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S09.E07: The Showdowns

Tara Ariano

By Tara Ariano
in Last Comic Standing [V]

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peach

peach

I just found out the LCS tour will be where I live in just a couple of weeks.  I would only want to see Michael and Clayton.  I actually do like Andi,  but only for about 30 seconds.  I actively do NOT want to see Ian or Dominique.  So, no way I'm buying a ticket.  I would have gone for sure if Sheng, Taylor, and Joe were included.  So, good job, judges!  :P

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saber5055

saber5055

Peach, do you know which comics will be on that tour? Maybe the ones you want to see will be included.

And if you're in disbelief that anyone would find a five-year-old's imagination entertaining, I'd point you to the success of Axe Cop as another example.

 

GAH, I HATE Axe Cop.

 

Sure, Ian Bagg can be complimented for including the audience in his act, and being able to "bring them in," but that has nothing to do with the subject of his "jokes," all of which, so far, have been based on degrading women. I mean REALLY degrading women. 

 

I'm with LADreamr 100 percent: "Where's the loud-mouth, opinionated Roseanne of years past? That's who we need here." 

 

Of course, Bagg could be "the chosen one" by TPTB. Does the misogynist Mike Fleiss have his fingers in this franchise too?

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peach

peach

Peach, do you know which comics will be on that tour? Maybe the ones you want to see will be included.

GAH, I HATE Axe Cop.

 

The top 5 go on the tour.  So, it's Michael, Ian, Andi, Dominique, and Clayton.  

 

I love Axe Cop.  lol    Well, for a minute or two.  I have a lot of experience with little boys, and that is often how their imaginations work.  It cracks me up.

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DrSpaceman

DrSpaceman

I'm just so disappointed in the format I can't even get into any of the comics.  They're all fine in their own way, although I thought Andi had one of her weakest sets and Ryan's "porn name" bit probably gave me the longest continuous laughter of the night.

 

IMHO the only clear winner of the season was Jeselnik. He's got the mix of pre-written introductions and ad-libs and is easily the best host the show's ever had.

You know what you are totally right about Jeselnik.

I don't even feel like going into details about my feelings, most of it has been said already, so I will just one line it

Dominique is just not funny at all, its a complete joke she is in the finals

If irritating is the top criteria for funny, then Andi wins hands down. We don't need a second, less funny Maria Bramford

Ian Bagg I will admit I laughed at a few things, but he is best in small dosages and he actually has an ADVANTAGE that the sets are short. I couldn't listen to him more than five minutes

CLayton is OK but nothing great and the fact I can't even recall the fifth finalists name speaks volumes......I know I liked him pretty well and he beat Taylor, but far from a slam dunk

The whole season has been weak

But you are right the CLEAR winner has been Jeselnik. Before this season all I knew about him was from his act. His act I find very funny, but its also full of "shock value" jokes, saying things nad joking about over the top things that make you laugh partly because you can't believe he said it out loud

Here he is not like that at all and I find him very enjoyable. He is the completely calm, doesn't try to take over the show, quick witted, takes a joke himself when thrown back at him, makes things interesting. His jokes are subtle, complete opposite of what he does in his show, but still funny. Both the other comics competing and the judges really seem to enjoy him as well

He is a bit smug, that is the only thing bad I have to say about him. Otherwise he is the one bright spot on this season. My guess is about everyone of these comics will be forgotten quickly after this season, even those in the finals.

I just found out the LCS tour will be where I live in just a couple of weeks.  I would only want to see Michael and Clayton.  I actually do like Andi,  but only for about 30 seconds.  I actively do NOT want to see Ian or Dominique.  So, no way I'm buying a ticket.  I would have gone for sure if Sheng, Taylor, and Joe were included.  So, good job, judges!  :P

Completely agree, I would never pay money to see Dominique or Andi or Bagg

In fact I don't think you could pay me money to sit through their act.

Sheng, Taylor, Joe, Michael and Clayton.....yeah I'd go see them. Maybe not individually, but a set of them together, would make it worthwhile.

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Ohwell

Ohwell

(edited)

All I can say is, the pickings for comics must have been awfully slim this year.

 

I do find it amusing to see the judges "discussing" their choices, as if they hadn't already made their decisions.  I wonder if the contestants are in on the ruse but don't mind since they're getting some TV exposure?

Edited by Ohwell
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DrSpaceman

DrSpaceman

(edited)

All I can say is, the pickings for comics must have been awfully slim this year.

