Comedy and rivalry pretty much go hand in hand in this day and age. Now, when you add Japanese school girls to the mix the stakes get way more interesting. Nestled away in the heart of Hollywood lives a sketch/stand-up show that combines cutthroat competition with sheer, madcap silliness. The Happy Contest Time show is indeed competitive comedy at it’s finest. The show originated in Toronto where it was created by Desiree Lavoy and Deborah Etta Robinson. After Ms. Robinson moved to Los Angeles, she joined forces with producer Christina Thiele to bring HCT to a Cali audience. I had the pleasure of attending the third round of Happy Contest Time’s Tournament of Winners and it defied all my expectations. The night was filled with playful sketches, mimes, acrobatics, a rogue heckler, and a barrel full of laughs.
Host Deborah Etta Robinson, dressed in a very girly HCT uniform, warmed the crowd with a merry dance that lasted a good minute or so. I don’t think I’ve ever been that cardio-gifted in my life. From there, Robinson introduced the evening’s judges which included a most unanticipated substitute for one of the Japanese school girl judges, who was referred to as “otosan.” It was at this time that the audience found out why a letter grade was posted on the show curtain. It turns out, the “comedy inspector” was not impressed with the show’s progress and slapped on a C grade over the once stellar A.
This situation needed to be resolved immediately. So began the cavalcade of HCT contestant performances. First off, the audience was moderately pandered to by comedian Joe McAdam. Hey, every little bit of audience encouragement helps when the judges are breathing down your neck. McAdam was awarded a solid score and the entertainment continued without pause.
Debra DiGiovanni, who had just given an amazing performance at the Rise UP show, once again delivered a new, outrageously funny set that received a perfect score from the judges. The audience was then treated to an unannounced poetry reading by the Haiku Pigeon (AKA The Comedy Bureau‘s Jake Kroeger). Haik-uuuuuuuu! This is the first time I’ve witnessed this rare bird in the wild.
Next up to bat was the incomparable Dick Mime. How do I put this as delicately as possible? Hmmm…the Dick Mime takes the visual arts to phallic extremes which, of course, warrants loads of laughter. The mime was justly rewarded with points.
Following the silent entertainer, there was a minor interruption by the comedy inspector, bookended by the glorious and sweet Beth Stelling. Armed with a backpack of judge bribes, Stelling delivered an amazing song and made everyone in the room grin from ear to ear. Not surprisingly, Stelling tied for a winning spot with Why Would You Eat That’s Ron Babcock. The former champion, showed off some regal wares before performing a set that included devil sticks. Yes, not only is Babcock‘s talent extraordinary but he taught one of the judges some of his moves and had me doubled over with laughter.
Right before the winners were announced, the show’s masked heckler made an appearance and in turn met an untimely death. If only, all shows could inflict justice as swiftly.
Alas, three winners had to be chosen. Comedians Debra DiGiovanni, Beth Stelling, and Ron Babcock were awarded the HCT honor and two will face off against 4 other competitors in TONIGHT’s FINAL round of the tournament. Folks, don’t miss this show every Tuesday at Three Clubs. I guarantee it will be your new addiction in life.
Mentions: Tonight see the final round of Happy Contest Time’s Tournament of Winners. See Ron Babcock, Debra DiGiovanni, Erin Lennox, Katie Crown, Shawn Pearlman and Ricky Carmona. Find out out how the heckler will meet his demise TONIGHT 9pm at Three Clubs. (located at 1123 Vine St., LA) Show images by Scott Sutton.