(S04E02) Ever since Season Two, I've taken a bit of a cynical view of the first rounds of Last Comic Standing. During that year, Drew Carey and Brett Butler went to the press complaining that Ant was chosen by the producers to go to the house over their objections. It seems that it doesn't matter what the celebrity judges say, the producers are going to pick who they want to pick to go to the house, whether it's because they have a good story, they'll cause trouble, or that they just owe the comic's agent a favor.This first "semi-final", in which five comics were chosen to go to the house, didn't make me any less cynical. The choices really did smack of compelling story over comedic ability, at least in a couple of cases.
First, let's start with my standard complaint: You're only giving the comics three minutes to begin with; why shave that down to a minute or a minute-and-a-half, just so you can squeeze in judge's questions and dramatic pauses as the finalists are announced? Yes, I know, there's not enough time to fit everyone's three minutes in a 45-minute show. But the "two jokes and out" editing didn't really give me a feel for anyone's routines. In fact, I couldn't even tell many of the comics apart, especially the parade of skinny and pale guys that seem to be clones of one another.
If they needed more time, they should have just cut the judges' questions, since they really didn't show all that many to begin with. I mean, we're seeing Tim Meadows and his ski cap on Game Show Marathon and Kathy Griffin on whatever show will pay her; we don't need to hear from either of them on yet another show. The producers only showed Garry Marshall asking maybe one question; you'd think they'd want to hear more insights from an experienced comedy writer and director over anything said by Meadows or Griffin.
By the way, did it seem to you that one or two of the comics that performed in this episode were never seen on last week's audition episode? Wonder if they were added at the last minute and the producers just didn't bother to tell us where they came from. Or they may have been cut out of the auditon show, like Mark Saldana, but got to go to L.A. anyway, unlike Saldana. Either way, it's a poor editing choice on the part of the producers.
As for the host: Anthony Clark was a little sitff in his first chance to host from the stage, but I'm sure he'll loosen up as time goes on. Jay Mohr is a more edgy comic than Clark, but in the capacity of show emcee, edge is not really necessary. So Clark should be fine eventually, especially as he gets comfortable with the finalists in the house as he pops in and out on them during the season.
OK, now on to the finalists. You knew Josh Blue was making it, right? Even if he was just somewhat funny, he would have made it because of his backstory (and, yes, I'm talking about his CP). Luckily for the audience and viewers, Josh had the best act of the night and deserved the "Audience Choice" award. It was interesting, though, that he was the only one shown being given a standing ovation. I doubt it happened that way, but I really don't go by audience reaction shots on shows like these, because laughter and reaction shots are usually pulled from other parts of the show and edited in. But it made for a nice moment, right?
Despite the fact that Chris Porter didn't get to finish his routine, he deserved to go, as did Joey Gay. April Macie? Uh... I didn't think she was that good. But when they showed her bonding with Griffin (it's almost like they were twins, weren't they?), I knew she was in. Guess they need a pretty woman or two in the house, right? Though if they were going to do that, they should have just taken Nikki Glaser, who had edgy set-ups but predictable punchlines. Roz deserved to go, too, only to see what other kind of "improvised" stuff she comes up with in her subsequent performances.
Next week: The other semi-final, where I'm pretty sure one of the five people to go into the house will be Bill Dwyer (my pretty safe prediction, not a spoiler).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-07-2006 @ 11:29AM
R R said...
A few thoughts:
(1) Anthony Clark is terrible. His voice fluctuated like it was his first time speaking in public. Get a comedian who is respected by other comedians to host the show. At least Jay Mohr had that going for him, even if he was a bit of a prick.
(2) Nikki Glaser is absolutely hilarious (much like Jim Norton was last time around even though he had to duck out of the finals because of other commitments).
(3) Roz should win. Joey Gay's set was boring.
(4) Where are the established comics who are trying to get some exposure? Sure, Bill Dwyer is in the next group but past seasons seemed to get more respect from the comedian circuit (Ralphie May, Jim Norton, Todd Glass, etc.).
