Knicks Covers…

After Game 1 of the Knicks/Spurs game the other night, The New Yorker went live on Substack to dissect the evening. The magazine’s editor, David Remnick, was joined by two contributors, Vinson Cunningham and Louisa Thomas.

Mr. Remnick, talking about the reading public’s demand for Mark Ulriksen’s recent New Yorker cover (above, left) said (jokingly): “Well, my grand plan is to just put the Knicks on the cover for the next 20 weeks.” 

Knicks fans will recall John Cuneo‘s great cover of December 9, 2024:

Thurber Prizes Awarded Tonight In Columbus

From The Columbus Dispatch, May 5, 2026, “Thurber Prize For American Humor To Celebrate Laughter In Literature” [and cartoons!].

The Spill again congratulates Emily Flake for being named the 2026 recipient of the Thurber Prize For American Humor In Cartoon Art. The winner for literature will be announced this evening.

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Latest Addition to The Archives…A Script

A script came this way recently, courtesy of a loyal Spill reader (thank you loyal Spill reader!).

Award Of Interest…Bruce Eric Kaplan

From New Jersey Stage, May 15, 2026, “Bruce Eric Kaplan To Receive The Maplewood Literary Award On May 21st” 

Mr. Kaplan (who signs his work “BEK”) began contributing to The New Yorker in 1991. His most recent book is They Went Another Way: A Hollywood Memoir (Henry Holt & co., 2024)

Below: his first cartoon collection (1999), and his memoir (2015):

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Hilary Campbell Has A Sketchbook Club

Hilary Campbell began contributing to The New Yorker in 2017. All the details about her Sketchbook Club can be found here on Instagram.Her most recent book is The Joy Of Snacking (Andrews McMeel, 2025).

Visit her website here.

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Liana Finck Speaks

From Dorotusa, “An Afternoon With Cartoonist Liana Finck” — notice of an online appearance on May 27th where, according to the organization’s  website:

“Cartoonist and graphic novelist Liana Finck talks about her New Yorker cartoons and her books, which include an adaptation of Yiddish advice column A Bintel Brief and Let There Be Light, an adaptation of the Book of Genesis.” All the info here.

Liana Finck began contributing to The New Yorker in 2013. Visit her website here.

Cartoon Caption Contest Podcast Celebrates Its 250 Episode

Congrats to the fine folks at the Cartoon Caption Contest Podcast on their 250th! Listen to their special episode here. 

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Paul Noth Cartoon Collection Cover Revealed

The collection by Mr. Noth, who has been contributing to The New Yorker since 2004, will be out this October.

Upcoming Women Laughing Screenings 

Women Laughing, Liza Donnelly and Kathleen Hughes documentary film about New Yorker women cartoonists past and present, will be screened at a number of venues beginning this Spring and into the Fall. You can see the schedule here.

Please note that three screenings are happening within the next few days:

Portland Museum of Art
May 9, 2026 Portland, ME

The Moviehouse
May 9, 2026 Millerton, NY
Followed by conversation with Liza Donnelly, Kathleen Hughes, Amy Hwang. 

The Church
May 15, 2026 Sag Harbor, NY
Followed by conversation with Liza Donnelly, Kathleen Hughes and Emma Allen.

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Update: Thurber Prize For American Humor In Writing Awarded

Congrats to Shalom Auslander for being awarded the 2026 Thurber Prize for American Humor in Writing … and congrats once again to Emily Flake the (previously announced) 2026 Thurber Prize winner for American Humor In Cartoon Art.

The Tilley Watch Online, May 4-8, 2026

An end of the week listing of New Yorker artists whose work has appeared on newyorker.com features

Daily Cartoon: Emily Flake, Victoria Roberts, Ben Schwartz, Bob Eckstein, Olivia Pecini (a bonus cartoon by an online only cartoonist), Meredith Southard.

See them here (in a slideshow)

Barry Blitt’s Kvetchbook: “Straight Outta Hormuz” 

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Happy Mother’s Day

One from The New Yorker, August 19, 1985.

Early Cover Release…Knicksmania At The New Yorker

The New Yorker has early released (online) the cover for the issue of June 22, 2026. David Remnick, the magazine’s editor, recently said he’d like to run 20 Knicks covers. Only 18 to go now. Cover artist: Pierre-Emmanuel Lyet:

The magazine has also run a half dozen Knicks-centric cartoons:

here

here

here

here

here

here

…not to mention, in non-cartoon news, the post-game live Substack wrap-ups with Mr. Remnick and two New Yorker contributors (Vinson Cunningham and Louisa Thomas), as well as this Sporting Scene piece by Mr. Remnick, this piece by Louisa Thomas, and this Daily piece.

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Now That’s A Cover!

A spectacular cover by Barney Tobey that includes a New Yorker cover within the cover(!). Mr. Tobey’s New Yorker run lasted 57 years, with 1,040 cartoons and four covers. The one above was his third. His 1983 restrospective, B. Tobey Of The New Yorker is highly recommended.

