In HumorOramaLOL, we’ve named the group of contestants that have two or more Finalist Appearances “repeaters.” It’s a great thrill to be a Finalist in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest. If you repeat as a Finalist you’re certainly going to be over-the-moon.

If you win the Contest, well, just go ahead and throw a parade. You deserve it. And, if you have a repeat win, you are among the elite TNYCCC contestants.

Finalizing in the same year is not unheard of but, go ahead, sing it: “Celebrate good times, come on, let's celebrate.”



Let's talk about this graph...

Regarding repeaters in a year, look at this graph. From Contest start in 2005, there are only five years without a repeat contestant. Wow! We're not even halfway through 2026, so there's time for a repeater.

But, what the heck went on between 2021 and 2023?! The number of repeaters exploded. Wait, a minute…pandemic, everyone “working” from home. At least some things were accomplished working from home? Or, was it something else?

But, it gets more crazy with incredibly—repeat winners in the same year.

The Repeaters Incredible Repeaters (all with two wins in a year):
◉ ◉ = = Multi-Win Champions
TNYCCC contestants with 2+ wins in a single year
Year Contestant Winner Second Third
2025 Joe Ayella, Wayne, Pa. 2W 0 0
2023 Jessica Misener, Ann Arbor, Mich. 2W 1 0
2021 Nicole Chrolavicius, Burlington, Ont. 2W 1 1
2020 Sean Kirk, Bellingham, Wash. 2W 0 0
2016 Joey Narain, Bloomfield, N.J. 2W 0 0
2015 Lawrence Wood, Chicago, Ill. 2W 0 0
2014 Daniel Bateman, New York City 2W 0 0
2007 Lawrence Wood, Chicago, Ill. 2W 0 0
2006 Carl Gable, Norcross, Ga. 2W 0 0
Source: humororama.lol — TNYCCC data

So, three wins in the same year is still available; for the goal oriented. And, that contestant would no doubt be crowned: “The Most Winningest Contestant In A Year — Wow, How Did They Do That?”