In August 14, 2006 CS-T!
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Monday, March 31, 2008
Last Comic Standing: Vegas results CORRECTION
Our extensive network of spies has fed us bits and pieces of information. We are fairly confident that we have accurate information regarding the 12 acts that have made it into the house for this season's Last Comic Standing. (That's right, there's a house this season.)
Here are the names and links of the twelve (thirteen, if you count both members of the comedy team):
CORRECTION: We received two emails from helpful readers providing us with the proper name of Jim Tavaré, the British actor comic who is among the 12 finalists. (He plays the violin. He's not that guy who usta play the cello, is he? There was a British comic who played the cello and was hot here in the U.S. about 1992 or so, with appearances on Frazier. (or was it Cheers? We recall him only because he won International Star Search in 1992 and, as such, won the right to compete on the first episode of the following season of the U.S. version of the talent competition. Of course, that was the episode that featured the Male Half. The Male Half... losing, that is, in spectacular fashion to Canadian comic Herb Dixon.)
If it is him, that would give Tavaré the distinction of having appeared on both the original Star Search and Last Comic Standing. We're not sure anyone else can claim that!
Here are the names and links of the twelve (thirteen, if you count both members of the comedy team):
God's PotteryFoot made it in from the group who was flown from London to Miami. Marcus is the "good looking tattoed impressionist," as identified in our Feb. 29 posting. God's Pottery is a team that we saw perform in Montreal last July. Hunter made it in from the Tempe auditions. Ron G auditioned in L.A. Papa C.J., says his website, possesses, "the energy and attitude of an Indian Chris Rock." Sean Cullen "entered into the public eye in 1988 as a member of musical comedy group Corky and the Juice Pigs," says his Wikipedia entry. Esther Ku made it to Vegas via the Gotham auditions. Louis Ramey is well-known in the industry as a solid, experienced club headliner. Shlesinger is the "winner of the Myspace 'So You Think You're Funny' contest." Jeff Dye, says the copy on his Myspace, "doesn’t use profanity but is very edgy and creative humor takes you in his mind that some have described as a charmingly twisted experience." Adam Hunter "is one of the hottest young comedians around today." (We swear that's what his bio leads with.)
Adam Hunter
Jeff Dye
Ron G
Paul Foot
Iliza Shlesinger
Marcus
Jim Tavaré
Esther Ku
Louis Ramey
Sean Cullen
Papa C.J.
CORRECTION: We received two emails from helpful readers providing us with the proper name of Jim Tavaré, the British actor comic who is among the 12 finalists. (He plays the violin. He's not that guy who usta play the cello, is he? There was a British comic who played the cello and was hot here in the U.S. about 1992 or so, with appearances on Frazier. (or was it Cheers? We recall him only because he won International Star Search in 1992 and, as such, won the right to compete on the first episode of the following season of the U.S. version of the talent competition. Of course, that was the episode that featured the Male Half. The Male Half... losing, that is, in spectacular fashion to Canadian comic Herb Dixon.)
If it is him, that would give Tavaré the distinction of having appeared on both the original Star Search and Last Comic Standing. We're not sure anyone else can claim that!
Comments (Note: Comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion of SHECKYmagazine.com):
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Is this list accurate? If so, the show has definitely become more transparent. They seem to have added a couple more spots to the top group to allow for additional unmemorable performances. Didn't they travel to both Canada and the UK to find people? These two countries are responsible for some of the greatest comedic minds ever and yet on this show, they don't even account for half as many Americans as were chosen. I know it's an American show but come on! Only one Canuck?! How do you go to Canada and only find one comedian?! Where are the other great acts they must have seen? There is obviously no point auditioning for this show. I bet none of the acts in this group stood in line wating to audition. While other "talent" shows on TV seem to be interested in advancing genuinely talented people who stood in line and took a number, this one clearly does not. Sure it's a casted reality show but what are they casting for? The show should be called "Last American Comic Standing who is based out of L.A. or New York whose agent guaranteed them an audition time with the producers and could have had a great run on Saved By The Bell."
