Humor Articles

I Was the Wedding Planner for the Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” Ceremony and Reception
Originally appeared in McSweeney's on June 6, 2024

Wednesday, 1:35 P.M. (Excerpt from Slouchers)
Originally appeared on McSweeney's

Netflix Documentaries We Watched While Under Quarantine
Originally appeared in New Yorker, April 2020

Date Ideas for a Post-Quarantine World
Originally appeared in New Yorker, June 2020

Events We Are Actually Glad Were Cancelled
Originally appeared in New Yorker, May 2020

Introducing Yelp for Sex Positions
Originally appeared on GQ, October 2014

The Donald Trump Presidential Library
Originally appeared in Vanity Fair, December 2015

Jennifer Benson’s UFO Abductee Blog
Originally appeared on McSweeney's. Written with Bob Powers

Justin Bieber’s Life for the Next 35 Years!
Originally appeared on GQ.com, February 2014

2012 Summer Music Festival Guide!
Originally appeared on Funny or Die's The Occasional, June 2012

Occupy the North Pole: Stand Athwart the Jolly One Percent!
Originally appeared on Vanityfair.com, December 19, 2011

It Is Party Time at Club Seacrets!
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, June 28, 2011

Things a Man MUST Do Before the Age of 30!
Originally appeared on McSweeney's. Written with Ted Travelstead

Dear Family and Estate of John Updike
Originally appeared on Barnesandnoble.com, May 3, 2010

Famous Philosophers and How They Were First Discovered
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, May 3, 2010

Geoff Sarkin is Using Twitter!
Co-written with Scott Rothman. Originally appeared in The New Yorker, April 12, 2010

My Parents, Enid and Sal, Used to Be Famous Porn Stars
Originally appeared in The New Yorker, November 30, 2009

A Sixteenth-Century Shakespearean Actor Suffers a Meltdown at London’s Globe Theatre
Originally appeared on The New Yorker, February 17, 2009

Jimmy Jam Johnson, the Classic-Rock DJ Sufferin’ a Nervous Breakdown!
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, December 2, 2008

119 Ways to Survive a Recession
Originally written for Radar, October 2008

When Making Love to Me: What Every Woman Needs to Know
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, October 16, 2008

Signs Your College is Not Very Prestigious
Originally appeared in Radar, September 2008

Great Works of Literature as Text Messages
Originally appeared in Esquire, June 2008

Bootleg Mike’s “Forgotten Boots”
Originally appeared in Vice, May 2012

147 Signs You’re in the Wrong Relationship
Originally appeared in Radar, April 2008

Physical-Therapy Exercises for Other Injurious Situations
Originally appeared in Esquire, February 2008

109 Things Not to Say at a Job Interview
Originally appeared in Radar, February 2008

130 Secret-Santa Gifts to Avoid
Originally appeared in Radar, December 2007

102 Self-Help Books You Can Do Without
Originally appeared in Radar, October 2007

142 Reasons You’re Still Single
Originally appeared in Radar, September 2007

Funny Letters from Summer Camp and Their Not-So-Funny Responses
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, August 7, 2007

The Top 10 Best Sellers of 2027
Originally appeared in Time, March 26, 2007

A Leaflet Dropped Over Amy Weller’s House
Originally appeared in The New Yorker, May 17, 2004

Have You Heard The One About President Bush?
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, October 4, 2004

The Three Laws of Robotics According to Isaac Asimov, Plus Twenty-Four According to Me
Originally appeared on Sweet Fancy Moses, November 1, 2000

74 Things That Aren’t “Better Than Nothing”
Originally appeared in Esquire, May 8, 2006. Written with Ted Travelstead.

Game Show Catchphrases That Never Quite Caught On
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, June 6, 2006

Today’s Most Funniest Movie Bloopers
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, November 8, 1999

THE ZAPRUDER FILM: THE NOVELIZATION
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, February 9, 2000

Loved the Following Jokes And Thought You’d Love Them As Well! Pass Them On!
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, December 13, 2001

Community College Buddha Master
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, June 9, 2004

Everyday Tantric-Sex Positions
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, January 30, 2004

Short Monologues for the Struggling Actor
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, July 13, 2004

Things a Man Should Never Do Past the Age of 30
Originally appeared in Esquire, May 17, 2005

Remember When? A Collection of 1980s References Without Context or Meaning
Originally appeared on McSweeney's, January 16, 2001

My Family Home Movie (Starring Janeane Garofalo)
Originally appeared on The Freedonian, July 10, 2001

Personalized Stories for Adults
Originally appeared on The Freedonian, April 27, 2000

HI, EVERYBODY!!! A Paid Advertisement from Your Good Friend “Wild Child Tony”
Originally appeared on The Freedonian, May 7, 2001

Scared Straight: The Home Detention Speech
Originally appeared on The Freedonian, April 17, 2001

Today, June 17th, is “You Day”! Do Something Utterly Self-Indulgent (“Just For You!”)
Originally appeared on Sweet Fancy Moses, September 3 2002

ROBIN WILLIAMS: Improvising For His Life
Originally appeared on Sweet Fancy Moses, February 5, 2003