Comedy Speakeasy. Wednesdays at the Purple Onion!!

[scamboogah]

Top 3 that move on from last night;

Kellen Erskine (who apparently destroyed)
Joey Devine
Ray Moline

Mary Van Note was the victim of a bad draw (last), and having to follow a comedian that tanked.

There it is, my second hand re-cap.

[daveunfun]

I'm visiting San Fran this week and will be coming out to
tomorrow's show! Very excited to see a bunch of new comics and The Purple Onion.

[scamboogah]

Make sure and say Hi. I'll be the big, blonde doofus at the judging table.

[scamboogah]

The 3 moving on from last night:

1. Miles K, who did his entire set as a German standup comedian. His best joke was his impression of a 'horrible racist'. "See that black guy over there? Actually, he's not that bad.". Get it, he's horrible at being a racist? It's even funnier with a thick German accent.

2. Marcella Arguello, who continues to be great.

3. Dan Wilson. Very solid.

Meeting Daveunfun was great. We got to dissect the differences between the Philly and SF comedy scenes in about 30 seconds, and I profusely apologized that this show wasn't quite up to par with the two that had come before it.

Next week promises to be a good one with Emily Heller, Sal Callani and Joe Gorman showing off their goods (God I hope Gorman doesn't show off his goods...)

[daveunfun]

The 3 moving on from last night:

1. Miles K, who did his entire set as a German standup comedian. His best joke was his impression of a 'horrible racist'. "See that black guy over there? Actually, he's not that bad.". Get it, he's horrible at being a racist? It's even funnier with a thick German accent.

2. Marcella Arguello, who continues to be great.

3. Dan Wilson. Very solid.

Meeting Daveunfun was great. We got to dissect the differences between the Philly and SF comedy scenes in about 30 seconds, and I profusely apologized that this show wasn't quite up to par with the two that had come before it.

Next week promises to be a good one with Emily Heller, Sal Callani and Joe Gorman showing off their goods (God I hope Gorman doesn't show off his goods...)

Good to meet you too sir! Sorry I couldn't hang around long, I never really caught up to West Coast time and found myself sleepy at 9:30 every night. But SF is awesome and the Purple Onion is such a great little room...

[drieux]

Good times last night. Meen himself was a judge, and I was there to look sexy and collect some ballots. The crowd was interesting...an older group who seemed ready to turn on a performer on a dime if they went too risque.

The three moving on:

3. Emily Heller, with a tight, hilarious set. Over the past year or so she's become one of my favorites to watch...great delivery, great turns in her bits. Well deserved advancement, for sure.

2. Sal Calanni, whose first bit fell upon seemingly dead ears with a resoundingly quiet thud. Sal then revealed to the audience that this week he was getting evicted, that he was broke and that he had just broken a tooth and had no insurance...and he turned that around and spent the next four minutes killing 'em. Sal has serious chops.

and #1., Mark Zhang. Mark had the dual advantage of a strong contingent of the audience already being supporters AND having a very solid set. Immediately after he left the stage, I was pretty confident he was taking the first spot for the night.

Some other notes:

Joe Gorman drew the bullet spot for the night and didn't get much love from the crowd. He did a set filled with tried-and-true stuff that typically kills, but no luck. But never count out the Gorman - one of the busiest and most fun nights I've ever seen at the Purple Onion was his "Babyfaces of Comedy II" show, where the staff was still pulling out extra chairs halfway through to accomodate all the people who were there, and Joe was one of the highlights of that night.

Chris Thayer had one of the biggest laughs of the night when he took the stage by saying loudly to the crowd, "Hey...y'all like PUSSY JOKES?!?!" Chris is a pretty quiet, unassuming guy who is also great onstage. I think he's barely past a year into doing standup and already fucking really good at it, so I hate him. But he's one to watch for sure.

Kelly McCarron had a funny, personable first four minutes...but just kind of disintegrated after getting the light with a minute left and the crowd faded on her. Kelly's a funny girl and I've seen her do longer, tighter sets at the Punchline. Just one of those off nights for her.

