After a devastating loss in last year’s match, he had stocked up on heavy-hitters like Erika Christensen, who had flown in from L.A., and Law & Order’s Christopher Meloni. A civilian charades shark, LAB board chair Jeffrey A. Horwitz, even paid $5,000 to get in the game, and he proved pivotal in helping Sisto regain his dignity. “Victory is like the sweetest nectar, like the finest wine,” said Meloni, after their team won. “Just to know that Philip Seymour Hoffman is under my boot … it’s fantastic.” All agreed that strategy had helped the team — early on, they had decided to employ the “pass” quickly and often, in order to avoid running down the clock on a clue they’d never get. Also, Sisto had wisely decided to cut back on his pre-charades partying. “I was drunk last year, yes,” he said. “I wasn’t quite as good. I think my TV show [Kidnapped] had just gotten canceled. I was in mourning. No. Maybe I was just boozing.” —Jada Yuan