Quick predictions:
1. Most of the international acts will be out of the running early on. (just like last year).
2. Worst rated season to date though the P.R. will claim the opposite.
3. I and many others like me who enjoy comedy will not be watching.
4. An American act will win and then go on to disappear back into obscurity never doing anything significant in their career again.
This is unfortunate for the one or two good acts that are on the show each year and don't get the recognition they deserve because of the stigma attached to this reality fiasco.
Ciao
Quick predictions:
1. Most of the international acts will be out of the running early on. (just like last year).
2. Worst rated season to date though the P.R. will claim the opposite.
3. I and many others like me who enjoy comedy will not be watching.
4. An American act will win and then go on to disappear back into obscurity never doing anything significant in their career again.
This is unfortunate for the one or two good acts that are on the show each year and don't get the recognition they deserve because of the stigma attached to this reality fiasco.
Ciao
Having been on LCS and advanced to the semifinals (The Season Four Equivalent of this Vegas round) but did not move on, I have to say a couple things. It IS possible to advance on this show without being based in L.A. or N.Y., etc. Nikki Glaser was an MC/Open Miker in Kansas City when she got advanced from Chicago. She did not have an appointment. Gerry Dee is a Canadian. He did very well last year. But yes, there is a tendency to pick seasoned comedians (or at least, there was until this season)
Why is this bad? This show is structured in such a way as to require you to do multiple original five minute sets. Jon Reep said he burned through 40 minutes of material getting to win it. If you don't have at LEAST four years in comedy, with actual professional experience of a significant amouont of sets, you are simply not equipped to do this under the pressure of a national TV audience.
Unlike singing or dancing, it is not possible to develop the skills necessary to compete at that level in standup without an audience present. There is no homework in comedy. No "joking in the shower." You have to be out there doing it. Guess what, do it at a successful level for five years, you get noticed. Do it for seven, and are any good at it, there's a good chance you now live in NY or LA or have an agent or manager. Is this true for every good comic at this skill and experience level? No. Josh Blue and Chris Porter were TV unknowns and features who lived in Denver and KC. One WON and one in THIRD. No LA. No NY.
I am not defending this show becuase I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. It isn't. I wouldn't run it this way. I rarely watch it. But I think to compare the process of finding people good at COMEDY to the process of of finding people good at SINGING or DANCING is comparing apples and oranges. You cannot aquire the skills to be a standup comedian ready for national TV spotlight with no one in the world noticing.
That said, I was a 6 year road comic feature when I got picked for Star Search. Who knows if I would have made it through under the LCS system. Perhaps not. Perhaps it is unfair. But I think that "OH MY GOD, THEY'RE ALL PROS!" is a little out of place a complaint for the nature of this competition.
That being said, the list for this season looks bizarre to me. I honestly don;t know what they are going for. I have heard of precisely three people on this list.
And of those, only two have TV credits in North America, and only two, to my knowledge, are club headliners. This is not to say that there aren't some great comics that I've never heard of, just that previous lists have been over half populated by well known industry names. I am curious to see how this plays out.
Why is this bad? This show is structured in such a way as to require you to do multiple original five minute sets. Jon Reep said he burned through 40 minutes of material getting to win it. If you don't have at LEAST four years in comedy, with actual professional experience of a significant amouont of sets, you are simply not equipped to do this under the pressure of a national TV audience.
Unlike singing or dancing, it is not possible to develop the skills necessary to compete at that level in standup without an audience present. There is no homework in comedy. No "joking in the shower." You have to be out there doing it. Guess what, do it at a successful level for five years, you get noticed. Do it for seven, and are any good at it, there's a good chance you now live in NY or LA or have an agent or manager. Is this true for every good comic at this skill and experience level? No. Josh Blue and Chris Porter were TV unknowns and features who lived in Denver and KC. One WON and one in THIRD. No LA. No NY.
