French fire coach after poor showing on the Planetizen 100

The Societe General d'Urbanisme in Paris announced today that Jean Baudrillard, the noted postmodernist intellectual and urbanist who was expected to lead France to a strong showing on this years list, has been removed as coach of the French team. Baudrillard, who is dead, defended his leadership of the French team, which was shut out completely from the top 20, and placed only four thinkers on the list overall.

"Our team was well prepared to think deeply about the metropolis and the contemporary urban experience. We produced excellent theory, and were simply blindsided by the fact that the voters considered porches more important than critical thinking."

The porch reference is due to the fact that the New Urbanists dominated the list, placing two of their own Andres Duany and Christopher Alexander, in the Top 3. The top French performers, Pierre L'Enfant and Baron George Haussmann, came in 21st and 22nd respectively.

Many close observers of the French team argue that internal dissension is at least part of the problem. Haussman reacted furiously that L'Enfant, whose design for Washington DC was ultimately overwritten by the American Congress, could place higher than he, the man who single-handedly rewrote Paris and urban modernity. There were some in Paris who were celebrating the victory of Henri Lefebvre (28) over Richard Florida (29) as a sign that the right to the city may just trump the creative class, but overall the feeling on the streets of Paris is bleak.

Commented one young parisian urbanist on the last second victory of Emily Talen over famed Situationist Guy Debord for 84th place, "You've got to be fucking kidding me."