***Note from the Editor: Please welcome the newest member of the TVgasm family, Ms. GordonShumway!
So we're two shows deep into the sixth season of Last Comic Standing and this week's ep starts in front of a fake brick wall at the LA Improv because everyone is funnier in front of a brick wall, except for maybe the Kool Aid man. Bill Bellamy literally steps off of an LCS-emblazoned short bus (I'll take "Poor Transportation Choices" for $1000, Alex), puts a Seacrestian pause between the words "This" and "is Last Comic Standing", and an animated graphic of either a microphone or a radiator whizzes onto the screen to let us know that the time has come for JOKES.
This two-hour show features auditions from Los Angeles and Houston with Oscar Nunez and Angela Kinsey from The Office judging talent in Cali while Houston gets Neill Flynn from Scrubs and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air's own Alfonso Ribeiro, who looks like he has recently consumed Aunt Vivian #1 and Aunt Vivian #2. That's a timely celebrity selection, NBC. Rue McClanahan must have been busy.
We kick off the LA segment with the obligatory misfit montage and Bill Bellamy makes conversation with an odd, twitchy looking group of people who has been standing outside for days either to audition or, quite possibly, because they are homeless. Tip your waitress and follow me after the jump...
Possible Winner
I almost changed channels when my favorite would-be comedian, Count Smokula, didn't get a second set despite wearing a cape and a leopard print fez, painting his face and playing the accordian. THAT'S COMEDY GOLD, NUNEZ! The jokers that did perform at the LA Improv's second round showcase were:
Ron G: His audition bit referred to his girlfriend as "The Dreamcatcher" and involved a monotone ESPN interview with said Dreamcatcher. A long interview. We get it, G. Women rob you of your will to live...but so did this bit. During the second set, he closed with a Mexican joke and riffed on thugged out dudes in the club who want to fight until "their jam" comes on. He also only tucks his shirt in halfway. I didn't really dig him. Is it inappropriate to refer to a black guy as being too vanilla?
Dana Eagle: She reminded me of Dawn Weiner: The College Years. Her audition set made me wonder what was edited out, because other than hinting about sleeping with Oscar, I didn't titter once. At the showcase, she compared the sight of a thong peeking out above a low-cut waistband to her own cotton full-cut panties exploding over her cords like a mushroom cloud. WE HAVE OUR FIRST PROP COMIC! And we also have a visual representation of why her social calendar will remain as barren as Oprah's womb. Actually, I liked her style and think that she'll probably get some gigs out of this. Good on her.
Next stop: Guinea pig on Shear Madness
Amber Tozer: She gets her own backstory vignette where she confesses that she sells (quite possibly flammable) mattresses on Craigslist. She dresses like Rusty from Christmas Vacation and does a wordy bit about her mom prying into her life and finding out that she was a lesbian for an hour at a Halloween party because (wait for it...wait for it...) SHE WAS MARTINA NAVRATILOVA FOR HALLOWEEN! Know what's hilarious? 1980s tennis icons.
Adam Richmond: HE LIKES YELLING. His audition had something to do with why we developed a system of time after Jesus died and his performance was just as entertaining as that sentence makes it sound. Again, I assume that he did something spectacular that only Angela and Oscar got to see or maybe he just skated through on his rep as an Improv regular?
Dos Spanish Flies: A two man musical act that combines everything that you love about beat poetry, Weird Al Yankovic, and eating at Don Pablo's. They also combine everything you hate about beat poetry, Weird Al, and eating at Don Pablo's. They sang a song about farting. They rhymed "fart" with "start" and the only sound audible over the flamenco guitar was Angela Kinsey grinding her teeth into a fine powder.
Chris Fairbanks: He is from Montana and has great delivery. He auditioned by talking about his awkwardness with handshakes. It wasn't the greatest joke, but he sold it well, which sums up his entire set. Though if this show was called "Last Sweet-Ass Hoodie", his name would already be written on a comically oversized check.
Look! I'm Felicity Huffman!
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Comments (3)
I thought only two out of Houston was weak. And in my opinion, Andi Smith sucked and had the "my agent told me to look surprised when they put me through to Vegas" look on her face.
The show is rife with conspiracy theory, but after accepting that it's not truly a shot for an amateur to make it, it becomes watchable.
1 of 3 | Posted by EZ Rider | Posted on June 2, 2008 10:46 AM
Argh, thanks for spoiling that last episode of House I haven't watched yet.
2 of 3 | Posted by mareneli | Posted on June 3, 2008 7:28 AM
This show is so worthless. Have there been any people trying out that we would recognize? That's all I ever tune in for. A comic actor looking to break big; one of those guys who tells jokes on Best Week Ever.. something like that. Otherwise, a complete waste of time.
3 of 3 | Posted by Memememe | Posted on June 3, 2008 9:40 AM