Over the weekend, Fancy Boys Club hit 20,000 total views for a website. So, if you will all excuse me, I’m about to buy a jet and fly to an island, which I will also buy. See you later, dorks! Next time you see me, I’ll be writing for McSweeneys or some shit!
Look, I’m obviously aware that 20k is not a lot of views for a website. This is still just a place where I get to write nonsense and read some amazing work from writers I really love and admire. However, the last 9 months have been an absolute blast, and we’ve put out some really interesting and special work. I’m really proud of the Fancy Boys Club, and I hope you have enjoyed visiting us as much as we’ve enjoyed giving you things to read. Also, I look at my wordpress app every fifteen minutes to see how well our blogs are doing.
So, if you’ll indulge me, I have a few thoughts.
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Fancy Boys Club began after the end of another site. I didn’t want to stop writing and, more selfishly, I didn’t want to stop reading the things Brandon Andreasen was putting out. Everything he writes makes me laugh or think and being able to be so close to his creative process has been inspirational.
We got Jack Baker on board because he’s easy to talk into doing big silly projects. Then, we started asking for contributors. From there, the Fancy Boys formed and we began writing.
From the start, I always had one principle in mind as an editor and co-founder: I would read every submission before we printed it and I would try as hard as I could to make sure people read them. I will be the first to admit that I am not a social marketing whiz and could probably be doing things better. However, I’m what we got, so I’ll just keep trying.
And we hope you keep reading.
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In taking time to reflect, I want to give some shout-outs:
First off, thank you to Michael Grace and Rick Copper. From the start, those two have put out consistent work that has been a delight to read and carried the site when we needed it. I’m not sure how we got so lucky to find those guys. Maybe we saved a leprechaun or something.
To the other writers, thank you for giving us what you can. It’s always appreciated and we like most of you.
Thank you to everyone who has read our stuff, listened to our podcast, and shared our links. We, literally, cannot exist without you guys.
Thanks to Jack Baker, my editor and our webmaster. There are few people I trust with what I write. I’m so glad you’re one of them.
Thanks to Brandon Andreasen. This doesn’t exist without your drive and determination. Thank you for wanting to keep writing and reading and podcasting and laughing.
And, finally, thanks to my wife, Erin. Everything I write, I do in the hopes that it impresses you.
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It’s been less than a year, but we’ve already put out over 300 articles. I want to take a little time and spotlight some of my favorites. I hope you’ll check them out.
Guest contributor Mike Whildin asked if he could write about the time he visited all five California baseball stadiums in five days. This was the first piece I officially considered myself an editor on, and Mike made it easy. This is a wonderful, whimsical read and I’m glad decided to do it.
Guest contributor Tony Lisowski gave us this hilarious and poignant piece about being a parent in the time of COVID.
Guest contributor Jordan Holmes wrote a lot about sports, but there aren’t any and that bums me out. His latest piece about the election is angry and aggressive and funny and brilliant.
Brennan Weaver’s guide to comedy is as original and delightful as he is.
The worst part about teaming up with David Mullen to review the DC film universe was re-watching some really bad movies. But David was easy to work with and this was a lot of fun to collaborate on.
Joe Ottowitz is a person of deep passion, as demonstrated by this massive console game preview.
Jeremy Daniel gave us this story about his favorite all-time wrestling match and it got real dusty on the internet.
Emily Ramirez wrote this wonderful piece about Autumn in Chicago and basic bitches and it made me laugh.
Katie Keller wrote this wonderful work about fandom and what it means. Speaking of fandom, she was also part of the mega-review of Taylor Swift’s last album with Michael Grace, Tim Nemec, and myself.
Baby boy Jake Breunig’s first piece for us was where he picked a new national anthem. He absolutely nailed it.
Kate Peterson’s review of Aladdin was laugh-out loud funny, which is great for us but also awkward because I first read it in a quiet office.
Alexander Truly sends me hand-written memos and demands I type them out and publish them. This endorsement of backpacking in Europe is disturbing, but it’s what I’m most comfortable recommending.
Alec Stein is pure genius all the time, as demonstrated in this weird, beautiful question of reality.
Jack is never better than when he’s angry, and this rant on social media branding takes the cake. He also wrote amazing things in our badass athlete draft.
I posted in our Facebook group a title of an article I was working on in relation to the COVID pandemic. Rick took it, ran with it, and made it twice as good as I possibly could have.
I could not choose one article for Michael. I loved how he picked the NBA’s best players of the 2010s (not including all-stars) and I loved his rant about cartoon characters in movies with humans. Enjoy both.
As for Brandon, I could choose anything he’s written, but my favorite (and I’m guessing his, also) is this beautiful entry he wrote about his grandfather.
These are just a few of the amazing things we’ve given you. If you haven’t seen them, check them out. And thanks for reading.
Fancy Boys Club 