Modified On January 21, 2006
From NBC:
Casting for Last Comic Standing 4 has already begun, with talent scouts traveling to major cities nationwide to see performances from thousands of aspiring and professional comedians. In addition, other interested comedians will be able to submit sample tapes to NBC.com, where online voters will later vote and select one comedian that will be able to join the other comedians selected via the nationwide search.
Did they say casting? Hmmm… This is troubling. The use of the word “casting” is troubling.
Anyway, we haven’t found any solid information out there as to where this “nationwide” search will touch down. This NBC.com/internet vote thingie is just window dressing. Somebody at the network has convinced someone higher up that interactivity and synergy are “where it’s at!” So they throw him a bone– one contestant. Or… it could be a back door for Dane Cook! He’s got half a million “friends” on myspace which he can mobilize at the drop of a Send button.
(We hear you asking: Why would Dane Cook, who has hosted SNL, who can fill arenas, why would Dane Cook wanna subject himself to Last Comic Standing? To which we reply: Who is so huge that he wouldn’t want regualar, weekly exposure on NBC? It’s television, people. The most powerful mass-medium ever devised. And it’s season IV. Don’t be surprised if you see comics even larger than Cook vying for a position in that house. This is the Ed Sullivan Show of its day.) Only better. If you stay on long enough, it’s like having your own show. Ask anyone who was on Season II or Season III. The influence of the show grows with each edition.
Meanwhile, Barry Katz does a bit of eenie, meenie, miney, mo and Voila! Season IV is hatched! (We prefer using the Roman numerals. It’s more dramatic.)