San Francisco International Comedy Competition
Encyclopedia
The San Francisco International Comedy Competition (sometimes referred to as The San Francisco International Stand-Up Comedy Competition) is a stand-up comedy contest held each September in San Francisco, California
, and neighboring areas of Northern California.
The competition has evolved from two nights of 20 comics performing, to its current multi-week format.
The semi-final round is another week of shows, with the 10 semi-finalists performing sets of 10 to 12 minutes. From this group, five finalists are chosen.
Finalists must prove themselves in yet another week of shows, this time performing sets ranging in length from 15–20 minutes.
Penalties are assessed for comedians who go over and/or under the time constraints.
The performances are judged on the following criteria: Material, Stage Presence, Delivery, Technique, Audience Response, Audience Rapport, and the judges' "Gut Feeling" about the performer. Typically, the judges, who are different at each event, are previous competitors, members of the media, talent agents/scouts and representatives from the performance venue. There is also an extra point awarded, given by the audience through their applause after a comedian's performance. If the audience gives a ten-count of enthusiastic applause, the extra point is awarded.
Venues are varied and wide-ranging, to ensure that the performers can play to all types of audiences, and have included bars, clubs, casinos, colleges, theatres and more.
, in 1979, became the competition's first African-American winner and its first female winner. She is also the only woman to win in the entire history of the SFICC.
Among the big names who entered, but did not advance to the semi-finals are Roseanne Barr
, Janeane Garofalo
, Bobcat Goldthwait
, Christopher Titus
and D.L. Hughley.
Don Friesen won in 1999 and again in 2005, making him the only person to have won the competition more than once.
Paul Ogata
's win in 2007 was the first by an Asian-American comedian in 32 years of the competition.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and neighboring areas of Northern California.
History
The SFICC was originally conceived by Bay Area comedian Frank Kidder. However, it has been produced since its inception by Jon and Anne Fox, who now retain complete ownership after purchasing Kidder's share.The competition has evolved from two nights of 20 comics performing, to its current multi-week format.
The Competition
Hundreds of comedians each year submit applications to enter the contest. Of these, 32 are chosen to perform in one of two week-long preliminary rounds. In these prelims, comedians perform sets of 5 to 7 minutes in length. The top five from each preliminary round move on to the semi-finals.The semi-final round is another week of shows, with the 10 semi-finalists performing sets of 10 to 12 minutes. From this group, five finalists are chosen.
Finalists must prove themselves in yet another week of shows, this time performing sets ranging in length from 15–20 minutes.
Penalties are assessed for comedians who go over and/or under the time constraints.
The performances are judged on the following criteria: Material, Stage Presence, Delivery, Technique, Audience Response, Audience Rapport, and the judges' "Gut Feeling" about the performer. Typically, the judges, who are different at each event, are previous competitors, members of the media, talent agents/scouts and representatives from the performance venue. There is also an extra point awarded, given by the audience through their applause after a comedian's performance. If the audience gives a ten-count of enthusiastic applause, the extra point is awarded.
Venues are varied and wide-ranging, to ensure that the performers can play to all types of audiences, and have included bars, clubs, casinos, colleges, theatres and more.