Natasha Muse was as funny as ever and even had one audience member exclaim loudly, "I love you!" midway through a bit. She didn't get the votes, but Natasha is awesome onstage and her writing is great, not to mention her ability to work a crowd. Seriously, she can make all sorts of inappropriate comments to audience members and get them to high-five her seconds later.

Entertaining the crowd while the votes were tabulated was Kris Tinkle, and that dude can really work an audience. Given the nature of the show, during the first few minutes of his set people were whispering and choosing their votes for the night, and instead of being thrown by it Kris just proceeded to KILL. Kris has always been sharp and funny, but every time I see him do a longer set he just keeps destroying more and more. Apparently he said something before performing about how badly he was going to do, but instead it was the opposite - the crowd loved him.

So, yet another fun night. Good times and happening again next week!

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Good times last night. Meen himself was a judge, and I was there to look sexy and collect some ballots. The crowd was interesting...an older group who seemed ready to turn on a performer on a dime if they went too risque.

The three moving on:

3. Emily Heller, with a tight, hilarious set. Over the past year or so she's become one of my favorites to watch...great delivery, great turns in her bits. Well deserved advancement, for sure.

2. Sal Calanni, whose first bit fell upon seemingly dead ears with a resoundingly quiet thud. Sal then revealed to the audience that this week he was getting evicted, that he was broke and that he had just broken a tooth and had no insurance...and he turned that around and spent the next four minutes killing 'em. Sal has serious chops.

and #1., Mark Zhang. Mark had the dual advantage of a strong contingent of the audience already being supporters AND having a very solid set. Immediately after he left the stage, I was pretty confident he was taking the first spot for the night.

Some other notes:

Joe Gorman drew the bullet spot for the night and didn't get much love from the crowd. He did a set filled with tried-and-true stuff that typically kills, but no luck. But never count out the Gorman - one of the busiest and most fun nights I've ever seen at the Purple Onion was his "Babyfaces of Comedy II" show, where the staff was still pulling out extra chairs halfway through to accomodate all the people who were there, and Joe was one of the highlights of that night.

Chris Thayer had one of the biggest laughs of the night when he took the stage by saying loudly to the crowd, "Hey...y'all like PUSSY JOKES?!?!" Chris is a pretty quiet, unassuming guy who is also great onstage. I think he's barely past a year into doing standup and already fucking really good at it, so I hate him. But he's one to watch for sure.

Kelly McCarron had a funny, personable first four minutes...but just kind of disintegrated after getting the light with a minute left and the crowd faded on her. Kelly's a funny girl and I've seen her do longer, tighter sets at the Punchline. Just one of those off nights for her.

Natasha Muse was as funny as ever and even had one audience member exclaim loudly, "I love you!" midway through a bit. She didn't get the votes, but Natasha is awesome onstage and her writing is great, not to mention her ability to work a crowd. Seriously, she can make all sorts of inappropriate comments to audience members and get them to high-five her seconds later.

Entertaining the crowd while the votes were tabulated was Kris Tinkle, and that dude can really work an audience. Given the nature of the show, during the first few minutes of his set people were whispering and choosing their votes for the night, and instead of being thrown by it Kris just proceeded to KILL. Kris has always been sharp and funny, but every time I see him do a longer set he just keeps destroying more and more. Apparently he said something before performing about how badly he was going to do, but instead it was the opposite - the crowd loved him.

So, yet another fun night. Good times and happening again next week!

None of this is accurate!

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Nah, jk it all is. Fun night.

[drieux]

HOW DARE YOU?!?!?!

(good seeing you that night, Meen)

[sabriega]

Heller and Thayer are phenomenal. This is fact.

[CaptainBreakfast]

In spending my time down here, I have become a fan of Thayer. He's going to be phenominal/dead by my hand in ten years.

[scamboogah]

Moving on from last night;

Trevor Hill
Ben Feldman
Bryce Jones

Only one I've ever seen is Feldman. Someone who was there should do a recap.

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Moving on from last night;

Trevor Hill
Ben Feldman
Bryce Jones

Only one I've ever seen is Feldman. Someone who was there should do a recap.

fuUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKkkk yoOOOOooooOOOooOOoOooOOOOu!

