Last Comic Standing: Motor City this time

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on February 17th, 2008


That’s Marty Butler and Crystal P flanking Last Comic Standing host Bill Bellamy in the green room at the Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, MI, at precisely 8:30 PM Saturday night. The pic was taken by The Male Half. That’s right: We crossed paths with Bellamy and his traveling talent hunt for the second time in 12 days (on Monday, Feb. 4 at the Punchline in Atlanta and last night at the Castle!). We swear we didn’t plan it this way.

Four hand-picked Detroit-area comedians went up and did their five clean minutes in front of a seething, Saturday first-show crowd of 400+. Keith Ruff, Gary George, Marty Butler and Crystal P unknowingly participated in yet another secret LCS audition with Bellamy in the back of the house.

Bellamy taped some “B-roll” outside the club just before showtime, shivering and making light of the single-digit temperatures, as customers streamed into the suburban Detroit club.


The Male Half and the Female Half flank King of the Castle while Jeff Altman and Gallagher look on

Castle proprietor Mark Ridley popped out onto the stage after the four performed and let the crowd in on the gag. And the audience went batty when Bellamy came through the door. Once again, Bellamy enthusiastically praised all four performers and then, almost apologetically, he announced that only two would be flown to the Minneapolis LCS audition on Tuesday.

After the shocked “contestants” and Bellamy retired to the green room to take pics and sign releases, The Female Half and The Male Half went up and finished off the rabid crowd.

It was our first time at the Castle. We’ve been aware of its existence for a quarter century, but we only got around to working there in 2008. Ridley might just be one of the nicest comedy club owners in the land. And, against all odds, he seems to honestly enjoy being in the comedy business and spending time in the club.

The club is just off the semi-bohemian downtown of Royal Oak, a compact and charming northeastern suburb of Detroit. The Detroit metro area in particular and Michigan in general is packed with clubs– one-nighters and long-running weekend rooms– and consequently, the state is home to many experienced comedians. Detroit has burped out many famous comics– Tim Allen, Dave Coulier, Robin Williams– and it might be one of the better markets in the country for a young or transitioning comic to locate.

Addendum, Feb. 18: Speaking of relocating comics, Tony Vinh stopped by to say hey to The Male and Female Halves of the Staff. A year ago, Vinh moved to Detroit from Kansas City. He’s been an avid reader of the magazine and we had a splendid time chatting with him on Friday and Saturday nights! Always a kick to meet a reader in person!


Keith Ruff, Marty Butler, Gary George, Crystal P and Bill Bellamy onstage, via the monitor in the green room.

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