Last Comic Standing 3: How The Competition Will Be Done

August 30 will see the premiere of the third season of Last Comic Standing, starting with a 90-minute review of the twenty comics that will be performing on the show. This will help to not only get the newer fans a chance to learn more about the ten comics from LCS1, but also the older fans that may have missed part or all of LCS2 and have no background on the ten comics from last season.

Then, on August 31, the first true competition will occur between the two "houses." Still, fans have questions as to the setup of the show. In answer to those questions, we have contacted Executive Producer and Host Jay Mohr and Producer Cori Fry, and with their response we can help clear up some misconceptions about the show.

How long with the show run?

Although there will be two episodes the first week (the "recap of the seasons" on August 30 and then the first challenge on August 31), the show will run once a week on Tuesdays at 8:00 pm, EST until October 19. A total of nine episodes in all.

Are you sure?

Well, nothing is certain in television. LCS2 had episodes added by the network after it became a hit in the ratings. As Fry told us, "If [the ratings] are good then we may be talking a different game."

Who will be competing?

All ten comics that made the house in the first season have returned:

• Dat Phan (Winner of LCS1)
• Ralphie May (First Runner-up)
• Rich Vos (Final Five)
• Cory Kahaney (Final Five)
• Tess Drake (Final Five)
• Dave Mordal
• Rob Cantrell
• Tere Joyce
• Geoff Brown
• Sean Kent

Of LCS2, nine of the comics that made the house have returned:

• John Heffron (Winner of LCS2)
• Alonzo Bodden (Final Three)
• Gary Gulman (Final Three)
• Kathleen Madigan (Final Five)
• Tammy Pescatelli (Final Five)
• Jay London (Wildcard Winner)
• Corey Holcomb
• ANT
• Todd Glass

Where's the tenth comic from Season Two?

Bonnie just did not want to be part of another competition and decided against coming back as a contestant.

Who will be replacing her?

The nine comics from LCS2 were asked to pick a replacement for her from the other comics that made the Paris finals in Season Two. They picked Jessica Kirson, who may be remembered by some readers for her "Mommy! Mommy! See what I can do!" joke from the New York audition.

There is still a lot of talk about the "houses." Will there actually be a house where the comics will be staying?

No. Although the two groups of ten comics may be referred to at times as "houses," there will be no actually house where the comics will be staying or being filmed. Instead, the comics will be present for each week's filming of the program, but otherwise will be out touring and/or doing projects away from the show.

So, no house antics like in the first two seasons?

Exactly. LCS3 is really a different animal from the first two seasons. All stand-up competitions and no house footage or challenges.

Why is the show different?

NBC was so happy with the ratings for LCS2 that the network asked for a new season of the program to kick off its Fall Schedule. However, everyone agreed that due to time restraints and because ratings were higher for the stand-up competition portions of the program to make LCS3 a "special event" where the twenty comics from the two season will compete against each other in a type of "Comedy All-Stars Game." Or, as it's being advertised: LAST COMIC STANDING: THE BATTLE OF THE BEST.