Everlasting Comic Standing Auditions in Tempe

Everlasting Comic Standing Auditions in Tempe by Roxanne McDonald

The horrible auditions seemed to go on and on, but so, delightfully, did the stand-up performances at the Improv in Tempe, Arizona.

What a fantastic treat was “Last Comic Standing” number 4, where judges Alonzo, Ant, and Kathleen suffered through so many bits as devoid as the desert but where we all got to hear some humorous entertainment as hot.

After auditions that include some strange bit by a man whose brother introduced him, so the question of his feigning a

mental disability was answered; after some whack job named Rusta Rhymes announced he was there for the MC battle and therefore would share with us a long and dreary rap/rhyme; and after a very long issuing forth of icky sickos and sad sacks who were, obviously, not funny, the real auditions ensued.

Andrew Orvedahl was unique but just a little flat to my liking; while Kivi Rogers did some great voice imitations of TV characters and his wife, while adding his little giggle that works so well for the more absurdist approach.

Greg Warren did a great extended joke about his best friend razzing him that brought laughs because the clever contrast between his collegiate, boy-next-door looks and the voices he made.

Ryan Hamilton had at his audition stepped up with a most exaggerated look, one that made Ant blurt out that he was the strangest looking person Ant had ever seen. Ryan had then played on that and said that yeah, he’s often called the White Chris Rock, and launched into a spot-on imitation as

well as into a hysterical, cum facial expressions, bit on speed dating as what Ryan called emotional Whack-a-Mole. I love the self-effacing funny-looking funny folks, so by the time Ryan finished with my second love—comedic plays on words/language—I was rooting for Ryan.

Suli McCullough was funnn-eeee…but not…. Not to the audience who didn’t keep up with the subtle and way too cerebral kind of humor Suli delivered. I felt more sorry for him than the crowd of “I-don’t-follow” people not catching on. And I don’t THINK it was Suli’s timing.

Lavell Crawford did the self-effacing fat man jokes that were just okay for me [Do I sound like Randy Jackson, here?], and Cristela Alonzo did some aggressive and animated anti-skinny chicks material that elicited a half a chuckle.

Robin Reiser had that innocence/no-bullshit composite thing going on that was popular with the audience (not so much with me); Rocky LaPorte did the mocking public service protocol thing, which was just, yeah, thought of that before and Seinfeld belts this observational stuff out wayyyy better; and Dave Landau brought on the absurdist logic of people who compare gas prices to oj prices…a bit that was well-timed and funny, really.

Jay Larson delivered a really convincing Psychotic in the Men’s Room scenario, which was just a tiny bit too drawn out before the punch line.

John Caparulo had his schtick completely down and delightful. With that clenched but smiling speech style ala John Heffron (winner of LCS 2), but with the look of a gentle, innocent idiot [you know the look: who, me?], John gave a tight and packed with material set, including a hysterical thing on his feeling guilt-tripped, his hatred for people who…[perfect pause] read, and more. He was not only another of my favorites, but was clearly an audience fav.

Chuck Roy did the blue-collar humor, and was slightly funny; and Brandon Vestal closed the night with that great moderate physical comedy, saying how if he had a limited number of kill people for free tickets, he’d use his on the type of pedestrian who [and then he mimes it out] walks in front of your car, stops, and holds up his hand as a stop sign with that pejorative look on his face. Pretty goddamned funny and a great way to end the seemingly longer than usual night.

On to the Semi-finals

Lavell Crawford
Greg Warren
Chuck Roy
Ryan Hamilton
John Caparulo—the CAP ONE audience favorite, winner of a grand, and the Hassle-free Pass

SirLinksAlot Last Comic Standing links

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