From the desk of the Film Bros:

"APPRENTICE PICTURES is holding AUDITIONS for an upcoming SKETCH COMEDY SERIES.
They need the following types:
A short person(s) 18+
Females all ages 18+
Auditions to be held in Newark, DE
... July 9th & 10th
If you have an interest, please send an email to
bill@apprenticepictures.net"

Did you see the Delaware / Joe Biden spoof on SNL last night?

I was bracing myself, but it wasn't really that bad (as far as the roast factor - whether it was actually funny or not is debatable).  Here it is (in poor video quality), if you missed it.  The first few seconds are a bit of the preceding clip, so wait for it:

The Grand Opera House's local comedy contest has announced its list of participants.

Congrats to Brandon Gains, Freddie Heinemann, Ian Fidance, Kevin Ryan, Kyle Martin, Latice Mitchell, Mary Radzinski, Michael Gleason, Rob DeSantis, Sidney Gantt, and Todd Chappelle.

You can hear these aspiring stand-ups perform their best comedy bits at the "LOL @ The Grand" contest, which will take place at the Grand on Friday, March 2nd, at 8pm.  Tickets will be $10.

The Grand Opera House is still searching for amateur comedians for their comedy competition.

Link for full details: http://www.thegrandwilmington.org/Community/LOL@TheGrand

The final competition won't take place until March 2nd, 2012, but the deadline to apply is November 1st.  Finalists will be notified by December 1st.  The grand prize winner of the finals in March will have a chance to open for a national touring comedian at the Grand during the 2012-2013 season (such as, possibly: Lewis Black, Wanda Sykes, Ron White, etc.). 

Note if you're thinking of auditioning but think the competition might be too stiff:  I've now seen advertisements from the Grand on Craigslist, seeking auditioners.  Obviously not nearly enough people have applied.  So give it a shot - you never know!  They won't even give you a chance to appear onstage if they think you're not up to snuff, so there's really little chance of seriously embarrassing yourself. 

Fan of The Best Show on WFMU?

Then you should hear about The Best Show on WFMU -  Live Listener Party happening tonight.  For those unfamiliar, The Best Show is a New Jersey radio comedy show.  It's hard to describe, but it's a fake call-in show where one guy always plays the radio host and the other guy plays a variety of oddball characters who call in (such as "Philly Boy Roy").  Their largely-unscripted on-air conversations are drawn out over the space of 45 minutes or so and reveal a humor so subtle that you almost have to listen to each episode (available on podcasts) twice.   Probably the most accessible installment I've heard is the one where the caller is supposed to be Pat Sajak's brother - here's a free podcast of that show:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-sajak-originally-aired/id306300026?i=81730543. 

The listener party will take place tonight, Tuesday, at The 700 Club in Northern Liberties, 8pm-2am.  The social media page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117106751710996

Two different comedy benefit shows on Thursday in the Wilmington area

Comedy benefit show at Mojo 13:

This comedy show benefits cancer patient and young father Dustin Walls.  The show runs from 8pm-11 on Thursday, and features local comedians Joe Mayo, Greg Lynn, Tommy Pope, Benny Michaels, Brendan Kennedy, and Michael Rainey (who has put this together).

From the organizer:

"This is a benefit for my good friend Dustin Walls. Last year, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer. Since then, Dustin has been fighting it while having to endure radiation and chemotherapy. Dustin is one of the finest friends you could ever come across. This benefit means a great deal to Dustin, his wife Kylee, and their beautiful 2 year old daughter Layla. Also, some of my best comedian friends were willing to perform for free to make this event even better. I will be performing, as will Joe Mayo, Greg Lynn, Tommy Pope, Benny Michaels, and Brendan Kennedy. Please come out to support this event and the awesome person whom it stands to benefit."
The admission price is not being advertised on the event listing, but I would expect it to be somewhere around $5. 

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=159768147418037

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Comedy benefit show in Trolley Square / Little Italy:

This event benefits the Delaware Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and features comedians Mike Vecchione, Big Jay Oakerson, and local Geno Bisconte (who is amusingly hyped here as "seen on Fox News!").   The venue is Club 3 on 12th & Union.  I'm not familiar with this club, but it looks like the same location where several different clubs have been over the years, next to Frank's Wines.  Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.  Thursday, 9pm-midnight. 

For more info or advance tickets: http://www.inwilmingtonde.com/events/event.php?e=311

Grand Opera House announces comedy contest

In October, the Grand Opera House, teamed up with Out & About, will choose 10 regional comedians to compete in a night of comedy to take place in March 2012.  The winner of that comedy night will open for a comedian on the Grand's 2012 or 2013 schedule (such as previous Grand acts Wanda Sykes or Lewis Black).  It's well in advance and I'll mention it again closer to the October deadline, but if you want to get a heads up about the application process, follow this link:

http://www.thegrandwilmington.org/Community/LOL@TheGrand