Aha! I was right (of course)! The remaining six are ushered into the Penny Arcade offices and left in the table tennis room, where Graham informs them they will be battling against and with the staff in a ping pong doubles showdown. Katie, having won the social challenge, gets to pick her partner first. Will her reward pay off or fall off the table?

Katie chooses Levin Sadsad. Hilariously, the group, after being informed that Robert Khoo owns to being terrible at doubles, picks him second to last.

I have to admit I particularly enjoyed this table tennis ep a lot more than last week’s snooze fest. Learning how doubles is played was interesting, notably that each player must alternate hitting the ball. If any one teammate hits the ball twice in a row, it’s point for the other team. The reason Khoo sucks at doubles is because he’s so damn competitive; he can’t not go for the ball; in doubles that’s a no-no. And every time the guy would hit the ping pong with his disturbing ferocity, we’d hear “Robert’s an asshole” from the peanut gallery.

Ultimately, it ends up being Lexxy/Robert vs. Katie/Levine. And Katie’s choice proves victorious as she wins the tournament challenge.

Katie's got some mad moves!

Katie’s got some mad moves!

But how does one choose who to send to elimination from a table tennis meet? Easy! Send the one person who hasn’t yet been, Monica, and someone who got sent home much to the judges’ angst, Lexxy. I bet Lexxy leaves a Monica bloodbath behind. The teaser for next Tuesday’s episode promises dick jokes and lots of laughter. Here’s hoping.

**Side note: Did you see the Child’s Play $137k check from 2009 in one of the doorways? Doesn’t matter. This is my one and only PSA to check out what Penny Arcade’s charity, Child’s Play, is and what it does. It’s worth it to know about and if possible, donate.

Child's Play PSA. I can't pass this HUGE opportunity up to mention it.

Child’s Play PSA. I can’t pass up this HUGE-giant-check-so-casually-positioned-there opportunity to mention it.

My current top three still remain unchanged!
Katie, Tavis, and Maki

New episodes air Tuesday and Friday on Penny Arcade and youtube.
Current Standings:

Abby Howard, 20, Montreal, Quebec.
She’s the youngest and has the least experience. But she draws dinosaurs! However, will any of those things even matter?
(Kept: Elimination #6)

Alex Hobbs, 22, Tempe, AZ.
This swear-word dropping free-spirit is highly likeable, but will his work be up to par? Set to graduate post-Strip Search, it’ll be interesting to see where this will take him. Eliminated 1st Challenge

Amy Falcone, 24, Noank, CT
Gamer to the innards, Amy is serious and competitive to a fault. Will that fault be her undoing? Whatever the result, quitting her job to do Strip Search shows her passion.
(Challenge #1 Winner)
(Social Game #3 / Drawing Blind Winner – Intuos5 Tablet)
(Eliminated 5th Challenge)

Erika Moen, 29, Portland, OR
Proven work in social and sexual commentary brings her to the contest with a following that marks her as one to have eyes on.
 (Social Game #3 / Drawing Blind Winner – Intuos5 Tablet)
(Challenge #4 Winner)
(Eliminated 6th Challenge)

Katie Rice,31, Burbank, CA
A soft-spoken artist with a following of her own.  Some of those fans are also fellow contestants. Will she use the star power to stun?
(Kept: Elimination #1)
(Kept: Elimination #2)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)
(Social Game #5 / Sculpt-Off Winner – Redraw Ticket)
(Social Game #7 / Table-Tennis-Off – unknown prize!)
(Challenge #7 Winner)

Lexxy – Alexandra Douglas, 27, Carmel, IN
Also seen in Penny Arcade: The Series, she’s dealt with Gabe and Tycho’s reality egos. If that helps or harms remains to be seen.
(Social Game #2 / Seattle Trivia Winner – Wacom Cintiq HD Tablet)
(Eliminated 3rd Challenge – BARELY)
(Returned to compete after the double elimination #4)
(Social Game #6 / SS Grand Prix Winner – Penny Arcade “First Party” Wardrobe)

Mac – Mackenzie Schubert, 26, Portland, OR
Quiet, doe-eyes Mac has a very defined artistic style all his own. It’ll be interesting to watch how his gentle soul deals with the mood swings a competitive show can bring.
(Eliminated 4th Challenge)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)

Maki Naro, 31, Brooklyn, NY
While I sincerely hope this guy watches Psych, his cool logic and talent may very well be what brings him to the final set of competitors.
(Social Game #1 / Fax Machine Winner – Redraw Ticket)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)
(Kept: Elimination #5)

Monica Ray, 22, Northbrook, IL
While seemingly quiet at the beginning, Monica’s super-power of Always Doing Something And Befriending All seems a gift. Remains to be seen if that gift implodes or explodes.
(Challenge #5 Winner)

Nick Trujillo, 30, Walnut Creek, CA
Something of a philosopher and jack of all trades, Nick’s ability to be alright with people and make good art is something to watch. But will his relative newness to the industry be a detriment?
(Challenge #2 Winner)
(Challenge #3 Winner)
(Eliminated 4th Challenge)

Tavis Maiden, 31, Mesa, AZ
Bringing the attitude only a parent can, Tavis wants this more than any five-year-old screaming for the last piece of cake. He may get it, too.
(Kept: Elimination #3)
(Challenge #6 Winner – Black Ink Pro Kit and Airbrush Kit from Copic)

Ty Halley, 25, Portsmouth, OH
Clipped, dry witted Ty has no brain-to-mouth–filter. And, he’s using his time on Strip Search as material for his own daily life strip. That will be interesting. Eliminated 2nd Challenge

All  bios and links to the personal websites of each artist can be found here.

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