| Episode 1 & 2 - West & East Coast Semi-Finals: June 10, 2003 |
| Some of the best comedy comes from pain and suffering, so what better way to kick off a search for America's funniest comic than with a nerve-wracking audition process. First, Jay Mohr got things started from the famed Laugh Factory in Hollywood, California. There before a live audience and celebrity "talent scouts" the west coast semi-finalists would battle for a spot in the finals. Ten finalists from the west coast competition will join ten east coast finalists at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas for the Last Comic finals. From that group of twenty, ten comics will win the opportunity to move to Los Angeles and live in the "Comic House" - leaving America to vote for which comics stay or go each week. The "last comic standing" wins their very own Comedy Central special, plus a talent deal with NBC. Let the laughs begin! While the comics sat on pins and needles backstage, Jay introduced the west coast talent scouts: Fear Factor host/comic Joe Rogan, actress/comic Mo'Nique and legendary comedian Buddy Hackett. Each contestant would have 3 minutes to entertain the crowd and impress the judges. First up was Sean Kent, a lanky Texan. He was followed by Randi Kaplan, a displaced New Yorker. Tess, Tere and Rich came next - each delivering well-received material. ANT, an outspoken gay comic from New Hampshire, stirred the first controversy of the evening. Joe Rogan told him that he was using old jokes and that in fact one of his jokes was actually from a movie. Mo'Nique defended ANT, saying that the comic had technique and timing regardless. This started a ruckus that ended with Buddy Hackett yelling obscenities across the table at Joe! It was all good-natured fun though and at least ANT had made an impression. Later, plain-Jane Midwesterner Lang Parker earned high praise from Buddy after flooring him with her opening line ("You ever get mistaken for a lesbian?"). He told her she had a great knowledge of performing and was a star. The next comic to make a "big" impression was heavyweight Ralphie May. The large, white comic had the crowd in stitches with his rap about life "in the 'hood." All-American looking Rob Cantrell also hit a homerun with his on-target delivery that had Joe rolling in the aisle. Finally Dat Phan, a Vietnamese comic from California, closed the competition by drawing on his painful childhood to deliver meaningful laughs. (one-two-three "awwwwww.") Jay returned to the stage for the moment of truth. He held in his hand ten plane tickets to Las Vegas which meant five of these comics would be heading home with dashed dreams (and undoubtedly a new batch of material). First into the finals was Geoff Brown. The next four were Rob, Tere, Ant and Ralphie May. When Randi's name was called sixth she screamed for joy and jumped on stage to bear hug Jay. The final west coast four were Lang, Tess, Sean and Dat. Next it was on to New York City were 25 east coast semi-finalists popped antacid and got pumped for their shot at the Vegas finals. Caroline's in Times Square was filled with New Yorkers eager to be entertained. Jay Mohr took the stage and introduced the west coast talent scouts: actor/comic/SNL alum Colin Quinn, co-host of The View/comic Joy Behar and actress/comedian Caroline Rhea. Out of the 25 competitors a few inspired reaction from the judges. Colin Quinn dissed Maryland native Sheila Gaskins' ugly joke because it was an old one. Then he got playfully antagonistic with Craig Baldo, who offered to "take it outside." Caroline leaned over to Joy during Nancy Bellany's set and whispered, "I have a very similar act." To which Joy replied, "I hope you're funnier." Ouch! Later, Dave Mordal won over the big city crowd with his small town humor. For example, "Here's a tip. If you live in a small town where everybody knows you, don't rob the gas station." Dave's 1978 mug shot flashed on screen moments later. Ultimately, the east coast final 10 came down to: Cory Kahaney; Craig Baldo; Jen Kirwin; Russ Meneve; John Priest; Carmen Lynch; Dave Mordal; Jessie Taylor; Rich Vos; Eddie Pepitone. How would they hold up against the west coast finalists? Find out next week. |
| THE SEARCH FOR THE FUNNIEST PERSON IN AMERICA |
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