I do find it amusing to see the judges "discussing" their choices, as if they hadn't already made their decisions. I wonder if the contestants are in on the ruse but don't mind since they're getting some TV exposure?

If nothing else, win or lose, I do appreciate the show giving some prime time exposure for the stand ups. Just being seen on the show, even if they lose, helps their notoriety and makes many more people aware of their acts.

That can be good or bad, depending on the their talent level. But if they just make it on the show, they are at least given an oppurtunity to show what they have in front at least a few millions people. (Havent looked at the ratings, making a guess on the audience).

Edited by DrSpaceman
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saber5055

saber5055

All I can say is, the pickings for comics must have been awfully slim this year.

 

 

Probably because of what I've heard from comics who auditioned in the past ... they were treated so poorly and insulted during auditions, no one wants to go through it again only to be treated rotten again. Even comics have feelings. But, as DrSpaceman points out, the few who do get through and the even fewer we find funny, can get exposure and become a bit more well known from the show.

 

I do enjoy watching a show that's suppose to be funny with no stress. Then the judges go and ruin it all for me!

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WickedTuna

WickedTuna

I still find it hard to believe that out of all the female comedians who tried out that Dominique and Andy are left standing.

It's a mind-bender for sure. I wish the viewers got to vote because I'm pretty sure they'd end up in 4th and 5th place. What I don't get is why Roseanne likes Andy so much. Her comedy doesn't seem at all like the stuff Roseanne would like.

After Sheng lost I decided I was done. I'll probably come here to see who won but that's it. To lose was bad enough but against Dominique?? I will admit her stuff was funnier than her usual bits but that's not saying much.

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Palomar

Palomar

I liked how they've done this show in the past, when the final 10 would all move into a house together and, each week, they'd have some competition to win.  They'd go to Universal Studios and take over as a tour director, or they'd have to entertain a group of 1st graders or something.  Then, they'd each vote for the weakest comedian, and the bottom two would go head-to-head.  Or something like that.

 



 

Exactly...now we don't get to know them well enough to even care if they win or lose.  Thanks a lot show, for screwing a great formula up.  At the very least why not just pick the five best after showing all their sets instead of this head to head stuff.  There are definitely a couple of weak links there now with some great comics going home.

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trow125

trow125

But if they just make it on the show, they are at least given an oppurtunity to show what they have in front at least a few millions people. (Havent looked at the ratings, making a guess on the audience).

I was kind of shocked to see that it won its time slot. Not that there was a lot of competition.

One advantage of this format over last year's is that no comic winds up having to perform way more than any other comic. The "I know I'm funnier than" sometimes resulted in certain comics having to perform week after week and burn through a lot of material, while others got to save it for the finale. But I do miss the bits like the comics doing roasts, working as tour guides, etc.

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Jenkins

Jenkins

I've come to the conclusion (real or imagined) that my sense of humor is so vastly different from the rest of the world's, including that of the judges on this show. The biggest laugh of the night was my guffaws from my couch when Dominique won her round. I didn't like her last week and liked her even less this week. Then she WON! Most hilarious moment EVER on this episode.

 

The only set I agreed on was the last one, Clayton. But by that time I didn't care who went through.

 

I've discovered Norm is offended by anything that doesn't align with his views of religion and politics. Don't you DARE make fun of a conflicting view, or you are toast. He clearly was "burnt" by Andi's political wing joke. I'm guessing he was the Jesus arm with the gun. Ouch, Norm!

 

I hated Ian Bagg last week for his entire set consisting of "jokes" (I'm being generous as NONE of it was funny) about punching women in the boobs. This week I would have castrated him for his entire set being about saggy vaginas that make noise when one of his audience members (whom I assume made the mistake of PAYING to see him) went outside, and physical "comedy" about popping a baby out ... "Look, I'm so funny, this is how I birth a baby!" "Sploosh!"

 

I was offended by Roseanne laughing at his "joke" at her vagina's expense.

 

I'd LOVE to see Bagg do a full set of old-man-limp-penis-and-saggy-testicle jokes. Turn about is fair play, Bagg you cretan. Bring it on.

 

Bye, Sheng. You are too good for this show.

 

 

So while reading this entire thread I was thinking about what I was going to post...

 

And then I remembered, hey, someone already posted EVERY thought I had!

 

Seriously, all I can say is....ditto!

 

I am a middle aged man and it is near IMPOSSIBLE to offend me (I am not a "pearl clutcher" as they say) and while Bagg did not offend me, I just don't find him funny in the slightest. He comes off as trying too hard to be "shocking".

