I!'s 100 Posts, 100 Baits: The List #60-51

Narrator: After many days of delay, here is the next section of the Top 100. We are ready now, more than ever, to continue crowning the best baits ever written. And now, here’s our host Zgamer.

Zgamer: (Walks to the camera) Sorry the delay has been so long. There’s been some issues and Michael is currently unavailable to assist with the ceremony. So I will be running the next few segments. It will take more work, but I am determined to get as much as I can done. And don’t worry, our reliable commenter Daniel will still be here to give his great views on the baits.

Now, we are moving on to our goal of crowning the Top baits of all time. Right now, we are at #60. I feel this is a great bait to start off this long delayed section of the list. Probably it’s greatest success is actually doing a David Lynch film the right way. Released back in March of 2007, this was a great bait for so many reasons. So let’s take a look into the glorious Sweet Black and Blue.

Narrator: The bait opened to a mostly favorable reviews and praise. While some were put off by the Lynch style (as many people usually are), everyone else praised it for its originality, quality writing and the fact that it really felt like a Lynch movie.

Daniel: I've reread this many, many times. It just gets better with each read. This is the ultimate David Lynch project and D.W. did such a great job by staying in Lynch's vein at all times.

Narrator: Obviously, the bait’s reception at the precursors was ok, scoring some good nominations for its stars and director. It fared much better at the Oscars though. Though it didn’t receive a huge amount of nods, it walked away with the director award for David Lynch and #6 of the month. One of my favorite baits of that month and a great bait on D.W.’s resume.

Title Card: The #60 bait is…

SWEET BLACK AND BLUE

Zgamer: This next bait is one of the early ones from a rising author on the site. Released back in November of 2006, a little known author named Sergio soon made a name for himself with this bait with his great poster design and interesting writing. This is the Record Man.

Narrator: Record Man opened to a mixed reception. Though not praised throughout the site, it had a good cult following of authors pushing it. Most of them praised its uniqueness, poster and lead star Will Ferrell, though many complained on some of the baits grammar flaws.

Daniel: The synopsis for this is great. I loved the casting and the crew, especially Burton, the first time I read it. This was one of Sergio's first great baits and it truly deserves a position in the Top 100.

Narrator: Record Man has a favorable reception at the GG’s, earning best actor awards for Will Ferrell in both. It’s Oscar reception wasn’t great, but it did rank #11 in the month and earn Sergio the reception he needed to write future successes like Lucky Clover.

Title Card: The #59 bait is…

RECORD MAN

Zgamer: This next bait goes back to June of 2006. As the contest began to be able to stand on its own two feet, a rising author named Brian released two baits that would solidify his status as one of the site’s best authors. One was Contemporary Comedy, which would earn him the BOTM award. The other was this foreboding work. With director M. Night Shyamalan handling the adaptation of this successful book. This is The Devil In The White City.

Narrator: The Devil in the White City opened to a mixed but mostly good reception. Though Contemporary Comedy stole most of its thunder, it still rode on the success Brian had that month. Most considered it the best adapted screenplay frontrunner and it garnered many other favorable comments for its cast and story.

Daniel: I am ecsatic to see that this made the list. It is one of my all time favorites. Although I loved "Contemporary Comedy", this should have been the winner of June but I don't think that comment will offend Brian (AZ) seeing as he wrote both of those baits.

Narrator: Overshadowed by Contemporary Comedy, The Devil in the White City only garnered a few nods in technical categories and an honorable mention that month. However, the bait continues to have a strong cult following even after a year since its release.

Title Card: The #58 bait is…

THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY

Zgamer: Our next inductee to the list is kind of an oddball in terms of the types of baits we get. It’s not a drama, it’s not a comedy and it’s not a biopic. Heck, it isn’t even a horror story. It’s an anime. However, it is by far one of the best animated stories we’ve ever had. So here’s to James Somerton’s March 2007 hit Dragontown.

Narrator: After many delays and months of online campaigning, Dragontown opened in March to very favorable reviews. Though not considered a serious Oscar contender, it received a whole lot of praise for its originality, great writing and its accuracy in feeling like a real Japanese Anime movie.

Daniel: This is one of James Somerton's best baits. The concept and execution of the main idea in this bait was done beautifully.

Narrator: It’s precursor run was short, but quite successful, earning a screenplay win at the GG’s. The Oscars proved to be even more successful. It didn’t make the top 20 of the month (only honorable mention), but it did earn well deserved Oscars for James unique Online Campaign and Original Screenplay. This will stand as an achievement in site’s rising popularity in foreign and animated films.

Title Card: The #57 bait is…

DRAGONTOWN

Zgamer: Where would the Oscars be without musicals? Well, we certainly didn’t want to find out, because our next bait helped pioneer that genre in the contest. An adaptation of the 2006 Tony Award winning Musical, Pat topped off one of his strongest months with this enjoyable bait. Here’s our tribute to Jersey Boys.

Narrator: Jersey Boys opened to a strong reception that month. While Pat had three other baits that month in the competition, this was probably his strongest contender. Though not praised everywhere, it made many Top 10 and predictions list for its ideal cast, crew and writing style.

Daniel: This bait holds the title of one of the largest Best Actor upsets in history. This was a very great bait and one of Pat's very best.

Narrator: Come Oscar time, Jersey Boys surprised everyone with its receptions. Like Daniel said, it earned a well deserved though debated win for lead star John Lloyd Young. It also placed #2 in the month and helped Pat win Best Author that month. This will go down as one of the site’s first great musicals.

Title Card: The #56 bait is…

JERSEY BOYS

Zgamer: Now we head to the really sticky stuff. This is by far considered one of the site’s most controversial baits of all time, due to its topic and its rather unflattering descriptions in its press section. However, it strengths must have overshadowed its flaws, as this bait is now on our list. But we all know where I stand on this, so let’s have the narrator describe Bruised Boys for us.

Narrator: As said, Bruised Boys opened to an incredibly mixed reception back in August of 2006. Some praised its supporting cast and interesting style while many were enraged by the bait’s description of its graphic homosexual intercourse scene. Many have said to changed their minds on this though, looking at the baits good qualities.

Daniel: This is still one of the most controversial baits of all time. If you haven't read it, you are missing out. Although it was hated by many when it was first released, it has become a classic since.

Narrator: Due to the controversy, its Oscar reception was hurt a bit. It did garner several key nods though, including best original screenplay, and placed #9 in the month. It goes down in history just because it causes debates to this day.

Title Card: The #55 bait is…

BRUSIED BOYS

Zgamer: This next bait was a bit of a one hit wonder. Written by Jason back in November of 2006, this bait surprised everyone with its unique style and quality writing. So here’s our tribute to The Rainbow Album.

Narrator: The Rainbow Album opened to a good amount of praise. Though most of the month's thunder was being given to James Somerton's baits and Freakshow, it earned a good amount of acclaim for its cast, crew and interesting topic.

Daniel: This is one of the best Best Actor vehicles ever. This would pull a Helen Mirren and win EVERY SINGLE Best Actor award if it were a real movie. This has become one of my favorite baits as I reread it and reread it.

Narrator: The Rainbow Album kind of took some by surprise with its reception. Scoring plenty of nods in precursor events, the bait eventually hit the mark with its Oscar reception. Along with placing #5 in the month, it garnered many nominations and a win for lead star Patrick Wilson. A great Foreman and acting vehicle.

Title Card: The #54 bait is…

THE RAINBOW ALBUM

Zgamer: This next bait is one of Daniel’s best biopics. Written back in August of 2006, this told the grand tale of children entertainment and cartoon pioneer Walt Disney. So let’s all take a ride on the Steamboat Disney.

Narrator: Steamboat Disney helped push one of Daniel’s strongest months, with praise being given everywhere by the authors. Most of them gave their remarks for its ideal crew, great writing, likeable topic and its brilliant casting of David Strathairn as the man himself.

Daniel: My casting of David Strathairn is tied for my favorite casting choice that I've done, tied with Al Pacino in "A New Agenda".

Narrator: After a strong showing at the GG’s, the Oscars shocked everyone by not acknowledging Strathairn with a nod, considered one of the biggest snubs of all time. Not to say it completely lucked out though, as it placed #6 in the month and garnered many other nominations for director Clooney and technical awards. One of the best casting jobs in a biopics in the contest.

Title Card: The #53 bait is…

STEAMBOAT DISNEY

Zgamer: Wait a minute, didn’t we already have this bait on our list? Nope, that was the adaptation of the book. This is Al’s superb adaptation of the Tony Award winning musical. With great writing, a stellar cast and the words “box-office and award juggernaut” written all over it, this was one of March 2007’s biggest hits. Who says it doesn’t pay to be Wicked.

Narrator: Wicked opened to a strong reception from the get-go. Though debates continue on whether this or the previous version is better, many praised this for being the more enjoyable of the two. It also garnered the usual praise for its cast and writing. The only thing people complained about was its director choice.

