Sean Kent
Encyclopedia
Sean Kent is a stand-up comic and television writer. He is also the 2009 Seattle International Comedy Competition champion. Originally from Austin, Texas
, Kent resides in Los Angeles
, California. Best known for his stand-up comedy
appearances on Showtime, Kent was also as a series regular on the NBC
show Last Comic Standing
(seasons 1 & 3). His comedy has been critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone Magazine and XM Radio who called his debut CD "An instant classic!"
Kent also has worked as a writer, authoring the CBS
special "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials", doing punch-up on the CBS show "Yes, Dear
," and writing on staff for the "Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Net
.
.
After high school Kent attended UT for 2 years but dropped out in 1994 to move to Los Angeles
and pursue stand-up comedy
and acting
.
". While writing for "Best Damn" he was diagnosed with (stage III Hodgkin's lymphoma
) cancer
. Kent didn't leave his job but underwent chemotherapy
one day a week, sometimes putting in 50 to 60 hours a week at the writing desk despite his weakened condition.
After three months of chemotherapy and 35 days of radiation therapy
Kent was pronounced in remission. Shortly after finishing treatment, he auditioned and was subsequently chosen as a series regular for Last Comic Standing Season One.
Almost immediately after Last Comic Standing wrapped Kent received news that his cancer had recurred. He underwent an intensive chemotherapeutic procedure known as an autologous bone marrow transplant which involved radically high doses of chemotherapy and long stays in the hospital
. During one stay at City of Hope National Medical Center
Kent developed an infection in his chest port and lost over 90 pounds.
A week after finishing treatment and getting out of the hospital in October 2003, Kent (then reduced to a self-described "hairless stick-figure") ignored doctor's orders to lie low and went on a month long road trip around the U.S. saying, "I had seen too much ugliness in the recent past. Too many hospitals, too much death. I needed to stand on a cliff and soak up something beautiful, something bigger than the sterile hallways and sad eyes I'd been surrounded with for the past year." Spiritually rejuvenated after his travels, Kent returned to stand-up.
In 2005 Kent was asked to give the keynote address at the 29th Annual City of Hope Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion. He now regularly speaks at cancer fundraisers, most recently sharing a bill with Will Ferrell
.
In 2009 Kent won the prestigious 30th annual Seattle International Comedy Competition and appeared on Showtime's Green Collar Comedy Slam, a left-leaning stand-up comedy show where he skewered Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and their ilk.
Most often now Kent can be seen as a headliner at comedy club
s and colleges across the United States
and internationally in Canada
, the UK and beyond.
case.
It also includes an outtake track of Kent battling a drunk woman in the audience plus the song Your Genitals are Evil - which was co-written with Tom Von Doom, formerly of the band Cycle Sluts From Hell
.
In 2010 Kent released his second CD, "Waiting for the Rapture", for Uproar Entertainment.
The Laugh Button has called it "... a jolt of hilarious though sometimes painful honesty. Tackling topics of 21st Century America, such as politics, Wal-Mart, hippies, recycling, Anderson Cooper and fundamentalist Christians. His appeal is to anyone who’s ever felt themselves an outcast, rebel, or dissatisfied with the world, while trying to figure out where it all went wrong."
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Kent resides in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California. Best known for his stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
appearances on Showtime, Kent was also as a series regular on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
show Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that has aired from 2003 through 2010.The goal of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC network, and a television special first to air on the cable-TV network Comedy...
(seasons 1 & 3). His comedy has been critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone Magazine and XM Radio who called his debut CD "An instant classic!"
Kent also has worked as a writer, authoring the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
special "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials", doing punch-up on the CBS show "Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder....
," and writing on staff for the "Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
.
Early years
Kent attended Hyde Park Baptist Private School until he was 18 where he lettered in Varsity Basketball and Cross Country. He was almost expelled several times but managed to graduate with a 3.4 GPA and get accepted to the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
After high school Kent attended UT for 2 years but dropped out in 1994 to move to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and pursue stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
and acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
.
