Hey my fellow Belmontians — did anyone else feel like they were being watched last night? Perhaps like there were infidels among us? There were a LOT of new squads at Belmont last night, actually. I hope you were all nice to the newbies, and if you are a newbie — to paraphrase LOST’s Jack — YOU HAVE TO COME BAAAAAACK!

With the LOST themed week coming to a close, I have some grievances to air. And no, they can’t wait until Festivus:

1. I didn’t have one team register as “The Oceanic Six” this week. Come on guys, I thought you were smart enough to pick that one up.

2. Not one person dressed up like or did an impersonation of Tom Friendly. This has me seriously considering taking the Quizmaster Pension and retiring. Come on… he is (or was, or still is, I dunno) one of best characters on the show.

3. No one dressed up as a Dharma character. How hard is it to print one of those cool logos and tape it to your shirt? Or, heck, buy one of the shirts. Hell, if you came in wearing blue coveralls I might’ve bought you a beer.

4. No one impersonated Michael, with his pathetic “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALT” yell. Wait, maybe I’m glad no one did that one.

Ah well, it looks like the vault is sealed on this one. I can’t imagine we’ll do a LOST themed quiz again. Shows like this end only once. Except when they don’t. (X-Files 3!? Make it stop, mommy… please!)

In other news, last night’s quiz! Sometimes it’s a game of luck, but mostly it’s a game of total knowledge domination, and the “Dharma Monkeys” proved that well last night, mopping the floor with the competition through four rounds of play, and then being the only team to answer the Challenge Round question correct. Interesting thing about these Monkeys — I’m not sure how they first came into existence, but I’m fairly certain that not one of the people playing for them last night were with the team when it started. Interesting fact, if it’s indeed true. They’re all either Belmont-wandering free-agents who have enjoyed playing together, or friends of friends. Either way, they’re champs tonight.

A doubly-huge Team YMBP had to break into two factions last night. There was YMBP-A, and NOT YMBP, who came in forth and second, respectively. And TX was back in the house, making vague promises to try and come back and reclaim their old Belmont Inn badassedness. They scored the #2 spot for the evening. The Poptart Assassins also made an appearance, rounding out the top five.

And now for the BELMONT STEAK STANDINGS. Take note — this season ends on March 18th. So there’s plenty of time to make your move, or to even get started. Click the link above to learn more about it. As of yesterday’s quiz, there are SEVEN WEEKS (of 11) REMAINING in this season:

1 No Mouth Monkeys 12
2 Team YMBP 9
3 Beige Food 8
4 Can You Smell the Stank… ? 5
5 Sirens of titan 4
- This was no boating accident 4
- The Wildcatters 4
8 We Both Know you’re sleeping with Jamal 3
- NOT-YMBP 3
- TX Flight 815 3

Onward to next week and new themes! Oh, and be sure to stay tuned to the Quizmaster JPP Fan Page during the week. I have a request or two to make of my fellow Belmontians. Don’t ask what your Pub Quiz can do you you — ask what you can do for your Pub Quiz! In the meantime, be well, play hard, and try to remember everything you can…