Winning Comedy

Gorilla Tango Theater 8/21, 9:30pm, $10

I don’t really like standup comedy contests. First of all, no one can ever really win comedy no matter how many trophies and wads of cash you’re awarded by subjective judges.

Secondly, they tend to mess with the fragile minds of comedians — you worry you’re not good enough, then you think you’re too good, then you realize that you’re even worse than you thought. At least this is what it does to me.

Despite this, I decided to face my fear and participate in the Gorilla Tango Standup Comedy Contest. I wanted to see if I could do it without it driving me to therapy.

I went to the show where me and 15 other comics all gave our best 3 minutes of material so that an audience of friends of the other contestants could pick their favorites. Surprisingly, I was one of six people to advance to the second round.

Unfortunately, my grandma has been sick and I had planned to visit her as soon as I could get to California. I made a pact with my friend Jamie Campbell though. We decided that if I advanced that he would represent me in the next round.

Jamie Campbell will be performing as me. We could be twins, right?

Jamie is a hilarious guy, an expert improvisor and all-around intense and awesome person. When comparing our styles, I don’t think many people would find similarities. The idea of Jamie performing as me was so funny, I think it motivated me to want to “win.”

Anyway, the second round is tonight at the Gorilla Tango Theater in Chicago. If you are reading this and you can go, I suggest you do it. I wish I was there to see it, but if I was, it wouldn’t be happening.

So please go enjoy it for me.

Read the e-mail I sent Gorilla Tango regarding the cast change.