COMICS CAN'T STAND 'LAST COMIC STANDING'

From the New York Post:
Drew Carey and Brett Butler say the selection process for "Last Comic Standing: The Search for the Funniest Person in America" is a complete joke.

The uproar started last week, when Carey and Butler - celebrity judges for the NBC show's upcoming season - complained that the funniest comics were passed over in favor of colorful reality-show contestants.

"They're presenting this to the public as if it's a contest, but it's not," Carey fumed to the Los Angeles Times. "It was not a comedy contest. I've got no beef against casting a reality show if you want of have a mix [of personalities], but this was so clearly cast . . . I don't want my name associated with a trick being played on the public."

Butler echoed Carey's complaints on her Web site, writing: "As panel judges, we can say that (a) we were both surprised and disappointed at the results and (b) we had NOTHING to do with them."

The controversy stems from the disparity between the judges' reactions to the 20 stand-up contenders in last month's semifinals in Las Vegas, and the show's somewhat dubious final picks.

To make matters even fishier, two of the more comedically challenged contestants who made the final 10 - the one-named Ant and Gary Gulman - are repped by executive producer Barry Katz, who also manages "Last Comic" host Jay Mohr. The final 10 contestants will be televised living in a house together and be voted off by viewers.

A New York comedy manager whose clients have competed on the show told PAGE SIX that comedy insiders have dismissed the show as a scam ever since stand-up performer Dat Phan won last year. "Everyone thought it was fixed," said the comedy manager, who asked to remain anonymous. "Dat Phan was awful. This year it looks like it's going to be just as bad. It's a shame."

Yesterday, the network issued a revised version of a statement it put out last week. The new statement reads: "NBC and NBC Studios regret that, as a result of a miscommunication, our Las Vegas talent scouts were unclear about the procedures for the initial casting process.

"As was the case last season, the casting decisions were made by NBC and NBC Studios in consultation with the talent scouts, and we appreciate their valuable input. Once the 10 comics were chosen, all elimination decisions were made and will continue to be made solely by the audience without any input from NBC, NBC Studios or anyone else associated with the program."