Last Comic Standing, Episode 7: The Sleeper Awakens

Another week of Last Comic Standing is upon us, and we have some news to catch up on before heading into the recap.

Probably the biggest news for us here at RealityNewsOnline occurred late last week when we received an email from LCS executive producer and host, Jay Mohr. Mohr wrote to respond to some questions we had raised about the show in previous columns and was kind enough to allow us to reprint what he had to say, so without further ado, here is Mr. Mohr’s response:

I wanted to write you an email to let you know how much I have been enjoying your website. I think you guys are very evenhanded and appreciate the way you have supported the show. I would love to help out and answer a few questions about the show that I have been reading. First of which would be the Ralphie May situation.

Ralphie May was my opening act for about two years for approximately thirty shows. Ralphie also wrote jokes and is credited as being a producer of MohrSports. Ralphie and I are indeed friends. As an executive producer and creator of a show about comics, my primary job was to help in the finding of talent that would ensure the most entertaining show. I recommended to the studio that Ralphie not be forgotten for the auditions.

I made such a request for at least twenty comics. Rich Vos and I used to work on the East Coast together at some one-nighters as well as working together often through the years in Greenwich Village. As you previously wrote in your column, stand-up comics pretty much all know and have worked with each other in some capacity. That to me is the greatest thrill about LCS: finding the people I didn't know (i.e. Dave Mordal, Tess, and Rob Cantrell). I never vote on the show and regardless of how friendly I am with Ralphie May, I cannot force an audience of 2,000 people give him a standing ovation. All the comics earned their way in. This is a reality show starring people that actually DESERVE their fifteen minutes of fame.

Second. Cory Kahaney vs. Tere Joyce. One word: EDITING. The job of an editor is to cut a show to time and at the same time present the best possible product to the network. Editing is a bit of a shell game. There is a trade and an ebb and flow to it. Some explanations to questions you may have get removed from the final product so we can add jokes or drama.

The comics' sets are ten minutes long and they are edited down to about two and a half minutes. I would never allow one of our comics be shown bombing or highlight the part of their act that didn't go so well. There are in many cases Standards and Practices involved as well. Drug jokes, ethnic humor, sexuality, and borderline blue material will not be shown on television. It is laughable that a network would risk the amount of litigation it would inevitably be involved in to fix a competition. I assure you that the comics who have won thus far have had a much better set than their competition.

But of course, just to show we’re not kissing-up, we’ll now have to say a number of terrible and nasty things about everyone on the show. Hope you understand.

On second thought, let’s look at what else is in the news.

Last Comic Standing continues to be a big success for NBC. Numbers are steady at 7.8 million viewers, while still remaining as the highest rated show in its timeslot on Tuesdays. It also got 28% of the 18-49 age-group, which is the highest for the show since the debut episode. No doubt NBC is very happy with the success of the series.

We failed to mention it last week, but Ralphie May was a writer on the MTV special, Bash, which aired last Sunday. The special is essentially a revisionist look at the old “celebrity roast” comedy tribute, with Carson Daly as the “bashee.” Mike was able to catch the show and thought it was pretty funny stuff. For those wanting to check it out, MTV has a schedule up with dates and times at their official website (just enter “bash” in their search-engine).

While The National Enquirer isn’t usually considered the best source in the world, there is a story up on their website this week about Rich Vos and his past alcohol addiction (for which many may recall his briefly discussing in Episode Three, when Sean and Dat were getting on him for smoking in the house). You can find the story here.

And since you’ll be at the check-out line anyway for The National Enquirer, we should go ahead and check out this week’s episode of Last Comic Standing.

Yeah, I know that segue was a bit weak, but we just painted the house and I’m breathing in paint fumes every two seconds, so it’s the best I can come up with in my current state of mind.

This week’s episode starts with a brief recap of last week’s episode where Ralphie and Rob faced off in the stand-up challenge and Rob had to leave. As for Dat, he won the right to not be voted for last week, along with a “guest shot” appearance on the NBC sitcom, Good Morning, Miami. Dat is excited as he leaves the house to film his part. Meanwhile, Dave, Rich, and Cory discuss the problems they have with Dat. As Rich points out to the camera, the main problem was Dat’s eager admission that he was only doing stand-up so he could become an actor. To Rich and the others who are working as comics in order to being good comics, Dat’s statement rubbed most of them the wrong way.

Cory feels that there is a layer of funniness to Dat, “on the lower rung” of comedy. Dave, however, just can’t make Dat out at all. To Dave there is either “something wrong with him,” or else Dat is a genius who will blow one of them out of the water when he is challenged.

Dat does his bit on Good Morning, Miami, which consists of Dat doing “background.” His part is to appear on camera pouring himself a cup of coffee and then walking off. It’s a nothing part, and for most people it would have been a letdown to find out that their bit on the show consists of less time than it takes most people to sneeze, especially in light of Tess’ Extra appearance. Still, Dat is extremely happy with the chance to appear on camera and says it is the “American Dream.”

Once back at the house, Dave and Rich dig into Dat about Dat’s lack of humor around the house. It seems to especially irk Dave, who feels that Dat doesn’t seem to be actively involved in making anything funny. Or even being worried about it. Dave feels that Dat sees the situation as being about “rainbows and skittles,” and it has nothing to do with the true meaning of the contest. To Dave and Rich, “funny” means being funny anywhere at any time, because that “is all part of being a comic;” meanwhile, Dat tells them that he is funny only when he is onstage and doesn’t need to prove he is funny when in the house. He feels that if he is negative off-stage with wisecracks and jokes, he will not be able to perform properly on stage. Besides, Dat tells Dave, Rich, and Cory, he feels that their time in the house should be spent getting to know one another and talking about their likes and dislikes and food. Dave does not see talking about the cuisine of New York as being the way to win the contest. Rich and Cory die laughing during all of this as Dave gets fed up with the conversation.