Last Comic Standing
News (Page 2)

Third-season winner and current Last Comic Standing judge Alonzo Bodden has some advice for the new crop of comics as they begin to compete for America's laughs.

"Being funny is the biggest thing," Bodden told USA Today on Wednesday. "But [viewers] have to like you, because you're asking them to vote for you."

The 44-year-old Queens, NY-native had previously worked as a jet mechanic - but after being crowned the winner of Last Comic Standing's Fall 2004 edition, he's appeared on everything from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien to working in such films as Scary Movie 4 and the upcoming National Lampoon's Totally Baked: A Pot-u-mentary.

"The biggest change is you become a name," Bodden said. "Before, I was working the clubs. People laughed, but they didn't know who I was. I've gone from club headliner to being a nationally known act."

John Heffron won Last Comic Standing's second installment. He agreed with Bodden's assessment with what the reality competition show can do for one's career. While the 36-year-old had some stand-up success prior to appearing on the Summer 2004 edition of the series, his career has really taken off since, as he's currently finished his third comedy album "The Better Half" and also has plans to develop a television show.

"After Last Comic Standing, things just went insane... comedy clubs, corporate events. I was on the road 44 weeks last year," he told USA Today.

Original winner Dat Phan was able to land cameos and voice-overs in a few movies and television shows thanks to his success on the Summer 2003 edition of the series; he's currently touring and developing his own reality show, The Dat Pack, chronicling the journeys of his "comic crew."

"[Last Comic Standing] kicked off my career immensely," the 32-year-old said.

As Last Comic Standing's most recent winner when he took home the fourth-season title last summer, Josh Blue's victory was also probably one of the most heartwarming since the 28-year-old has cerebral palsy. However, he's based most of his shtick on the neurological disorder since his early days as a stand-up comedian at Evergreen State College.

"I was pretty big on the college circuit before. But [Last Comic Standing] blew the doors off everything," Blue said. "I travel all over the country to sold-out shows."

Last Comic Standing can only hope to find another Alonzo Bodden this year.

But even though the auditions last night on the season premiere didn't thrill us, the fact that Alonzo - a former champion - is now a judge makes us smile. He had a few good lines as he dressed down many comedic hopefuls.

Such as? Go find out for yourself. Our Last Comic Standing episode guide is live now!

The new host of Last Comic Standing says the upcoming fifth season taught him that laughter is an international language.

"For me, I've got to say, coming into Last Comic Standing, the thing that I liked about it was this whole international feel. We traveled to different places, and as a comedian, a lot of these place I had never been before," said Bill Bellamy (pictured).

"What's cool about it is to see humor transcending everything, no matter if you're from a different country. As long as there's no language barrier. An Australian joke. You get a guy or girl from London. You get somebody from Canada. It doesn't matter. It just like as long as you bring the funny, I think it's a beautiful thing."

Last Comic Standing 5 starts Wednesday, June 13 at 9 p.m. on NBC.

When it debuts, the show will be airing footage from a casting search that went international for the first time this year - with talent scouts for the series making stops in Sydney, Australia; London, England; Montreal, Canada; as well as across America.

"The international element's been interesting," said executive producer Peter Engel, who added he thinks the additional casting has helped beef-up the quality of Last Comic Standing's fifth season cast.

"We're looking for that fresh voice. A fresh take. That person who has a different bend on something that we haven't heard before. We're looking for the guy or girl that's going to make us laugh. That's really it. Comedy is very simple: If you laugh it's good, if you don't, it's not."

"I would say probably in the semifinals - again, some people didn't bring it, most did, there's a whole lot of pressure - I'd say this was probably our strongest field since Season 2. I think this is our strongest field and I think of our [10 finalists] it's our strongest field."

Bellamy will be Last Comic Standing's third host in its last three seasons. The actor and former MTV VJ served as host of Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes? - a Last Comic Standing-style reality TV series that aired on TV One.

"I had my eyes on Bill for a couple of years," explained Engel.

"In fact I wanted Bill last year, but we couldn't clear schedules... I wanted Bill from way back when. I just thought he would be a perfect fit and he is. So when we were deciding who to go to, there were no other choices here. With [now-former NBC president] Kevin Reilly, I said, 'Bill Bellamy?' And Reilly said, 'Get him!' And that was it."

Bill Bellamy said he wasn't expecting the opportunity to host Last Comic Standing, but is glad he's been given the chance to.

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NBC has announced the fifth season premiere of Last Comic Standing, the Emmy-nominated reality talent competition that searches for the funniest stand-up comics in the world.

Last Comic Standing 5 will premeire Wednesday, June 13 at 9PM ET/PT with a special two-hour show. Following its special debut, the competition will air in the Wednesdays 9-10PM ET/PT time period.

Viewers will be introduced to a new face for Last Comic Standing's fifth season, as the series will be hosted by comedian Bill Bellamy, the show's third host in its last three seasons. The actor and former MTV VJ served as host of Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes?, a Last Comic Standing-like reality series that aired on the TV One cable network.

Despite a new host, some familiar Last Comic Standing faces will be part of the show's fifth season. NBC has tabbed three former Last Comic Standing contestants - Last Comic Standing 3 winner Alonzo Bodden and Last Comic Standing 2 contestants Ant and Kathleen Madigan - to serve as the show's new talent scouts. Celebrity judges will also join the talent scouts in their search for the world's funniest new comic.

Last Comic Standing's fifth season casting search was international, with talent scouts for the series making stops in Sydney, Australia, London, England and Montreal, Canada.

Also new to the show's fifth season will be a bigger prize package - in addition to landing an NBC talent contract deal and Bravo half-hour comedy special that's similar to the prizes that previous Last Comic Standing winners have received, the fifth season's winner will also receive a $250,000 grand prize.