 

Couldn't agree more on Norm as well. It is blasphemy to some people to say you don't like Norm Macdonald, but I just can't stand the guy. He comes off as so arrogant and condescending (to me anyways). I love Roseanne and Keenen though. They will at least at times offer constructive criticism.

 

And I have yet to find anything Dominique has said even remotely funny. How in the hell is she in the finals?!

 

And one last comment...why even have the show in this format? Go back to the old format where they stay in a house, there are competitions, etc...or just don't have the damn show...

 

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peach

peach

But you are right the CLEAR winner has been Jeselnik. Before this season all I knew about him was from his act. His act I find very funny, but its also full of "shock value" jokes, saying things nad joking about over the top things that make you laugh partly because you can't believe he said it out loud

Here he is not like that at all and I find him very enjoyable. He is the completely calm, doesn't try to take over the show, quick witted, takes a joke himself when thrown back at him, makes things interesting. His jokes are subtle, complete opposite of what he does in his show, but still funny. Both the other comics competing and the judges really seem to enjoy him as well

He is a bit smug, that is the only thing bad I have to say about him. Otherwise he is the one bright spot on this season. My guess is about everyone of these comics will be forgotten quickly after this season, even those in the finals.

 

 

I was looking at his Twitter feed last night, and he has clear disdain for this whole show after being part of it, and especially after watching the final product.  He obviously doesn't agree with some of the judge's choices either.   Also, they've apparently cut out nearly everything he said.   Some of it, they have to.  He claims he and Norm argued about one comic for 20 minutes!  I think it was Amy Miller.  Then, Norm also commented that the way it was edited made what he was saying make less sense.  I realize they have to edit for time, but we are really getting a skewed view of what is going on and why.  Jeselnik claims he's not even watching it at this point.  Who knows if that's true, or if NBC told him to button it.

 

I also realize it may be VERY difficult to edit what Norm says since he's not a sound byte kind of guy. He's trying to make in depth points sometimes, and they don't really allow for that.  HOWEVER, they could fix that by not having a format that speeds through the process.  I'm as surprised as everyone else that this cycle is so short.  I agree with the comment that "who's funnier" bits unfairly used up certain comics' material, and some of that could have been trimmed, but they went too far the other direction.  I would like to hear MORE mentoring or debate about what works in comedy and why.  Apparently that is going on, but we just don't see it.  Instead, we get this disjointed, disappointing end product.

Also, just surfing around on Twitter, one of the producers was also commenting on some of this stuff, about having to edit so much material into a 40 min show, but I noticed she said something like, "I know we're supposed to be neutral..but Ian Bagg..." and posted a video clip of him talking to Roseanne.  I didn't even click to see which it was because he sucks.  But if he wins this damn show we will know why.  I really hope he doesn't, because he's not that funny.  Anthony Jeselnik is a perfect example of someone who can be very offensive, but God help me, I can't stop laughing.  Occasionally, he tells jokes that are too offensive for me, but that's just me, and others probably hate different jokes.  I'm not thin-skinned about it.  So, I find Ian Bagg's jokes degrading, yes, but the bigger crime is he isn't funny.  The Whole Foods jokes were the only ones I liked, and that was just because he was ribbing the judges for being too rich to know why WF sucks. 

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saber5055

saber5055

(edited)

And one last comment...why even have the show in this format? Go back to the old format where they stay in a house, there are competitions, etc...or just don't have the damn show...

 

 

I'm wondering if the budget is so small, that by the time the judges and Jeselnick are paid, there isn't much $ left for a summer fill-in show. This way they don't have to pay for a house or weekly salaries, just a few overnight rooms and flights for the incoming/outgoing.

 

One plus is that the show does give exposure to comics. Comedy clubs used to be all the thing, but the ones here closed years ago, and this is a pretty large metro area. Major cities like Chicago still have them, but otherwise, everyone else has to drive to see a stand-up show.

 

Peach, your entire post is so interesting, and I believe all of it, and that Jeselnick is upset at the editing and who is winning/losing. I got the same viewpoint from comics I've heard on the radio talking about being on the show in the past. I guess it's just another reality show after all, with the "reality" being created by the editors.

So, I find Ian Bagg's jokes degrading, yes, but the bigger crime is he isn't funny.

 

 

So much THIS.

Edited by saber5055
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saber5055

saber5055

Ian Bagg was on the Bob and Tom radio show a couple weeks ago. I listen in the morning when I'm still in bed. All I heard him say is, "I'm still on" when asked about LCS, and I missed anything else he might have said, including some of his crass "jokes" if he told any, since I mercifully fell asleep. So I don't have any more input from that appearance.

