Chicago Stand Ups in Vocalo.org Talent Show Tonight at CCPA
Hey Bastion Fans,
Remember in elementary school when you had a talent show and the only talent amongst second graders was singing, “I believe that children are our future”, and you had to do your “Get in Shape Girl” ribbon dance routine because your parents couldn’t afford tap lessons?
Well, the first Vocalo.org Talent Show is all grown up, and unlike those second graders, these guys and gals have talent. You might be saying to yourselves, “why is this posted on the Bastion?” Well, not only is this a show comprised of local musicians, dancers, and magicians, there are also a couple of folks in the stand up comedy world participating who I’m sure you’re familiar with. The line up includes the Revellettes go go dancers, Gullah Geechee, Itz Ya Boi, Ace Boogie, Real Hip Hop, Al Sharpton's Approval, Magic Superstars, I Want to Dream, Relaxation Nation, Kanare, Nile Dean, Jadiid, Xolin, In Which I Put On My Shoes, and the stand up stylings of Cindy Cornelson, Dan Telfer and Andrew DeWitt. You probably also recognize the host of the event, stand up comic, Brian Babylon.
The show will be broadcast live on May 14th at 7:00 p.m. on Vocalo 89.5 FM, and online at vocalo.org, or better yet, you probably should see everyone in person at The Chicago Center for Performing Arts at 777 N. Green St. at 7pm. Tickets are only $15 bucks ($12 for Chicago Public Radio members) for what’s sure to be a diverse entertainment experience.
The event is sponsored in part by The Onion and presented by Chicago Public Radio.
Vocalo/Chicago Public Radio's Call For Comedy (and Other) Talent
--WBEZ is producing a talent show on May 14, 2008, and all performers, comics, musicians, improvisers, poets, singers and entertainers are invited to audition. Presented by Chicago Public Radio, the unique event will happen online and in person at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts. "Performers upload their audition materials and let the public decide who will qualify for one of 12 opportunities to compete live at the May 14 event where the audience will select a winner."
How can you join in? Sign up for aVocalo.org account, and click "enter contest" at the bottom of the signup instructions. Your audio or video content must be new material, and must include the tag "The Talent Show." All performance finalists will receive Vocalo.org and Chicago Public Radio swag. The final winner will receive a prize pack that includes a personal digital recorder, tickets to Chicago Public Radio events, and more.
Punchline Magazine is giving away copies of Todd Barry's new album, "From Heaven!" Audio samples from the album, Barry's third on Comedy Central Records, can be heard here.
"If you want to win yourself a copy, here’s the deal: The first five people to send in a photo of them enjoying Punchline Magazine (get creative!) will get a copy of From Heaven."
Come on! You have cameras, and you like comedy, and you wouldn't mind seeing your mug on Punchline Magazine, wouldja? No, of course you wouldn't. Send photos here, and include your first and last names and address. Winning photos will be posted on Punchline.
Chicago-based comic and writer Julianna Forlano won the Chicago branch of the Reader's Digest contest and can now call herself Chicago's Funniest Comedian while flapping a handful of $100 bills that she got for her trouble. Five $100 bills. Which is to say...$500.
Anyway, Forlano heard about the contest on the Chichahahago message board, where regulars talk about sports, politics, old interpersonal grudges, and sometimes even comedy. She cleaned up some of her jokes, to fit in with Reader's Digest's squeaky clean sensibility, and performed an 8 a.m. set at Zanies downtown.
"The weird part was that there was no audience," Forlano explained. "No people in the crowd to laugh, so when presenting the material it felt a lot like bombing. Crickets. Well, there were 3 or 4 Reader's Digest staff members there who did chuckle from the back but that didn't constitute an audience. In fact, the camera and sound folks actually requested that folks be quiet on the set. Not the usual warm up for a stand-up routine!"
Picture is from the front page of Reader's Digest's website. To see her winning video click here.
Chicago's Michael Palascak won the Lucky 21 Contest, sponsored by the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. All that heavy campaigning paid off, apparently, and now he's the proud winner of $10,000 cash (you read that right), a tv spot, and a meeting with tv execs.
This is the same Michael Palascak who was a finalist in the "Funniest Person in Chicago" contest, and won the Chicago round of Comedy Central's Open Mic Fight, because he's willing to put in the legwork, from behind the keyboard and on stage, to coax his 456,592 friends and family to vote for him. Now that's hustle. Nice work, Michael. We assume the next round is on you?
Hannibal Buress is the "Funniest Person in Chicago," if a roomful of comedy fans at the Lakeshore Theater and Time Out Chicago are to be believed. According to TOC, Lakeshore Theater owner Chris Ritter told Hannibal: "You’ve been on the Lakeshore stage more than any other performer, and it’s obvious why that is."
