The Comedy Festival and Ziddio, the user-generated video-sharing Web site launched by Comcast Interactive Media, are teaming up on “The Lucky 21,” a talent search to determine the 21 best stand-up comedians in the country.
For the talent hunt, 42 comedy clubs are teaming up with the festival in one of the nation’s most ambitious stand-up competitions, which began July 18 in Columbus, Ohio, and culminates in mid-November at the third annual The Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
In Las Vegas, The Lucky 21 finalists will join an HBO TCF lineup that already includes comedy legends Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock Nov. 14-17.
The Lucky 21 will allow comedy fans to send their favorite comedians to TCF by supporting them at their local comedy club and voting for them online.
In the first round of competition, 42 comedy clubs across the country will choose their top comedians to perform in front of a panel of judges. Two comedians from each club will be selected to advance to one of seven regional competitions. During the regionals, fans will have the opportunity to vote online for the top 20 comedians who will advance to Las Vegas and perform at TCF.
Comedians not advancing from a regional competition will have the opportunity to enter the “Wild Card” round by uploading a stand-up performance to Ziddio allowing anyone to participate in the contest. Fans will vote online to determine which of these comedians will head to TCF as the 21st comedian.
Following TCF, each participant’s performance from Caesars Palace will be available on Ziddio, where fans will have one more chance to support their favorite comedian by voting for “The Luckiest Comedian.” The winner will receive a prize package that includes a television appearance, meetings with network and industry executives and $10,000 cash.
“Lucky 21 on ziddio.com is the place where any aspiring comedians can showcase their talents alongside some of the funniest comedians in the business and, by enabling viewers to vote on submissions, people who love comedy can be a part of their entertainment experience,” CIM senior vice president of entertainment Elizabeth Schimel said in a prepared statement. “We are thrilled to be partners in a contest with The Comedy Festival that will impact a true grassroots, national audience.”
Previously announced, Rock and Seinfeld will headline back-to-back Colosseum shows at the third annual TCF in November at Caesars Palace presented by HBO and AEG Live. With TBS returning as title sponsor, the four-day event will feature multiartist performances, tributes, stand-up and sketch comedy and televised special events taking place in a variety of venues throughout Caesars Palace.
