Comedians selected for 2010 stand-up competition

Two days after graduating from law school in 2005, John Ramsay did something that was, perhaps, a bit unlawyer-like.


He entered the competition to select the funniest person in Austin, Texas, and he won.


Forget law. A comedian was born.


Ramsey — who since was a finalist in this year’s County Music Television’s “Next Big Comic” competition — is one of the 20 top up-and-coming comedians selected to participate in the stand-up competition at the 2010 Viaero Great American Comedy Festival this June in Norfolk.


There’s also Pat McGann, who recently was named one of the top 10 funniest comedians in Chicago by Reader’s Digest magazine.


And Aparna Nacherla who competed in network television’s “Last Comic Standing 6” and says that her favorite pasttime is trying too hard.


And Joe Wong, who already has made two guest appearances on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”


Those four and 16 others will be vying for the favor of judges at the June 16-20 third annual comedy festival.


Ten of the 20 will take to the stage at the Johnny Carson Theatre on Thursday, June 17, at 7 p.m., and the other 10 on Friday, June 18. The top four — as selected by judges — from each evening will advance to the finals on Saturday, June 19.


The 20 were selected after auditioning in front of Eddie Brill, the festival’s producer and talent coordinator for David Letterman, in 10 locations across the nation earlier this year, including Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Austin and New York City.


They’ll compete in June for the festival’s $5,000 top prize, which was won last year by Kermet Apio of Seattle.


Apio will be returning for this year’s festival to host the June 17 and June 18 performances. Closing each of those shows will be comedian Wendy Liebman, who appeared in Norfolk as part of the “Comics of Letterman” show on Valentine’s Day 2009.


“You’ll want to come out and see these 20 comedians perform on Thursday and Friday of the festival and see if your favorites match up with those of the judges,” said Lora Young, the festival’s executive director.


In addition to Ramsey, Nancherla, McGann and Wong, the other comedians coming to Norfolk this summer are:
Andy Pitz, Steve Mazan, Joe DeVito, Ms. Pat, Andy Hendrickson, Kellen Erskine, Brian Moote, Auggie Smith, Troy Walker, Mike MacRae, Mike Winfield, Andy Ritchie, Tommy Ryman, Cy Amundson, Bryan Kellen and Maronzio Vance.


Apio said that even though those names might not be familiar to Norfolkans and area residents, if they’ve been hand-picked by Brill to compete in the Great American Comedy Festival, it means they’re good — and funny.


“Eddie has a great eye for talent,” Apio said.