[Meen Bellpeppers]

I'm sorry, that was inappropriate.

For the second time while judging, the person who had the most people in the audience did the best. Not saying they didn't deserve it, but y'know.

Bryce Jones, who placed third, is 14 YEARS OLD!!! I can't really comment on his performance as the combination of his stage manner and the sound system meant I barely heard a thing.

One gentleman on roller skates was just completely, inorganically bizarre and did nothing for me, but I've been told he can be really funny.

[scamboogah]

Tonight's Bay Area Laugh Leader Lineup:

August 5th:
Al Val
Brendan Lynch
Carrie Gilbert
Danny Dechi
Dave Thomason
Joe Nguyen
Julien Rodriguez
Keith Lowell Jensen
Lisa Geduldig
Paco Romane
Pamela Ames
Rick Romero

and performing while they tally the votes, Kris Tinkle.

Purple Onion, 8 in the o'clock. 10 measly bucks.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/70819

[sabriega]

I really really wish I could catch this one. Those of you free, do yourselves a favor and go.

[drieux]

Anybody able to go? Who moved forward?!? This was a week I'd have loved to have seen but I had to pick up a friend from the airport during the show.

EDIT: According to a status update on Facebook, it looks like the trio moving forward is Dave Thomason, Brendan Lynch and Joe Nguyen. All three are funny dudes, but if anybody can make with the recap I'd gladly award you sexual favors*.

*if watching a chubby douchebag eat a burrito is your idea of sexual favors

[scamboogah]

Recap time. Here's how they placed;

#1 - Dave Thomason. Destroyed. Drew the #12 (last) spot, and still managed to get the most out of the crowd. The type of rapid fire stuff that I wish I could remember more of.

#2 - Brendan Lynch. Finished second by single digit votes. I've said before that I think he's the next big deal to come out of the bay area, and that opinion is only getting stronger. He's added a bravado to his act that pushes it over the top. Great, great, great.

#3 - Joe Nguyen. Totally solid and really comfortable stage presence. Best Vietnamese/Jewish comic I've ever seen.

Two more came very close to moving on;

Julien Rodriguez. Good stuff. When he first starts out, you think it's going to be 'tough guy' type humor, but he's got some really well written jokes that shatter this preconception quickly.

Keith Lowell Jensen. Very seasoned. Apparently has a CD released already and used to tour hosting Spike and Mike's Animation festival. Good stuff.

And then there's the rest. Most of these were pretty green, some pretty awful (no names) with a few decent bits peppered in;

Al Val - Maybe a few years away from being a TJ Miller type.
Carrie Gilbert - Very... suburban? Not my cup of tea, but I can see crowds at Rooster Feathers or Pepperbellys liking her a lot.
Danny Dechi - Filling out the quiet, middle-aged, nebbish, playing-pencils-with-his-mouth demographic for the evening.
Lisa Geduldig - Maybe a little too easy going on stage. Needs more actual jokes.
Paco Romane - High energy. Already a great host. Also needs a few more solid jokes.
Pamela Ames - Has real potential. She should keep working on it.
Rick Romero - Needs to drop the George Lopez stuff and focus on being funny. Had real promise, but seems to run for the shelter of suburban Mexican humor.

Got to hang out afterwards with Jeff, Chad, fellow judge Kevin Hancock, Joe Tobin and Kris Tinkle and hear lots of great stories about Todd Glass meltdowns (good ones, directed at bad crowds), Richard Lewis' strange rituals, and the incredible ticket selling power of Wanda Sykes.

The semi-finals of this thing are going to be EPIC. Can't wait.


EDIT - Drieux made his offer of sexual favors after I started writing this. I recap for the love of reading my own words, not sloppy handjobs from the traffic on the nines guy...

[sabriega]

Thanks for the recap. Still kicking myself for missing this. My money for next big thing is Dave, I have such a comedy boner for him.

[scamboogah]

Advancing from last night:

Sammy Obeid
Dave Wiswell
Toby Muresianu

I wasn't there, but that Janine Brito didn't advance seems like a reason to call bullshit on not only this competition, but on the whole human race.

Someone who was there better 'splain what the hell went down.