kirshner and monroe seem to be in a contest to see who can out-bad-act the other . 
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP kirshner) (CC and) (NNP monroe)) (VP (VBP seem) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN contest)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB see) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (MD can) (VP (IN out) (HYPH -) (JJ bad) (HYPH -) (VB act) (NP (DT the) (JJ other)))))))))))))))) (. .)))
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP ) (CC ) (NNP )) (VP (VBP ) (S (VP (TO ) (VP (VB ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (SBAR (S (VP (TO ) (VP (VB ) (SBAR (WHNP (WP )) (S (VP (MD ) (VP (IN ) (HYPH ) (JJ ) (HYPH ) (VB ) (NP (DT ) (JJ )))))))))))))))) (. )))