Comic Genius
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Comic Genius is the world's first online stand-up comic contest that is open to all Canadians. It is sponsored by The Comedy Network and the CTV comedy, Corner Gas. It began on September 26, 2005 and ended on November 27, 2005.
During each week until November 20, 2005, the contest was open to auditions by any Canadian (excluding residents of Quebec) who has registered as a resident, or member, of the online Corner Gas community. An audition consists of a digitally-recorded audio clip of up to two minutes of a person doing a stand-up comedy routine. During the week, any member of the online Corner Gas community may vote on the submitted routines and submit comments of praise or criticism.
After each week, the top ten entries, based on ratings and judges' discretion, will be promoted to "contestants". The top two contestants from the previous week will then become "semi-finalists".
The top five who advanced from the contest were flown to Regina, Saskatchewan to compete on a live comedy special on The Comedy Network, which was hosted by Corner Gas star Brent Butt, himself a Canadian Comedy Award winning stand-up comedian. The top two finalists earned an appearance on Corner Gas, and the winner received $10,000.
[edit] Structure
Opening week: September 26 to October 2. (auditions are voted on and the top ten advance to be the first contestants)
Weeks 2 to 8 (October 3 to November 20. (auditions are voted on and the top ten advance to be contestants; the contestants from the previous week are also voted on. The top two for each week (16 contestants) will advance to the semi-finals.)
Wildcard week: November 21 to November 27. (auditions are voted on and the top two automatically go to the finals.
Semi-Finals - the top 8 of the top 16 from weeks 1 to 8 will go on to the top 10 (the Finals).
The Finals - the top 5 will go to Regina to participate in a TV contest, where the winner will be determined.
Participants in the semi-finals and finals will also have to submit a longer videotaped stand-up comic session.
[edit] Winner
John Beuhler was the winner of the first Comic Genius contest - 2005.
