Whoa! 08/08/08… That’s a whole lot of eights…

Have I mentioned before how much we hate “reality” TV?? And I use that term where it is applied to things like televised talent shows, in most cases. I’ve never been sure why they aren’t called “talent competitions”, but if the industry wants us (the viewers) to consider carefully scripted and directed “competitions” as “reality”, who are we (the common rabble) to complain??

Where I am eventually going with this is, last night we watched the finale of this season’s Last Comic Standing. A 90 minute production of the most audacious advertising of every conceivable program on NBC’s schedule, there were also brief moments where the hosts were able to insert a second or two of actual comedians.

From the opening number promoting the Olympic coverage the network is set to begin broadcasting tonight, to a “major announcement” from Deal Or No Deal host Howie Mandel regarding the new season of that show (I don't want to spoil the surprise, but the hit show is returning!), the finale was one NBC commercial after another, broken up every five or six minutes by actual commercials. The only thing missing from the self-promotional love-fest was stars from hit shows of the past coming out in a telethon-like manner, urging viewers to remain on the station, for old time’s sake. Ed McMahon would have been right at home onstage, calling for a tympani roll…

At any rate, network promotional blitz aside, week after week we’ve watched Last Comic Standing eliminate one funny comedian after another. The only exception had been the single female comic left, who week after week miraculously stayed alive in the competition, without ever once performing a funny routine. Not that I want to go for an obvious gag, but I’m feeling that her enhanced personal flotation devices may have been primarily responsible for keeping her afloat, because her act was far from funny. Ugh…

After Canada’s comic ambassador Sean Cullen was eliminated a week or so ago, we had a couple of favourites left in the competition. And there was a clear frontrunner with a polished act that showed variety, and a true gift for being onstage. Someone they could actually market.

As NBC frantically promoted six more of the fall schedule programs, the stage was whittled down to these two competitors. And the hosts announced that the winner was…the female comic.

Well, it’s all personal opinion when it comes to comedy, always has been. Comedy is probably the most subjective genre you will ever come across, and we certainly were not aligned in this choice. But, what are you going to do? This comic will skyrocket into a whirlwind week of fame and fortune, before joining the likes of what’s-his-name, whatca-ma-call-him, and who-was-that guy, some of the big winners of past seasons on this “reality” talent show.

With Last Comic Standing done for this year, I guess we’ll just have to console ourselves with coverage of the 2008 Olympics, and America’s Got Talent. Don’t forget to tune into The Baby Borrowers, and American Gladiators!

Chow for now!!