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6-07-2006 @ 11:42AM
doc said...
I was thinking the exact same thing about the time issue. Why limit them to only the three minutes and just show us a minute of it? I don't think they needed to cut the judges questions though. I would have preferred that they axe the 8to9 rehash of the premiere and just go two hours and let us see the complete routines. I tend to think part of the reason for the editing might have been to make it less obvious that some of the choices might have been questionable.
As to Clark, I think calling him stiff shows what a kind soul you have. I, on the other hand, am a mean bastard. So I'll go ahead and say he was horrible. So horrible that I imagine other horrible things must come to pray at his feet. I don't think he actually realized what he was doing there. The introductions of the judges were a good example. Did you catch that line about all the blockbuster movies Tim Meadows has been in? The Ladies Man? Blockbuster? Whoever wrote that intended it to be sarcastic, to poke a little fun at Meadows. Hehe, Tim's made some crap movies. And Clark just monotoned his way through it like he was reading the riboflavin content on his Lucky Charms.
My preference would have been for them to have hired Bill Dwyer to host the show. Because Bill Dwyer, unlike Anthony Clark, is a funny guy.
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6-07-2006 @ 11:45AM
Nick said...
If anyone thinks that this is the best of America's comedians I pray for the art of comedy. This show is as bogus as they come. A bunch of young producers making choices when they wouldn't know comedy if it hit them in the face like a spiked 2X4. As a matter of fact, that's not a bad idea. Finally, if you want to know what comedy is really about...study a guy like Jay Mohr a little bit. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE EDGY...GEEZ!
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6-07-2006 @ 12:27PM
Renee said...
I haven't watched LCS since season 1, when that hack Dat Phan won. That man was not funny, having one on-going joke about being Asian is not funny! Dave Mordal should have won that season. How Dat got through to the house was beyond me. At least now we can vote for whoever the producers (i mean judges) decinde to put into the house.
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6-07-2006 @ 12:38PM
Carissa said...
Okay - since I don't know anyone's names...I loved Joey Gay and thought he deserved to go. That was more based on last week's set than this weeks, however. I also loved the Jewish guy, he made me laugh both weeks and I will miss him. Anyone who didn't know Josh Blue was going was an idiot, but I am happy to say that he made me laugh both weeks, and I don't think he's going because of his CP, although even if he wasn't funny, he would have been going.
I'm sorry to say that I feel the same about Roz. She's very loud, she cried last week, she was on the streets and a drug user. She does have some zingy one-liners, but I don't know if I could watch an hour of her live or watch her on a sitcom.
I think Chris Porter will become more of an obvious choice if he gets to do a whole routine, and his stuff takes some settling in; you need the whole picture.
April Macie is annoying and is going only because of a pretty face. That whole bending over thing and pointing is so annoying. Maybe I'll change my mind in the house, but I see her being just as annoying there, and why she's chosen.
As for Nikki Glaser, well, I just don't find pedophelia and rape funny in the way she delivers it. It's almost like watching a prostitute try to tell you she loves her life and there is nothing better than handing her money over to her pimp at the end of the night - she does it for her love of sex. I sense something deeply disturbed in an unfunny way in Nikki Glaser. On the other hand, that other young girl from last week was also off-kilter but in a funny way. I'd like to see her back. Since she was voted "back" online, maybe she'll be in the house?
I just don't need a house full of PC folks in how they look and what trauma's they've lived through. I need them to be funny. Please refer to seasons 1 and 2 for funny and yet completely amusing folks in a house.
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6-07-2006 @ 1:02PM
Eric J said...
Clark's voice was quavering like he was terrified. He should have remembered to take his Klonopin.
(And if you haven't read it, I highly recommend Jay Mohr's memoir "Gasping for Airtime." One of the 2 best books ever written about SNL.)
Roz annoyed me - she was just shouting her jokes and seemed really disconnected from the audience.