Daniel: Although I prefer the first edition of "Wicked", this was also a great bait. I loved how it didn't give away the ending but still gave a great synopsis.

Narrator: Wicked turned out to be one of the biggest surprise awards darlings of the month. Earning many nods in the precursors (including a win for Kristen Chenoweth at the SAG’s), it came out strong in the Oscars. With many nominations and a #2 ranking, it turned out to be one of the month’s biggest winners, earning awards for its awards section, box-office potential, adapted screenplay and Chenoweth’s supporting role.

Title Card: The #52 bait is…

WICKED

Zgamer: We’ve now hit the last bait of our section. We’ve seen many types of genres here this day. From animated wonders to musical hits to classy biopics, we’ve experienced quite a few baits. However, we’ve yet to see a real showing from the female vehicles. Well here it is. Written by Douglass Reese back in December 2006, this is one of his greatest baits. So come and smell the Wildflower.

Narrator: Wildflower opened to stellar reviews when it released. Though some complained about minor details, everyone praised its great cast, crew, storylines and its topic. One of Douglass Reese’s biggest critical successes.

Daniel: This idea is very original even though it is somewhat based on an actual event. I can see the film in my mind as going back in forth between the two women and it working very effectively. It is extremely well written and the "date" idea in the synopsis worked, surprisingly enough.

Narrator: Wildflower proved successful at the GG’s, winning a screenplay award and earning many nods. At the Oscars, it proved more successful. Earning a #4 spot in the month, it also won for its poster and Christina Ricci’s lead performance. A classic on many levels.

Title Card: The #51 bait is…

WILDFLOWER

Zgamer: So concludes this portion of our list. We will be back as soon as we can for the next section of the bait. Until then, enjoy your weekend and enjoy this recap.

60. Sweet Black and Blue
59. Record Man
58. The Devil in the White City
57. Dragontown
56. Jersey Boys
55. Bruised Boys
54. The Rainbow Album
53. Steamboat Disney
52. Wicked (March ’07)
51. Wildflower

I!'s 100 Posts, 100 Baits: The List #70-61

Narrator: Please welcome tonight, for the next segment of the Top 100, Zgamer.

(Zgamer walks to the center of the scene)

Zgamer: Well, looks like it’s time for another ten baits to get the recognition they deserve. You know, as we get closer to the end of the list, it gets harder and harder to decide what movies deserve to make the top spots. Thankfully, we are able to announce these next great baits right now. So let’s kick off the night with a bait that helped Maia on her way to success with Bootleg. No, it’s not Arabic Café we’re talking about right now. It’s A Child of Shame.

Daniel: This is one of Maia's best baits. This shows a real strength in baiting female characters as both Keener and Watts could really do wonders with these roles. This is a crowning achievement in Maia's flawless collection of baits.

Narrator: Released back in February of 2007, A Child of Shame opened to mostly favorable reviews and landed on many predictions and Top 10 lists. While not the most praised, it was one of the favorite adapted baits of the month. Most people praised it for its baity story and likable cast.

Michael: While I think it's a bit overrated, it was full of great acting roles.

Narrator: What the bait lacked in great reviews, it made up for it with awards love. After a good number of nods and two Golden Globe wins, it made it big at the final awards. Landing at #2 at the final list and earning two wins for its title and lead actress Catherine Keener, it ended up a winner.

Title Card: The #70 bait is…

A CHILD OF SHAME

Zgamer: The next bait on our list comes from all the way back August 2006. Jamie Madden hasn’t been incredibly active lately, but this bait remains one of his best. So prepare to experience the flavor of I Do Solemnly Swear.

Michael: I'm really glad that this made the list. I think it's really underrated and was one of my favorites back in August.

Narrator: Though a likable bait, it’s reception was not the greatest. Aside from Pat, many authors didn’t give it a great reception. However, most people gave great comments for lead star Eckhart and the overall attitude of the bait.

Daniel: I must say, this is a surprising, but welcome, addition to the list. This is an extremely sweet and funny bait. Aaron Eckhart could really excel in this role.

Narrator: I Do Solemnly Swear didn’t receive a great reception at the Oscars, but it got a good amount of nominations and placed #17 of the month.

Title Card: The #69 bait is…

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR

Zgamer: This next bait is the one that started the series Brian would make a name off of. We’ve already inducted Vol. II on the list, now it’s time to bring Fresh Heir Vol. I into the fold.

Michael: This kicked off the most sucessful trilogy in contest history and is a great political story.

Narrator: Released way back in June of 2006, this volume of the bait was the one that helped Brian earn the popularity of the authors and his success in the month with his bait Contemporary Comedy. With the praise for its originality, great cast and competent crew, Fresh Heir Vol. I was the start of something big.

Daniel: This started one of, if not the, most successful series ever in the contest. It is certainly my favorite series. This was a highly original story and I remember not knowing what to think when I read it for the first time. Then I realized I loved it. Volumes II and III proved to be just as good if not better.

Narrator: Fresh Heir didn’t win anything that month, but it earned plenty of nods and placed #13 in the month. If anything, the most notable thing this bait did, other than be great, was help pave the way for Vol. II and III.

Title Card: The #68 bait is…

FRESH HEIR VOL. I

Zgamer: Our next bait is considered by many to be one of Daniel’s best. Released back in January of 2007, this bait told a compelling story about one person’s battle with the rare disease known as aphasias. This is the story of E.L.

Daniel: Even in the bait's first stages, Betty White was always going to play E.L. Hughes. This idea came to me when I was thinking back on a Biology course that I had taken. My teacher had spoken about aphasias and their effects. That was my main inspiration for this bait and it is one of my favorites of all my work.

Narrator: E.L. opened to very favorable reviews from the get-go, with praises for its well picked cast and crew, along with its nicely developed characters and story progression. Though it had plenty of competition from baits like Sandstorm, it was able to stand on its own and make a name for itself.

Michael: I think that this is one of the most forgotten baits of all-time, but it's one of my favorites. It was a bit of a comeback for Daniel after a few off months and Betty White was a fantastic choice. A great bait overall.

Narrator: E.L. earned plenty of love from reviews and precursors, so it was given that it would gain good reception at the Oscars. Though it didn’t win best picture, the bait won well deserved awards for best casting choice and a win for supporting actor Bill Nighly.

Title Card: The #67 bait is…

E.L.

Zgamer: This next bait was the turning point in Bryce’s career. Released in May of 2007, this interesting story of a town controlled by gangsters won the attention of many in what was considered a weak month. So let us examine the story of The Guy Who Owned the Store.

Michael: I really think this bait kind of missed the mark. It's a great story, but I didn't like it when I first read it as much as I love it now. One of the baits that is better in memory.

Narrator: The Guy Who Owned the Store opened to good reviews. Most people praised its likable cast and compelling story. Most of all, people praised that it was Bryce’s first biggest step into the ways of professional baiting.

Daniel: I remember reading this at the film festival. I liked it but wasn't completely wowed. When I read the bait for a second time during the month's competition, I saw what all the buzz was about. This is a great story. I've come to love this bait and everything about it is spot on.

Narrator: The Guy Who Owned the Store garnered many nods over the month and even though it didn’t win much, it helped push the bait to a best picture nod. While it only won for Bryce’s unique online campaign, its main victory was for solidifying Bryce as a competent and serious contender among the authors.

Title Card: The #66 bait is…

THE GUY WHO OWNED THE STORE

Zgamer: Alright, we’re halfway through tonight’s segment. And the next bait is a good way to continue the momentum. The sequel to Connor’s hit The Breadwinner, Paravana’s Journey made just as much of a splash to make it a hit back in October of 2006.

Daniel: The sequel to the wildly successful "The Breadwinner" was a hit. I loved the whole series. This was a great second part. This was very buzzed when it was announced and was liked then. Apparently it is still liked now.

Narrator: Paravana’s Journey opened to great reviews that month. While it had a lot of competition from such classics as Live From New York, iLife and The Bang-Bang Club, it garnered raves for star Keisha Castle Hughes and just being a quality sequel.

Michael: It may not have been as good as The Breadwinner, but it is still a fantastic bait.

Narrator: Hughes earned lots of recognition for her performance, earning a trifecta of nominations in all the precursors. Though she didn’t win and the bait wasn’t recognized with any wins, it still remains a winner in the hearts of many.

Title Card: The #65 bait is…

PARVANA’S JOURNEY

Zgamer: I think this next bait really speaks to many of the authors just because it’s kind of relatable to our situation. It’s a story of people across the U.S. who bond through a common medium: the internet. Yep, it’s Matt’s August 2006 fan favorite Internet Connection.

Michael: While I'm not to surprised that this bait is so far down on the list, this is still one of my favorite baits of all time. Full of a great cast and great relationships, it made me an instant Matt fan.

