Thoughts on the 2023 Seattle International Comedy Competition by Jon Fox.
TWO SHOWS DONE, 16 TO GO
Tonight, the Seattle Comedy Competition will be at the North Bend Theater in North Bend, WA. I always like going there for the pure “Twin Peaks” feel of the place.
THREE SHOWS DONE, 15 TO GO
The Seattle Comedy Competition features a ferry ride in every round. Tonight, we cross the waters to a sold-out Whidbey Island Center for the Arts located deep in the forest. It’s made out of gingerbread.
FOUR SHOWS DONE, 14 TO GO
It only took 43 years but for the first time ever I found myself alone and defenseless in the green room with seven female comedians. Scary.
LIVING THE DREAM
At a laundromat for the first time in about 50 years. Have already been ripped off for $7.75 AND my American Express card has been cancelled.
FIVE SHOWS DONE, 13 TO GO
There’s no groovier, youthful crowd than the one that comes to Unexpected Productions. Next year, we will definitely tape here for the contestants. Now if only they could create a private, well lit space in which to calculate the scores so I don’t have to admit the morning after a few wrong buttons were hit on the computer and mistakes were made.
I’VE DISCOVERED A NEW DIET
Only consume stuff that begins with the letter p: pizza, popcorn, pineapple, pie. . .
SIX SHOWS DONE, 12 TO GO
Another sold out Seattle Comedy Competition crowd, this time at Green River College, probably without a student in attendance. They had to add chairs and were irked that several cameras were set up on tripods by contestants and left unattended. It’s amazing how much taping is occurring by comedians who feel they must post footage on Instagram & Tik Tok. Is airing one’s act really the way to sell tickets?
A LINE THAT COMES TO MIND
“All dogs are sad.”
Jim Short
SEVEN SHOWS DONE,11 TO GO
Mixed emotions last night as I monitored texts between Shane and the acts prior to an important Best of the SAN FRANCISCO Comedy Competition show back in Cali. “Have you left yet,” asked the headliner, needing a ride, just as Shane was about to enter the freeway. “ETA 15 minutes before showtime,” wrote the opener. “ETA 10 minutes before showtime,” wrote the host.
My blood began to boil. Why were they cutting it so close? Shane answered each report with a polite, “Thank you.”
“I’ll call you on my way home” was the last text he sent before I had to attend to business at hand. Later, on an unfamiliar slick backroad surrounded by pitch black, I prayed he wouldn’t call just then and force me to possibly disconnect the gps. I really didn’t know where I was. Finally,safe in my hotel room, the phone rang.
“We crushed,” I heard my son say.
EIGHT SHOWS DONE, TEN TO GO
A contestant or two dropping out during the early goings is to be expected. However, when it’s someone who has qualified to advance to the next round, that’s a concern.
Last night, a breathless Taylor Clark, our talent director and past Comedy Competition finalist hosting the last night of prelims at the Roxy in Bremerton, knelt next to me to whisper, “Nolan is dropping out!”
“Who?”
I’m not really on a first name basis with all the contestants yet.
“Nolan!” Seeing my blank stare, he added, “Culver!”
“Oh.”
“He’s sure to make the semis. Should I announce he’s dropping out?”
I considered.
“No. That would be anti-climatic. Announce him and we’ll let the acts know he’s being replaced afterwards.”
When Taylor brought the semi-finalists out onstage, Culver dutifully appeared as the second place finisher in his preliminary round WITH HIS BACKPACK ON! Oh well. Dan Hurwitz is thrilled to be taking his place.
The whole thing brought to mind a similar situation many years ago when Mark Normand took an advance against his prize money in order to fly down to L.A. between rounds. Then his new agent called.
He said Mark would miss the first night of semis. That would be fine as the low score is dropped in each round. His absence would just count as his low score.
Then it became clear that Mark would not be returning at all. Not cool. Not cool at all.
DOTTING THE I
Years back, our former talent director of the Seattle International Comedy Competition, Peter Greyy, brought a bag of Halloween candy to the orientation meeting with contestants. When I felt he wasn’t looking, I dug thru it and was surprised to find several small boxes of a forgotten treat from my childhood. Dots! I greedily grabbed them all.
Well, apparently, Peter saw me filch those bad boys because these days every time he helps judge the event, he brings a big box of Dots for me. Last Thursday at Unexpected Productions near Pikes Place Market, he brought two big boxes, one for the moment and another special Christmas recipe for the holidays. By next morning, they were both gone.
Driving to the gig Friday at Green River College, I felt a strange twitching in my neck and my head kept jerking to the left. I think I was experiencing some sort of sugar shock. Still, backstage, when I found that program coordinator Jim Kleinbeck had left his own Halloween bag for the acts, I removed from it all of another forgotten childhood treat, York’s.