I am not defending this show becuase I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. It isn't. I wouldn't run it this way. I rarely watch it. But I think to compare the process of finding people good at COMEDY to the process of of finding people good at SINGING or DANCING is comparing apples and oranges. You cannot aquire the skills to be a standup comedian ready for national TV spotlight with no one in the world noticing.
That said, I was a 6 year road comic feature when I got picked for Star Search. Who knows if I would have made it through under the LCS system. Perhaps not. Perhaps it is unfair. But I think that "OH MY GOD, THEY'RE ALL PROS!" is a little out of place a complaint for the nature of this competition.
That being said, the list for this season looks bizarre to me. I honestly don;t know what they are going for. I have heard of precisely three people on this list.
And of those, only two have TV credits in North America, and only two, to my knowledge, are club headliners. This is not to say that there aren't some great comics that I've never heard of, just that previous lists have been over half populated by well known industry names. I am curious to see how this plays out.
Wow, great analysis John! You have spoken to a lot of what I wondered about the show.
The producers may have sent interns onto the web to Google LCS and infiltrate chat forums. Chances are they have read about Shecky's coverage and want to address some of the complaints of seasons past, which could explain the advancement of some unknowns. And to explain everything else they keep getting wrong, picture an old man in a business suit reclining on a jet. The last time he laughed was with his golf buddies over whose Spanish is worse. When he lands he will listen to the pitch for 2009's season.
Does anyone remember what they first thought when they heard this show was coming out? I assumed it would be a grab-bag selection of people I have already seen on television who would endear themselves to me not by telling jokes on stage but by goofing off for the camera crew in a house. More early Real World and less American Idol. No one ever cared where they got the cast for the first Real World seasons.
The producers may have sent interns onto the web to Google LCS and infiltrate chat forums. Chances are they have read about Shecky's coverage and want to address some of the complaints of seasons past, which could explain the advancement of some unknowns. And to explain everything else they keep getting wrong, picture an old man in a business suit reclining on a jet. The last time he laughed was with his golf buddies over whose Spanish is worse. When he lands he will listen to the pitch for 2009's season.
Does anyone remember what they first thought when they heard this show was coming out? I assumed it would be a grab-bag selection of people I have already seen on television who would endear themselves to me not by telling jokes on stage but by goofing off for the camera crew in a house. More early Real World and less American Idol. No one ever cared where they got the cast for the first Real World seasons.
Liza wrote:
The show should be called "Last American Comic Standing who is based out of L.A. or New York whose agent guaranteed them an audition time with the producers and could have had a great run on Saved By The Bell."
To which we reply:
No, it's called Last Comic Standing. And it's an American network television show in the 21st Century. So, it's go nothing to do with fairness or who is the most talented or representation according to which country produced a certain amount of talent.
We won't be watching for the entertainment value. We'll be watching and then analyzing how the American public will perceive standup comedy from what they see on the screen. And we'll be trying to determine just what the producers (and networks in general) think about standup comedy.
Liza then writes:
Quick predictions:
1. Most of the international acts will be out of the running early on. (just like last year).
Do not count out Mr. Foot or Mr. Tavare. American audiences love British comedians. (See last season's Matt Kirshen) And Mr. Tavare has plenty of television experience, so it's possible he understands the medium.
A side note: It was Tavare that was the winner of International Star Search. But it was Wings that he appeared in, not Cheers or Frazier.
Mr. Cullen has appeared on numerous television shows here and in Canada, so he knows what a television camera is and what it does.
Liza also predicts:
2. Worst rated season to date though the P.R. will claim the opposite.
To which we reply:
It will probably do very well, as it has been announced as a returning series for summer '09. NBC has an interest in it doing very well, so they'll give it a good slot and they'll promote it heavily. (Sure, the networks have an interest in seeing all their shows do well, but they don't always treat shows as well as they should. If LCS tanks, it will not be because the network abandoned it.
