About 200 aspiring comedians, armed with a recently snapped Polaroid photo, an application and prepared material, gathered outside the Tempe Improv Comedy Club and along University Drive on Tuesday to audition for "Last Comic Standing."
Comedian Bill Bellamy hosts the NBC reality show that pits various stand-up comedians against each other for cash prizes, a contract with NBC and a comedy special which will air on the Bravo and Comedy Central networks.
Comedians were encouraged to bring two minutes of their funniest material to the open — call audition. The audition was part of a live NBC taping.
"What I am bringing with me into the audition today is all about me. I want the audience to get to know me," " said Emily Malin, a management senior. "Everyone loves to laugh and I love to be the one who makes them laugh. It brings people together."
ASU alumni Emily Galati said that her skit includes "a lot of college humor, mostly pertaining to ASU."
"The best is when things come together and it's hilarious and perfect. I could do the same skit twice but they would turn out differently," Galati said. "Stand up comedy is never done; it's never a perfected art."
Nursing sophomore Ana Cruz described "Last Comic Standing" as "American Idol" for comedians.
"The performance anxiety builds up so much, but when you are up on stage, it is such an adrenaline rush," Cruz said. "My favorite part of improvisational comedy is that you have a chance to say what's on your mind without having to worry about offending someone."
The finalists of the audition competed in a showcase Tuesday night, and the winners of the showcase will go on to compete in two semi-final rounds that will determine who will be a contestant on "Last Comic Standing." Season six of the show will air this summer on NBC.
Reach the reporter at: allison.carlin@asu.edu.
