SHECKYmagazine.com Columnist BONNIE MCFARLANE featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing! Read her latest column HERE!

Well, we predicted it a year ago: NBC’s “comedy contest” would be corrupted (not that it was pure to begin with) and, if it came back again, the producers would crumble to pressure from agents and managers and stock “The House” with comics who have managers and agents and that the “auditions” would be even more of a formality than they were in year one. No big deal, really, but it’s a whole new L.C.S. world.

Now we’re treated to the spectacle of seasoned club veterans like Pablo Francisco, Will Durst and Kathleen Madigan tapdancing for Bob Read and Ross Mark trying to “breathe new life” (Durst’s words) into their careers by trying out for the popular standup reality show.

It’s totally understandable, really. The whole crazy circus drives one more nail into the “television killed comedy” argument. And, of course, the overall caliber of the comics will be somewhat better. But, only somewhat. Why only somewhat? Becasue it’s reality television! The chemistry in the house is what is most important. There’ll be some real, seasoned veterans slugging it out… until Vegas. After Vegas, they’ll sprinkle in the freaks with the real acts and then stand back and let the Reality TV fun begin! Of course, all the contestants will have the advantage of developing strategy based on last year’s show.

Here’s our predictions (as good as any other predictions at this point):

Todd Glass: He can work the medium like no other. He’ll make Rich Vos and Dave Mordal look like pikers when it comes to soaking up the face time.

Gary Gulman: He looks good on camera, he’s funny and he’s huge! (He’ll be very intimidating physically.)

Frank Santorelli: See above. (Plus, he’s been a semi-regular on The Sopranos)

Louis Ramey: 2004 is The Year of Louis Ramey. He’s clever, he’s clean and professional. And you can’t underestimate that– the comedy clubs are gonna want clever, clean and professional from this year’s Last Comic Standing World Tour. It’s become a cottage industry. And, because of the ratings that last year’s L.C.S. got, the tour’s gonna have bigger numbers. Bigger numbers demand comics who can consistently deliver.

Pablo Francisco: He’s already filling comedy clubs.

Bonnie McFarlane: As evidenced by her regular column here in the pages of SHECKYmagazine.com, Bonnie has a knack for saying controversial things and not holding back. Which should make for some telegenic fireworks in the house.

Kathleen Madigan: She’s solid as a rock, she’s been on radio and television a lot. She’s probably unflappable.

Alonzo Bodden: He’s appealing, he’s an actor (NYPD Blue and
others) and he knows how to do standup comedy.

Will Durst: A regular on PBS, a recurring character on CNN, MSNBC and FNC talking heads shows, and a veteran “political comic, ” Durst will be good for social and political commentary when he has the camera to himself.

And they all have management and representation.

What is with Buck Star? And why did they let him perform in front of a crowd in Tampa after he did a Garry Shandling joke? (And, then he ends his set with “Thank you for supporting live comedy!” Ooohh… we hate that.)

Read more about some of the people you saw tonight:

Pete LaFaucia’s account of last year’s Chicago LCS audition!

Dave Mordal Question 21

Rich Vos interview

Kathleen Madigan Interview

Will Durst interview

Alonzo Bodden profile

Stay tuned for more LCS commentary.