Narrator: Internet Connection opened to a mixed reaction. While many praised its highly likable cast and characters, some complained about its possible troubles translating into a real movie. However, that didn’t distract it from being a popular pick.

Daniel: As I've said on many occasions, this is one of my all time favorite baits. I did a special on this bait on the forums not too long ago. The characters in this story are so rich and original. Everything about this it a hit. Unfortunately missing out on the top award, this was the rightful winner of August 2006.

Narrator: True to Daniel’s statement above, Internet Connection did not receive a nod for best picture that month. However, it lives on through being the contest’s first winner for the Golden Globes best picture drama (tied with the big winner Photograph), its placing as #13 of the month and its support from its fans.

The #64 bait is…

INTERNET CONNECTION

Zgamer: When people think of Harry, a lot of thoughts come to mind. He was one of the contest’s most unique and slightly aggravating author’s during its start. Many didn’t take him seriously at first, seeing him as nothing more than a second rate young foreign writer. This bait, however, changed that. So let us explore September 2006’s Between Elephants and Mice.

Daniel: This was Harry's first big hit. Not to offend but his earlier works were not deemed very high quality. This is the bait that showed that Harry really could crank out an amazing bait. I loved this one when it came out. Laura Linney really was great casting.

Narrator: While it wasn’t a complete critical darling, the bait did get many praises for being Harry’s comeback bait after his first few flops. Most praised its appropriate style as a Woody Allen film and nice cast.

Michael: I remember when I first read this bait, I thought "Wow, that would make a great film" and I stand by that today. This was a truly great bait.

Narrator: Between Elephants and Mice received a good following at the Golden Globes, earning a screenplay nod and win (like many Allen films). It’s Oscar reception wasn’t huge, but the film did manage to earn an award for its original lead character and place #7 in the month. Most of all though, this bait won Harry his first bits of respect to help save his reputation and help him write baits like Destiny.

Title Card: The #63 bait is…

BETWEEN ELEPHANTS AND MICE

Zgamer: We’re very close to our last few baits of the night, so let’s keep the train rolling. Back around August of 2006, a new author named Tony arrived to the scene. With one bait to his name after that month, he continued on to the next with no enthusiasm of the authors. Little did we know that this new author would write a bait that would cement his status as both a very dark author and a very skilled author. This is his September 2006 bait The Iniquity Beyond.

Michael: I loved this bait. When I first read it I was extremely confused, but after re-reading about a week later, it quickly became one of my favorite baits.

Narrator: Like Michael above, some were unprepared for Tony’s style when this bait released. However, Iniquity Beyond quickly found an audience among the respected authors of the competition, earning praise for its quality writing and uniqueness.

Daniel: This is one of the most original ideas to ever come through the contest. Unfortunately, this missed out on a Best Picture nomination that it so badly deserved. This bait established Tony as a great writer in the contest and rightfully so. This is a great bait.

Narrator: Like Daniel said, Iniquity Beyond just barely missed a BP nod, placing #6 in the month. This bait still thrived though, earning a GG win for lead Eric Bana, a tagline win at the Oscars and giving Tony praise to continue writing great baits.

Title Card: The #62 bait is…

THE INIQUITY BEYOND

Zgamer: We have reached the last bait of the night. We’ve had quite a variety of baits here so far, from dark dramas to Woody Allen comedies to political thrillers. This next one appropriately shakes the list up a little. An interesting biopic on the life of sex symbol Clara Bow, The It Girl surprised many back in August of 2006 with its blunt but appropriate storytelling and interesting cast. This is its story.

Daniel: This is an amazing character piece. In an extremely competitive month for Best Actresses, this role stood out. If made into an actual film, this would win Best Actress from every critics group in America.

Narrator: The It Girl opened to much praise from the authors. In a month filled with high profile biopics, this one found an audience with its Oscar friendly story, cast and crew.

Michael: While I think it is a bit overrated, it is a great Best Actress vehicle.

Narrator: Though the bait lost out in the final ceremony, it didn’t go completely unnoticed. The bait earned plenty of nods for its lead star Jena Malone and became one of D.W.’s biggest early hits. This bait helped him continue on with stories like The World’s Longest Suicide.

Title Card: The #61 bait is…

THE IT GIRL

Zgamer: So comes the end of an eventful night. There will be a recap at the end of this paragraph for those who may not have a long enough memory to recall all the baits. So until next time, I’m Zgamer and have a good night.

70. A Child of Shame
69. I Do Solemnly Swear
68. Fresh Heir Vol. I
67. E.L.
66. The Guy Who Owned the Store
65. Parvana’s Journey
64. Internet Connection
63. Between Elephants and Mice
62. The Iniquity Beyond
61. The It Girl

I!'s 100 Posts, 100 Baits: The List 80-71

Michael: Welcome to the 3rd edition of the first ever Bait an Oscar Top 100 baits sponsored by I! Blog. Just in case you haven’t read the past two editions, here is a little recap…

Michael V/O: Previously on I!’s 100 Posts, 100 Baits…

81. Gray Daze
82. The 27th Victim
83. Fresh Heir Vol. II
84. The Wilder Side of Life
85. The Justices
86. Brian Damage
87. Standardized Test
88. Fred & Ethel
89. Glitz
90. Marilyn
91. Terri
92. The Curious Case of Phineas Gage
93. Listening
94. Balton Productions
95. Wicked (July ’06)
96. All Alone
97. A Work of Fiction
98. Green River
99. Watts
100. Tavistock Place

Michael: Nabbing the 80th spot in our countdown is 3rd Connor to hit the list. Directed by Ron Howard and starring Christian Clemenson, Flowers for Algernon told the story of the mentally retarded 32 year old Charly and is by far one of the most embraced of all Connor’s baits…

Daniel: The first line of the awards campaign says it all; this bait is truly stunning. This is a sure fire winner for Best Actor if this were a real film. This is an extremely well done adaptation with inspiring casting all around.

Narrator: Opening to widely acclaimed reviews, the bait was considered to be a fantastic adaptation. Gaining the most buzz in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories it managed to score both those nominations and a Best Picture Nomination at the March Golden Globes. Even though it didn’t win anything at the Globes, Clemenson walked away with the SAG, Igloo, and Oscar.

Zgamer: I don’t think there’s really a good way to match Cliff Robertson’s great performance in Charly, but this film comes very close in topping its predecessor in all fields. Bravo Connor!

Title Card: And 80th place goes to…

Title Card: Connor’s Flowers for Algernon

Michael: Next Up is 79th place. Matt was widely praised for his biopic of Andrea Yates, in the first month of 2007. Going on to win Best Actress at the Oscars, it didn’t have the easiest journey there.

Zgamer: This kind of reminds me of that Mighty Heart film for some reason, but I think what really made Andrea stick out for me was that it convincingly campaigned Sandra Bullock for an Oscar. That gives this bait my vote.

Narrator: Although many authors praised the bait for taking on it’s hard story, it was many loved for Bullock’s and Moore’s performances. Both received Golden Globe nominations, and Oscar nominations, but neither won any except for Best Actress at the Oscars for Bullock. Widely considered one of the best female roles in the contest, it ended the month on a good note receiving 6th place for the month.

Daniel: This has always reminded me a little of "An American Crime" with Catherine Keener. This would be one of those controversial movies but also one that is praised highly. I could see this getting a Best Picture nomination and Best Actress win if it were an actual film.

Title Card: Getting 79th place…

Title Card: Matt’s Dear Andrea

Michael: Coming up kicked off what is considered to be the best comedic trilogy in the contest. Cigarette Burns starred Mary-Louise Parker who played the role of Sarah Newman an unsuccessful movie star who when she doesn’t try to act in her new film, it becomes an instant hit.

Zgamer: I don’t think I truly appreciated this bait until I read Negatives, but now that I look back I realize it was a really good bait. I think this would be a good idea for the Weitz brothers to do for a film.

Narrator: Cigarette Burns kicked off the “Hollywood Sucks” trilogy, all written by Ben Miller, in December 2006. Managing to obtain 2 nominations at the Golden Globes and winning Best Actress for Mary-Louise Parker. Surprisingly, it acquired 6 Oscar nominations and won 2 of them, but Parker didn’t attain a Best Actress nomination.

Daniel: This is an extremely original and funny bait. I personally would have preferred if this were the only bait in the series it is in. Mary-Louise Parker's role is one of my all time favorites.
Title Card: Achieving 78th place…

Title Card: Ben Miller’s Cigarette Burns

Michael: I have to say, this spot personally makes me the happiest. When I wrote Pygmalion, I didn’t think that it would be at all the success that it was. I was nervous about everything in my bait, but it has turned out to be my most successful bait to date.

Zgamer: I absolutely adore this day for two reasons: Michael Caine and Emily Blunt. If there is a better pair for these roles, please show me because I think this would be flawless.

