Drew Carey and Brett Butler, two of the celebrity judges for last month's Las Vegas semifinals competition that determined the Top 10 contestants who will be competing on this summer's Last Comic Standing 2, are calling the selection process "crooked and dishonest" and noting that they "had NOTHING to do with" the selected finalists.
ADVERTISEMENT
Click Here
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Carey told the service that "I thought it was crooked and dishonest." "It was like somebody at NBC cast the show ahead of the event in Vegas. And they had 1,100 in the audience (for the semifinals competition) who saw how blatantly it was cast. If this happened on Survivor or any other reality TV show, it would be a major scandal."
Butler, who joined Carey, Anthony Clark, and first-season finalist Tess Drake on the judging panel, agreed with Carey's remarks. In a posting on her website last week, Butler stated that "as panel judges, we can say that (a) we were both surprised and disappointed at the results and (b) we had NOTHING to do with them."
RELATED LINKS
Last Comic Standing Message Boards
RealityTVWorld: Last Comic Standing
SirLinksALot: Last Comic
More Last Comic Standing News
In response, NBC released a statement noting that while the judges' opinion in the rounds leading to the semifinals are taken into account, the final decision is made by the show's producers and NBC executives -- a point that also appeared in the fine print of the show's first season rules, but a distinction that Carey insists "misled" the judges as to the "nature of their roles."
"The casting decisions were made by NBC and NBC Studios in consultation with talent scouts and we appreciate their valuable input," NBC said in a statement. "Now that the 10 participants have been selected, the program will begin. As was the case last season, during the show, the comic elimination decisions will now be made by audiences who watch the comics perform without any input from NBC, NBC Studios or anyone else associated with the program."
The Reporter also notes that at least two clear conflicts of interest appear exist in the casting process, as Barry Katz, a Last Comic Standing executive producer, is also the manager of two of the performers who made the Final 10 -- the one-name comic Ant and Gary Gulman. Katz also serves as manager for series host Jay Mohr.
Check this shit out!!
Moderators: bingolong, Jennifer, tamra
Forum rules
Spam is not allowed. All spammers will be blocked and reported to appropriate agencies.
Spam is not allowed. All spammers will be blocked and reported to appropriate agencies.
Check this shit out!!
"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all"
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Re: Check this shit out!!
Big ups to Drew Carey and Brett Butler for bringing the truth out!
"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all"
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Re: Check this shit out!!
smjmcomic,
Well, that's some bullshit! Of course, it's rigged!
George Schlatter used to produce The COmedy Awards (off air now for a few years) but we all knew, you won if you agreed to show up! We love George anyway-he's a great producer, just a little expediant!
Well, that's some bullshit! Of course, it's rigged!
George Schlatter used to produce The COmedy Awards (off air now for a few years) but we all knew, you won if you agreed to show up! We love George anyway-he's a great producer, just a little expediant!
Re: Check this shit out!!
smjmcomic,
How else would Dat Phan have been so popular?
Jane
How else would Dat Phan have been so popular?
Jane
I don't know Karate. But I know Ka-Razy!
Re: Check this shit out!!
jane_haze,
Asian backing
For example try to get a Dodger Ticket when Nomo's playing I'm not knocking the Asian couminty at all I'm just saying they tend to rally behind there own. Why do you think Yao Ming had so many votes from China?
Asian backing
For example try to get a Dodger Ticket when Nomo's playing I'm not knocking the Asian couminty at all I'm just saying they tend to rally behind there own. Why do you think Yao Ming had so many votes from China?
"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all"
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson