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Final Four time on 'Last Comic Standing'
I have to admit, I was a little annoyed at first with the way Last Comic Standing handled its elimination Wednesday night. The five finalists paraded across the stage not once or twice, but three times in the first 15 minutes of the show, and it seemed like more pointless suspense-building, just like on every other live or live-ish results show.
Then it became apparent that the LCS crew was going to wait until right near the end of the hour to dump one of the five, while letting those who are staying around perform in the meantime. I don't remember if that's how the show handled vote-offs last year, but I kind of liked it. Yeah, the hour was still padded, with all the comics-visit-home segments, but sprinkling in the next round of performances helped things go by reasonably quickly.
(Spoilers starting on the next line, by the way.)
I'll spare you the false suspense and just come right out with it -- the audience, including, apparently, viewers in the U.K., Canada and Australia, sent Ralph Harris packing. I'm a bit surprised, given his relatively familiar face, that the vote went that way, but it's a pleasant surprise. That's how I would've voted too.
So let's get on to the final four, shall we?
Gerry Dee
You know Gerry wants to win badly, given that he missed the birth of his child because he was taping the show. Unfortunately, his set tonight doesn't quite live up to last week, as he falls back on material from his stint as a teacher. His opening line about trying to teach while hung over is a good one, but the bit drags on too long.
He closes on an up note, though, by describing -- and I'm not doing it justice here -- the time he and his buddy, at the age of 6, taped their penises together. Watch the replay on NBC.com (or Zap2it's own fancy new video page, when it's posted) -- it's worth it.
Lavell Crawford
Crawford has been up and down for me during the competition, but Wednesday, he had probably the show's strongest set with a riff on the "white stuff" he had to do after his mom moved their family to the suburbs. White stuff, like joining the Cub Scouts and going camping.
Lavell was an inquisitive lad, see, and so he didn't take his pack leader's word when the man told him to play dead if he ever saw a grizzly bear in the woods. "So I walked up to the grizzly bear and said, 'Excuse me, can I ask you a question?' 'Sure, little black fat boy, what is it?'"
Suffice to say he got his answer about playing dead. Oh, and apparently we taste like chicken to grizzly bears.
Amy Schumer
I figured Amy would be headed home tonight, and from her reaction to being called to perform, so did she. She recovers to do a decent, self-deprecating joke about her looks -- "I wasn't a cute kid. I looked like a Fraggle" -- but things go a little south from there.
She spends too long on a bit about dating a mime in college, and you can actually hear a couple of groans in the theater when she does a pun about him not thinking outside the box. Like Gerry, she comes back a little at the end with jokes about divorce and childhood interests as an indicator of career choices, but I'm not liking her chances to stay around for yet another week.
Jon Reep
After Ralph's elimination, Jon gets the night's final spot, and while there are a couple of mild laughs in his first minute or so, he falls again into a pattern that's bugged me for a few weeks running -- namely, dragging out a bit for much longer than is necessary.
He talks about the nonsensical lyrics of folk songs, and that's fine. Not especially funny, but not cringe-worthy either. By the time he gets to parsing "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain," though, that's pretty much all we need.
And then he takes the same approach to nursery rhymes, and that tears it. I swear I've heard other, better bits -- from Jerry Seinfeld, maybe, though I'm not sure -- about how "Rock-a-Bye Baby" isn't really that comforting to a child about to go to sleep.
The night's best: Lavell, for sure, and I guess Gerry, but more by default.
Give 'em the hook: Next week's elimination should come down to Jon and Amy.
Still laughing? Or did the return of Doug Benson make you wistful for what might have been?
Jon Reep is the worst "comic" I've ever seen.
Joe | Aug 30, 2007 1:27:01 AM | #Whoever wins this will have more potential to do something with their career than Dat Phan, John Heffron, Alonzo Bodden and Josh Blue have done.
JT | Aug 30, 2007 5:54:05 AM | #Two separate thoughts:
- NBC's fall schedule must be dreadful. They drag the critics into the screening room, show them "LCS", and then we get the review that "Test Pattern" is a laugh riot, a sure hit, a not to be missed explosion of fun.
- It's no mystery why NBC is at the bottom of the ratings. I'm sure the suits and skirts at NBC actually think that the comics, including the host and "talent" scouts, are funny.
I'm waiting for NBC to make everything official and change their motto to "don't even bother to tape or tivo". The broadcast was so bad that I switched over to the rerun of "Bones" and recorded "LCS", man what a waste of electrons.
Chris | Aug 30, 2007 6:34:59 AM | #I've been saying it all season, but they made some major mistakes on LCS this year. Jon Reep should not be in the final twenty let alone the final 5. He's southern. We get it.
We lost Matt for this?
Ralph Harris has been doing the same material since I was in grade school. He should have been gone a while ago.
Just about the only good thing this season was seeing Amy and Matt. While they aren't the greatest comics in the world, both are still young, and I think they have bright futures ahead of them.
Between the remaining four, I'm pulling for Gerry. He makes me laugh the most, which is what a comic should do.
Brian | Aug 30, 2007 7:40:41 AM | #Is it just me or is anyone else having trouble understanding what Lavell is saying sometimes. I was able to understand him better when he was imitating his white cub scout leader, but when he speaks in his own voice it's a lot of mumbling. I don't want to have to try that hard to understand someone when they are suppose to be making me laugh. I will say he is the 2nd funniest comic on the show. 1st is Gerry Dee. I love how he just tells stories that we can relate to because we've been there-done that. He has great stage presence and has great timing delivering his punch lines. He cracks me up, Go Gerry!