Narrator: Opening to semi-positive reviews, Pygmalion was a moderate hit when it first premiered. Quickly gaining momentum after winning 3 of the 4 acting categories at the festival, a feat accomplished by no other bait, and Emily Blunt had a complete sweep of the precursors, but did not win Best Actress, the first actress to do so. The bait was praised for its groundbreaking Online Awards Campaign and it received it’s one and only Oscar for the campaign.

Daniel: This is a huge marker in the contest's history for the Online Awards Camaign and for that reason should be remembered. This bait's campaign showed how to do it correctly.

Title Card: Accomplishing 77th place…

Title Card: Michael’s Pygmalion

Michael: We segway from one February Best Actress vehicle to yet another, Dinah Was…. Starring Anika Noni Rose in the role of Dinah Washington, is still considered one of the greatest casting choices of 2007.

Daniel: This is a great biopic. I loved the casting of Dinah Washington. She could do wonders with this role. This is the type of project that is not only an excellent vehicle but also has an important point to prove.

Narrator: Opening to mostly positive reviews, the bait drew some raves, and was represented at the Golden Globes scoring 5 nominations, more than any drama that month and at the SAG’s it received 4 nominations, more than any other bait. At the months Oscars, I would be nominated for 9 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Zgamer: I think the best way to summarize this is Dreamgirls just much better. It’s the musical that would really deliver for Broadway quality singing and Oscar quality acting.

Title Card: And 76th Place goes to…

Title Card: Brian from Minneapolis’ Dinah Was…

Michael: Getting right back into it, we have what could be called Marcus Dennis’ crowning achievement. Even though it opened to strong raves, it had very little buzz going for it until the Golden Globes of March. While it only received 1 nomination, it was the 1 nomination everyone would choose if they were only to get 1 nomination…

Zgamer: I loved this bait so much I almost forgot it had some serious grammar issues. John Singelton really needs to get back into the Oscar race and this would be a great film to help him do so.

Narrator: As Michael said, it opened with little buzz, but managed to pull off one of the most surprise wins every at the Golden Globes, taking Best Picture Drama away from the heavily favored La Ventana. It received 5 Oscar nominations (that is including Marcus’ Best Author nomination), but one won only one, Best Tagline.

Daniel: This is an extremely emotional and effective bait. It's also a great ensemble piece. Overall, this bait really had a lot to say and it was executed brilliantly.

Title Card: Our 75th bait of all-time is..

Title Card: Marcus Dennis’ Glass

Michael: Back in May of 2006 when the contest was just getting started a little bait was released starring Jim Carrey called Buster. It was about comedian Buster Keaton, and everyone seemed to agree, Jim Carrey was perfect for the part.

Daniel: This would win Jim Carrey an Oscar. A really good, old fashioned biopic. This is a distinct point in the contest for sure as a precedent of how to do a biopic right. I know I used it for inspiration for some of baits such as "Steamboat Disney" and "I. Bergman".

Narrator: While it didn’t receive any creative awards or even an honorable mention, Buster still managed to receive an unofficial 5 nominations in the May Big 8. It scored 1 award in the Big 8, Best Actor for Carrey’s portrayal of the comedian.

Zgamer: I’ve actually never seen a Buster Keaton comedy, but this bait really made me want to. Jim Carrey is a very good choice to help bring out the best of a veteran comedian.

Title Card: The 74th spot in the countdown goes to…

Title Card: Todd’s Buster

Michael: December 2006 was the first month that baiters would be allowed to only send in one bait for the contest. Some baiters, like myself, were a bit worried, because if this one bait didn’t work out then, it would be a pointless month. However, this didn’t stop Brian from giving us one of the best adaptations of all-time…

Daniel: This is a fantastic adaptation. The casting is great all around and the crew is equally as good. Although this may be forgotten by some, it is still fresh in my mind.

Zgamer: I’m going to read the book very soon and this bait is the main reason why. Though Brian made a few changes, the way he really brings out the best of the story is still in effect. Plus, Ed Harris seems like a very good choice for the lead role.

Narrator: The Road opened to semi-positive reviews, but not the kind of reviews that one would think would garner a Best Picture nomination and the nomination count showed it. It didn’t make the Metacritic Top 10 and the only other nomination the bait received at the Oscars than Best Picture, was Best Actor. Still, the bait when down in history as one of the best, it just one of the biggest puzzlements in contest history.

Title Card: 73rd place goes to…

Title Card: Brian (AZ)’s The Road

Michael: When Zgamer and Ryan announced that they would be writing a musical comedy about the what going to rehab has become in our society, everyone because immediately excited. Featuring the team behind Avenue Q writing the music and lyrics and a widely embraced cast, you could tell that it would go down as a revolutionary bait.

Zgamer: I didn’t see the potential in Rehab at first until I actually thought about the story a good time. I’m just glad that Ryan and I wrote it during the height of the celebrity drug stories craze.

Narrator: Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical opened to rave reviews and quickly became the bait that everyone was talking about. It acquired 4 Golden Globe nominations, 1 SAG nomination, and 5 Oscar nominations, going on to win 1 for Best Casting Choice. The bait has been remembered and will always be remembered as one of the greatest team baits ever.

Daniel: One of the funniest baits ever in the contest. The risky choice of Lindsay Lohan paid off. This was truly a hilarious bait that also had a very good message about the stars of today.

Title Card: Grabbing 72nd place is…

Title Card: Zgamer’s and Ryan’s Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical

Michael: Wrapping up this edition of I!’s 100 Posts, 100 Baits we have another widely praised comedy, except this one was released in January of 2007, and is probably the best second installment of a trilogy in the contest.

Daniel: I loved the casting of Maggie Smith. This would make a very interesting film.

Narrator: Negatives did not open to negative reviews, but the most across the board positive reviews. It was by far the most embraced comedy so it was a surprise to the entire community when Balton Productions ran away with the Best Picture Musical/Comedy award at the Golden Globes. It went 0-5 at the Globes, but still had the buzz to gain a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars along with 6 other nominations, and it would go on to win 2, Funniest bait and Best Original Screenplay.

Zgamer: This was the bait that really made the series standout for me. I think what really helped was the fact it felt original. The story wasn’t overused like the other two, the cast felt fresh and it just felt like such a distinct bait. This would be yet another good story for the Weitz Brothers.

Title Card: Being rewarded with the 71st slot...

Title Card: Ben Miller's Negatives

Michael: Well that ends this edition of the countdown, here is a recap for the losers who didn’t read the ceremony…

71. Negatives
72. Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical
73. The Road
74. Buster
75. Glass
76. Dinah Was…
77. Pygmalion
78. Cigarette Burns
79. Dear Andrea
80. Flowers for Algernon

Michael: Thanks and join us next time!

I!'s 100 Posts, 100 Baits: The List 90-81

(The titles show as the narrator speaks)

Narrator: Back in April of 2006 a contest was born. Created by Johnny Alba, no one thought it would ever reach the popularity it has reached today. Mimicking a real Oscar season, the contest originated with a miniscule amount of creativity awards, no Big 8 awards and a little forum activity. Over the next few months, as many authors make their debut in the contest, the discussion would grow and the baits would evolve.

After 18 months of the contest, 845 baits have been submitted. One day author Michael thought it was about time to name the best. He contacted a few authors and asked if they thought it would be a good idea to do an official Top 100 Baits of All-Time. They all loved it. So they came up with a list of 150 baits that were eligible to be in the Top 100. So now we’ve crunched the numbers and come up with a list that we think is the best it can be. So be ready, because this is the next phase of our 100 Posts, 100 Baits Countdown.

(Sweeping Instrumental Score)

Now here is your guide through tonight’s selection, Zgamer!

(Zgamer walks into view in the middle of a great hall filled with written baits in frames. It is a very nice sight!)

Zgamer: (To camera) Hello, it’s nice to see you all here at the blog. For those unfamiliar with me, I go by the penname Zgamer. I’ve been on this site since July of 2006 and have been a fervent author and admirer of its progression. While many refer to me as the “King of Video Game Baits”, I prefer to see myself as a teen with a dream of expressing himself artistically on the cinematic medium. Enough about me though.

(Begins to walk towards the camera) It’s amazing what wonders the imagination can come up with. Right now I bet you’re using it to imagine this great hall of baiting I’m in, but I also mean that in a serious way. Baiting has evolved over these many months from a simple gimmick to occupy our time for the Oscar season into a semi-art form. Many original stories have been written, many quality actors have been casted and people all across the world have been able to share their ideas. Whether from Mexico, Canada, Columbia or the United States, dozens of talented Oscar crazed individuals have shown they have what it takes to be a future Oscar winner. Now it is our time to acknowledge these talented individuals through the votes submitted by the respected authors of the baiting community. Last night we showed you the voted choices for the first ten baits on our list. From Pat’s riveting Tavistock Palace to Brian’s Balton Productions, we listed the #100 to #91 baits of all time. Well, we can only go up from here. So let’s move on to baits #90 to #81.

