We can hear it now — a deep-voiced announcer, standing on a darkened stage. The air, thick with tension. He begins:

For months they have danced around each other, engaging in verbal jousting like the determined enemies that they are. But tonight it ends. Tonight, and only tonight, they face each other. Only one will remain standing. Are you ready to RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEEEE??????

Standing strong in black trunks in this corner is the young challenger, the feisty, the bald-headed, Adrian “Whose Ahead in the Polls Now?” Fenty! And across the stage, looking stately in her red dress, the experienced, the sharp-tounged, Linda “Whose Vote on the Crime Emergency Bill Was Irresponsible? Not Mine!” Cropp! And here to make sure that the debate remains clean and the comebacks spicy, News Channel 8’s Bruce “Answer my Question! Answer it!” DePuyt!

We kid. Kind of. The debate is set. Next Monday, August 28, 4 p.m., News Channel 8. Linda Cropp against Adrian Fenty. How excited are the District’s political types? Apparently excited enough that the picture above has started appearing atop the News Channel 8 and WJLA sites.

Unless Cropp pulls a Mike Tyson on Fenty, we’re guessing this won’t be terribly exciting. Why else would they schedule it for 4 p.m. on a weekday?