Linda | Aug 30, 2007 8:21:05 AM | #Isn't Jon Reep from Hickory? Boy, you can never hear that joke too many times.
Another really weak episode - I just do not get what's funny about Lavell's material, but maybe it's his delivery that turns me off from the content.
Sadly, you're probably right that he was the funniest this week, but how is it possible that these are the funniest people left in the competition?
Doug Benson was hit or miss, but I thought he was consistently funnier than any of the final four. Maybe being eliminated has made him more relaxed (and funnier).
George | Aug 30, 2007 9:24:07 AM | #I agree with Linda about Lavell. I also have a hard time understanding what he is saying. But, that said, I think his set last night was awful. Honestly, I don't think he has said anything funny for weeks and I am amazed that he is still on the show. Why are we still voting for him? I thought his bit about the camping trip was painful to listen to. It's obvious that Amy is in uncharted territory here. She has far less experience than the rest; however, I also think she has the biggest upside. I like her humor. She is that rare female comic that can make both women and men laugh.
John D | Aug 30, 2007 9:26:36 AM | #JT: No, no they won't.
| Aug 30, 2007 9:38:15 AM | #I thought last night's funniest comics were John and Gerry. Amy has bored me from day one, and I have NO idea how she made it into the final 20. I'm dying for Matt Kirshen to come back. I had a hard time understanding Lavell, and almost fell asleep while Amy was talking. John's nursery rhymes and folk songs were hilarious - and Gerry is always funny.
I'm seeing Josh Blue next month, and I can't wait. :)
Mary | Aug 30, 2007 10:53:29 AM | #I think that the wrong comic got to stay on. I found Lavell Crawford boring on his best nights and that Ralph Haris was a shoe-in. Wrong again. I don't think any of them put on their best show last night. I do hope that it comes down to John and Amy, they have had the brightest performances albeit spotty. At least the cast of characters that mad the initial selections are finally gone!!!
jim | Aug 30, 2007 11:15:00 AM | #All the comics were weak last night, but I still have hope for Amy, she's young and fresh, hope she gets another chance. I am just NOT feeling Lavell. I laughed once when at the way he fat, little black boy and that was it. His delivery was forced, just did not like, Jon was okay, I laughed the most at Gerry. I am missing Matt!
Jo | Aug 30, 2007 11:17:38 AM | #I must be the minority because the last two episodes I havwe just thought Lavell was horrible. I miss Matt but have thought that Gerry, Jon or Amy would do I suppose. I laughed at Gerry probably the most, and when he whispered to Bill off mic that the story of taping their penises together was true, me and my husband nearly died laughing!
KM | Aug 30, 2007 12:12:39 PM | #I loved Matt Kirshens jokes! He had an intellect to his jokes that only Amy Schumer has out of the people left.
I also mish Gina Yashere. I laughed so hard at her sets and she got voted off when I laughed the most. I hate stupid humor!! I wish John Roy was on this season. He is one of the best comics I have ever seen. So, WHY is Lavelle still here? He is NOT funny. He IS however UNCOMPREHENDABLE. Can anyone understand what he says? John Reep has his funny moments, but last night was not one of them. Amys set was not a good one. She is capable of much more. Gerry had me rolling again and that is why I think this is his year. Amy can take the title if she steps up, otherwise it will be Gerry's to lose.
I loved Matt Kirshens jokes! He had an intellect to his jokes that only Amy Schumer has out of the people left.
I also mish Gina Yashere. I laughed so hard at her sets and she got voted off when I laughed the most. I hate stupid humor!! I wish John Roy was on this season. He is one of the best comics I have ever seen. So, WHY is Lavelle still here? He is NOT funny. He IS however UNCOMPREHENDABLE. Can anyone understand what he says? John Reep has his funny moments, but last night was not one of them. Amys set was not a good one. She is capable of much more. Gerry had me rolling again and that is why I think this is his year. Amy can take the title if she steps up, otherwise it will be Gerry's to lose.
Kinda makes you wonder why they called Doug Benson back...
Reality | Aug 30, 2007 4:41:07 PM | #These are by far THE worst i've seen, and I've watched all seasons I would actually vote NO ONE through to a final...BUT if I did it probably would be.....
They're all so bad I can't MAKE a decision. htere were far better in years past, Jay London, Dat Phan, ALNOZO, Ralphie May, /....there IS no clear cut winner this year, ...just pick one and run with it get to the next season and lets see the "originals" in the comedy clubs when they come to your hometown
Jon Reep is the best comedian i have ever seen
matt | Sep 3, 2007 4:00:14 PM | #I also miss Gina Yashere and Matt Kirshon. I liked the smartness of Amy's material but it did not make me laugh. Lavelle I thought had a strong set and actually had me laughing. Gerry Dee, I could not not relate to. Being a non-drinker, "hangover humor" usually just goes totally over my head. Unfortunately, I wouldn't pay to hear any of these comics headline like I did with Alonzo Bodden, Jay London and Gary Gulman.
brucebud | Sep 6, 2007 5:40:11 AM | #Gino | Sep 6, 2007 3:50:22 PM | #
I might be bias because I am from Canada but Gerry is miles ahead of all of the others. He kicked ass last night.
Gino | Sep 6, 2007 3:52:23 PM | #Ready? Doesn't matter who you like; it's the Fat Guy year.
Betty Donovan | Sep 11, 2007 12:32:05 PM | #no matter who you like theres no way john reep should still be there. his routine is boring,not funny & irrelivant. so,he's a hick from hickery...next joke
rippstuddwell | Sep 12, 2007 8:43:02 PM | #i love jon reep but i havent seen all the episodes ethier so idk what he is like
kelly | Sep 23, 2007 5:00:24 PM | #
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