Jimmy Earll: A Look Back at the 34th Annual 2009 San Francisco International Comedy Competition

34th Annual $25,000.00 San Francisco Stand Up Comedy Competition

from the San Francisco Chronicle

Wednesday, Sep 16 8:00p
at Castagnola's, San Francisco, CA

Hundreds of comedians audition each year to compete in the Annual San Francisco International Stand Up Comedy Competition. Only thirty are chosen. You'll have a chance to see about a dozen of them at this preliminary round of the competition. These contestants aren't newbies; they're hot, comedy-club headliners who bring audiences nationwide to tears.

Hundreds of comedians audition each year to compete in the Annual San Francisco International Stand Up Comedy Competition. Only thirty are chosen. You'll have a chance to see about a dozen of them at this preliminary round of the competition. These contestants aren't newbies; they're hot, comedy-club headliners who bring audiences nationwide to tears. Now, they'll pull out all the stops trying for a future in TV and film.
Past contestants include Dane Cook, Dana Carvey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Robin Williams. 1977 Comedy Champ Dana Carvey went on to Saturday Night Live. Marsha Warfield won in 1979, then starred as everyone's favorite Night Court bailiff. Two first runners up‚ Ellen DeGeneres and Mark Curry, landed their own TV series. 1993 Crown Prince Patton Oswalt kept the laughs going on the King of Queens.
At The Comedy Club at Castagnola's, 15 contestants will each be offering up their very best five to seven minute ‚ Letterman routine. The performers come from far and wide, hoping to gain the kind of notoriety that can open doors in Hollywood and a share of $25,000 in prize money.
Performers will be judged in the areas of delivery, material, stage presence, technique and audience response.

Round II Quarter-Finalists:

Tim Babb, Los Angeles
Ron Babcock, Los Angeles
Sam Bam, Stockton
Byron Bertram, Vancouver
Danny Bevins, Los Angeles
Lars Callieo, Edmonton, Alberta
Max Curry, San Francisco
Christina Davis, Australia
Jimmy Earll, Phoenix
Brendan Lynch, Santa Cruz
Key Lewis, Salt Lake City
Brooks McBeth, Los Angeles
Lynn Ruth Miller, San Francisco
Dave Nickerson, Kansas City
Alvin Williams, Boise

Welcome to the Comedy Club at Castagnola's, San Francisco's new comedy club in the historic Castagnola's restaurant. Standup comedy is thriving in San Francisco and each week we present the brightest up and coming talent as well as veteran comedians from across the country with a fantastic 90 minute show. Our breathtaking second floor venue with floor to ceiling windows overlooks world famous Fisherman's Wharf and the San Francisco fishing fleet . Enjoy a stroll along the wharf's boutique shops and a meal in our traditional old world style restaurant before the show. You will have a great time and enjoy the company of our friends from all over the world.
Showtime on Friday's and Saturday's is 9:30 with doors at 9:00, during the week show time is 8:00 with doors at 7:30. Please check out our parking and directions page for the best place to park with validation and how to get here. We use Brown Paper Tickets because they are a great little company and have very low fees for you whether you buy tickets over the phone or on the internet, or tickets are available here seven days a week for walk up customers. We want your experience here to be fun and memorable and thank you for supporting live comedy.

The Comedy Club at Castagnola's
Castagnola's Restaurant
286 Jefferson
San Francisco CA. 941331
415-776-5015

DAY 1: The Comedy Club at Castagnoia's in San Francisco...down by Fisherman's Wharf...got there super early for orientation then chilled at a Blue's Bar next door, Lou's...my first set was a disaster!!...

i commented on filipinos and small weenies and the crowd turned on me...scored 3rd to last that night...threw the comment out of my set permanently...

...forgot how awesome SF is...

Day 1 results:

1. Sam Bam
2. Byron Bertram
3. Tim Babb
4. Danny Bevins
5. Lynn Ruth Miller

Sam Bam took home first place 1st night...

hate being underneath this thing...

DAY 2: Cal State University, Sonoma...3 hour drive, straight from work...packed house of 18-19 y/o's...was kinda nervous if this old man can connect with the kiddos...removed the small penis comment and changed my delivery and they seemed to like the set...i finished 4th...75 y/o, Lynn Ruth Miller took home first place day 2...

Day 2 results:

1. Lynn Ruth Miller
2. Brooks McBeth
3. Dave Nickerson
4. Jimmy Earll
5. Tim Babb

DAY 3: at the Marin Showcase Theatre in San Rafael, CA.

This was to be the 'TV/Squeeky clean' set...no F bombs or S bombs...or C bombs...no explicit sex...i guess that leaves me with 30 seconds left of material...i made adjustments to my set during the 2+ hour drive to the venue...turns out, it was only funny in the car...scored low the 3rd night...Danny Bevins took home first place...we had just performed together at Laughs Unlimited in Sacramento the previous weekend and he won this thing in 2000...great guy!!

Day 3 results:
1. Danny Bevins
2. Sam Bam
3. Lynn Ruth Miller
4. Byron Bertram
5. Key Lewis

DAY 4: at the recently restored El Campanil Theatre in Antioch, CA...very cool venue...cool town...too bad it's been tainted with the Jaycee Lee Dugard story...there was a Delta Blues Festival going on next to the venue...

Memphis Gold performing on the main stage...

the El Campanil opened in 1928...a ton of old time entertainers performed there...Al Jolson (found his autograph in the greenroom...couldn't find the three stooges)...one of the ushers told me that there are tunnels underneath the theatre that go all over town because the chinese workers were not allowed in the town at night so they had to go home using the tunnels...whitie always keeping the brown man down!!

felt good that night...did my thing...i was sitting down at the side of the stage on my phone when they called my name...i had no idea...i finished 1st on day 4...

Day 4 results:

1. Jimmy Earll
2. Danny Bevins
3. Sam Bam
4. Lars Callieo
5. Lynn Ruth Miller

the El Campanil stage

Al Jolson's auto...1937.

L to R:

Key Lewis, me, Tim Babb and Dave Nickerson.

DAY 5: about a month ago i had a gig here...i did not do well and was very concerned of how i'd score and connect with the crowd...i didn't want to make any adjustments 'cause last time i did that...day 3, the clean set... i failed miserably...i should have adjusted!!

i didn't make the top 5 and did not move on to the next round...oh, well...maybe next time!!

day 5 results:

1. Danny Bevins
2. Dave Nickerson
3. Brendan Lynch
4. Key Lewis
5. Tim Babb and Lars Callieou (tie)