 

It is possible he does win it all since I also find the show's Bagg love sorta fishy, just like LADreamr. Maybe we should start a "who wins" pool here.

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Jenkins

Jenkins

Sadly, since I am assuming it is purely up to the judges who wins, I am going to say Bagg wins.

 

In my old age (not THAT old), my memory is hazy....didn't the VIEWERS used to vote on the comics at some point in the competition?

 

And yes, it is at least a good platform for comics. Didn't know the clubs were closing up. I live right outside Chicago and we have an Improv a few miles from us that is still pretty active.

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trow125

trow125

In my old age (not THAT old), my memory is hazy....didn't the VIEWERS used to vote on the comics at some point in the competition?

They used to do a bunch of rounds in a comedy club where the audience would vote. Then when they were down to the top 5, there would be a call-in vote, a la "Dancing with the Stars," where each comic had an 800 number.

 

Wanda Sykes has said that she wanted to change the format so the judges pick the winner:

Sykes, executive producer of Last Comic and also one of the mentors to the semifinalists and finalists, also told Seth Meyers on Late Night last night that she didn't want viewers voting for the winners, either. "I don't trust America," she said.

"I am like the damn Republicans of the competition shows. I'm stopping everybody from voting!"

 

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Amarsir

Amarsir

I wish the viewers got to vote because I'm pretty sure they'd end up in 4th and 5th place.

Did you agree with past seasons where the audience did vote? Personally, more often than not I didn't. So I'm happy enough with decision-by-judge.

 

One advantage of this format over last year's is that no comic winds up having to perform way more than any other comic. The "I know I'm funnier than" sometimes resulted in certain comics having to perform week after week and burn through a lot of material, while others got to save it for the finale. But I do miss the bits like the comics doing roasts, working as tour guides, etc.

One way to fix the problem while maintaining the good would be to let the challenge winner pick the head-to-heads WITH the rule that no one goes head-to-head twice.  That would add 4 more weeks on since the 5th paring would be chosen by default.  

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saber5055

saber5055

I remember one season, many years ago (I'm THAT old that time runs together!) when I voted for some comic name Blue or something like that. I was really invested in him winning which, I think, he did. I THINK! Although a lot of good it did for me to be able to vote for my winner since I can't remember his name these years later. ACK!

 

So I guess Wanda has told the judges who will win. Knocking out some of the (viewer) favorites in this past round clears the way for whomever Wanda wants to take all in the end. It's her show, I guess, so she gets to pick whomever she wants to take the cash and some role on some sit com ... maybe.

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DrSpaceman

DrSpaceman

Yes, it was Josh Blue. He was pretty funny and I do recall him being the best that year. He is still around on the comedy circuit, see/ hear him once in awhile. Best known because he had Cerebral palsy.

I am not as hard on Ian Bagg as some on here. I do think he has some good jokes here and there and I think he defintely knows how to works the crowd, his presentation is very good, he is comfortable on stage and connects wtih the audience more than the others.

I also agree though his material is pretty crude and misogynistic much of the time.

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retrograde

retrograde

The thing I dislike the most about Ian Bagg (and I don't like his jokes) is the weird kinda baby-voice thing he does. I don't mind Andy's voide because that's how she actually speaks, but Ian affects this dumb voice that gets stronger the more "edgy" his jokes get.

 

I think Clayton is the only comic left who actually makes me laugh. 

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Amarsir

Amarsir

If there is a pre-determined winner, Clayton English seems the most likely to be it, doesn't he?

 

I will say that personally I wasn't as huge a fan of his first two appearances, as they were too much narrowly into weed / racism, which I've heard and was afraid it's all he had.  But his last set was the best I've heard from him and unfortunately it was overshadowed by the sentiment that he AND Joe List should have got through instead of going head-to-head.

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Ohwell

Ohwell

(edited)

I like Ian Bagg and his jokes, and I'm female.  I like the way he comes out on stage and kind of rocks back and forth, just being a dick and talking crap.  That's his schtick, and I like it.  As far as him being "misogynistic," I have to admit that I'd never even heard of that word until, oh, about five years ago.  It's one of the "in" words now and maybe that's what he is, but I don't really care.  I'd love to have fun and trade insults with him.   

 

Having said all that, I can understand why some don't like him and have a visceral reaction to him and I know how that feels, because I hated that Indian woman so much that my teeth hurt. 

Edited by Ohwell
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saber5055

saber5055

(edited)

Yes, Josh Blue was the comic I liked so well in the past.  Thanks, Ohwell.