Liza also predicts:
3. I and many others like me who enjoy comedy will not be watching.
To which we reply:
You and many others do not have to watch for the show to be a hit. Many people who enjoy comedy will watch it and, it is hoped, they will still enjoy comedy after it's over.
Liza makes one final prediction:
4. An American act will win and then go on to disappear back into obscurity never doing anything significant in their career again.
This demonstrates a rather warped understanding of just what constitutes "obscurity," and "significant."
Liza wraps up with:
This is unfortunate for the one or two good acts that are on the show each year and don't get the recognition they deserve because of the stigma attached to this reality fiasco.
Getting on network television represents, in almost every instance, a golden opportunity-- for "good" acts as well as un-good. What they do with that exposure depends on what they're capable of and also on who they surround themselves with afterward (representation, management, etc.) and a clear understanding of what it is they want to do with that exposure.
Finally: No one "deserves" recognition.
The show should be called "Last American Comic Standing who is based out of L.A. or New York whose agent guaranteed them an audition time with the producers and could have had a great run on Saved By The Bell."
To which we reply:
No, it's called Last Comic Standing. And it's an American network television show in the 21st Century. So, it's go nothing to do with fairness or who is the most talented or representation according to which country produced a certain amount of talent.
We won't be watching for the entertainment value. We'll be watching and then analyzing how the American public will perceive standup comedy from what they see on the screen. And we'll be trying to determine just what the producers (and networks in general) think about standup comedy.
Liza then writes:
Quick predictions:
1. Most of the international acts will be out of the running early on. (just like last year).
Do not count out Mr. Foot or Mr. Tavare. American audiences love British comedians. (See last season's Matt Kirshen) And Mr. Tavare has plenty of television experience, so it's possible he understands the medium.
A side note: It was Tavare that was the winner of International Star Search. But it was Wings that he appeared in, not Cheers or Frazier.
Mr. Cullen has appeared on numerous television shows here and in Canada, so he knows what a television camera is and what it does.
Liza also predicts:
2. Worst rated season to date though the P.R. will claim the opposite.
To which we reply:
It will probably do very well, as it has been announced as a returning series for summer '09. NBC has an interest in it doing very well, so they'll give it a good slot and they'll promote it heavily. (Sure, the networks have an interest in seeing all their shows do well, but they don't always treat shows as well as they should. If LCS tanks, it will not be because the network abandoned it.
Liza also predicts:
3. I and many others like me who enjoy comedy will not be watching.
To which we reply:
You and many others do not have to watch for the show to be a hit. Many people who enjoy comedy will watch it and, it is hoped, they will still enjoy comedy after it's over.
Liza makes one final prediction:
4. An American act will win and then go on to disappear back into obscurity never doing anything significant in their career again.
This demonstrates a rather warped understanding of just what constitutes "obscurity," and "significant."
Liza wraps up with:
This is unfortunate for the one or two good acts that are on the show each year and don't get the recognition they deserve because of the stigma attached to this reality fiasco.
Getting on network television represents, in almost every instance, a golden opportunity-- for "good" acts as well as un-good. What they do with that exposure depends on what they're capable of and also on who they surround themselves with afterward (representation, management, etc.) and a clear understanding of what it is they want to do with that exposure.
Finally: No one "deserves" recognition.
Wow! What a response from Shecky! I love this! I am honoured. However, I am not sure what you guys are talking about and I refuse to believe that you are that naive.
Let me make it very clear so there is no misunderstanding.
Shecky wrote:
"We won't be watching for the entertainment value. We'll be watching and then analyzing how the American public will perceive standup comedy from what they see on the screen. And we'll be trying to determine just what the producers (and networks in general) think about standup comedy."
I have no idea what this means. However, it does sound painful and impossible and I look forward to your revelations. I also never said the show should be about fairness or talent. In fact, I think I specifically stated the show is not interested in talented people.