Barney Tobey (photo above from Think Small, a book of humor produced by Volkswagon) Born in New York City, July, 18, 1906, died March 27, 1989, New York. New Yorker work: 1929 -1986. Essential collection: B. Tobey of The New Yorker (Dodd Mead & Co., 1983). 4 covers; 1,040 cartoons.

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Keith Knight Guests On The Latest Cartoon Caption Contest Podcast

Keith Knight, who began contributing to The New Yorker in 2019, joins the always fun CCCP crew on Episode 254. Listen to it here. 

photo above: clockwise from the top left: Keith Knight, then co-hosts, Paul Nesja, Nicole Chrolavicius, and Beth Lawler

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Peter Kuper’s Spy Vs. Spy Poster For MAD Issue #600

Peter Kuper, who began contributing to The New Yorker in 2011, has posted his Spy Vs. Spy poster appearing in MAD Issue #600 (Mr. Kuper has written and illustrated that feature since 1997).

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Interview Of Interest: Ivan Ehlers.

From Printmag.com, June 12, 2026, “Ivan Ehlers’ Political Cartoons Feel More Important Than Ever.” 

A short interview with Mr. Ehlers who began contributing to The New Yorker in July of 2021. Visit his website here.

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The Tilley Watch Online, June 8-12, 2026

An end of the week listing of New Yorker artists whose work has appeared on newyorker.com features

Daily Cartoon: Jorge Penne, Ngozi Ukazu, Bob Eckstein, Keith Knight, (the duo of) Jason Chatfield & Scott Dooley.

Artist At Large: Millie von Platen’s “Superstitious Behaviors Of Knicks Superfans”

Sketchbook: Zoe Si’s “Power Play: Behind The Music of ‘Heated Rivalry'”

Barry Blitt’s Kvetchbook: “Looksmaxxing For Dummies”

Fave Photo Of The Week

The above group photo was taken the other day in Washington, D.C., at DC/Dox, where Women Laughing was screened. The film, directed by Kathleen Hughes (third from left) and Liza Donnelly second from left), has been popping up at numerous festivals this year.

New Yorker cartoonists, Sara Lautman (second from right), and Emily Sanders Hopkins (first on the right) participated in a panel discussion following the screening.

Also pictured: Women Laughing producers Judith Mizrachy (first on the left), and Nathalie Seaver (fourth from left).

Photo by (New Yorker cartoonist) Marshall Hopkins

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And In Other Donnelly News…

Check out the latest in the series, Talk & Draw With Heather Cox Richardson and Liza Donnelly here (the subject this time ’round is Watergate).

Peter Kuper News

A couple of fun items concerning Peter Kuper, who began contributing to The New Yorker in 2011. His book, Insectopolis: A Natural History is a Ohio Books Awards finalist in the category of nonfiction.

and…

his work is included in Cleveland’s Maltz Museum exhibit, “Icons In Ink: The Jewish Comics Experience” 

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A Reminder: Rich Sparks Today at 12:30 On Jason Chatfield’s “Draw Me Anything”

Mr. Sparks,began contributing to The New Yorker in 2016; Mr. Chatfield began contributing in 2017.

Link here to Mr. Chatfield’s site

Another in a series of quick looks at an artist’s very first New Yorker cartoon and their last. 

Here’s one of the 80 or so New Yorker artists who had but one cartoon in the magazine. I call them “One Clubbers” in the Spill‘s A-Z; this fellow appears on every One Clubber’s entry:

Fougasse’s first and his last New Yorker cartoon appeared in the issue of March 28, 1925.

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Fougasse’s A-Z Entry:

Cyril Kenneth Bird  Born, London, December 17, 1887. Died, 1965. New Yorker work: 1 cartoon, March 28, 1925. Known professionally under the name Fougasse, Bird became art editor of Punch in 1937, and assumed the title of editor in 1949. Key book: The Good-Tempered Pencil, A Survey of Modern British and American Humorous Art (Max Reinhardt, 1956).

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More Fougasse:  here and here. A goodly number of original work here at the Chris Beetles Gallery.

The Tilley Watch Online, May 18-22, 2026

An end of the week listing of New Yorker artists whose work has appeared on newyorker.com features

Daily Cartoon: (the duo of) Joe Dator and Kevin Maher, Sam Hurt, Adam Douglas Thompson, Matt Reuter, J.A.K.. See them here.

Barry Blitt’s Kvetchbook: “From Heel To Calf”

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Ellie Black Guests On The Latest Cartoon Caption Contest Podcast

Ellie Black, who began contributing to The New Yorker in February of 2019 (February 11th, to be exact), joins the CCCP crew this week (it’s episode #251, for those keeping track). Listen here. 

Photo,  top l-r: co-hosts Nicole Chrolavicius and Paul Nesja. Bottom row: Ellie Black.

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Sidenote: Ellie Black is one the 52 New Yorker cartoonists profiled in At Wits End: Cartoonists Of The New Yorker (Clarkson Potter, 2024).