After this morning’s post about Joe’s Real BBQ’s unsuccessful attempt to win Best Brisket on the “Live with Regis and Kelly” TV show, several readers e-mailed to say there was no shame in losing in the finals to Rudy’s BBQ and Catering from Sinton, Texas.

For example, Nick Sharkey of Gilbert wrote: “I spent a year and a half in Austin and, as great as Joe’s is, nothing comes close to Rudy’s.”

Rudy’s even had the support of Tribune sports columnist Scott Bordow, who said Valley sportswriters never missed a chance to visit the Leon Springs restaurant just outside of San Antonio. (Remember when the Suns used to make the playoffs and play a series against the Spurs every year?)

Wait a minute, you’re probably thinking. Sinton? Austin? Leon Springs?

That’s right. They’re not talking about the same Rudy’s. The Sinton restaurant in the TV contest — called Rudy’s BBQ and Catering — is not related to the nationally famous Texas chain — called Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q — which has 27 locations in Texas (including Austin and Leon Springs) and three other states.

The confusion undoubtedly helped Rudy’s — the Sinton one — garner a lot of votes from fans of the more famous Rudy’s.

If only Joe’s Real BBQ co-owner Joe Johnston had a “famous” partner named “Dave” …

Joe’s Real BBQ fell short in its bid to be named Best Brisket on this morning’s “Live with Regis & Kelly” TV show. Instead, the top online vote-winner was Rudy’s BBQ and Catering from Sinton, Texas.

Joe’s was one of five national finalists in the nationally syndicated show’s Ultimate Hometown Grill Off. If the downtown Gilbert restaurant had won, staffers would have appeared on Friday’s show to show off its brisket.

The other finalists were Dad’s Smoke Wagon in Fountain, Colo.; Homeboy Barbeque in Flushing, Mich.; and Let’s Party & Catering in Deland, Fla.

There’s some consolation for the hard-working staff at Joe’s: This wasn’t a taste test. Viewers were asked to vote for the best brisket simply by watching one-minute videos of each restaurant.

Perhaps we need a Joe’s vs. Rudy’s “taste-off” to crown a true champion?

I’ve always thought Joe’s Real BBQ has some of the best brisket in the entire country. Now you don’t just have to take my word for it. The Gilbert smokehouse was named one of five finalists in an Ultimate Hometown Grill Off on this morning’s “Live with Regis and Kelly” show.

Customers across the country nominated their favorite barbecue joints last month. Joe’s learned it was a finalist last Friday and was asked to submit a one-minute video on the making its brisket.

“We have no clue what customer or group of customers nominated us,” says Joe Johnston, who co-owns Joe’s with Tad Peelen.

The public can view the videos of all five finalists on the show’s website and cast their vote before 7 a.m. Sunday. The winner will be announced during Monday’s show at 10 a.m. on NBC.

The other finalists are Dad’s Smoke Wagon in Fountain, Colo.; Homeboy Barbeque in Flushing, Mich.; Let’s Party & Catering in Deland, Fla.; and Rudy’s BBQ and Catering in Sinton, Texas.

Word is the other finalists are orchestrating media campaigns in their respective cities to muster votes, so if you want to see Arizona get the barbecue love it deserves, click here to see the videos  (you’ll be asked to register on the site, but it’s free and only takes a few seconds) and cast your vote.

Remember: You only have until 7 a.m. Sunday. And once you vote, you’ll no longer be able to see the videos or vote again.

“I think our chances are good,” Johnston says. “I think we submitted an interesting video.”

The only problem may be getting the word out. While “Live with Regis and Kelly” aired in most of the country this morning, the Valley’s NBC affiliate, Channel 12, pre-empted the show in favor of — believe it or not — the French Open tennis tournament.

“First of all, I hate sports,” Johnston laughs. “Then, I hate all things French. It couldn’t have been any worse.”

Joe’s Real BBQ’s 10th annual Customer Appreciation Day proved to be its most popular to date: The downtown Gilbert restaurant handed out free barbecue meals Wednesday to a record 6,184 people.

The previous record, set last year, was 5,358.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., people received a choice of sandwich (pulled pork or chopped brisket), barbecue pit beans, cole slaw and a drink.

The line varied from fewer than 100 people at times to more than 850 people during the dinner hour (see photos of the longest line), but moved at a clip of more than 700 people served each hour.

Co-owner Tad Peelen reports the restaurant went through approximately 4,500 pounds of smoked meat and 1,800 quarts of sides.

More photos (click each to enlarge):

Joe’s Real BBQ held its annual Customer Appreciation Day today, handing out thousands of free barbecue meals. During the dinner hour, the line was estimated at 850 people. How long is that?

From the alley behind Joe’s, you could look across this vacant lot and see where where the line started. It stretched south to the stop sign, then turned west …

… running along Page Avenue past this church before turning …

… north along the long alley …

… looping around 180 degrees …

… running back south along the other side of the alley …

… turning west again at Page Avenue …

… running along the long side of the restaurant …

… turning north along Gilbert Road …

… through the front doors …

… and into the restaurant. Total time to get from the end of this line to the front counter? About 90 minutes.

Joe’s Real BBQ celebrates its 11th anniversary with its annual Customer Appreciation Day on Wednesday. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the downtown Gilbert restaurant will give away free meals.

Every person will receive a sandwich (choice of pulled pork or chopped beef brisket), barbecue beans, cole slaw and a drink (soft drink or bottled water). No other menu items will be available Wednesday, and meals cannot be taken to go.

Last year (see story), Joe’s set a record by serving 5,358 free meals – that’s one every five five seconds, so the long line moves fairly fast – and co-owner Joe Johnston hopes to set a new mark this year.

Johnston also gives away free burgers every November at his Joe’s Farm Grill’s Customer Appreciation Day. No word yet on whether his Liberty Market, which marks its first anniversary this fall, will host a similar promotion.

Joe’s Real BBQ  is located at 301 N. Gilbert Road, about halfway between Guadalupe and Elliot roads. Info: (480) 503-3805 or joesrealbbq.com.

Sliced beef brisket sandwich with extra-spicy habanero barbecue sauce, barbecue beans, off-menu special cornbread with whipped honey butter and Fanta red soda. In my opinion, the best barbecue in Arizona. You can eat free at Joe’s next Wednesday (May 6) on its annual Customer Appreciation Day. (More on that coming soon.)