And the winner is…Don Wood. Everybody had a great set, and the toughest thing of all was picking just 1. I’ve been thinking about the process lately, and while the set-up is similar to that of American Idol, it differs in one big way. In American Idol, the singers are basically just doing karaoke, and when you get right down to it, the songs don’t mean a whole lot to them personally. Stand-Up comedians are very attached to the material, as they write it, deliver it, and it’s?based around their personality. It’s personal, and that makes the judging even harder. I tried to be as constructive as possible. I’ve been to the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal about 15 times, and each time have seen dozens of the best comedians the world has to offer, so I tried to share what help I could.?Calgary’s got some great comedians, and some great comedians in the making. Back to tonight: we had another fantastic sell-out crowd, which helps immensely. Don has a unique style to his act, which will help set him apart when he goes to Toronto to represent Calgary for the big finals, and a shot at the $25,000. I believe the finals will be televised on the Comedy Network, so I’ll definitely keep you posted on an air date.

Another competition rolls through Calgary Yuk-Yuks on Friday March 9th. This time around it’s affiliated with the Just for Laughs Festival. I’ll be a judge for that one as well, though I think the format is more anonymous for the judges.

If you were at any of the shows, feel free to leave some comments. Thanks!

Here’s a picture of me and a pair of the judges (l to r: myself, Jasen, Nancy)

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