Mind you, these candies were pretty much all I was eating, what with the demands of the shows. Late that night, I couldn’t sleep. I was shaking under the covers.
Something had to be done. Saturday at North Bend Theatre, I cut back to buttered popcorn (even though they sell Dots there). Sunday, I was glued to the Seahawks game so got by with Fritos from a hotel vending machine.
Finally, yesterday, I violated my rule of never ordering meat loaf at a restaurant because, in this case, it came with asparagus. I feel better today. Just have to call the front desk about a bit of a plumbing problem I’m having in my room.
NINE SHOWS DONE, NINE TO GO
As if to celebrate reaching the half way point, past champion Mike Baldwin flew in from Wichita to host the Seattle International Comedy Competition semi-finals this week. For me, reconnecting with alumni from the event is one of the best parts of it and Mike is one of my favorites.
He has such a gentle presentation on stage with a very deceptive cadence that smacks one up side the head as the joke comes in from an unexpected angle. He’s also quite a character and one of the most unlikely lady’s men on the circuit.
Mike was joined at the well attended Edmonds Center for the Arts last night by another great ex-champ, Rod Long, who helped judge. Rod took the intricacies of our scoring system to heart, giving one contestant an 8.95 in a category that is supposed to be scored from one to ten. Generally though he loved every act and round three is off and running.
LYRIC THAT COMES TO MIND — “Once I had love, and it was a gas. Soon turned out to be a pain in the ass.”
Blondie?
TEN SHOWS DONE, EIGHT TO GO
Apparently our Seattle International Comedy Competition host this week, past champ Mike Baldwin, took it as a challenge when I lamented during our drive from the airport to his airbnb that the only previous emcee I could recall who had the courage to properly administer our encore point was the legendary A. Whitney Brown. Because there he was backstage last night just before the show at a packed Washington Center in Olympia telling the contestants that he was going to be tough on bringing them back for a bow.
After all, we call the acclamation the TOE Award for “Tremendously Obvious Encore”. On the rare occasions when it’s done right, those acts who receive it experience applause like they’ve never heard before.
The noise can be compared to a three-stage Titan rocket where there’s a momentary leveling off of sound just before that booster falls away and the last roar completes the journey to outer space. It’s not a gimme. It’s earned.
Plus the audience leaves knowing it was truly involved in determining who prevailed in the scoring.
LINE OF THE NIGHT — “I just want to be a good mom, and I would be if it wasn’t for my kids.”
Jaci Terjeson at Green River College.
ELEVEN SHOWS DONE, SEVEN TO GO
Day dreaming behind the steering wheel yesterday on the long drive south to Longview with Dan Hurwitz asleep in the passenger seat and Mike Baldwin out cold in the back seat. They had row sham bowed to see who got shotgun.
Thinking back on it, we probably should have named the event the Puget Sound Comedy Competition instead of the Seattle International Comedy Competition. There are a lot of raised eyebrows about how far we travel.
But, hey, that’s the business. You want to be the next Brian Regan? Well, here’s what it’s like.
Secondly, there’s a certain about of “missionary” work involved here. We’re dedicated to converting the unindoctrinated in outlying areas into enthusiastic comedy fans.
Finally, some of our venues demand rather large areas of exclusivity. I mean it’s highly doubtful that a fan will come from 50 miles away but tell that to the lawyer who drew up the agreement.
Yup. That’s about all I can say about why we’re out here fighting traffic. Best get my eyes back on the road.
TWELVE SHOWS DONE, SIX TO GO
A different winner each night out on the road this week with the semi-finalists: Birungi Birungi in Edmonds, Brent Lowrey in Olympia, Mary Lou Gamba in Longview and Jaci Terjeson last night on Bainbridge Island.
Yet, for all the topsy turvy of the results, the camaraderie backstage has been amazing. Last night, I was surprised to see Luke Severeid offering Jaci some advice about her set. That’s the spirit!
During the show, I enjoyed sitting next to judge Sean McCarthy who has returned for a visit 25 years after competing in the Comedy Competition himself while a reporter for the Kitsap Sun. Now he’s writing about comedy for the Daily Beast and New York Times.
On the ferry afterwards, I watched Sean standing at the front of the vessel in freezing weather, enjoying the approach to a beautiful Seattle waterfront. Yes, it’s great to come back to The Emerald City.
LINE OF THE NIGHT — “A Kent will raise a family. A Trent will abandon his family. A Brent will raise someone else’s family.”