Shecky then writes:
"Do not count out Mr. Foot or Mr. Tavare. American audiences love British comedians. (See last season's Matt Kirshen) And Mr. Tavare has plenty of television experience, so it's possible he understands the medium.
Mr. Cullen has appeared on numerous television shows here and in Canada, so he knows what a television camera is and what it does."
I have worked with Cullen, Foot and Tavare and they are all great performers. I never said that any of them would be unable to handle themselves on a television show or be uncomfortable in front of a camera. You guys should apply for jobs at FOX!
I simply said most of the international acts will be out of the running early on. This will have nothing to do with their respective abilities to "DO" television. Yes I remember Kirshen. He, Yashere and DiGiovanni were all eliminated early on leaving only Dee with the five remaining American acts. (As an aside, Tavare's act is now with a standing base and has been for quite some time. He was also rumored to be Tony Blair's favorite stand-up and he is a great guy!)
Please don't tell me you honestly believe the American public's love for British humour will have anything to do with how well these contestants do on the show?
You guys should get your hands on a copy of the LCS "Talent Agreement". I think you would find it quite fascinating and a real eye opener.
Shecky predicts:
"It will probably do very well, as it has been announced as a returning series for summer '09. NBC has an interest in it doing very well, so they'll give it a good slot and they'll promote it heavily. (Sure, the networks have an interest in seeing all their shows do well, but they don't always treat shows as well as they should. If LCS tanks, it will not be because the network abandoned it."
I have no idea what you think "do very well" means. However, since you are already well versed in NBC's interests, you know what the network thinks about a show that is considered a mid-summer season replacement series. Your last two sentences here are confusing and contradictory.
Shecky continues:
"You and many others do not have to watch for the show to be a hit. Many people who enjoy comedy will watch it and, it is hoped, they will still enjoy comedy after it's over."
Again, I don't know what would make it a "hit" or how a show that's only on the air for a few weeks even rates but that's irrelevant. Like you've already said, the show is not entertaining. Hopefully the people who watch aren't fooled into believing it's about comedy. More importantly, hopefully it won't discourage them from going out to local clubs and theatres and seeing how stand up is supposed to be experienced.
Finally Shecky writes in answer to my final prediction:
"4. An American act will win and then go on to disappear back into obscurity never doing anything significant in their career again.
This demonstrates a rather warped understanding of just what constitutes "obscurity," and "significant."
Ahhh. Of course. The "Phan & Blue" Comedy Hour. Cutting edge, memorable and revolutionary.
In a nutshell: The show claims to be a search for the funniest people but we all know it isn't.
The show tells people who want to be on to come out, line up and show their stuff. In reality, if you don't have an agent and/or manager schedule an audition time you will not be taken seriously. The people lining up don't have a chance. Comics who are serious about their careers should be made aware of that. No scheduled appointment means don't bother coming out.
The producers have a very good idea every year of who they want on the show long before the auditions begin. If you believe there is a genuine audition process taking place you should be ashamed of yourself.
There is no "golden opportunity" awaiting people who appear on this program. It also should not be lumped in with other network television shows. That is not a fair comparison.
However, the day comics who appeared on the show start getting sit-com gigs, day time talk shows, game shows and are commanding $25k and up per concert appearance, I will be thrilled to eat my words!
Thanks for the feedback Shecky! Love you guys!
Ciao
Let me make it very clear so there is no misunderstanding.
Shecky wrote:
"We won't be watching for the entertainment value. We'll be watching and then analyzing how the American public will perceive standup comedy from what they see on the screen. And we'll be trying to determine just what the producers (and networks in general) think about standup comedy."
I have no idea what this means. However, it does sound painful and impossible and I look forward to your revelations. I also never said the show should be about fairness or talent. In fact, I think I specifically stated the show is not interested in talented people.