Previous winners
| Year | Bill Farley | Robin Williams Robin Williams Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance... |
Bob Sarlatte | Mark Miller | Mitch Krug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Dana Carvey Dana Carvey Dana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:... |
Gil Christner Gil Christner Gil Christner is an American actor, writer and comedian living and working in Los Angeles.-Early life:... |
A. Whitney Brown A. Whitney Brown Alan Whitney Brown is an Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian probably best known for his recurring appearances on Saturday Night Live in the 1980s opposite Dennis Miller in a biting satirical... |
Bill Farley | Mark McCollum |
| 1978 | Mark McCollum | Marty Cohen | Jack Marion | Mitch Krug | Darryl Henriques |
| 1979 | Marsha Warfield Marsha Warfield Marsha Warfield is an American actress and comedienne best known for her 1986–1992 role of Roz on the popular NBC sitcom Night Court. Roz, a tough, no-nonsense bailiff in Judge Stone's court, acted primarily as a straightwoman to the other bailiff character, Bull . She also starred in the sitcom... |
Mike Davis | Dana Carvey Dana Carvey Dana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:... |
Michael Winslow Michael Winslow Michael Winslow is an American actor and a comedian billed as the "Man of 10,000 Sound Effects" for his ability to make realistic sound effects using only his voice.-Early life:... |
A. Whitney Brown A. Whitney Brown Alan Whitney Brown is an Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian probably best known for his recurring appearances on Saturday Night Live in the 1980s opposite Dennis Miller in a biting satirical... |
| 1980 | Michael Pritchard | Denny Johnston | James Wesley Jackson | Bobby Slayton Bobby Slayton Bobby Slayton is an American stand-up comedian known as "The Pit Bull of Comedy" and Yid Vicious. Slayton, a native of Scarsdale, New York, is probably best known for a supporting role in the 2001 film Bandits, and as a frequent guest on The Adam Carolla Show.He played Joey Bishop in the 1998... |
Jack Marion |
| 1981 | Ronn Lucas Ronn Lucas Ronn Lucas is an American ventriloquist and stand-up comedian.Lucas grew up in El Paso, Texas and was graduated from Eastwood High School in 1972. He began his career performing at Saint Timothy's Lutheran church located in El Paso, Texas. He has received many accolades for his work, including... |
Bob Dubac | John Fox | Barry Sobel Barry Sobel Barry Sobel is an American actor and comedian.-Life and career:Sobel grew up in New York City. During the 1980s, he toured the comedy circuit heavily. His routine centered around rapping in a Beastie Boys style.... |
Dr. Gonzo John Means John Means, a former community college English instructor living in his hometown Mason City, Illinois, who had gained fame in the 1980s as a stand-up comedian. Based out of San Francisco, he performed under the stage name "Dr... |
| 1982 | Jim Samuels | Kevin Pollak Kevin Pollak Kevin Elliot Pollak is an American actor, impressionist, game show host, and comedian. He started performing stand-up comedy at the age of 10 and touring professionally at the age of 20... |
Jack Gallagher | Will Durst Will Durst Will Durst is an American political satirist; he considers himself a modern mix of Mort Sahl and Will Rogers.... |
Carrie Snow |
| 1983 | Will Durst Will Durst Will Durst is an American political satirist; he considers himself a modern mix of Mort Sahl and Will Rogers.... |
Leland Brown | D. Alan Moss | Dr. Gonzo John Means John Means, a former community college English instructor living in his hometown Mason City, Illinois, who had gained fame in the 1980s as a stand-up comedian. Based out of San Francisco, he performed under the stage name "Dr... |
Ray Hanna |
| 1984 | Doug Ferrari | Mark Pitta | Paul Kelly | Joe Alaskey | D. Alan Moss |
| 1985 | Sinbad | Ellen DeGeneres Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season.... |
Evan Davis | Steve Kravitz | Steven Pearl |
| 1986 | Jake Johannsen Jake Johannsen Jake Johannsen is an American comedian.Johannsen attended Iowa State University in the early 1980s, originally majoring in veterinary medicine, and then later changing to chemical engineering. He left after three years in college and relocated to San Francisco, California in order to pursue a... |
Eddy Strange | Rich Ceisler | Milt Abel | Dana Gould Dana Gould Dana John Gould is an American comedian and comedy writer born and raised in Hopedale, Massachusetts. His upbringing and his extended family lent themselves to his stand-up routine, which has been seen on HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central, among other places.-Career:After high school, he studied... |
| 1987 | Warren Thomas Warren Thomas Warren Thomas was an African-American comedian. His greatest fame came during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when he was a major figure in the San Francisco comedy scene and began appearing on HBO comedy specials. He won the San Francisco International Comedy Competition in 1987... |