I couldn’t think of a better way to start this segment than with a bait like this. Written back in August 2006, this bait came out of nowhere to impress audiences with its simple yet well thought story. Aided by great cast and a competent director, this bait lived on past its low press coverage. So, we start the night off with Steven’s Marilyn.

Michael: If Naomi Watts were to star in this movie, there is no doubt that she would win Best Actress at the Oscars. One of the best casting choices in Bait an Oscar history.

Zgamer: Despite being a critical darling, Marilyn had very little buzz going for it. However, no matter who you asked, everyone agreed that what really gave this bait power was the casting of Naomi Watts as the beautiful blonde Marilyn Monroe. A raved performance by all, she soon became a frontrunner for the lead actress award.

Daniel: A great Best Actress vehicle that is bound to be made in the next couple years. Great casting.

Zgamer: Though Watts nabbed a Golden Globe for her performance, she lost the Oscar to competitor Natalie Portman. However, the bait didn’t go unrecognized there, as it won an award for best casting choice for this role.

Title Card: The #90 bait is…

MARILYN

Zgamer: The next bait on this list comes from a veteran author everyone should be familiar with. Ever since his debut back at the contest’s beginning, Brian made his mark on the contest every month. With innovative ideas and great writing, he has emerged as one of the contest’s best. And this bait shows why he’s still a powerhouse to this day. So get ready to experience the Glitz.

Michael: I LOVED IT! If you remember my excitement for this bait when it was released I couldn't have praised it more. The reason was because I was completely surprised, now it isn't as amazing, but it still one of the best baits of 2007.

Zgamer: Released back in June of 2007, Glitz opened to good though not stellar reviews. Despite the criticisms, many praised its originality and quirkiness.

Daniel: Although virtually everyone disagreed with me, Jim Carrey should have won Best Actor for this project. I absolutely loved this bait. It was one of the biggest love it or hate it baits ever and for that reason it should remain a classic. But that is not the only reason. You also have to take into account the originality, hilarity, perfect casting, and characters. Even with all of those reasons, I'm still only listing half of this bait's great qualities.

Zgamer: The Golden Globes were favorable to Glitz, earning it an award for its screenplay. While Oscars were not as favorable, passing Glitz for every award, Glitz made its impact with 8 nods and a #7 placing for the month. Thus making it a good bait by our records.

Title Card: The #89 bait is…

GLITZ

Zgamer: This next entry is one of those baits that get better and better with each month. Released back in September of 2006, this was one of Connor Campbell’s earliest successes and a critical darling that ensured his later success in the contest. So sit back and enjoy the life of Fred & Ethel.

Daniel: One of my all time favorite baits. The trailer that was posted on the forums for this bait is my favorite trailer ever made for a bait. This shocked everyone when it only received an honorable mention rather than a Top 10 spot or even the Bait of the Month. It has been a year since I read it and it still is in my head.

Zgamer: Fred & Ethel opened to great critical praise. Though it had little buzz in the forum, people enjoyed the bait for its stellar cast and likable topic.

Michael: Another great bait and came out right as I was about to release a bait about Lucy starring Messing. While it was long for the time, it is still full of fantastic casting and story.

Zgamer: While it earned plenty of precursor love for star Debra Messing playing Lucille Ball, it only received two nods and an honorable mention at the Oscars. However, it did help Connor win his best author award that month and has had a lasting impact for being one of the contest’s biggest snubs.

Title Card: The #88 bait is…

FRED & ETHEL

Zgamer: Ever had one of those little baits that could? Well, this is one of those baits. Released back in June of 2007, Connor once again pushed his talents to bring a nice quirky little Guest bait. Hoped you all remember to study for this Standardized Test.

Michael: I felt the Guest cast members could have been shuffled around a bit, but I still enjoyed it and I think Lynch should have gotten a Supporting Actress nomination.

Zgamer: The initial release wasn’t a critical favorite, but it gained a good following among certain authors. Many praised its originality, nice cast and the fact it would really feel like a Christopher Guest movie.

Daniel: A great Christopher Guest project.

Zgamer: It didn’t receive a huge favoring at the Oscars, but it did manage to win the Best Original Bait award. It goes to show a bait doesn’t absolutely need an Oscar to be memorable (though that does help).

Title Card: The #87 bait is…

STANDARDIZED TEST

Zgamer: Few baits captured the Kaufman style so early into the contest like this one. Tom Houseman no longer is part of the writing process, but he made a splash with this very original and very humorous story. You won’t get Brian Damage reading this.

Daniel: This is an extremely original story. This was one of Tom Houseman's last baits, sadly. This would for sure win Tim Robbins another Oscar and this remains, to me, one of the smartest and most original baits ever.

Zgamer: Released back in July of 2006, Brain Damage opened to great critical success. Most of the praise went to the bait’s original plot, as well as its nice cast.

Michael: I loved it. I just re-read it and it felt very original and something that Kaufman would do. Great casting, save for Carter, but still it is a great bait.

Zgamer: While Brain Damage failed to garner any Oscar wins, it did get recognition for being a great support bait for Tom’s The Great Fitzgerald, the month’s big winner. A very good and underrated bait.

Title Card: The #86 bait is…

BRAIN DAMAGE

Zgamer: If you had the ability to stop the assassination of several key congressmen, how would you do it? That’s the case for the main character of our next bait. Written by Alex back in November of 2006, The Justices stood out among the pack that month.

Michael: I think this has to be one of the most underrated baits of all time. I absolutely love it in every way and I think this would be a fantastic movie if it ever came out.

Zgamer: The Justices opened to mostly critical praise, with comments on its writing and intriguing plot. It held up through much of the month, facing tough competition from baits like Silence, The Wall and others.

Daniel: The best thriller to hit Bait an Oscar. Alex created a very real environment in this bait and that makes the story even more believable. This pulled a surprise second place in November. Although some would argue that the cast is bloated, I can easily see all of these actors coming together for a film this strong.

Zgamer: Though it won no love during precursors or Oscars, it did snag the #2 spot over many acclaimed baits. It was one of the biggest surprises in Bait an Oscar history, but it was also very well earned.

Title Card: Our #85 bait is…

THE JUSTICES

Zgamer: This next bait goes way back to the contest’s roots. Written by Corey in June of 2006, this little biopic made quite a show with its simple storytelling and intriguing topic. So let’s be ready to experience The Wilder Side of Life.

Daniel: This was my favorite bait of June 2006. This would win a Best Actor statue as a real film. This is one of the best biopics ever to hit the site and should remain in Bait an Oscar history as one of the first great ones.

Zgamer: Wilder Side opened to a good reception, making many Top 10 lists. Though not a huge hit, Wilder Side did garner a lot of support from many authors who would go on to become prominent figures in the contest.

Michael: A great biopic of one of the greatest directors ever to live

Zgamer: While it only garnered three Oscar nods and no wins, Wilder Side did score enough to make the #4 spot of the month. That’s saying quite a lot when it was up against competition like Contemporary Comedy and the original MLK.

Title Card: The #84 Bait is…

THE WILDER SIDE OF LIFE

Zgamer: Now this next bait holds a special place in my heart. If I had to say I liked one particular group of baits in the contest, I would say the Fresh Heir series was the best hands down. Though considered the “weakest” of the series, this one made as much of an impact as its predecessor and successor. This is Fresh Heir Vol. II.

Michael: Not as strong as the other two, but still a great bridge in between the First and Third parts. I can see everyone in the world falling in love with it.

Zgamer: Released in July of 2006, Fresh Heir followed the first entry well with rave reviews. Like LOTR, Vol. II continued the success of the first while building a huge anticipation for the last entry. Many praises were given to its competent director choice, original story and stellar cast.

Daniel: This series is, without a doubt, the best series ever in Bait an Oscar history. While some second films in a trilogy have faults and do not stay to the plot well, this proves that wrong. A brilliant piece that is very deserving of making the Top 100.

Zgamer: Though it only garnered a couple Oscar nods, it placed #8 for the month and helped progress the success of the series in August with Vol. III. Which is understandable, given July of 2006 was one of the most competitive months of the whole contest.

Title Card: The #83 bait is…

FRESH HEIR VOL. II

Zgamer: We are getting closer to the end of our section here, but we are not running out of good baits. Released in June of 2007, this next bait was Patrick D.’s follow-up to his great debut with Rivalry At 6 P.M. A very original and unique story overall, with enough quality to make it a winner in the eyes of many. This is The 27th Victim.

Daniel: A great ensemble piece. All of the characters in this bait are highly original and the casting of the characters makes them even more believable and original.

Zgamer: While not the critical darling Rivalry was, 27th Victim did get a good reception during its release. Most of its praise went to its originality and quality writing.

Michael: My 2nd favorite bait by Patrick. One of my favorite baits of all time, and one of the best casts ever.