As far as him being "misogynistic," I have to admit that I'd never even heard of that word until, oh, about five years ago.  It's one of the "in" words now and maybe that's what he is, but I don't really care.

 

 

You would maybe have a different viewpoint if you grew up when it was against dress codes to wear a pantsuit to work, women had to wear dresses, and girls in school HAD to wear dresses/skirts, too, except on the one day a year that was "casual" day or "Bermuda shorts" day. Those skirts had to touch the floor when you knelt down, and they had regular checks for that. And the only professions open to women were nursing and teaching, but that didn't matter since the only reason girls went to college anyway was to find a husband. Then there was the fight for equal rights for women, the ERA amendment, which we fought for because some of us wanted to be more than housewives, we wanted to be recognized as real people with working brains. (BTW, women still don't have equal right, not really.) I wore the first pantsuit in my office back then, after it was made "legal" by corporate (there were strict details about how the top and bottom must match), and I remember to this day the verbal abuse from my boss and the other men in the office for "daring" to wear that. I spent most of the day in the bathroom, crying.

 

Yeah, misogyny is not a new word, it's been around a long, long time. And it's why I don't find Ian Bagg even slightly humorous.

Edited by saber5055
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Ohwell

Ohwell

(edited)

Re my "viewpoint":  If I were a betting woman, I'd bet that I go back even further than you do, and I certainly remember when women didn't/couldn't wear slacks, etc.  My point is, that even if misogyny has been around since, well, forever, I don't remember hearing that specific word until fairly recently.

 

But back on topic, that has nothing to do with me finding Ian Bagg funny. 

Edited by Ohwell
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nkotb

nkotb

After the semifinals, my hubby & I have to do some soul-searching. His birthday falls right around the time that the LCS tour comes to our area. We went last year as his gift and had a blast, and we were planning to go this year as well. We both said that if Clayton got through to the top 5, we'd go, as he was our pick to win the whole shebang from the first time he stepped on stage. However, I'm not sure I can stomach a set by Andy. Ugh, she just grates on my nerves and I'm so irritated that she made it through. For the most part, I thought the judges were correct. I personally preferred Sheng to Dominique, but purely based on that head-to-head performance, I thought she outshone him. Ian Bagg wasn't my favorite, but I did think he was funnier than Francisco.

 

I've posted this in a previous thread, but I was surprised when we went to the LCS tour last year. Hubs loved Joe Machi, whom we both found hilarious, and we both disliked Nikki Carr and didn't think she was funny at all. However, live, Nikki killed it and we finally saw why she advanced. Joe, however, not so much. All of his material was what he did on the show. I'm hoping that Clayton wins so we'll have a reason to go to the show this year. Maybe the comics we don't like will be funnier in person - although, I'm sure when Andy is performing, we'll both be on an extended bathroom break. I can't even with her.

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trow125

trow125

Ha, I had a similar situation with one of the really early tours which featured Jay London (I don't think they did "official" LCS tours at that point, but a bunch of the comedians played one of my local comedy clubs). I really, really disliked his comedy. I didn't enjoy him live either, but it was still worth it to see the comics I DID enjoy, though. I met and got my photo taken with Dave Mordal after the show. Good times.

 

Because the TV sets are so short, it's often hard to get a sense of what the comics are like live, when they have 15-20 minutes or more to stretch out.

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nkotb

nkotb

We'll go, just for you, Saber! :-) I'll definitely report back, too. I will say, Lachlan was much funnier live than on the show, too, and we liked him on the show. I'm still mad Karlous didn't make the top 5, because he was my fave, but we were glad we went.

 

So cool that you got to meet Mordal, Trow! I always felt like he should've won that season, but they (the comedians) kept making Dat Phan the underdog by picking on him, so I knew America was going to choose Dat as the winner. Jay London, if I remember correclty, wasn't he the bohemian-type dude? Ugh, he was probably my least favorite contestant ever.

 

I was actually trying to remember how long their sets were at the live show. I'm thinking maybe 20 minutes. That length of set would benefit someone like Clayton or Ian, not so much someone like Andi with her one-liners, in my opinion.

 

Last year at this point, I thought it was obvious that Rod Man would win. He was just in a different class than everyone else. Who could do a set on corn at the finale and win (I think it was the finale, it was late in the competition, I remember)?? However, this year, I think it's much less obvious. I'm still thinking Clayton wins, but I'm not as sure as I was with Rod Man. Only a few more days until the end of this oddly-abbreviated season.

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