Second place finisher Ken Barnard shared these thoughts with The Bastion: "The Funniest Person in Chicago contest was a great showcase of local comedic talent here in the Windy City. It was wonderful to see such a varied group of comics all represent our city so well. As a contestant, it was a pleasure to have the chance to perform for both the judges - some of the more influential forces in the Chicago comedy scene – and a great Lakeshore audience. I was very pleased with my second place finish, which included dough, a DVD of 'There’s Something About Mary,' and some loose candy. The cool thing about coming in second is that when Hannibal is out of town, I’ll be the funniest person in Chicago."
Third place contender Dan Telfer shared these post-show thoughts on his blog: "...holy shit what a fun show to do. Giant, enthusiastic crowds are a tough commodity to come by, and I just tried to squeeze out every drop of enthusiasm I had for them. I think it paid off. And I couldn't have taken third place to two more insanely talented people, with my pal Ken Barnard in 2nd and one-foot-in-New-York-already Hannibal Buress taking 1st. In fact there were so many badass finalists I had not counted on finishing in the top 3 at all, so I am beyond gratified this morning. Plus 3rd place got $100, and I was never told beforehand money was involved, so that was a nice freaking surprise."
Fellow Blewt-ian Steve Gadlin sat on the judging panel, and wrote about the experience briefly in his blog: "Last night I sat on the judging panel for Time Out Chicago's "Chicago's Funniest Person" competition. I was up there with Beth Kligerman, talent scout for Second City, Steve Heisler, comedy editor for Time Out Chicago, and Chris Ritter, owner of the Lake Shore Theater. Time Out hooked us up pretty well! We had hip and expensive bottles of water that looked like science projects, and a Time Out bag of goodies. I felt like I was a presenter at the Oscars. Well, maybe the Golden Globes."
It was a fun night of stand-up in a cool new venue, for sure, but the question of contests still remains: are they necessary? Good fun? Or are they divisive and mean-spirited? A good way to make some extra dough (when possible)? Do some people flat out refuse to participate in them? Are all shows and events essentially contests? Any thoughts on this?
The "Funniest Person in Chicago" contest finalists have been announced. A panel including Time Out Chicago's most qualified comedy judges, a chicken, a nun, and three bus drivers watched through all of the video entries and chose six semi-finalists who will perform at a special event at the Lakeshore Theater Sunday, October 28 at 7 pm. Show up, fork out $5, and VOTE for your favorite. Yeah, that's right, the audience chooses the winner.
Remember, the winner gets a whole heap of prizes and opportunities, including comedy mentoring and workshops from Paul Provenza and the UCB crew, one year of representation with Ambassador Talent, The Mark Sinclair Funniest Person in Chicago Trophy, and a chance to headline their own show at the Lakeshore. So if one of these comics is a friend of yours, and you don't show up to help them win, don't say we didn't warn you.
The finalists, and their submitted videos:
Dan Telfer:
Ken Barnard:
Jena Friedman:
Hannibal Buress:
Gary Atkins:
(Michael Palascak's video submission is not embeddable, but can be seen here, or check out the following link:)
Time Out Chicago's Funniest Person in Chicago Contest is still underway, and you still have time to dazzle them with your hilarity and take your shot at being officially known as the Funniest Person in Chicago. You'll also get a chance to perform live at a show in late October, details TBA.
Send them your funniest 1-2 minute comedy video (stand-up, sketch, what have you) for a chance at some rad prizes and a live performance. Have your entry in by 5:00 PM September 20 for your chance to legitimately add the credit "Funniest Person in Chicago" to your comedy resume. Seriously. Do it.
Chicago Competes in International Sketch Comedy Competition
Big Dog Eat Child and THINK TANK are two of the Chicago sketch comedy groups that have been selected to advance in the annual International Sketch Comedy Competition™, which showcases some of the world’s best sketch comedy talent.
The Chicago round will be held on September 7 @ 8:00 at the Barrel of Laughs Comedy Club in Oak Lawn. Five sketch groups will duke it out before a panel of judges, and only one will continue on in the competition. Two other rounds will be staged in New York and LA, and the overall winners will perform at the I.S.C.C. finals at the new Laugh Factory in Los Angeles on September 25, 2007.
Time Out Chicago's Funniest Person in Chicago Contest
Are you hilarious? Can you take a pie in the face like a pro? Time Out Chicago is having a Funniest Person in Chicago Contest. Send them your funniest 1-2 minute comedy video for a chance at some rad prizes and a live performance. Have your entry in by 5:00 PM September 20 for your chance to legitimately add the credit "Funniest Person in Chicago" to your comedy resume. You know, under "Special Awards or Recognition," right before "Top Girl Scout Cookie Seller, Troop #334, Skokie IL, 1995-1998."