Zgamer: Nabbing a surprise win at the Golden Globes for director, 27th Victim got passed over its three Oscar nods, being beat by baits like Lucky Clover and Gray Daze. However, it still has its supporters, making it live on pass the awards.

Title Card: The #82 bait is…

THE 27TH VICTIM

Zgamer: We have now reached the end of our list for the night. The next section of the ceremony will be back in Michael’s hands, with my input back to the comments in between. However, I couldn’t think of a better bait to end the night off on. This was a very unique bait that helped give Josh P.’s writing career the boost it needed to help him write future successes like The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson. So sit back, relax and feel the vibes of that wonderful Gray Daze.

Michael: A very solid bait. Deserving of Topher Grace's Oscar as well as Robert Redford's. One of the best stories ever.

Zgamer: Ever since its introduction at the Festival, Gray Daze was one of the most acclaimed baits of June 2007. As it butted heads with frontrunner Lucky Clover, Gray Daze earned a lot of praise for its cast (particularly Topher Grace), its unique story and its director.

Daniel: This bait packed a punch. The casting of Topher Grace is spot on and is proof that a non-baity actor can win an Oscar. A milestone in Bait an Oscar history for that very reason.

Zgamer: Gray Daze swept many awards in June, earning Topher Grace every precursor acting award and garnering attention for Robert Redford. When Oscar time came around, it was a no-brainer that Gray Daze would easily walk away with both those awards. It also pulled off many nominations and wins for its original character and online campaign. A true classic.

Title Card: The #81 bait is…

GRAY DAZE

Zgamer: Thank you for joining us tonight. Please tune in again soon when we announce the #80-#71 baits of all time. And while you wait, here’s a recap of tonight’s winners. Thank you and good night.

#90 Marilyn
#89 Glitz
#88 Fred & Ethel
#87 Standardized Test
#86 Brain Damage
#85 The Justices
#84 The Wilder Side of Life
#83 Fresh Heir Vol. II
#82 The 27th Victim
#81 Gray Daze

Announcement for Top 100

Along with needing another post to equal 100 posts, here's an answer to the question some of you are likely thinking. Well, the Top 100 is still under way, but since Michael is a bit swamped with school (as we all likely are), he's decided to split the ceremony writing up with me. So this next entry will be of my doing and we will alternate each one. So don't despair. The next entry will hopefully be up tomorrow, Wednsday at the latest. And believe me, I bet most of you will like the results we have coming.

I!'s 100 Posts, 100 Baits: The List 100-91

Michael: Back in April of 2006 a contest was born. Created by Johnny Alba, I don’t think anyone thought it would ever reach the popularity it has reached today. Mimicking a real Oscar season, the contest originated without even Big 8 awards and with just creativity awards, most of which do not still exist today, and very little forum activity. Over the next few months, many authors make their debut in the contest, the discussion would grow, and the baits would evolve.

After 18 months of the contest, 845 baits have been submitted and one day I thought it was about time to name the best. I contacted a few authors and asked if they thought it would be a good idea to do an official Top 100 Baits of All-Time and they all thought it was a fantastic idea. So we came up with a list of 150 baits that were eligible to be in our Top 100. So now we’ve crunched the numbers and come up with a list that we think is the best it can be, so I know you are all looking forward to the first part of I!’s 100 Posts, 100 Baits.

The bait that snatched the 100th place in our countdown is the first of a few Pat baits to make it into the list. It’s an ensemble bait, that was virtually ignored at the precursors, but managed to receive 2 Oscar nominations and even pulled off a Best Crew win, it’s none other than Tavistock Place…

Narrator: Tavistock Place was released in January of 2007 and despite minimal buzz managed to place 15th in the Average Bait Scores.

(Interview)

Zgamer: I think what really intrigued me about this bait was how well it both copied and distinguished itself from Frears’ The Queen. By mixing a realistic and haunting story with a good (but way too bloated by our standards) cast, Pat really struck a cord with the other readers.

Narrator: Scoring 2 Oscar nominations, in the Best Crew and Cast categories, It would go on to win Best Crew and receive an Honorable Mention.

(Interview) Daniel: It’s an extremely emotional and great ensemble piece.

Title Card: The 100th Place bait…

Title Card: Pat’s Tavistock Place

Michael: Bryce entered the baiting world in November of 2006. While he is one of the newer prominent authors on the site, it didn’t stop because in his first month he released a bait that would go on to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. This brings us to the 99th placed bait, Watts…

Narrator: Telling the story of the Watts riots, Bryce debuted relatively strong in the contest. While only scoring 1 nomination at the Oscars, the bait managed to pick up the win and it was a Big 8 award.

(Interview)

Daniel: A perfect Spike Lee project.

Zgamer: Looking past Bryce’s grammar mistakes, Watts is actually a very baity and interesting story, with a good cast and crew. I think that in the end the characters made the bait so much better, especially Samuel L. Jackson’s (who deserved his Oscar win).

Title Card: The 99th bait on the list…

Title Card: Bryce’s Watts

Michael: As we just mentioned Bryce was a completely new author when he wrote Watts, and now yet another new author gets our 98th place on the list. Ryne entered the contest in January of 07 and has stopped sense. Releasing such baits as MLK, Budapest, and Trading Countries he quickly made a name for himself as an author who would have anything as his subject. Then came Green River…

(Interview)

Zgamer: It took me a couple re-reads, but I finally see why this was liked as much as it was. I have to give kudos to Ryne for writing a story with a great cast and a good though long progression of the plot.

Narrator: Green River opened to mixed reviews, but those who loved it, really did love it. Though it had no major precursor nominations, it did score 3 Oscar nominations.

Daniel: Amazing casting of Alan Rickman. This would work well as a film.

Title Card: 98th Place goes to

Title Card: Ryne’s Green River

Michael: Our first comedy to hit the list is one of the widely embraced comedies of the contest. Starring the always great Jennifer Tilly, it is truly a great comedy. Written by Douglas Reese, A Work of Fiction was a breakthrough in the comedy genre and proved that a smart fun comedy could be loved.

(Interview)

Daniel: I remember reading a scene from this on the forums and knew then how good of a film this would make.

Narrator: Opening to little buzz, A Work of Fiction became a bait that was frowned upon at first, but everyone grew to love it in retrospect. Surprisingly Jennifer Tilly came out of absolutely and won Best Actress at the authors, receiving the only award the bait was nominated for.

Zgamer: It’s obvious Douglass wasn’t trying to be controversial with the topic of the story. He was just trying to make it really charming and it paid off very well. Because getting Jennifer Tilly an Oscar must amount to something.

Title Card: 97th in our countdown is…

Title Card: Douglas Reese’s A Work of Fiction

Michael: All Alone was entered into the contest in June 2006. While there wasn’t as much forum activity as there would be in the coming months, there was still a good amount of buzz around one of Josh’s early baits.

Narrator: Making many people Top 10 lists, All Alone was getting a considerable amount of buzz considering the circumstances. It only received 1 Oscar nomination, but it ended up nabbing 12th place.

Daniel: This is full of great casting and crew.

Title Card: The 96th bait is…

Title Card: Josh P.’s All Alone

Michael: No one mourns the wicked. This is the opening song to the musical Wicked that was based on the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. In July 2006, James Somerton adapted the book into a Fantasy entitled Wicked that would go on to become one of the best Best Actress vehicles ever in the contest.

Zgamer: To think we could have two versions of the same story and have both be great. Well, James did his part in this with his adaptation of the book, which won me over the first time I saw it.

Narrator: Based on the book by Gregory Maguire, James took the lesser know versions of the popular story and it gained enormous momentum after the month ended, but still receivied 3 Oscar nominations and won 1 for Idina Menzel as one of the best female characters to grace the contest.

Daniel: I prefer this version to the 2007 version. Simply put, this would be the better film.

Title Card: The 95th best bait…

Title Card: James Somerton’s Wicked (2006)

Michael: Brian from Arizona won his first Best Picture in June of 2006 for the bait, Contemporary Comedy. 7 months later, he would get just as much buzz, if not more, for the musical Balton Productions. Starring Harry Connick, Jr. this is one of the best Original Musicals to ever be released in the contest.

Narrator: It was loosely based on the story of the Shubert brothers and it had a good amount of buzz going into the Oscars. In one of the most surprise upsets in contest history, it won Best Picture Musical/Comedy over the widely praised Negatives. It ended up with 4 Oscar nominations and a whopping 7th place.

Daniel: A fantastic original musical..

Zgamer: When I read Balton Productions for the first time, I was stunned. It was truly the first time I had read and appreciated a great musical on the site. Plus, where else can you see Harry Connick Jr. competing for an Oscar? No where, and that's why it's great.

Title Card: Coming in at 94th place…

Title Card: Brian’s Balton Productions.