Shecky then writes:
"Do not count out Mr. Foot or Mr. Tavare. American audiences love British comedians. (See last season's Matt Kirshen) And Mr. Tavare has plenty of television experience, so it's possible he understands the medium.
Mr. Cullen has appeared on numerous television shows here and in Canada, so he knows what a television camera is and what it does."
I have worked with Cullen, Foot and Tavare and they are all great performers. I never said that any of them would be unable to handle themselves on a television show or be uncomfortable in front of a camera. You guys should apply for jobs at FOX!
I simply said most of the international acts will be out of the running early on. This will have nothing to do with their respective abilities to "DO" television. Yes I remember Kirshen. He, Yashere and DiGiovanni were all eliminated early on leaving only Dee with the five remaining American acts. (As an aside, Tavare's act is now with a standing base and has been for quite some time. He was also rumored to be Tony Blair's favorite stand-up and he is a great guy!)
Please don't tell me you honestly believe the American public's love for British humour will have anything to do with how well these contestants do on the show?
You guys should get your hands on a copy of the LCS "Talent Agreement". I think you would find it quite fascinating and a real eye opener.
Shecky predicts:
"It will probably do very well, as it has been announced as a returning series for summer '09. NBC has an interest in it doing very well, so they'll give it a good slot and they'll promote it heavily. (Sure, the networks have an interest in seeing all their shows do well, but they don't always treat shows as well as they should. If LCS tanks, it will not be because the network abandoned it."
I have no idea what you think "do very well" means. However, since you are already well versed in NBC's interests, you know what the network thinks about a show that is considered a mid-summer season replacement series. Your last two sentences here are confusing and contradictory.
Shecky continues:
"You and many others do not have to watch for the show to be a hit. Many people who enjoy comedy will watch it and, it is hoped, they will still enjoy comedy after it's over."
Again, I don't know what would make it a "hit" or how a show that's only on the air for a few weeks even rates but that's irrelevant. Like you've already said, the show is not entertaining. Hopefully the people who watch aren't fooled into believing it's about comedy. More importantly, hopefully it won't discourage them from going out to local clubs and theatres and seeing how stand up is supposed to be experienced.
Finally Shecky writes in answer to my final prediction:
"4. An American act will win and then go on to disappear back into obscurity never doing anything significant in their career again.
This demonstrates a rather warped understanding of just what constitutes "obscurity," and "significant."
Ahhh. Of course. The "Phan & Blue" Comedy Hour. Cutting edge, memorable and revolutionary.
In a nutshell: The show claims to be a search for the funniest people but we all know it isn't.
The show tells people who want to be on to come out, line up and show their stuff. In reality, if you don't have an agent and/or manager schedule an audition time you will not be taken seriously. The people lining up don't have a chance. Comics who are serious about their careers should be made aware of that. No scheduled appointment means don't bother coming out.
The producers have a very good idea every year of who they want on the show long before the auditions begin. If you believe there is a genuine audition process taking place you should be ashamed of yourself.
There is no "golden opportunity" awaiting people who appear on this program. It also should not be lumped in with other network television shows. That is not a fair comparison.
However, the day comics who appeared on the show start getting sit-com gigs, day time talk shows, game shows and are commanding $25k and up per concert appearance, I will be thrilled to eat my words!
Thanks for the feedback Shecky! Love you guys!
Ciao
Liza's complaints seem to be about two seperate things.
One is that the show doesn't really reward unknown comics.
The second is that the show sucks anyway, and doesn't command a big audience and doesn't produce stars.
The implicit argument is that the former would lead to the latter.
I doubt that.
Also, if the show is pointless anyway, why should "comics who are serious about their careers" be warned not to attmept to win?
I am not sure who had an appointment or not my year, but I can assure you that Nikki Glaser stood in line with her fellow Kansas City comics the day she got through in Chicago. Ditto Kristin Key. I don't know about any others, but I don't think it's a blanket "no" on the line.
