Last Comic Standing 5, Episode 7: NBC Really Hates You

This week saw the second part of the semi-finals, with Bill Bellamy introducing the show from the Alex Theatre. As viewers know, last week’s episode saw sixteen of the thirty-two comics that had passed the try-outs and showcases performing for an audience and the talent scouts – Alonzo Bodden, Kathleen Madigan, ANT and Tom Arnold - for the first five finalists spots of ten available. Bellamy resets the scene for the remaining sixteen and, after introducing the scouts, does a little bit about wearing flip-flops at the airport. It’s only a tepid joke, but ironically it sets up the evening’s fare, as we’ll see when the comics come out to perform.

Jon Reep – was in the L.A. competition and I didn’t care for his act at all there. He’s a little better here, but I have to say that the whole “redneck humor” thing really goes a very short distance with me before I get sick of it. I got through it until the “redneck, white trash, blue collar” gag; maybe that would work in a Charlie Daniels Band song, but as a joke… well … yech.

Fiona O’Laughlin – is the final winner from Australia to appear in the semi-finals (as the other three appeared in the first sixteen) and I remember finding her sweetly funny (… and I want to protect her… yeah, that’s a gag for all you Young Ones fans out there). She comes out to talk about being Irish Catholic, having an anorexic sister and the rest of her family. She doesn’t come off quite as well as before, but she is still charming and works well with the crowd.

Ryan Hamilton – won in Tempe. Talks about getting Lasik surgery and has some amusing things to say there. Nice grouping of jokes that work together and are not bad. Looking back at the first commercial break, however, I notice that everyone is just “okay” this time around and no one is really hitting home runs.

Gerry Dee – had appeared on LCS previously and was one of three winners in (I’m a dreamer) Montreal. (Eh – it’s the last time I can use that old Groucho joke, so bear with me.) He talks about drinking coolers and going to church to pick up women. He acts as if he has been binging on coolers before coming on stage, as he appears a little tipsy. I can’t remember if that is part of his stage-persona, however. He’s fine, but nothing that puts him above the others so far.

Thea Vidale – won in L.A. and had previously appeared on television in her own show several years ago and acted as Shelton Benjamin’s mother on WWE’s Smackdown. She’s a step above everyone so far with some material about meeting Condoleezza Rice and breaking up with a broke man.

Dwayne Perkins – Another L.A. winner who compares a woman’s “male friend” to that of a company not hiring the best man for the job but willing to talk to him later about how crummy the guy is that they did hire. It’s some funny stuff, but the setup takes a bit too long for a three minute competitive spot. If Perkins had ten minutes, then it would have gone over like crazy, but as it is, it unfortunately seems a bit rushed and stilted. Shame.

Matt Kirshen – was the second of three winners from London. If you’re wondering about the final winner from the London Showcase – Ava Vidal – she apparently could not get her passport ready in time for the semi-finals. Anyway, Matt talks about looking happy all the time, even when he doesn’t want to look that way. He’s fine overall; as is everyone so far, to be honest. The show so far seems like a constant layer of cotton in the realm of comedy – nice to fall back on, but nothing that makes you feel, “ahhhh, this is it!”

But that would change with the next competitor.

Amy Schumer – Amy won in New York and she finally shatters the feeling of “okay” material by just being the first lame comic on the show this week. Now, when I use the term “lame,” I don’t mean in the sense of her being horribly bad; yet, she’s just not very good either. She reminds me of someone being talked by her drunken friends into going on stage during open-mic night. The person that you fake-chuckle for in order to not have their memories of that night be completely dismal, while you wonder how much longer you’ll have to endure it. I’m sure she’s a fine person, but boy does she need another line of work.

Sean Rouse – won in L.A. and is the best comic of the night with material made exactly for LCS. He discusses his dead father, “because it helps you on reality shows like this one.” He goes on to talk about contracting Restless Leg Syndrome, and he’s the only one of two comics on the show this week that has me laughing out-loud. Great stuff and he really should move on to the final ten.

Lavell Crawford – is the huge guy that won in Tempe. He repeats some material that we’ve already seen of him about being big and does a bit about trying to put on a seatbelt that is pretty decent. Will he make it to the final ten? Hey, I didn’t even think he would make it to the mic! Thank you and, as always, tip your waiter!