Seattle Comedy Competition gears up for Bremerton, again

And the field has been whittled to five.

After surviving the first three rounds and 20-some other comics, the five finalists will be playing the Vashon Theater on Vashon Island tonight, taking Thanksgiving off, playing Kirkland Friday before coming to Bremerton Saturday for the second-to-last night. The winners will be crowned the next day at the new Comedy Underground in Seattle.

At each spot, each comic has 15 minutes.

Here’s who they are (in no particular order):

JUSTIN RUPPLE,

Issaquah

After only three years on the scene, Rupple is said to be one of the fastest rising young stars in Seattle comedy (for what that’s worth).

By day, he’s a broadcast journalist with KIRO radio. By night he’s collecting comedy title belts, winning the Northwest Laugh-Off in 2006 and the Giggles Laugh off in 2008. See more at www.myspace.com/justinrupplecomedy.

NATE JACKSON

Los Angeles

Like many good comedians, Jackson got his start in comedy on a dare from a friend at a stand-up comedy contest in college.

From there, he went on to become a finalist in 2005’s Seattle International Comedy Competition before moving to California where he worked his way to finalist of the 2008 California Comedy Festival. See more at www.myspace.com/natejacksoncomedy.

TODD JOHNSON

Boise, Idaho

Johnson is a 10-year comedic veteran, hailing from a place “far from something funny” in a small town in Idaho.

He’s been a finalist twice in the Rocky Mountain Laugh-Off and a finalists in the Mile High Comedy Competition, but this is his first foray in to the prestigious Seattle International Comedy Comp.

It’s said he has a way of capturing the attention of a room with his visual pictures and clever twists. See more at www.toddjohnson.biz.

LARS CALLIEOU

Edmonton, Alberta, Ca.

Helping the International Comedy Competition its “international” moniker by hailing from Canada, Callieou was crowned Alberta’s funniest new comedian.

Since then, he’s been putting in appearances on XM Radio, “So, You think You’re Funny” and more while hosting his own midnight radio show, Wednesday nights on 88.5 FM in Edmonton. See more at www.myspace.com/extralars.

TOMMY SAVITT

Los Angeles

Savitt is a savvy-looking veteran. He’s a regular on the Bob and Tom Show heard daily on Sirius Radio, in addition to appearances in dozens of national commercials over the past decade.

But Savitt does his best work bringing laughter to those who serve our country on multiple USO tours to Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Japan, South Korea, Bahrain, the United Kingdom and more. He’s also made his mark on the Canadian comedy circuit. It’s noted in his bio that “what David Hasselhoff is to Germany, Tommy Savitt is to Canada, but better looking.” See more at www.HeyTommy.net

ALSO CHECK OUT: A plethora of comedy shows coming up around the Puget Sound, including Cheech and Chong on the Light Up America tour, Nov. 29 at the Paramount, followed by Robin Williams Dec. 5-6. NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” Tour is coming to the Moore Theater Dec. 12, while Blue Collar Comedy guru Bill Engvall brings “Here’s Your Sign” to the Tacoma Dome Dec. 13.

Before there even was a Comedy Underground in Seattle, there was the Seattle International Comedy Competition.

It’s been an Emerald City mainstay for more than a quarter century, aging gracefully into its 29th year this year. And with that, the stakes have been raised. In addition to the traditional $5,000 in prize money, a recording contract with Uproar Entertainment (the label that represents the entire National Lampoon catalogue) is up for grabs.

The crowd of comics whittled to five with the second-to-last finals night

to be held at Bremerton's Admiral Theatre, Nov. 29.

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