My whole point is that the odds of people in the line having what it takes to advance all the way to the end is unlikely, for reasons I state in my above post.
And finally, sitcoms and game shows are usually given to comics far more established than those who have never been seen by anyone before.
Ellen had many more years under her belt than Josh Blue has so far had to develop his career. Give them a break.
LCS is not a perfect show. To be honest, I don't think it's a good show. I am rarely entertained by it, and only watch when my friends are on. But it has to be doing something right, as it is the highest rated venue for standup comedy on television in the world. Of course it doesn't really crown the funniest people. Of course it is cast as a reality show. Of course it is only concerned with the comics' success insofar as they are currently on the show. Of course it is still up to the comic to chart their own career once they have won. And those things are fair to criticize them for.
But I think it is unfair to judge the show for either it's 1) unwillingness to promote relative comedic rookies to a position where they will have to have 40 minutes of tried and true standup comedy on national TV (Liza's first complaint)
or 2) The failure of its stars to become national media superstars, of which, in comedy, there are a very small number, by Liza's criteria. Bodden, Blue, et al. have not been filling venues for 25k, but they are doing very well by the scale of most standup's live earnings.
One is that the show doesn't really reward unknown comics.
The second is that the show sucks anyway, and doesn't command a big audience and doesn't produce stars.
The implicit argument is that the former would lead to the latter.
I doubt that.
Also, if the show is pointless anyway, why should "comics who are serious about their careers" be warned not to attmept to win?
I am not sure who had an appointment or not my year, but I can assure you that Nikki Glaser stood in line with her fellow Kansas City comics the day she got through in Chicago. Ditto Kristin Key. I don't know about any others, but I don't think it's a blanket "no" on the line.
My whole point is that the odds of people in the line having what it takes to advance all the way to the end is unlikely, for reasons I state in my above post.
And finally, sitcoms and game shows are usually given to comics far more established than those who have never been seen by anyone before.
Ellen had many more years under her belt than Josh Blue has so far had to develop his career. Give them a break.
LCS is not a perfect show. To be honest, I don't think it's a good show. I am rarely entertained by it, and only watch when my friends are on. But it has to be doing something right, as it is the highest rated venue for standup comedy on television in the world. Of course it doesn't really crown the funniest people. Of course it is cast as a reality show. Of course it is only concerned with the comics' success insofar as they are currently on the show. Of course it is still up to the comic to chart their own career once they have won. And those things are fair to criticize them for.
But I think it is unfair to judge the show for either it's 1) unwillingness to promote relative comedic rookies to a position where they will have to have 40 minutes of tried and true standup comedy on national TV (Liza's first complaint)
or 2) The failure of its stars to become national media superstars, of which, in comedy, there are a very small number, by Liza's criteria. Bodden, Blue, et al. have not been filling venues for 25k, but they are doing very well by the scale of most standup's live earnings.
This has been fun. OK. One last time. The only complaint. The show deliberately deceives the comics it seeks to have on it. That's it. It doesn't matter if the program features rank amateurs or seasoned veterans. I don't care about that. Nobody cares. In fact, an amateur appearing on the show unprepared, probably does more damage to their own career than would occur if they were experienced. The producers probably enjoy seeing that happen.
Either have everybody come out, grab a number and line up OR give everyone a scheduled audition time. Since they won't do either for a variety of reasons, they should just see the acts they're already interested in, cast the show and move on. Stop lying to people about their chances and wasting their time.
And hey... if Key and Glaser were the rare exceptions to the rule then kudos to them. I hope they are racing up the popularity index with blazing careers.
Ciao
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Either have everybody come out, grab a number and line up OR give everyone a scheduled audition time. Since they won't do either for a variety of reasons, they should just see the acts they're already interested in, cast the show and move on. Stop lying to people about their chances and wasting their time.
And hey... if Key and Glaser were the rare exceptions to the rule then kudos to them. I hope they are racing up the popularity index with blazing careers.
Ciao
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