Minneapolis Amusement and London Laughs

Minneapolis Amusement and London Laughs by Roxanne McDonald

The global efforts to find candidates for “Last Comic Standing” bring more laughs of several varieties.

In London, England, Alonzo says he loves English humor, and points out there are two types: so high brow you have to pretend you get it or [the kind where] you get a pie in your face.

A little interpretation and we’re off at the Laugh Comedy Store:
The nighttime auditioners perform, having done some super silly to super humorous daytime bits:

Matt Kirschen had done a great bit on unhealthy children

Spencer Brown from Londontown was so engaging that Kathleen Madigan had said if she bought a toy Englishman, wound it up, and went “Do it”, it would, she had claimed, be him.

Josh Howie had said out on the line (that would be the queue) that he lives so close to the audition spot that if he wanted to he could go home and change his underpants.

Also making through to the nighttime gig:

Tiffany Stevenson, with deadpan survey humor

Ava Vidal does a bit I feel like I have seen before (on a mother expressing how she feels about celebrities adopting-here, take my kids bit), but she is a crowd-pleaser.

Buddy (who was the only one shown to bomb so badly that there was the dreaded silence during his routine and there was Ant, making the sounds of explosions)

Benny Boot, whom we didn’t get to see during the daylight—maybe a good thing.

Rick Kisewetter tells the comedy clubbers it’s hard being Chinese…because he’s Japanese.

Those going through to the semi-finals:

Matt Kirshen
Ava Vidal
Spencer Brown

Minneapolis is the home of several earlier “Last Comic Standing” comedians and comediennes—including Dave Mordal, Bill Dwyer, and Josh Blue (winner of season 4)

James Francis prop salesman is out. James Francis is out. Uh-oh, they worry: will this winning streak city let them down for the first time in years? Fancy Ray McCloney is out. But several others bring relief—comic and otherwise—that Minneapolis still is a comedy capital as far as the judges are concerned.

Doug Benson had come back from another city audition where he was turned away, and as he steps up to try again (this time with Ant’s advice to bring the energy), we know we have seen him before. Is it because he is the equivalent of that guy who followed the judges from town for two

seasons and never made much of his act? Is it because he looks like a possible child molester? (Sorry, guy) Oh, maybe because he has done some work on Vh1. Anyway, he makes it through.
At the ACME Comedy Company, the chosen few rock the house:

Bob Zany, with older joke stylings but still damned funny
Tommy Johnagin, the commitment phobe who gets a lot of offstage airplay
Lil Rel, big on self-promotion (as if he believes the power of just suggesting he is great and funny with his self-labeling and t-shirt with his own name)
John Evans, one of my favorites, who opens with a great Native American perspective on immigration laws
Tracey Ashley, who tightens her delivery that night, after speeding through it (I think) that morning
Doug Benson, who I crudely describe above, though evidently many find him really funny

Making it to the semi-finals

Bob Zany
Lil Rel
Auggie Smith
Dan Cummins (my fav for the night)
John Evans
Tommy Johnagin –who also wins the Cap One money and hassle-free pass
Tracey Ashley
Doug Benson

Apologies have gone out to the comics who have not gotten air time (for the first audition), though they have gotten through.

Apologies evidently go to the comics who are actually quite entertaining but who got their bits edited for TV—making them look sorely wanting.

Apologies, too, then, to readers of these blog entries of mine. I am no way near funny when writing them, not daring to go near the perfection that is a true comic. (I mean, try reviewing Seinfeld if you aren’t funny.) For some successful bantery wit, try Fans of Reality TV blogger pg13, who keeps up with the funny that is “Last Comic Standing” in ways that I can only imagine…and appreciate.

Also check out for even more and better material:

SirLinksAlot Last Comic Standing links

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