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About
Aired on KSDS-FM on 1/11/19
RUN DATES: October 2018 – February 2019
VENUE: Mad House Comedy Club
Know the funniest person in San Diego?
The final decision has yet to be made, but you can weigh in on the competition.
For eight years, Mad House Comedy Club in the Gaslamp Quarter has been holding annual standup comic contests to crown San Diego’s funniest.
Every Monday night, you can hear eight locals, among the 120 who sign up each year, and then cast your vote, rank-ordering the top four you think should go on to the next level.
These aren’t pros, mind you. There are no auditions, submission requirements or fees. The signup period opens for a month each year. Then, it’s on to the weekly show. The Club’s open mics and local and national comics perform every other night of the week but Monday, when the county’s hopefuls and up-and-comers take the stage.
Judging from my one-night experience, they’re generally young, raunchy and apparently obsessed with sex. F-bombs fly, along with self-deprecating racial humor. Body parts and functions do not escape scrutiny. In other words, leave Grandma and Aunt Tilly home.
The audience is also quite young, so the performers may be playing to the crowd, who seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. There was just one woman in the mix, which is probably close to the ratio in professional standup circles, too. We haven’t come such a long way since the days of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Truth be told, I only chuckled a few times, but I think I was out of the age demographic. Still, the evening reminded me, once again, how incredibly difficult it is to do standup. It’s not just the jokes; it’s the pacing and timing, gauging the audience and being quick on your feet – even if the good-sized crowd was admonished not to heckle.
If you’re one of those naturally funny people your friends always tell, “You should be a comedian,” go see – or sign up for – the ‘San Diego’s Funniest Person’ Contest. It’s an excellent – if sobering – proving ground. Guaranteed that every one of the best of the best standup comedians cut their teeth, and tried out their material, at a place just like this. Check it out; maybe you’ll discover – or become –the next Big Thing.
©2019 PAT LAUNER
