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Philly comic begs off O & A hecklefest EDITORS NOTE
NOTE: This whole controversy could be over in a minute if the people at WYSP were to declare the runner-up in the contest the new winner and award him the coveted opening spot.
If anyone should be upset about how this is playing out, it should be the person who placed second. That’s usually how contests work. Even Miss America had a clause in the contract that stipulated that the runner-up would assume the duties of the winner if the winner craps out.
“Ed McGonigal is a sore winner,” says the Philadelphia Daily News’ Dan Gross in yesterday’s edition (scroll down to fifth item).
McGonigal won a slot on the bill on September 15 when this year’s Traveling Virus Comedy Tour comes to the Tweeter in Camden. The show will feature Bob Saget, Jim Norton, Louis CK, Patrice O’Neal among others.
McGonigal won the spot by competing in a contest held through WYSP’s Kidd Chris Show, on which McGonigal is a regular (‘YSP carries O & A as well, so the audiences for the shows are commingled).
McGonigal, SHECKYmagazine readers may recall, appeared on the Kidd Christmas show in December at Philly’s Electric Factory, so he’s familiar to O & A/Kid Chris audiences… even somewhat of a fave, maybe even something of a draw. But McGonigal is backing out of next month’s show because he won’t be paid for the performance.
According to Gross, “Kidd Chris tore into him for his decision to bail on the show, as did O & A’s Norton.”
“I’ve spent 42 years making bad decisions. I see no reason to stop now,” McGonigal said.
Considering the eye-popping amounts of cash that the others on the bill are no doubt getting (we suspect that Saget is at least getting five figures… and that he can’t be the only one), it is rather unseemly for the O & A people to be so tight.
And it’s totally ridiculous when you consider the hellish reception he’ll no doubt get when he mounts the stage. Again, readers of SHECKYmagazine will recall that even many of the nationally-known acts on the stage at the Tweeter last year were subjected to the most reprehensible treatment. (Bill Burr‘s legendary snapout was in response to that boorish behavior.)
To ask McGonigal to collect his “prize” with good cheer and for no money, and then to berate him for refusing to do so, takes some colossal nerve.
6 Responses
Reply to: Philly comic begs off O & A hecklefest EDITORS NOTE
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No. Ive listened to this play out. They promoted this contest as something for young comics just starting out. As an opportunity to play a stadium full of people and to get some exposure. This wasnt a payday contest. This was KNOWN going into it. And they have done this for other stops in this comedy tour. The last guy who won did really well and had a great set this past weekend. He called into Opie and Anthony today and thanked them. He said hes already getting some local work and it really helped him. Ed McGonigal has been going on a tare lately claiming not only does he want to be paid but that Opie and Anthony owe him money for participating in the contest and getting them press with this news article. Multiple people have offered to pay him by the way(some of whom were the comics on the tour) and he has still continued to refuse to come. Hes just scared and is backing out of the gig. This has nothing to do with money.
Ed McGonigal <>scared<>?This is laughable.We’ve worked with Ed on many occasions. We can assure you he’s not scared.So… the contest was promoted “as something for young comics just starting out,” eh? Well, then, by letting Ed in, the contest was dishonest from the start. We see nothing wrong with Ed changing the rules as he goes along.You say some other comic did well and called O & A and thanked them. Good for him. We don’t see that as having any bearing on how Ed should conduct himself. We’re not aware of a law that says Comic A should do something merely because Comic B is doing it.Perhaps the other comic should ask for cash… that’s what Ed’s doing.Peer pressure is a lousy motivator when it comes to comics.“Multiple people” have offered Ed money? Maybe true. But one, Jim Norton, has allegedly berated Ed. Sounds like there’s a disagreement on how to solve this problem.We’ve got an email into Ed. We’ll see what he has to say.
You see nothing wrong with him changing the rules as he goes along? He knew what this was going into it. Now he want to change the prize after he won? And you see no problem with that? The prize of this contest was for a relatively unknown comic to get a spot with headliners in a massive show.Again I dont think money is the issue. He is scared and looking for an excuse not to do it. Hes been offered money by Kid Chris and now today by Rich Vos. Norton trashed Ed a bit along with others on Opie and Anthony after hearing all the reports about Ed from Kid Chris and some producers from the Opie and Anthony show. However right after his initial anger at Ed he said that he didnt want to redo the contest and wants to reserve judgment until he can talk to Ed himself. As far as I can tell they havent been in contact with him directly since. I know they tried to get him on the show but so far hes only been on Kid Chris. Seems like hes dodging Opie and Anthony. The reason Norton was upset by this wasnt so much that he wanted money. He was upset that Ed wouldnt take this opportunity as a comic. And referenced some of his own experiences working for near nothing with Andrew Dice Clay. Which eventually led him to be on the Opie and Anthony show. And all of his continued success.
Looks like what it comes down to again, is peer pressure.Now Norton is exerting peer pressure– “Here’s what I did… now you should do the same.”From what we can see, it’s not that he wants to “change the prize.”He just <>doesn’t want the prize<>— if it doesn’t come with cash.You don’t think money is the issue. But, you don’t know for a fact. But you insist that McGonigal is “scared” and “looking for an excuse.” If you were to go to his MySpace and take a look at some of the vicious comments there, you might conclude that the course he has taken requires actually might require <>more<> courage.
If he didn’t want the very clearly explained prize, why did he enter the contest? But you’re right, it’s McGonigal’s life. If he wants to spit in their faces, that’s his business.
Im sorry but Ed has no rights to change the rules…if he doesnt want the opportunity fuck him let him continue to do the comedy caberat for 15-20 people and give opportunity to someone who wants it good for O&A not giving in and paying him. Also Shecky magazine maybe the worst name for a comedy magazine i have ever seen….and if this is a well known magazine (and to me it isnt) no wonder there are comedy clubs called banannas and the laugh factory ecck