Modified On June 2, 2010
We’ve been noticing the steady build-up of resentment toward Last Comic Standing as the June 7 premiere date draws near. A lot of it has been posted right in the comments on the show’s own Facebook page!
Craig, you’re a nice guy and all…I hope being associated with the travesty of LCS LA auditions doesn’t effect you personally. I hope you do well as the host but I will have to get my info second hand as I will not be watching.
and
My brotha, do the slaves in Africa who helped round up, harvest and capture other Africans mean anything to you as it relates to comics? You assisted in this “How many retards can we fit in this line” scam with a smile on your face and telling jokes to people in line… you’re a gimmick and I’ll never take your comedy seriously. You’re a tool for the capitalists who care less about other comics.
They were under the Craig Robinson pic that LCS has uploaded. And they were taken down after a short while. They were signed, but we left off the author’s names to spare them… embarrassment, maybe?
It seems that a lot of the invective is coming from the less experienced comedians. This makes little sense, since it is they who should view the show as a valuable opportunity. Let’s face it: many of the less experienced comics should definitely go out of their way to audition, but they should actually hope they don’t get on the show. (That seems contradictory, but it’s not.)
The open call– where hopefuls line the streets for hours before the auditions begin– is a long shot on the order of buying a lottery ticket. But good things can happen in the process. You can bond with fellow comics. You can get a feel for what the process is like… so when you maybe eventually become one of the hated people with an “appointment audition,” you might be better able to handle it.
We have a friend who stood in line who actually managed to get in front of the judges. He had a great time in line, he came close to the evening showcase and he got great feedback from the judges. And he now has the experience of standing in line for L.C.S. in his rearview mirrror. That kind of experience can only help him. (Indeed, it can only hurt you if you make up your mind that it hurts you.)
But we feel bad for the folks who stood outside for 24 to 48 hours. Not because they braved the elements for a day or two, with little or no payoff, but because some of them seem to have zero perspective when it comes to assessing their experience.
Certainly the production team could have handled things better. But these situation can always be handled better. Has there been, in the history of television, an audition system for a major show that went smoothly, without a hitch, leaving all who participated happy? No.
But we’re not sure that the negativity is the best use of energy. Maybe a little constructive criticism would be the thing to leave on the various Facebook pages and forum pages. If you think that the producers don’t read such comments, you’re seriously deluded. And, from our experience, it seems as though producers are almost always seeking a better way to conduct these operations, seeking a way to leave as few feathers ruffled as possible.
Whenever we’ve bitched about anything in the past, we’ve almost always tried to bitch… and then suggest how matters might be improved. (Take a number? Wristbands? Beepers? There’s about two decades of monster ticket sale technique and innovation to draw on. Or information. People love information. Conversely, people hate being in the dark. Could the PA’s have more forthcoming with information?) The internet is a tremendous innovation when it comes to pissing and moaning. It is also unparalleled when it comes to genuine communication. (Of course, whether or not the suggestions are taken and/or acted upon depends on the organization.) There is a feeling throughout the land that mistakes are not something to be buried and that criticism isn’t something that should be stifled or avoided. The new approach seems to be to meet the complaints head on and then do something. As champion complainers, we know! (In some cases, we’ve actually seen some evidence that the folks in charge just might have taken someone’s– not necessarily our– advice.)
Those of you who stood in line who still wish to remain bitter might have the last laugh. Judging from the promo online on NBC and Hulu (and recalling the way that similar shows have been edited in the past) it will no doubt appear to the viewers at home that each and every comedian who got in front of the judges slept in a tent for a day or two before mounting the stage. Even the ones who make it to the finals.