Big breaks and bigger obstacles
In 2003 Kent landed his first staff writing job on a show, "The Best Damn Sports Show PeriodThe Best Damn Sports Show Period
The Best Damn Sports Show Period is an American sports television show on Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. The show regularly featured irreverent and opinionated interviews with top athletes, coaches, celebrities, and entertainers. It also aired Top 50 countdown shows and other sports...
". While writing for "Best Damn" he was diagnosed with (stage III Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes...
) cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Kent didn't leave his job but underwent chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
one day a week, sometimes putting in 50 to 60 hours a week at the writing desk despite his weakened condition.
After three months of chemotherapy and 35 days of radiation therapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
Kent was pronounced in remission. Shortly after finishing treatment, he auditioned and was subsequently chosen as a series regular for Last Comic Standing Season One.
Almost immediately after Last Comic Standing wrapped Kent received news that his cancer had recurred. He underwent an intensive chemotherapeutic procedure known as an autologous bone marrow transplant which involved radically high doses of chemotherapy and long stays in the hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. During one stay at City of Hope National Medical Center
City of Hope National Medical Center
City of Hope National Medical Center, is a private, not-for-profit clinical research center, hospital and graduate medical school located in Duarte, California, United States...
Kent developed an infection in his chest port and lost over 90 pounds.
A week after finishing treatment and getting out of the hospital in October 2003, Kent (then reduced to a self-described "hairless stick-figure") ignored doctor's orders to lie low and went on a month long road trip around the U.S. saying, "I had seen too much ugliness in the recent past. Too many hospitals, too much death. I needed to stand on a cliff and soak up something beautiful, something bigger than the sterile hallways and sad eyes I'd been surrounded with for the past year." Spiritually rejuvenated after his travels, Kent returned to stand-up.
Today
Kent was the first person voted off on Season 1 of Last Comic Standing. Kent competed on season 3 as well, making it through 6 of 8 total episodes before being voted off.In 2005 Kent was asked to give the keynote address at the 29th Annual City of Hope Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion. He now regularly speaks at cancer fundraisers, most recently sharing a bill with Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
.
In 2009 Kent won the prestigious 30th annual Seattle International Comedy Competition and appeared on Showtime's Green Collar Comedy Slam, a left-leaning stand-up comedy show where he skewered Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and their ilk.
Most often now Kent can be seen as a headliner at comedy club
Comedy club
A comedy club is a venue, typically a nightclub, bar, or restaurant where people watch or listen to performances, including stand-up comedians, improvisational comedians, impersonators, magicians, ventriloquists and other comedy acts...
s and colleges across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and internationally in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the UK and beyond.
Recordings
In August 2005 Kent recorded and released his first hour-long comedy CD. The CD deconstructs pop-culture, politics, drug laws, and attitudes about sex in America, including a riff on the Terri SchiavoTerri Schiavo
The Terri Schiavo case was a legal battle in the United States between the legal guardians and the parents of Teresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo that lasted from 1998 to 2005...
case.
It also includes an outtake track of Kent battling a drunk woman in the audience plus the song Your Genitals are Evil - which was co-written with Tom Von Doom, formerly of the band Cycle Sluts From Hell
Cycle Sluts From Hell
The Cycle Sluts from Hell were an American heavy metal band from the late 1980s to early 1990s. They were only together briefly but are remembered for their name....
.
In 2010 Kent released his second CD, "Waiting for the Rapture", for Uproar Entertainment.
The Laugh Button has called it "... a jolt of hilarious though sometimes painful honesty. Tackling topics of 21st Century America, such as politics, Wal-Mart, hippies, recycling, Anderson Cooper and fundamentalist Christians. His appeal is to anyone who’s ever felt themselves an outcast, rebel, or dissatisfied with the world, while trying to figure out where it all went wrong."
External links
- www.seankent.com - Sean Kent's official homepage (includes audio, video, essays, etc.)
- http://seankent.com/articles.php - Media Articles About Sean Kent
- CD REVIEW - A review of Sean's CD "Sex, Drugs, and Love"
- http://seankent.com/audiovideo.php - Video of live shows and audio tracks from "Sex, Drugs, and Politics" - Sean's first CD
- http://www.seankent.com/schedule.php - Sean Kent's Live Performance Schedule
- http://seattlecomedycompetition.com/2009/ - Seattle International Comedy Competition