Michael: Zgamer entered the contest in July of 2006 and was quickly accepted getting a Best Picture nomination his first time out. 4 months later he released a bait that was praised for it’s take on the high school scene and it’s ensemble, it was titled “Listening”.

Zgamer: Listening came to me out of nowhere, but the story still rings in my ears. I loved writing this bait especially because it was the one I went through the most trouble for to get it posted.You’d have trouble too if the computer you used to write it crashed a few days before submission.

Narrator: In the powerhouse month of October, a ton of baits had a ton of buzz and even though it wasn’t at the top of pile, it had a good amount of buzz considering the month it was released in. It received absolutely no precursor love, being overshadowed by such baits as Live From New York, Fosse, and The Awakening. Though when Oscar time came around, it got 3 nominations and won Best Plot/Synopsis.

Daniel: If this were made, it would be the best high school movie ever made.

Title Card: Winning 93rd place…

Title Card: Zgamer’s Listening

Michael: As one of the first Cohn baits to hit the contest, this quirky comedy was a very polarizing story, that was embraced highly by one of the most prominent authors in the baiting world, Pat. Telling the story of Phineas Gage, The Curious Case of Phineas Gage is one of the crowning achievements of D.W. ….

Narrator: Early on in the month, it was obvious that The Curious Case of Phineas Gage would be pretty love or hate material. Unfortunately, it hardly received any precursor love, but it’s star Paul Giamatti tied Tim Robbins for Best Actor Musical/Comedy at the September Golden Globes. So when Oscar time came around, it wasn’t a surprise that it only received 1 nomination. Despite it’s failure, it still is known as one of the greatest comedies of the contest.

Daniel: The synopsis is one of my favorites ever written. Great casting and crew all around.

Zgamer: I think what won this bait its audience was its uniqueness. This was one of the earliest attempts at changing how the synopsis was to be written and it still works even now.

Title Card: The 92nd bait of all time is…

Title Card: D.W.’s The Curious Case of Phineas Gage

Michael: Well, after the end of this bait, I will be a bit before the next 10 will be announced. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t go out on a strong note. Yet another Pat bait is making this part of the list, and this is one of the strongest biopics to ever be submitted to the contest. Everyone has to agree that if the story of Terri Schiavo was ever told on screen it would be one of the most controversial films ever made, but that didn’t stop Pat from making a bait that would be a timeless classic.

Zgamer: Why was Bait An Oscar made? To showcase baity stories like this. Though a touchy subject, this has Oscar bait written all over it.

Narrator: Released in May of 2006, this is one of the first baits that would live forever as a fantastic biopic. Featuring the incredible casting of Emma Thompson as the dying Terri, it is one of the best casting choices in the history of the contest. Receiving 4 Oscar nominations (not including the Big 8) it was nominated in nearly half the categories and the most nominated bait of the month. However it lost Best Picture to Doubt, but managed to get 2nd place. In the unofficial Big 8, Thompson won Best Actress.

Daniel: This is one of my favorite casting choices ever. This would be so controversial if it came out but also very moving and would surely be a good film.

Title Card: Grabbing the 91st place in the countdown

Title Card: Pat’s Terri

Michael: Well that wraps up part of the ceremony, discuss anywhere you feel like it. And for all the losers who didn’t read the ceremony that I spent a lot of time on, here’s the list so far (I kid, but it would be appreciated for comments on the ceremony, or just to read it.)

91. Terri
92. The Curious Case of Phineas Gage
93. Listening
94. Balton Productions
95. Wicked (July 2006)
96. All Alone
97. A Work of Fiction
98. Green River
99. Watts
100. Tavistock Place

Slight Delay...

There is a slight delay in the Top 100 ceremony, the ceremony will likely be posted later tomorrow night or Saturday Afternoon. Thanks for your patience!

The Top 100 Panel

As we draw closer to I!’s Top 100 Baits Of All Time List, we feel it’s about time for the audience to know who it is that will be participating in the commenting of the baits. So without further ado, here is a segment highlighting the achievements of the five great authors on our panel:

Michael (From Oklahoma)- Ever since his debut to the competition, Michael has slowly but steadily made a name for himself in the competition. Winner of many Oscars for his work in online award campaigns and press work, Michael has always proved himself a great writer in comedic and just plain enjoyable baits. He’s also the head writer of the I! blog, which started the blog craze in the contest. Among his best baits are his great adaptation of Pygmalion and his recent hit You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Zgamer (From Idaho)- Though he started writing for the contest a little late, Zgamer has always shown a great amount of quality in his work ever since his first month. Known for his comedic and dramatic baits, along with his surprisingly good video game adaptations, Zgamer is one of the contest’s top authors. Among his best baits are the quirky comedy Wackos, the innovative biopic Jackrabbit and the religious ensemble film A Faith of One.

Pat (From New York)- Though it took him a little while, Pat eventually climbed the ranks of the competition to become one of the best and most respected authors on the site. Showing a talent in many genres of film, Pat has always surprised his audience in one way or another with his well thought stories and great cast/crew choices. Among his best baits are the BOTM winning Photograph, the great examination on the early years of SNL Live From New York and the dramatic interracial romance tale Border Man. The first author to ever win Best Author twice (July ’06 and March ’07).

Daniel (From Ohio)- One of the best authors on the site, Daniel has always found ways to win an audience with his baits. Whether it’s touching character driven tales or quirky comedies and dramas, Daniel has shown great talent in all of his work. Among his best baits are the quirky Ironic Nonfiction, the compelling E.L., the Tim Burton directed biopic Dali and the great dramedy A New Agenda. The first (and so far only) author to win BOTM twice (Ironic Nonfiction in September ’06 and A New Agenda in July ’07) and the first winner of Bait of the Year (Ironic Nonfiction).

Brian (From Arizona)- One of the few authors who has been writing since the contest’s beginning, Brian continually shows us why he’s one of the best authors in the contest. With baits ranging from very original comedies to great Oscar-minded vehicles, Brian is one of the contest’s most influential authors of all time. Among his best baits are the satirical iLife, the compelling Fresh Heir series and the hit musical bait Balton Productions. Also won BOTM for his Mel Brooks/Carl Reiner comedy Contemporary Comedy.

We are only a few days and posts away from the start of the ceremony. We are just as excited as everyone to see who makes it to the top of the list. Good luck to you all.

Three time bait of the month winner Daniel?

Two time BOTM winner Daniel won the Golden Igloo at the recent festival, and as shown in the past the festival has proven to crown the bait that wins BOTM on numerous occasions. Quentin Tarantino is definitely one of the harder directors to bait. D.W. was the closest to successfully bait a Q.T. bait with "Sixty Days". Could Daniel finally be the one to get Quentin his first Director Oscar? The bigger question is, could the guy who was the first to win BOTM twice also be the first to win BOTM three times? So far it looks like it but only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, if Daniel wins BOTM again, another BOTY win will most likely be givin to him as well. Congratz Daniel on the Golden Igloo win, and congratz to all the other winners as well.

Good luck to everyone in September!

Update: I!'s 100 Posts, 100 Baits!

Hey guys, this is Michael. I am so happy with the turnout we have had with the Top 25 lists and Honorable Mentions. We are announcing the deadline as TOMORROW so if you have not sent a list, please do so, we really want to make this list last and special and it will mean a ton to Bait an Oscar history if you take part. We plan on releasing Part 1 of the Ceremony next Thursday or Friday and the ceremony will be in 10 parts leading up to the Top 10 as our 100th post!

Also a couple other notes...

• This is the only voting round of the Top 100, this isn't a nomination process this is voting for the winners, there seemed to be some confusion about that.
• Also, I don't know who is doing it, but the last two times we have run the Best Actor and Actress category in the polls we have gotten an abnormal amount of votes. I know when you go to a different computer you can vote again, but I really don't want to have to make it when you vote you have to sign a list, because if there were votes than people who signed the list then we would have to re-vote, which I'm afriad we might have to do because of whoever is cheating the system.
• If anyone is interested in previewing my possible September bait it would be much appriciated, I am in dire need of some feedback and I just need a push in the right direction.

If you have any questions at all you can always email me, or just leave a question in the comments section.

Zgamer's Analysis/Predictions On Films That Should Make The Top 100

Hey all, Zgamer here. I just thought I would give my two cents on the baits I think will be on the lists. Mind you, this is based on personal opinion. This is not a reflection on the ballots that have been sent to us. So here's my opinion on some of my favorite baits on the list:

-The Arabic Cafe- Maia's classic study on the nature and reality of terrorism. Directed by Mike Nichols and starring Naveen Andrews, Ben Kingsley and Jamie Bell.

Why it should make the list: Maia really knew how to write this bait. The plot is only one paragraph, but it goes so much deeper than that. Since it doesn't tell you how the story ends, it allows us to use our imagination to guess how it all turns out (which is always great for a bait). Thanks to her great press section, impeccable casting and great director choice, this bait seems to have all the right stuff to make it on the list. Plus, three Oscar wins usually helps a film like this. Maia's best work yet, followed closely by Bootleg.

