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Original Message
"Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by FesterFan1 on 08-06-03 at 11:55 AM
LAST EDITED ON 08-06-03 AT 12:01 PM (EST)

OK, OK, so it was rigged. However, before we get to that, there was a whole 1 hour and 55 minutes that made the Joe Millionaire finale look like quality television. Gawd was this a painful show to sit through.

For the record, here are things that DO NOT make good TV:
-- Showing us the auditions of the 2,000 people who just showed up to the open call to make such a reel. (Hey look, that guy's naked! Oh my God! That's hysterical!)

-- Showing us the routines of the comics that we've already seen. (Gosh, remember when you told that joke? That was awesome!)

-- Rehashing old arguments in the house. (Hey Sean, remember when you wanted to hit Rich with the frying pan? Good times.)

-- Continual confessionals with these people about their feelings on getting this far and on comedy in general. (When I'm on stage I fell like I'm touching God. Yeah, well God says "quit it".)

Fer chrissakes, if I wanted that kind of filler material, I would've bought the "Making of Last Comic Standing" DVD. Just horrible.

And Jay Mohr? Wow. Talk about having no sense of live TV. I thought Phil from TAR was the master of the dramatic pause, but move over Phil...Jay's in town. The pauses when announcing the next comic to leave (which was a horrendous format in its own right) were flat-out torturous. And calling the name of someone who's not going, just to make them sweat? Not funny. Not the first time, and not funny when Rich Vos actually started to leave the stage and they had to trip all over themselves to inform Cory that hers was the number that was really up. Real smooth, Jay.

It was the most excruciating 2 hours of TV I've sat through in years.

Then the final vote: Dat 35% and Ralphie 27%. Are you kidding me? I knew Dat would win when Rich got bounced, and I immediately said to myself "well I'll be damned, this thing is fixed after all". Then I thought about it some more, and it's possible that Dat could've really won the vote. Here's how:

First of all, Dat's the underdog. He's been piled on and the butt of everyone's joke for weeks. So there's the sympathy vote.

Second, Dat's the one who looks like he wants it the most. Even his housemates have said he wants it the most. So he got the "who wants it the most" vote.

Third, Tess and Rich never had to prove themselves in one-on-one competition. So neither of them get any of the "X really earned it" vote. And Cory only had to go up against Tere, and that was way back in like week 3 or something, so she probably didn't get any of that vote either. Dat had to go in back-to-back weeks, so he probably got the majority of the votes from those people.

Fourth, Ralphie went political. Big mistake in a competition. Personally, I thought his non-political stuff was hilarious, but wasn't thrilled with the "line 'em up" schtick. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. For the record, even if Ralphie's political jokes matched my own personal politics, I still think it would've been a mistake to go that route--in a competition.

Fifth, if any one of them had stood out, Dat might not have won. But they were all flat in the finals (except Ralphie, who went political. See above.).

Sure, it could've went down that way. However, there is no way in hell that Dat was the best comic in the house. I'll bet NBC breathed a huge sigh of relief when their stuffed--I mean completely legitimate--ballot box came back with Dat (and not Ralphie) as the winner. Lucky for them they got someone young and naive who they can mold into whatever they want. Yeah, real "lucky".

Fester

Edit to add: You know what would've made a good finale? Announce the winner, and then let all 10 do a 5-minute set. You wouldn't have even needed 2 hours for that.

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Messages in this discussion
"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by cqvenus on 08-06-03 at 12:14 PM
LAST EDITED ON 08-06-03 AT 12:15 PM (EST)


I agree whole-heartedly about why this finale completely sucked. It was painful to watch. If I were Rich Vos' kids, I wouldn't have shown up, either. It was like watching a perpetual rerun of the show. I didn't need to see it. I was there the whole time. One didn't even need to endure this whole season because they played it all back in the finale. Ick.

I also agree about how they *should* have ended it. Have one last 5 minute standup session, and then announce the winner. I thought announcing Rich when Cory was supposed to leave was just MEAN, and completely unfunny.

But, then again, humor is subjective.

If they intend to make a LCS2, I will not be there unless they grossly revamp the format (and ensure that the contestants are NEWBIES, but that's a different argument).

- thinks festerday trickled over into festerstock.

EDITED to remove unnecessary extra signature pictures

"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by Lisapooh on 08-06-03 at 12:15 PM
In a perfect world, everyday woud be Festerday.
"Disagree."
Posted by SurvivinDawg on 08-06-03 at 12:34 PM
I didn't think it was that bad.

