Knocks can announce any of a number of things: people clamoring to be let in, jokes or even Mr. Opportunity making his presence known. Come this Friday, they will signify all three.
In an exhibition of comedic timing, one-liners and witty anecdotes, the Laugh Factory and UCLA’s Student Committee for the Arts will host the first elimination round of the “Laugh Bowl II” competition at Kerckhoff Grand Salon on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. This round will feature three-minute stand-up routines from Bruin comedians, who will then be narrowed down to 10 comics.
These 10 comedians will go on to compete against each other and USC’s top 10 contenders, with their routines posted on LaughFactory.com, where anybody can view them and vote for their favorite funny person.
The five comedians with the most votes will then compete at the Laugh Factory in January for the title and bragging rights, a critique from professional comedians, an assortment of prizes provided by the Laugh Factory and, for the first time, MTV.
Debuting last year, the competition has since undergone improvements, according to Daron Moore, executive producer of the Laugh Factory and creator of the Laugh Bowl. Moore also mentions that the competition pays homage to the Rose Bowl.
“Last year, I created this event from the ground up basically,” Moore said. “We made mistakes, but all those are being cleared up.”
However, these changes are not so much corrections as they are enhancements to what worked for the popular production last year.
Such changes to the show include a larger influx of students volunteering, more famous comedians as judges and most notably the inclusion of MTV. MTV’s talent scouts will provide exposure and employment opportunities for the comedians.
“MTV has helped create a buzz about the competition; I think it has helped get students interested,” Moore said.
Getting students interested in comedy was, according to Moore, the primary intent of hosting the Laugh Bowl in the first place.
“I created the Laugh Bowl because there weren’t a lot of college students coming to the Laugh Factory, and we wanted to spark interest. But then we saw incredible talent on campus ““ it became more about getting student comedians a start,” Moore said.
Last year’s Laugh Bowl winner, Devin Field of USC, attested to the effectiveness of the event. Although he drily credits “steroids” as key to his stand-up success, he doesn’t deny the benefits of participating in the Laugh Bowl.
“I met people from MTV and made a lot of contacts. I wouldn’t have ever done it on my own,” Field said.
Since then, he has been booked for stand-up showcases, met agents and managers and gotten his “sea legs” in the stand-up circuit.
Bruin finalist Adam Epelbaum, a second-year theater student, also attributed his recent success to the exposure from the Laugh Bowl.
“This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me,” he said.
Epelbaum credited a recent Fox sitcom audition and Hollywood club gigs to the exposure he received after reaching the Laugh Bowl semifinals.
Included in the package deal for the winner is a spot in an MTV comedy showcase, meetings with the MTV casting and talent department, a $5,000 Laugh Factory gift certificate, a gig at the Laugh Factory and visual confirmation of success: the winner’s name in lights on the marquee of the Laugh Factory.
According to Tahl Klainman, a third-year history student and Student Committee for the Arts coordinator, one of the notable acts from last year was UCLA comedian Eric Saleh.
“He did an impression of Obama doing the stanky leg (a dance move). It was hilarious,” Klainman said. “I was surprised by the amount of comedic talent.”
Klainman said he has confidence in UCLA’s ability to out-joke USC this year, with a group of competitors that includes a law student and members of the Greek community.
“USC was legitimately quite funny (last year). But overall, USC wasn’t nearly as good as UCLA,” Klainman said.
Although the Laugh Bowl is rooted in the infamous UCLA–USC rivalry, competition creator Moore refuses to pick a side. She did, however, offer a prediction.
“UCLA is definitely going to step it up this year. We’re going to have to see. Bring your best stuff,” Moore said.