Dave Bary Judges Top Ten Robert Benchley Society Humor Finalists

Benchley spawned four generations of writers.  His son, Nathaniel Benchley, wrote the enormously popular novel "Off Islanders" which became the hit movie The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming.  Grandson Peter Benchley wrote Jaws and The Deep which also inspired motion pictures.  And great-grandson Nat Benchley celebrates his great grandfather's career with the one-man show, Benchley Despite Himself.

Robert Benchley's work still inspires leading humorists, including Woody Allen, Bob Newhart, Russell Baker, Steve Martin and Dave Barry, who gratefully acknowledge Benchley's influence.

Dave Barry got his first taste of Benchley as a child. "My dad had a bunch of Benchley books around the house when I was a boy and I read them voraciously - that's when I realized I wanted to be a humor writer." 

Entries are judged "blind," so none of the judges know who wrote any particular article, making the competition entirely merit based, Digby said.  Judges this year include David Trumbull, Horace J. Digby, Gordon  Ernst, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Eileen Forster Keck, Sharon Lyon, Chris Morgan and of course finalist judge Dave Barry. 

"Once again it was an honor and a pleasure to judge the Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor.  The finalists were excellent.  I have no doubt if Bob Benchley himself were to come back from the grave and read these essays, he would smile with quiet pleasure and then go back to the grave because he forgot his umbrella," Barry said.   

Judging was tough this year, "given the consistent quality of the entries," Barry added.