I would have much rather seen Nikki get the "hot chick" slot instead of April. I think she's young and needs some seasoning, but contrast between her looks and the edginess of her material could make her midwestern, WASP Sarah Silverman.
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6-07-2006 @ 1:03PM
Pill said...
I agree that the producers must be fairly young, otherwise, that guy from the Real World, Theo, wouldn't have been picked to go. He just wasn't funny.
I'm rooting for Gabriel Iglesias, he just makes me laugh, and, his stand-up is quick, appeals to a varied audience, and, he's just funny!
Hope he makes it through to the next round
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6-07-2006 @ 1:17PM
jOHN said...
Anthony Clark seems pretty replacable so far. Jay Mohr would at least make a snarky, but funny, comment between each comics' set. Unless he does something more, he's just another comedian's name they needed for a reality comedy show about comics.
I cracked up at Josh Blue's joke when he was on stage. Well, it wasn't a joke, but it was what he said. While he was getting applause from a previous joke, he told the crowd to "shut up, I only have three minutes."
I did not think April deserved to be in the house. Her jokes were the tired I-used-to-be-fat jokes.
Nikki has potential. She still needs to get her stage legs.
I want Chris Porter to win. But if Roz is as improv as she said she was in the first episode, then I think she should win.
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6-07-2006 @ 1:29PM
Lacey said...
I love this show, I don't care if it's fixed, I don't care if some of these people are already doing semi-big time comedy, It makes me laugh and I love it.
I also say that I had my reservations about Josh Blue, the second I saw him the first thing I thought was with a little work, he could be a teriffic Dustin Dimond look a-like (not that we need one). And the second thing I thought was well, of course he's going to make it everyone's gonna feel sorry for him because of his CP. But I was pleasently suprised that he is in fact VERY funny.
However, I too am rooting for Gabriel Iglesias, I love him. And I don't care that he's already had a comedy central presents show. He's hysterical and I want him to win.
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6-07-2006 @ 2:07PM
Greg said...
I was thoroughly disappointed with these picks.
They should've gone with these guys:
- Kira Soltanovich (whom I have a wicked crush on). And where was she last week? It was a pleasant surprise.
- Josh Blue. This guy's hilarious.
- Nikki Glaser. Ditto. And hot to boot.
- The guy whose bit was about his white wife. I can't remember his name, but he made me laugh, which was sparse last night.
- Tig Notaro. I've seen her Comedy Central Presents and it's great.
For the next group, Doug Benson (who's probably going to win it all), Bil Dwyer are shoe-ins.
And Anthony Clark doing stand-up is great. Anthony Clark attempting to read a prompter is not not so great. He'll be better when he has to warm up the crowds before the contestants do their bits.
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6-07-2006 @ 3:17PM
r.r.r. said...
i am SO happy nikki didn't get picked. she's funny. but i feel like she needs a few more years under her belt to go there. anthony clark sucks. it seems like he's a bit awkward on stage and all. boo! i also was glad of who they picked to be in the top 5. all those folks seem like they've done their time and i raise my glass to them. i agree with the editing of this show. it totally sucks. but what do you expect from the guy who produced Saved By The Bell? Seriously.
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6-07-2006 @ 5:46PM
forzaq8 said...
they also have gabriel iglesias which i'm amazed he is apearing , i mean the guy already had a Comedy Central Presents show
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6-07-2006 @ 6:16PM
Joani said...
I didn't think Josh Blue was "somewhat funny", I thought he was VERY funny! Forget the CP, this guy is a riot!
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6-07-2006 @ 7:44PM
Daniel Solis said...
My favs are Roz and Willy.
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6-07-2006 @ 11:00PM
Jim said...
Thank God there will be five more semifinalists, because the first five sucked. Big time.
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6-13-2006 @ 10:40PM
kate said...
I love Josh Blue.
Thats the end.
No explanations.
He's just hilarious!
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