Rick Reynolds Rick Reynolds Rick Reynolds is an American comedian known for his one-man shows Only the Truth Is Funny and All Grown Up...and No Place to Go.-Personal life:... |
Rob Becker | Tom Kenny Tom Kenny Thomas James "Tom" Kenny is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is especially known for his long-running-role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television series of the same name, as well as the live-action character Patchy the Pirate, Gary the Snail and the French narrator based on... |
Rob Schneider Rob Schneider Robert Michael "Rob" Schneider is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and director. A stand-up comic and veteran of the NBC sketch-comedy series Saturday Night Live, Schneider has gone on to a successful career in feature films, including starring roles in the comedy films Deuce Bigalow:... |
| 1988 | Mike Dugan | Brian Haley Brian Haley Brian Haley is an American actor and stand-up comedian. His stand-up act is characterized by playing his all-American looks against manic outbursts and absurd situations... |
Billy Elmer | Jeffrey Jena | Tree |
| 1989 | Dexter Madison | Mark Curry Mark Curry (actor) Mark G. Curry is an American actor and comedian. He is best known as the star of the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and as one of the various hosts of the syndicated series It's Showtime at the Apollo.-Early life and education:... |
Dan St. Paul | Henry Cho Henry Cho Henry Cho is an American stand-up comedian. His work can be heard nationwide several times weekly on XM Radio's Channel 151, Laugh USA and Sirius Radio's Blue Collar Radio channel 103, Pandora Radio's PG Comedy Radio channel.- Biography :Cho, who is of Korean American descent, was raised in... |
Denny Johnston |
| 1990 | Christopher Collins | Nick DiPaolo Nick DiPaolo Nicholas Rocco "Nick" DiPaolo is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and radio host formerly on 92.3 Free FM in New York City until May 24, 2007, when the station changed formats. He is also a frequent guest on the Opie and Anthony and Howard Stern radio shows... |
Matt Weinhold | Karen Babbitt | Warren Spottswood |
| 1991 | Don McMillan | Tim Wiggins | Barry Weintraub | Rodney Johnson | Louis C.K. Louis C.K. Louis Szekely , known professionally as Louis C.K., is a stand-up comedian, television and film writer, actor, producer, and director... |
| 1992 | Johnny Steele | Ngaio Bealum | Maria Falzone | Barry Weintraub | T. Marni Vos |
| 1993 | Carlos Alazraqui Carlos Alazraqui Carlos Jaime Alazraqui is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and voice actor. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. His voice-over work includes the role of Bobbi Fabulous on Phineas and Ferb, the Taco Bell chihuahua, Denzel Q... |
Marc Maron Marc Maron Marc Maron is an American stand-up comedian and podcast host.He has been host of The Marc Maron Show, and co-host of both Morning Sedition, and Breakroom Live, all politically-oriented shows, produced under the auspices of Air America Media. He was also the host of Comedy Central's Short Attention... |
Stephen B. | Rick Kerns | Patton Oswalt Patton Oswalt Patton Oswalt is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor. He is best known for portraying Spencer Olchin in the popular sitcom The King of Queens, voicing Remy from the film Ratatouille and Thrasher from the Cartoon Network original series Robotomy.-Early life:Oswalt was born... |
| 1994 | Jackie Flynn | Rick Kerns | Wild Willie Parsons | Roger Rittenhouse | Karlton Johnson |
| 1995 | Doug Stanhope Doug Stanhope Douglas Gene "Doug" Stanhope is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and author known for his abrasive comedy routines.-Life and career:Stanhope quit high school after his freshman year... |
Dane Cook Dane Cook Dane Jeffrey Cook is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He has released five comedy albums: Harmful If Swallowed; Retaliation; Vicious Circle; Rough Around The Edges: Live From Madison Square Garden; and Isolated Incident. In 2006, Retaliation became the highest charting comedy album... |
Dwight Slade | Paul Nardizzi | J.R. Brow |
| 1996 | David Crowe David Crowe David Crowe is an American comedian from Seattle, Washington. He was winner of the 1996 San Francisco International Comedy Competition and winner of the 1995 Seattle Stand-up Comedy Competition.-References:** at Comedy Central... |
Jerry Miner | Milt Abel | Mike Uryga | John Alston |
| 1997 | James Inman | Chris McGuire | Don Friesen Don Friesen Don Friesen is an American stand-up comedian. Friesen is a relatively "clean" performer who uses self-deprecating humor to lampoon his life as a suburban husband and father... |
Bobby Tessel | James P. Connolly |
| 1998 | Vinnie Favorito | James P. Connolly | Mickey Joseph | Ralphie May Ralphie May Ralphie O. May is an American stand-up comedian.-Early life:May was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but raised in Clarksville, Arkansas. When he was seventeen years old, he won a contest to open for comedian Sam Kinison, whom he considered his idol. Kinison suggested he move to Houston, Texas to... |
