Last Comic Standing

IT'S NOT OVER

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:08:20 -0800

When I was a child, my grandfather would ask me, "how's that broken arm healing?" - a reference to the fact that I had not written him a letter in a while. This was back in the days when letters were written on paper with pens, and we all wore wind up watches.

That's a little bit how it's been with that blog. Back then my excuse was that I had been busy playing conkers and cricket and taking part in other British pastimes that were popular in the late 20th Century. My excuse here is that we have been making this show more or less in real time - having complete shows with challenges and reality and stand up comedy turned around in about ten days from shooting to finished edit. I don't recommend it. Our editors are all buying Mercedes and second homes with their overtime money, and none of us has had much time for blogging. So apologies for that.

That's It?!

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:27:01 -0800

Last year, my partner and I posted our first blog about the first semi-final of season 4 and were deluged with hate mail and death threats about our choices. This year? 12 posts – many of them complimentary. So we’re off to a better start, or perhaps a more realistic conclusion is that no one, other than the comics on the show, is bothering to read the blog. I hope business picks up.

Apparently one bone of contention – from about three posters – is Debra DiGiovanni or “the cat lady” as she has been dubbed.

You Asked For It...

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 11:51:16 -0800

First of all, sorry about misquoting Men at Work in the last blog. I can’t believe that the team of NBC.com fact checkers missed that. I kind of like my version better, but Colin Hay is a genius and deserves better than to have his lyrics mangled. I stand by the vegemite sandwich comment.

So I took a couple of weeks off from writing the blog (and we were not on last week – so strictly speaking it was one week). I come back to find that people have started to post in greater numbers, and now that we are 5 hours into the show there are a lot of comments and questions, as well as the simmering vat of angry musings I came to so enjoy last year. So here are some answers to some of your burning questions and concerns.

WHERE WOMEN BRAWL AND MEN CHUNDER

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:04:28 -0800

So this week Last Comic’s global search took us to LA and Sydney, Australia (hence the headline – I could also have thrown in “she just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich” instead of the brawling and chundering thing). More on Australia later.

So after last weeks blog I braced myself for an onslaught of bitter criticism… and then this was the kind of response you gave us:

“I really do think that the show has done a great job of picking very talented comics.”

We're Back!

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:22:16 -0800

Last Comic Standing is back! (As we like to say in our cold opens). Last year in these pages, many people chose to vent and fume about everything they disliked about the show. You’ll be glad to know that we’ve made some changes.

We have a new host. Are there any other reality shows out there that have had 3 different hosts in the space of 5 seasons? I think that may be a record. Bill Bellamy is the best host this show has ever had. He’s funny, energetic, and generous without being soft, a really good guy and a great host. Some of the previous incumbents have not ticked all those boxes.

Thanks and Goodnight!

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:24:08 -0800

I wanna thank everyone for supporting us tonight. Watch every Wednesday night, it's only going to get better. We really look forward to making you guys laugh all summer long!

Cousin Skeeter on DVD

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:23:58 -0800

When you can get Cousin Skeeter you'll probably be able to get the Fastlane DVD.

Keep in contact with musicians from MTV jams?

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:22:20 -0800

Yeah. Those are like lifelong friends. We try to keep in touch. I just stopped by MTV recently. On a side now, I'm learning to play the guitar and keyboard right now.

Conquer Nerves

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:21:50 -0800

I had to say a real big, "DAMN IT, LET'S DO THIS!" I still get nervous, but I love it so much that I just fight through it. You gotta have the love!

Will there be a chance for people at home to vote?

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:21:09 -0800

Yes. You will be able to vote in the semifinals, once we weed out who is going to make it. Right now, it's just auditions, but when we get to semifinals it's going to be fun and you'll get a chance to vote. It's going to be crazy!

International Aspects

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:20:11 -0800

I think it's gonna be an incredible lift to us, because more people will get to see the show. It's amazing for the comics, it's amazing for me. People who maybe haven't encountered us yet will get to. They'll be like who's this Bill Bellamy guy? I think everyone is going to gain a wider audience, which is invaluable in what we do.

Can't find right time to show the world my stuff

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:19:46 -0800

When you have the confidence to go against all odds and edition, the world will find out, rather quickly, if you're ready. You gotta be on stage, man. That's the only way to get good. There's no way to cheat it. No quick way. You gotta practice.

Keith - College

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:19:05 -0800

Thanks Keith...thank you, brother! Thank you so much.

Places I like to hangout

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:18:15 -0800

New York or LA is where I'm usually. I like the Laugh Factor and the Comedy Store and Comedy Union, the Improv in LA. And Caroline's and Gotham's in New York. Boston Comedy club, stuff like that. I just pop in there and check stuff out.

Mimi - Becoming a Comedian

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:17:56 -0800

It depends on how creative you are and how fast you can write. there's no real time table...just depends on how quick you can write your material. You just have to get your top jokes together and try them out...see what works the best. Try them out on friends, see what they like...that's what I did.