlines, where you'll find a Survey asking "Who should win the ONE NIGHT AT MCCOOL'S Contest?" Nominated entries are listed by Subject and Author in order of appearance in Talk Back below, which should make it easy for you to find and read them to pick your favorite.

And, yes, for those of you who are wondering... we did ultimately disqualify those entries that broke the 250-word-limit rule (a surprising number did), because to do otherwise would have been unfair to those who abided by the rule (though we did allow one entrant a few words of breathing room for a non-relevant introduction to their entry).

Anyway, thanks to all of you who took the time to enter, and best of luck to all the nominees. (Personally, I must admit I have a hands-down favorite - but I ain't tellin' ya who it is!)

Greetings, stalker-types! ROBOGEEK here with a chance to win something that'll make you the envy of all your friends... and hopefully not incur a restraining order.

So there's this movie coming out next Friday called ONE NIGHT AT MCCOOL'S. Granted, the title doesn't say a whole lot, but I highly recommend checking out the trailer (assuming you haven't already) at www.apple.com/trailers/usa/one_night_at_mccools/ - if for no other reason than to check out Michael Douglas' incredibly badass hair (which, I must say, compensates for the Smashmouth song).

Oh, and there's, um, lots of Liv Tyler.

LOTS.

Speaking of whom, we're doing a rather... unique giveaway contest in partnership with the good folks at USA Films. Not only could you win a pair of prop dumbbells (with fake blood, natch), we'll also throw in a piece of the film's wardrobe:

A green slip worn by Liv Tyler.

Really.

If you like, just take a moment, and ponder...

...

Ah... Liv...

Where was I? Oh, yes, so we were trying to figure out how best to give away these items (and keep them out of Harry's hands), and thought it'd be appropriate to somehow tie into the fact that, well, in the film... Liv seems to pretty much make Matt Dillon's (and a John Goodman's and Paul Reiser's) life hell.

So the rules are simple: In 250 words or less, describe your WORST DATING EXPERIENCE EVER - and post it in Talk Back below for all the world to see.

Then, on Monday (4/23), we'll pick our favorite submissions/nominees, and open up a Survey on the front page to let our readers vote for the winner. (Voting will close next Thursday at midnight, and the winner will be announced.)

NOTE: If your submission is nominated, the Subject line you give it in Talk Back will be how it's listed in the Survey (so voters can find and read your entry in Talk Back). ALSO: Only residents of the United States are eligible (hey, we're stuck with W).

So what are ya waiting for?

POST YOUR DATE FROM HELL IN TALK BACK!

Liv's lingerie awaits...

- Robogeek

P.S.: Check out the official ONE NIGHT AT MCCOOL'S WEBSITE at www.onenightatmccools.com for some clips from the film and other goodies.