Scott Silverman |
| 1999 | Don Friesen Don Friesen Don Friesen is an American stand-up comedian. Friesen is a relatively "clean" performer who uses self-deprecating humor to lampoon his life as a suburban husband and father... |
Robert Duchaine | Paul D'Angelo | John Alston | Daniel Packard |
| 2000 | Danny Bevins | Darryl Lennox | Dave Russo | Ron Osbourne | Rick D'Elia |
| 2001 | Bengt Washburn | Auggie Smith | Robert Mac | Floyd J. Phillps | Dave Burleigh |
| 2002 | Gerry Dee Gerry Dee Gerry Dee is a Canadian stand-up comedian. Prior to his comic career, he was a physical education teacher and hockey coach at De La Salle College "Oaklands", a private co-ed high school in Toronto... |
Vargus Mason | Dobie Maxwell | Chris Mata | Arlo Stone |
| 2003 | Rob Pue | Joe Klocek | Darryl Lennox | Lamont Ferguson | Rob Little Rob Little Rob Little is an American stand-up comedian and actor from Pinconning, Michigan. He has been performing stand-up comedy since 1998 and has been acting in movies and television. He has also produced two straight to DVD comedy specials based on his stand-up... |
| 2004 | Jim Short | Eric Schwartz | Nathan Trenholm | Sadiki Fuller | Tommy Savitt |
| 2005 | Don Friesen Don Friesen Don Friesen is an American stand-up comedian. Friesen is a relatively "clean" performer who uses self-deprecating humor to lampoon his life as a suburban husband and father... |
Dave Burleigh | Cain Lopez | Kevin Avery | Floyd J. Phillips |
| 2006 | Jay Wendell Walker | Leo Flowers | Mo Mandel | Mike E. Winfield | Dylan Mandelsohn |
| 2007 | Paul Ogata Paul Ogata -Personal life:Ogata was born and raised in Pearl City, Hawaii, and moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to devote more time to performing stand-up comedy.Ogata graduated from the University of Hawaii. In college, he briefly studied Electrical Engineering, a field for which he showed some aptitude as a teen... |
David Van Avermaete | Mike Baldwin | Dennis Gaxiola | Kellen Erskine |
| 2008 | Steve White Steve White (actor) Steve White is an African American actor and comedian, best known for his roles in Spike Lee films. He has worked with Lee five times... |
Derek Lengwenus | Tyler Boeh | Brent Weinbach Brent Weinbach Brent Weinbach is an American stand-up comedian and performer based in San Francisco, California. He is known for his experimental style and abstract, deadpan delivery. Weinbach regularly performs stand-up at the Comedy Death-Ray shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles and has... |
Leif Skyving |
| 2009 | Tom Simmons Tom Simmons Tom Simmons is an American stand-up comedian, the 2009 winner of the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, and nationally touring comedy club headliner.-Notable works:... |
Danny Bevins | Maureen Langan | Jarrod Harris | Rodger Lizaola |
| 2010 | Auggie Smith Auggie Smith Auggie Smith is an American comedian.Born in Santa Rosa, California, he was raised in Billings, Montana. He lives in Portland, Oregon.... |
Tony Dijamco | Sammy Obeid | Kurt Swann | Solomon Georgio |
Notable
Marsha WarfieldMarsha Warfield
Marsha Warfield is an American actress and comedienne best known for her 1986–1992 role of Roz on the popular NBC sitcom Night Court. Roz, a tough, no-nonsense bailiff in Judge Stone's court, acted primarily as a straightwoman to the other bailiff character, Bull . She also starred in the sitcom...
, in 1979, became the competition's first African-American winner and its first female winner. She is also the only woman to win in the entire history of the SFICC.
Among the big names who entered, but did not advance to the semi-finals are Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
, Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
, Bobcat Goldthwait
Bobcat Goldthwait
Robert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film and television director. He is commonly known for his energetic, ravenous stage personality, his dark, acerbic black comedy, and his gruff but high-pitched voice.- Early life :Goldthwait was born in Syracuse,...
, Christopher Titus
Christopher Titus
Christopher Todd Titus is an American comedian and actor. He grew up in Newark, California. Titus came to national attention with the eponymous FOX show Titus, of which he was the star, executive producer and co-creator...
and D.L. Hughley.
Don Friesen won in 1999 and again in 2005, making him the only person to have won the competition more than once.
Paul Ogata
Paul Ogata
-Personal life:Ogata was born and raised in Pearl City, Hawaii, and moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to devote more time to performing stand-up comedy.Ogata graduated from the University of Hawaii. In college, he briefly studied Electrical Engineering, a field for which he showed some aptitude as a teen...
's win in 2007 was the first by an Asian-American comedian in 32 years of the competition.