Brent Lowrey
THIRTEEN SHOWS DONE, FIVE TO GO
For me, the last night of semi-finals is the most bittersweet stop on the Seattle International Comedy Competition circuit. On the one hand, the announcement of the finalists at the end of show means we’ve passed the far turn and are heading into the home stretch.
On the other hand, it also means saying good-by to five very talented contestants who will not be moving on. Driving to the gig, for a brief moment, I thought I had a good idea — a consolation tour with those who don’t make it. But, nah, that wouldn’t work.
Talent Director Taylor Clark arranged for dinner with the acts at Smith Restaurant, right next door to Club Comedy. It turned out to be surprisingly good food and service there with spirits running high. Even a couple judges, Vanessa Dawn and Duane Goad, dropping by.
And then, showtime! It was great to see Ricci Armani place for the first time during the week. Ricci kept battling to the end.
Amazingly, too, Benny Nwokeabia came in first for the night. When the announcement was made of who our finalists would be, I realized each one of them had placed first at one of the five semi-finals shows.
That HAS to be unprecedented. We’ll have to come up with a name for it — something along the lines of hat trick or grand slam. Suggestions?
LINE OF THE NIGHT — “I have ADD, or ADHD. I’m not sure which one. I wasn’t listening when the doctor told me.”
— Luke Severeid
FOURTEEN SHOWS DONE, FOUR TO GO
The Washington Athletic Club (WAC) is quite a rarified place to visit. The fact that it can draw a crowd there on a Tuesday — priceless. It’s also the only place on the schedule where I feel comfortable wearing my beaver coat!
Hey, it’s freezing. I need that coat to keep me warm during sleep breaks at rest stops along the freeway.
WAC members are folks who generally get what they want (and they stay in shape, too, so they can get it longer). What many of them seem to want from the Comedy Competition beyond a good laugh is insight into what younger people are thinking.
But they voted our most mature finalist, 57-year-old Mary Lou Gamba, as their favorite. Yup, the audiences at WAC make their own decision about the results in addition to the actual judges. For once, the audience agreed with the judges and Mary Lou (who had tied with Brent Lowrey for first) got an extra c-note in her Christmas stocking.
“They found it in locker,” host Taylor Clark announced about her unexpected windfall.
FIFTEEN SHOWS DONE, THREE TO GO
Brent Lowrey really stepped on the wrong side of a local issue last night. He started off fine by lamenting the ferry service to Vashon Island but then went too far by suggesting. “Why don’t you build a bridge?”
The audience was not pleased. Not at all. These people like their seclusion.
Would his miscue affect this Seattle Comedy Competition night? I collected the scoresheets, clip boards, pencils and flashlights from the judges before hustling to the only private space in the Vashon Theatre, a very cramped box office.
There wasn’t even enough room to set up the laptop so I penciled out the numbers, wrote down the totals and turned to convey the info to host Taylor Clark.
The door had locked behind me. I was trapped.
I looked outside but all the crowd was still inside, waiting. I called the theatre but it went to a message about the show being sold out. Desperate, I contemplated breaking the glass and climbing thru the jagged portal.
Then here came Brent from around the back of the building. I banged on the window to get his attention.
“I’m locked in,” I screamed.
“I’ll let you out if you tell me who won,” he responded calmly, smiling.
I crossed my arms and just glowered back. A moment later, he released me.
And, yes, Brent did in fact still come in first for the night. That’s two in a row for him but he’s no lock, pardon the expression.
During our sister San Francisco event in September, Luca Cupani took the first two finals shows only to be passed at the wire by Gary Michael Anderson. It’s still a horse race, pardon the expression.
SIXTEEN SHOWS DONE, TWO TO GO
Beyond the Comedy Competitions that have been such rewarding experiences for over four decades now, in recent years since the tragic demise of the Comedy Underground in Seattle due to Covid, a lot of my energy has gone into creating a circuit of Best of the Comedy Competition shows with alumni from the event.
One recent headliner of these Best shows has been especially gratifying to present: Joe Zimmerman. Not only is Joe an amazing act who captivates audiences. Not only does Joe come out from New York which seems to attract crowds.
To me, the most exciting thing about Joe is that when he was in the contest many moons ago, he didn’t even advance past the prelims. So, it’s great to be able to tell current competitors that no matter how well or poorly they do, they’ll always be a candidate to headline a Best show in the future. Just look at Joe Zimmerman. He’s the poster boy for our Best shows.
Yesterday, I was even more concerned about a far away Best show headlining Joe that was being overseen by my son, Shane, than I was about the actual next Comedy Competition show that would be occurring in upscale Kirkland.
