Funny Flips

April 4, 2011

HOLLYWOOD- Sunday evening, the scores were settled at The World Famous Comedy Store as the final four contending comedians graced the stage in the March Comedy Madness Finals and really wowed the curious crowd.  At the end of the night one comic out-shined all taking home the cash, the prizes and the title: Samba Schutte, March Comedy Madness Champion.

“Samba really won me over.  He’s got a successful comedy career ahead of him,” said Luke Rosencrans, Activities Director of Hostelling International Santa Monica and March Comedy Madness enthusiast. “I originally thought Hailey would take it all, as she had beaten some great comedians like Andy Ruther and Nicholas Anthony, but Samba really had a polished impressive set.” Rosencrans had followed the competition from day one when 64 comedians battled one-on-one slinging one minute of joke time each.

Host/Producer/Referee Josh Filipowski and MCM two-time finalist from NY Rob O’Reilly awoke the crowd and got them nice and warmed up for the competitors 7 minute sets- Samba Schutte and Erik Rivera followed by Nicholas Anthony and Hailey Boyle.  The audience by ballot voted for their faves and both sporting tie-died shirts- Schutte and Boyle returned for their 10 minute championship sets.

Samba touched on traveling in France, life in Africa, religion, superstition.

“If you’re toasting someone and you don’t look them in the eye, you get 7 years of bad sex.”  He looked to the crowd “A few people going yes, others going… oh… that’s why.”

Schutte also engaged a bit with his competitor “Big is beautiful.  So I’ve had my eye on you for a while Hailey,” adding he didn’t want to fight.  He was not even good at videogame fighting.

Then Hailey hit with her riffs on being a big gal in Alaska but hard to rape in NY. “I’m a two man job.”  She dissected the audience for whoever was holding the weed.  “Probably one of you wearing a cool hat.”

As everyone’s favorite Matty Goldberg closed out the show the ballots were counted and Samba prevailed taking the pot of over $2,000 worth of goodies:  That Headshot Guy headshots (www.thatheadshotguy.com), a Nathaniel Wood photo session (http://nathanielwood.com/), Greg Dean’s Stand-Up Workshop (http://www.stand-upcomedy.com/), New British School Acting Class (http://www.newbritishschool.com/), Spots at the Hollywood Comedy Store’s Friends and Family show, a feature role at La Jolla Comedy Store (http://www.comedystorelajolla.com/), an all access pass for a night at the clubs of Sunset Strip and a big cardboard check for $400.

“It’s not about the money.  It’s the classes, the photos and the opportunities.” Samba said with a smile.

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Photo by Cari Bagdonas

The champ Samba Schutte holding his giant check here, can be seen this Thursday 8PM on the Comedy Speakeasy in Hollywood (www.comedyspeakeasy.com), the world’s first online comedy club.  Watch in-person in-studio or the live-stream on-line.  www.LIKE2LAUGH.com

By Josh Filipowski

March 20, 2011

HOLLYWOOD- Oh what a last-night it was at The World Famous Comedy Store where 32 comedians took the stage in Round 2 of March Comedy Madness as we whittled our winners down from 64 to 16.  In the Belly Room not a single seat was empty as I welcomed and warmed up the curious crowd sporting my referee jersey and taking the liberty to get a little dirty ‘cause the show started late.  (Thanks to everyone and their patience during seating). Comedians and late-comers stood in the back to check out what the noise was all about.  We were fortunate to have Michelle Buteau open the show and really heat things up- “Who’s done the research!?”  And then it was on to the NCAA tournament-style brackets.

            Comics went head-to-head bringing 2 of their most hilarious minutes, touching on everything from Alex Davenport’s Asian eyes to Ethan Rosenberg’s why you CAN judge a book by its cover.  Kristen Carney hit hard silencing a heckler “Trying to one-up me on my own joke, sir? The exit is right there.”  Jeremy Paul unfortunately had some wind out of his sails from an interrupting “I’m from Peoria” audience member.  “That should explain why I left Peoria,” he posted on facebook.  Madness.

            After each pair in the brackets performed the audience had the chance to cheer for their favorite to move on.  Our trusty decibel meter determined the outcome.  On several occasions we had ties, when perfectly paralleled love from the audience gave cause for a 30 second Joke-Off! Comics scrambled for something funny fast and for the most part- crushed.  It was intense.

            The most memorable tie of the night came when Matty Goldberg and Jonesy went one-on-one.  Matty’s quirkiness and Jonesy’s charm both won the crowd so much so that they chanted, “Both! Both! Both! Both!”  The Joke-Off yielded the same cheer. Really they both won, but the decibel meter read 2 more in favor of Goldberg. It was unreal… It was madness.

            Cheers to all our truly hilarious contenders and kudos to the Sweet 16: Alex Davenport, Kristen Carney, Alex Hooper, Samba Schutte, Drew Dorenfest, Matty Goldberg, Erik Rivera, Casey Balsham, LeeAnn Tooker, Michael Palascak, Joe Praino, Nicholas Anthony, Andy Ruther, Dan Perrault, Ethan Rosenberg and Hailey Boyle- who had the highest db reading of the night. As Hailey says “Watch out skinny bitches” and all y’all alike- The Madness continues next Saturday- come out and make some noise for who you like!

REMAINING SHOWS: 

Saturday, March 26th at 10:30 – 16/3 min & 8/4 min - BELLY ROOM
Sunday, April 3rd at 8:00 – Final 4/5-7 min & Championship 2/8-10 min

$14 at the door. L2L 50% 0FF hook-up: $7 in advance online!

http://www.like2laugh.com/upcoming/
2 drink min. Food menu avail. 21+

The Comedy Store, 8433 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90069
323.650.6268 www.TheComedyStore.com

www.LIKE2LAUGH.com

FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168265389889470