The Love Show!

Few things cap off a long, dull week like hanging out and decompressing with a few friends on a Friday night. I'd wager that absolutely nothing caps off a long, dull Friday quite like having the same coworkers you were cooped-up with all day over for a period of time that's actually longer than the one you just spent at work with them.

All this adds up to a long day...and a Photo Essay that takes you INSIDE The Ultimate Game Night. This entry is part of a Photo Essay Simulcast, taking place over on Joe's website and Josh's Blaug. Check out both, for a much more complete portrait of this magical evening (especially Josh, he took about 12,000 pictures). I think I may have to officially add Anna into the mix, here...especially since I used one of her shots for version 1.5 of this entry (edited 4-8-07)!

Visit Anna's Game Night photo collection, made up of pics from this (as well as the previous) Game Night.


With Steve set to show up to help me pick up some pizzas around 7:30, wouldn't you know Melissa's new car would blow a tire on her way home from work? This is how my Game Night started, behind-the-scenes/before-the-guests.


I mean, this thing was SHREDDED, melted, just a wreck. I met her in a diner parking lot nearby, where she took my car and went to the apartment to await the guests' arrival. I stayed behind, awaiting a guest of my own -- the guy AAA sent to change the tire.


Anyway...on to the real story. Every Game Night held at the lavish Sadowski Estate features a pizza feast. Even my gluten-challenged buddy, Josh, brings a special blend of his own and joins the group for some 'za. Our Game Nights also tend to feature my dog begging for food. So, that's what that looks like.


During the early part of the evening, Bailey's cage was open. He even had some quality one-on-one time with his girl. Note how happy he looks! See, he's not trying to run. The love inside him is swelling, and the momentum of that powerful emotion is causing him to lean forward. Or something. Anyway, about 5 seconds later, Melissa lost a finger.


Three hotties on my couch, chatting it up while the silly boys play their games. At this point, we were quite likely finishing up Marvel VS Capcom 2 (visit this entry on Joe's page for more on that) or starting up a little We Love Katamari.


Steve is SHOCKED to learn how much a lowly Assignment Editor can make if they play well politically in Philadelphia. Let's just say, the worst person on desk at any of our stations would easily out-earn any of us. Because the world is unfair.


Murray, incase you're wondering, still wants pizza.


We were, indeed, playing a little We Love Katamari! Oh, how magnificent we all were playing that glorious game. Here, Joe and Josh (left to right) are engaged in a bitter multiplayer struggle. Josh, by the way, was truly dominant in Marvel/Capcom 2 on this night...big ups.


While much of the group went off to play Zombies in the dining room, Paula and I engaged in a 2-player, 3-hour Guitar Hero 1 & 2 NON-STOP ROCKFEST...captured on film in all its glory by the adorable Anna. I love that Paula rocks it barefoot. And, yes, I really do look that idiotic while playing...I wasn't hamming it up for the camera. Tanzi (far more visible in Josh's Game Night entry) and I lamented the fake guitar's tendency to kick into STAR POWER (TM) mode by itself when being held upright rock gawd-style.


Behold, the REAL epic struggle. The controllers are down. The gloves are off. The last Irish Potato candy is at stake...and it's getting late. Tensions run high, and only one will prevail. Highlights include how tired everyone is, taking video of the picture of the event I'm taking video of, the cut-away to rockin' Anna, and Joe's remarkable psychic powers in the final round.


Remember Anna from the video? She was really rockin' it HARD. Here's me, amazed at her rockitude as she Guitar Heroes it up.


While Anna was rocking out, she was NOT over at the table, where the fella's were left to clean up the rubble after an epic game of Zombies. Again, more on this over on Joe's site.


This picture wasn't actually taken at Game Night, but I can't resist ending on a shot of a hot chick with a fake guitar. I would continue to play Guitar Hero off and on all weekend, as clearly 3 hours straight on Friday night just wasn't enough. Game Night didn't end until after 5AM. For more images and video from that classic moment, visit fourhman.com and The Tauz Blaug for our Photo Essay Simulcast. I was too busy playing GH with P-Money (the lovely lady in the Irish Potato video with Joe and Josh) to take many photos. Believe me, there's a LOT more to see.