What might hurt it: While the bait is great, it has been a year since its release, allowing enough time for many other films to steal its thunder. Also, the fact the contest has changed so much since that time may affect how people judge it.

-Once a Hero- Classic biopic on the late Christopher and Dana Reed. Directed by Bennett Miller and starring Brendan Fraiser and Maria Bello.

Why it should make the list- One of the few early baits to survive the evolution of the contest. The story is definately baity, given the type of genre it is and the person it covers (Hollywood loves stories about its legends). A great showcase vehicle for Bello and especially Fraiser. Plus, the cast and crew overall just fit a story like this.

What might hurt it: Pretty much the biggest obstacle is that it's outdated, simple writing style may turn off readers how are use to our more complex writing.

-iLife- Brian's satirical look at the future, where man's obsession for technology has become a serious problem. Directed by Terry Gillam and starring Joan Cusack and Robert Downey Jr.

Why it should make the list: It's definately a film that Gillam would do. The plot is very witty, with an all too true view of man's increasing dependence and obsession with technology. The pinnacle of Brian's big winning streak last year and still one of his best baits.

What might hurt it: The plot is still intact after almost a year since its release, but the cast is way too bloated by today's standards, thus it may affect how people judge it. Also, it might be a bit too quirky for some folks.

-Destiny- Harry's heartbreaking story of a boy dealing with his inner demons after the tragic suicide of a classmate. Directed by Pedro Almodavar and starring Rodrigo Noya and Penelope Cruz.

Why it should make the list: Harry's best work to date. It's a very personal account and you can see all the effort that Harry put into the bait everywhere. The topic is both intriguing and disturbing, thus giving the bait a very realistic touch. Probably one of the most emotional stories on the site. The cast and crew are also spot on.

What might hurt it: Unless people can't overlook the bait's several grammatical and spelling errors or some of it's somewhat preachy moments, I have no doubt this film will find a good spot on the list.

-A New Agenda- Danie's latest (and probably best) masterpiece detailing a man's trek to accomplish a list of events he and his wife made before she passed away. Directed by James L. Brooks and starring Carl Reiner, Parker Posey and Al Pacino.

Why it should make the list: Simply put, this is the ultimate James L. Brooks vehicle. With just the right balance of touching and hilarious moments, it really draws the audience into the very enjoyable scenario. Plus, it has one of the best casts assembled in a bait. Where else would you find a bait with Christopher Lloyd, Angela Lansbury and Louise Fletcher? No where, and that's why it's great. Plus, he has written one of the best Al Pacino roles I've ever read on the site (aided by the great and hilarious press section support for it).

What might hurt it: It's a pretty safe bet this will make the list. However, it may not reach a high spot due to the fact it is one of the most recent baits on the list.

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Got any predictions or opinions? Feel free to comment here. And remember, the best way to make sure your favorite baits make it to the list is to keep on voting. We won't be keeping the submissions open forever you know.

Festival Nomination Predix

Well, the festival nods should be up within the week. As proven with last month's winner, a festival win does great things to a bait's buzz. So let's analyze the competition that has submitted baits. (keep in mind, I (Bryce) have not read any of these baits, and these thoughts are based on early reviews and just shots in the dark)

"Bandito Express"- The bait of the year winner got a great review from D.W., although, as D.W. states "The only question is, will the voters go for a bloody western?". The festival has proven in the past not to hold as much judgment against unbaity projects as the oscars do (i.e. Batman:Scars Of Tomorrow, was nominated for the top prize at the festival, but was snubbed for a best picture oscar). The contest hasn't had many westerns (I think Bloody Trail and Recoil are the only ones, but correct me if I'm wrong) but that should only gain more buzz for the bait, as it could feel like a breathe of fresh air for the voters.

"Tapestry"- Didn't get a glowing review on Pat's blog, but Musicals have a past at doing relatively good (Rehab!, Behind the Show). Pat also reveals "This bait does something that no other musical bait has done before. Ian integrates the songs into the actual synopsis, putting them in the places where they would be found in the film's story. This new method allows for greater understandability and emotional impact". Although he goes on to say it didn't work for him, could the festival voters actually favor the new unique writing style?

"Grosse Pointe"- Based upon the short lived Tv show, past baits based on Tv Shows (Sex in the City) have proven to not do well. Pat goes on to reveal " By the end of the synopsis, you say, "This should be a TV show" and then you realize that it was. This fact makes the bait less believable as a film, which is the same problem that other TV translations face in the contest and in the actual world." But overall Pat gives the bait a good review, mostly praising it's cast. Could the fantastic casting equal it into a golden igloo nod?

"To Dwell In Evil"- While the bait did get a great review from Pat, religious subjects have proven not to be oscar friendly in the past (Passion of the Christ). Although, this is the first biblical bait in the contest, and voters could end up being a lot more open minded than the real life oscar voters. Tony, himself, also has a great deal of buzz coming off the success of The Winter Sun. The fact that he has been snubbed more times than any author could persuade the voters to vote his way.

"The Second Coming" Another religious bait, although this one seems more down to earth. The cast also looks amazing, using stars that haven't been used much like Matt Damon and Adrian Brody, and directed by Ridley Scott. I think in the long run people will compare it to To Dwell In Evil (which is also directed by Ridley Scott) and in the end only one will possibly get a golden igloo nod.

"Extradition"- Once again Pat utilizes a cast and crew that aren't used a lot in the contest. It stars Mark Whalberg, Mark Ruffalo, Uma Thurman, and Harrison Ford, with Edward Zwick as the director. The story sounds very baity, and Pat is always known to bring his A game to his baits.

"The Red Menace" This is one of James last bait, so just that fact could persuade voters. Although women leading baits have shown not to do as well in the bp category as it does in the best actress category.

"Down in Heaven"- The story is in a "duel" format as he puts it, focusing on a drug addict, and a Afghan boy's mission for martyrdom. The story could end up to complicated for voters, or it could end up as a masterpiece.

"The King of The Undead"- Didn't get great reviews in the Tournament, and animation baits haven't been nominated for the golden igloo in the past. But zGamer could easily turn the bait around into another one if his hits.

"Cherry Blossom"- D.W didn't get much love in August, but the fact that he has stated this is a more personal bait make me excited. Personal baits have proven to be much more interesting, and successful in the past (Silence).

"Shamus & Shamus 2" although I doubt Shamus 2 has any chance (Sequels have proven not to be nominated in the past) but Shamus (1) got some great reviews in the tournament. Could the new version equal a golden igloo?

"They Shoot Horses, Dont They ?" Tyler wasn't able to get this in for the august competition, but could the new version from an extra month of working on the bait make it a smash hit?

Other baits to watch for (sorry but I couldn't gather much more info on them (other than the obvious))
The Blue Max
Scout's Honor
Project Sin
Forged By Fire
Isaac's Storm
Knights of the Old Republic
Exposed

My final prediction that will be up for the Golden Igloo are (remember, this is basically a shot in the dark, I wouldn't put money on any of these):

- The Second Coming
- Bandito Express
- Cherry Blossum
- The Red Menace

Good luck to everyone, and remember this is based on nothing, and I haven't read any baits so anything could happen. Good Luck!

A Note on the Top 100 by Zgamer

Lately, we've received baits that were not numbered 1-25. Please rank your favorite baits this way so we can score them accurately in the final round. We will not just take a list, they must be specified which ones are your favorites. For those who sent them like this, you may respond with an updated list.

Votes Wanted!

Hey guys, after the last couple of posts I wasn't quite sure if you realized that there is only 1 round of voting, THIS ONE! We only have about 5 ballots and most of those are the panel that constructed the Top 150 list. Once again, PLEASE send in your votes to baitanoscar@yahoo.com and we'll get the Top 100 list. This is a part of Bait An Oscar history that I would like everyone to be a part of, please comment below if you plan on sending in a ballot and then once you have sent in your ballot.

Also, I am still in desperate need of 1 or 2 panelists for the festival. It makes it a lot easier on the whole process if I am not a panelist, but I still can be (most of the time, it turns out for better results too!). Please comment below or speak out on the forums. I really do not want to end the festival because every month I have to go searching for panelists and I don't want to have to continue to do that. Keep in mind as a panelist your bait will still be in consideration for awards!!!

Clips of the Top 100

I'm not sure if you guys read this on the last post, but we are allowing authors to send a short clip of their baits that are included on the nominations list. It shouldn't be any longer than the clips we've been sending to the Oscar ceremonies. If the bait makes it, your clip will highlight the segment featuring the bait. We think this would be great for giving us a glimpse into what your bait may look like as a film. If you wish to include one, send it to baitanoscar@yahoo.com . It would really be cool.

Also, remember to keep sending in your ballots. Your votes count in deciding the best baits of the Bait An Oscar contest. So hop to it.