I watched from afar as Shane attempted to confirm all the performers by text. The slow process of turning over the reins is tricky. I didn’t want to micro manage.
However, as the hours went by, I noticed one act failed to confirm.
It was the very promising 26-year-old Brett Harper Jenning who I had hired for a short set as the show was near her hometown.
By 1:30, I couldn’t take it any more so I called her, but her phone was turned off. I left a message and then really started to worry.
By 2:30, I was besides myself. I called Maureen Langan, a past Comedy Competition finalist who appeared on “America’s Got Talent” a few months back. Could she step in if need be? Maureen gracefully consented to be on stand-by.
At 3 pm, I did the unthinkable. I called Brett’s mother, Tina, who coincidentally processed a mortgage refi for us way back when.
She answered. After getting over the shock of hearing from me, she reported that Brett mentioned she was doing the gig during Thanksgiving dinner.
“Please don’t tell her I called you,” I begged.
“Oh, I won’t.”
Brett never did confirm. Nor did Shane ever convey any concern.
I told this tale backstage to the finalists at Kirkland Performance Center.
“Oh. He’ll learn,” remarked Jaci Terjeson.
SEVENTEEN SHOWS DONE, ONE TO GO
Eureka! It’s a nerve wracking process getting established in a new venue, especially one as important as that hosting the Saturday of the finals of the Seattle International Comedy Competition.
For decades, that spot was occupied by the Admiral Theater in Bremerton. But during the Pandemic of 202O we found ourselves released from our long term agreement “across the water.”
An attempt to relocate into the Broadway Performance Hall at Seattle Central College in 2021 proved disappointing. What to do?
For many years, we had always sold out at Skagit Valley Casino but they preferred Friday and Saturday engagements there while we just needed a Saturday. Plus, I always had the feeling the “drop” from comedy fans was not up to casino expectations.
Say, what about that historic Lincoln Theatre in Mt. Vernon? Where? Mt. Vernon. Could we make it happen there?
With much trepidation, we rented it and put tickets on sale. As a safeguard, we went with general admission instead of reserved so prospective customers wouldn’t be scared off if the seating chart showed a lot of empties when they went to buy tickets.
Arriving last year, I had no idea what to expect. Amazingly, there were about 200 folks in attendance. And the evening turned out to be memorable when contestant Timmy Booth brought the house down by riffing on the unlikeliness of a Booth performing in a Lincoln Theater.
So this year, we bit the bullet and offered reserved seating. As the date approached, I could see it looked quite promising. I even had the nerve to ask the staff to cone off some parking spaces for us on Kincaid Street.
Last night, we bumped our draw to over 300 and again it was another night to remember. Past runner-up Phillip Kopczynski came over from eastern Washington to deliver an amazing “stall set” while the scores were being tabulated.
I’d say the applause per capita from the audience was the loudest we’ve heard all month. Thank the Lord Almighty, we’re back!
THAT’S ALL FOLKS
Having set up the computer wrong in Mt. Vernon, resulting in a misannouncement of the nightly results, and then almost showing up late for the last night at Laughs because I forgot it was a 7 pm show, it was apparent I was staggering to the finish line. During the show, manning the cue light, I nearly nodded off.
The acts were doing great but, hey, I’d watched them nearly every night for almost a month. Birungi Birungi snapped me out of it with a whole new bit about why Hunter Biden would be a better presidential candidate than his father. Where did that come from?
It woke me up enough to calculate the scores and send judge Travis “Big Funny” Simmons up on stage to announce as “Darth Claus” in a perfect James Earl Jones voice that Benny Nwokeabia had finally snapped Brent Lowrey’s string of nightly wins.
Then, it was my turn to take up the overall results as cameras rolled. I looked down at the front of my pullover to see I had spilled salad dressing on my front. Great.
Finally, though, it was over. In the bag. I retrieved my checkbook to pay everyone only to realize I had brought the wrong ledger. It was full of receipts but not a single check.
OMG! Mary Lou Gamba had been anxious to get going so I told her first. And she was cool about it. They were all cool about it!
What is it about the Seattle Comedy Competition as compared to our sister event in San Francisco that makes the contestants so much more appreciative and supportive? I don’t get it but I’ll sure as heck take it.
Then club owner Dave Dennison offered me some 12 year old scotch. Twenty seven days in the wagon. No more.
Then club owner Angela Dennison produced pizzas for everyone. Eleven days on the Keto diet. No more.
A little tipsy, I drove Benny “Tall Man” Nwokeabia back to Tammy Pidde’s place, stopping at the Red Lion to get a check for him so he could return home to D.C.
I dropped him off and started heading south. The last thing I remember is running a red light.