I was expecting a LOT worse.

It was basically a Survivor Reunion show before the winner was actually announced.

The worst part was Jay Mohr, of course. Vos electrocuted him with the "I'm funnier than you, Jay!" line, and THAT was great. Yes, the "eliminations" were overdone... and they waited to the LAST second to announce the winner... meaning virtually NO time to ask the winner "Well, how do you feel?" and the 2d place guy "Well, fat boy, how do you feel about being screwed out of first by a rigged result?"

It could've been done in one hour, also.

But it wasn't the worst finale ever, IMHO.



Contradictions don't exist. If you are faced with a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong. -- Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by Bucky Katt on 08-06-03 at 12:54 PM
Luckily for me (I guess) I watched BB for the first hour so I missed out on half the show. Its really too bad because I like this show and would watch it again but the finale really should have been done better. I still don't understand why they didn't go for 2 hours last week and give the 5 finalists 10 minutes each. Then they could have had one hour this week which would have been more then enough time.

I think the worst part for me may have been not laughing one time while Ralphie and Dat did their stand-up. Not a good sign for their futures.

"How fascinating for you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm due to make a deposit at the local savings and litter box."

"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by mtopaz on 08-06-03 at 12:58 PM
I agree completely. A two hour finale was just ridiculous, and in fact, 30 minutes would probably have been sufficient. After the first awkward 20 minutes or so, I stopped watching and finished painting my bathroom. Got done in time to see the final three on stage. It was funny to see Dat's face when he won - even he was shocked and disbelieving. Anyway, I hope both Ralphie and Dat are successful, I liked them both.

MJ
Agree with LisaPooh - everyday should be a FesterDay!

"I have to agree."
Posted by SurvivorOverlord on 08-06-03 at 01:14 PM
I just don't think that Dat Phan is funny...he did the same schtick the whole time..nothing orginal or funny...I do agree that the set that Ralphie did in the finals was suicide...it was by far the worst set that we got to see him do...I think if he had done the set he did last night he could have won.

Hell in my opinion the whole thing was set up to make Dat look like the little kid who got picked on and overcame the adversity to make us feel like good won over evil....it was rigged!


SULTAN OF SMOOCHES

"Agree"
Posted by AyaK on 08-06-03 at 01:40 PM
LAST EDITED ON 08-06-03 AT 01:41 PM (EST)

I was going to write a review of the final performances and then of the finale, but last night's stinker killed that plan. I agree, Fester, 'twas a dud.

Personally, I thought <Ralphie's> non-political stuff was hilarious, but wasn't thrilled with the "line 'em up" schtick. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. For the record, even if Ralphie's political jokes matched my own personal politics, I still think it would've been a mistake to go that route--in a competition.

As you saw in my review of the finale, I agree -- and Ralphie's political jokes are much closer to my own personal politics than to yours. It just wasn't funny, except in an adolescent "see how politically incorrect we are?" way.

And Jay Mohr? Wow. Talk about having no sense of live TV.

Talk about getting by on your looks, and you're talking about Jay Lehss. Not one iota of Jay is funny. Maybe they could do this show again with someone hosting who actually was funny. The only one of the finalists against whom Jay might be able to hold his own is Tess, and that's just because her routine was so lame.

it's possible that Dat could've really won the vote

I don't have any doubt that Dat really won the vote. As you point out, people saw him perform THREE times near the end, including his "duel to the death" against Dave, and he was edited as the underdog in the house. Plus, I really do think that Dat is funny; he just needs more seasoning to become consistent and smooth.

You know what would've made a good finale? Announce the winner, and then let all 10 do a 5-minute set. You wouldn't have even needed 2 hours for that.

Considering how bad/nervous the five finalists were in their final performance, I'm not sure that that would have been very compelling either. Nevertheless, it couldn't have been worse than what was aired!

"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by okdebi on 08-06-03 at 01:59 PM
I agree with all that's been said. Luckily, I watched BB and then watched Cupid, making sure that I was back on Last Comic 10 minutes before it was over so I could see who won. My original plan had been actually to focus on Last Comic but after the first 10 minutes, I canned that plan and went to Plan B.