It can be straight stand-up, a wacky song or an impression of your goldfish. Anything is fair game as long as (a) it’s funny and (b) it can be re-created live (save your fancy editing tricks for the big screen, Coppola). We’ll then narrow the field to 16 contestants for a March Madness–style online voting bracket. The final four perform five minutes of material before a live audience in late October. The winner walks away with a sweet prize package and the supercool-sounding title of Chicago’s Funniest Person.
Remember the Bastion's Louis CK "Shameless" DVD giveaway contest? Of course you do. Here, for your groaning pleasure, the winning redhead jokes submitted by soon-to-be proud owners of a shiny new Louis CK DVD:
1. Why did Namorita break up with the Human Torch?
Because all red-heads are fucking crazy.
-Dan
2. What do you get when you cross Raggedy Ann with the Pillsbury Doughboy?
An angry redhead with a yeast infection.
- Jim
3. Two elderly ladies are sitting on the front porch, doing nothing.
The redhead turns to the other and asks, "Do you still get horny?"
The other replies, "Oh sure I do."
The redhead asks, "What do you do about it?
The second old lady replies, "I suck a lifesaver."
After a few moments, the redhead asks, "Who drives you to the beach?"
1. What do you call a Communist Blowjob? Red-head.
-Tim
2. Did you hear the one about the red-headed fireman?
His hair caught on fire but NO ONE COULD TELL!
But (A) it wasn't "in the line of duty" fighting a fire. He was just at home in his backyard grilling out. So the fact that he was a fireman was a "red herring" part of the set-up.
And (B) the reason no one could tell is that he was alone out there grilling. Had anyone seen him, they'd've seen the fire and, one assumes, help extinguish his head.
So the lesson is, DON'T GRILL ALONE, no matter WHAT your hair color!
3. A blonde and a redhead met in a bar after work for a drink, and were
watching the 6 O'clock news. A man was shown threatening to jump from the
Brooklyn Bridge.
The blonde bet the redhead $50 that he wouldn't jump, and the redhead
replied, "I'll take that bet!" Anyway, sure enough, he jumped, so the blonde
gave the redhead the $50 she owed.
The redhead said, "I can't take this, you're my friend."
The blonde said, "No. A bet's a bet. You won the money."
So the redhead said, "Listen, I have to admit, I saw this on the 5 O'clock
news, so I can't take your money."
The blonde replied,... "Well, so did I, but I never thought he'd jump
again!"
-Bridget
4. An old man of ninety was sitting on a park bench crying.
A policeman noticed this and asked him why he was crying.
"Well," says the old fellow, "I just got married to a twenty-five year old
redhead. Every morning she makes me a wonderful breakfast and then we make
love. In the afternoon she makes me a wonderful lunch and then we make love.
At dinner time she makes me a wonderful supper and then we make love."
The policeman looks at the old man and says, "You shouldn't be crying! You
should be the happiest man in the world!"
So the old man says, "I know! I'm crying because I don't remember where I
live!"
Sigh, terrible joke, only vaguely redhead-related. Sorry.
'Kids in the Hall' Producer Looking For Next Big Sketch Group
It's the Great Sketch Comedy Showdown!
We can't attest to the "ladies man" claim in the below blurb, but sources tell us the contest is for reals, yo.
"Jim Biederman, renowned ladies man and producer of hit shows Kids in the Hall, Tom Green Show, Andy Dick Show, and the Whitest Kids U’Know, is looking for the next great sketch comedy troupe to develop in a final attempt to rediscover his passion for living. Upload your sketch comedy videos NOW for a chance to win a development deal AND a celebratory high-five from Jim Biederman himself! For contest info, visit here."
Watch a silly clip of the talent scouters discussing the project here.
Stand-up comic Louis CK is releasing a new DVD, "Shameless," on June 26.
Grab a free copy of "Shameless" for yourself! In honor of Louis' gingerness, the first three people to hit us up with a good redhead joke gets a "Shameless" DVD mailed right to their door.
Hey Bastion Fans,
--WBEZ is producing a talent show on May 14, 2008, and all performers, comics, musicians, improvisers, poets, singers and entertainers are invited to audition. Presented by Chicago Public Radio, the unique event will happen online and in person at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts. "Performers upload their audition materials and let the public decide who will qualify for one of 12 opportunities to compete live at the May 14 event where the audience will select a winner." 
Chicago-based comic and writer Julianna Forlano won the Chicago branch of the 
Chicago's 
The "Funniest Person in Chicago" contest 
Time Out Chicago's 
Remember the Bastion's 
It's the Great Sketch Comedy Showdown!