I just wanted to add that IMO, not only did editing play a large part in Dat Phan's win but the comics themselves contributed to their own demise. They collectively "picked" on Dat Phan throughout the time in the house and elevated him to the underdog status that he had. They played tricks on him, said mean things to and about him, and challenged him twice. At one point in one of the shows (my recall is terrible), Rich Vos actually said something to that effect...something about "We're probably helping him get votes". The stage was initially set in the auditions, when Dat Phan started crying when he was talking about his hard childhood, etc. From there it just grew.

Couple that with the fact that no one brought it home on the final evening and the reasons on this thread...and voila! Dat Phan wins Last Comic Standing.

I'm still bothered.

"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by theresnothingfunnyaboutignorance on 08-06-03 at 03:30 PM
>I just wanted to add that IMO, not only did editing play a large part in Dat Phan's win but the comics themselves contributed to their own demise. They collectively "picked" on Dat Phan throughout the time in the house and elevated him to the underdog status that he had. They played tricks on him, said mean things to and about him, and challenged him twice. At one point in one of the shows (my recall is terrible), Rich Vos actually said something to that effect...something about "We're probably helping him get votes". The stage was initially set in the auditions, when Dat Phan started crying when he was talking about his hard childhood, etc. From there it just grew.

i totally agree with you.

you have to figure, the editors were looking for themes as they chose each week's episode. the other comics doing the "cool comic" thing didn't help their position. neither did consistently picking on dat. and the fact that they trash-talked and then didn't deliver the goods the final night REALLY sealed their fate. especially tess. my god, did she suck. the only one delivering was ralphie, so the finale was between him and dat, and i agree with you all that the political slant to his set proved his downfall. otherwise, he would have won by far. if this thing was rigged, it was long before the polls were set up and the voting was just shooting fish in a barrel.

still, this was good exposure for all.

"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by Silvergirl1 on 08-07-03 at 00:49 AM
LAST EDITED ON 08-07-03 AT 00:51 AM (EST)

-- Rehashing old arguments in the house. (Hey Sean, remember when you wanted to hit Rich with the frying pan? Good times.)

-- Continual confessionals with these people about their feelings on getting this far and on comedy in general. (When I'm on stage I fell like I'm touching God. Yeah, well God says "quit it".)

You really had me chuckling, Fester. Too bad you weren't in this contest. You would have won it hands down.

I think Ayak should let your post stand as the summary of the final show, because your comments are that good. I totally agree with you.

Silvergirl

Hearts Fester, even when it's not Festerday.
"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by AZ_Leo on 08-11-03 at 11:28 AM
I rewatched the finale just to confirm something I remember hearing. The 2 guys from the Tonight Show who did the initial selections made a comment about why they picked Cory. They stated it was because they could see her story (single mom, teenage daughter) as a sit com. That implied that they were never looking for people who were funny doing stand up. They were looking for future Raymonds.

And what exactly qualified these two to be the initial judges? I don't watch Leno that much but I have rarely seen any new standup acts.

"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by SurvivinDawg on 08-11-03 at 11:58 AM
LAST EDITED ON 08-11-03 AT 12:02 PM (EST)

Ya know, we could've, probably should've, predicted this.

Unless these guys wanted someone in the "Seinfeld" mold, who could do a stand-up routine to open their little show, then OF COURSE they want to give their grand prize (the TV show) to someone who'd be better for TV than for the stand-up stage.

I agree that Cory's humor could be adapted to television... I wonder if she chose it for that.

Ralphie's material might've been adaptable... but I think he was right in his interview where he said NBC didn't want a "fat person" sitcom, etc.

By way of contrast: Tess, Rich Vos, Dave Mordal, Sean, Geoff, etc... their stuff just wasn't the stuff of TV.

Yes, we shoulda seen it coming. WHERE were our spoiling abilities?!!?!

And what exactly qualified these two to be the initial judges? I don't watch Leno that much but I have rarely seen any new standup acts.

I think this is the point a lot of people have been missing: This was about TV, not necessarily about stand-up! As said above, they were looking for the stand-up... of course, Jay Mohr got his buddies Vos and Mordal spots, but other than that, TV was clearly a factor in the decisions for the Final 10, and the Final Five.



Contradictions don't exist. If you are faced with a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong. -- Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

"RE: Worst. Finale. Ever."
Posted by AZ_Leo on 08-11-03 at 02:38 PM
I've also wondered if they have been told to do the same routines over and over because they fit into NBC's development ideas.