Wichita's Funniest Person Contest 2022
The Loony Bin
Comedy Club has sponsored a yearly search for Wichita’s funniest person since
2002. It is a tough thing to make funny people compete. There are a lot of
factors to having a great show. And to be truly funny is to be unique, and that
uniqueness is hard to judge. Let’s try it right now. Who is funnier: George
Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld or Triumph the Insult Comic Dog? Go ahead, take your
time…
See what we mean?
It’s a tough thing to do. And yes we believe Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is a
person.
A few traditions
have developed over the years. The final contest is always held on the Wednesday
night before Thanksgiving. It is open to anyone who fancies themselves a person
that makes other people laugh, whether that person is a magician, a clown
(Circus, birthday or haunted house clowns only. Sorry, sad clowns, you are not
invited. Firm rule.), a comedian, an actor or just a gifted speaker. The
previous year’s winner is always invited back to host the finals the following
year. The most important tradition is probably that it is a whole lot of fun
for everyone. The energy is palpable, almost electric in a way.
This year we have
tightened things up. Instead of spreading the contest over 3 or more months; we
are doing it every Wednesday for 8 straight weeks beginning the first Wednesday
of October. The first 6 weeks are qualifying rounds. The first 15 performers
who are in line to sign up at 7:00pm on those first six Wednesday nights will
perform a 5-minute or less set. At the end of the show 3 semi-finalists will be
chosen by audience applause to advance to the next round.
The 7th
Wednesday will be the semi-finals. All of the performers who advanced during
the previous 6 weeks will compete for 1 of 12 spots in the finals the following
week. At the end of the show 8 finalists will be chosen by a panel of three
judges. After which, 4 of the remaining contestants will be picked by audience
applause to advance to the finals as wild cards.
The
8th and final Wednesday of the contest (the night before
Thamksgiving) is the big Finale. If all has gone according to plan, we will be
left with 12 of the funniest people from the Wichita area competing for the
crown. There isn’t actually a crown. We are not Burger King. Anyhow, 1 winner
will be chosen by a celebrity judging panel and will be given a cash prize, a
booking at the club, a photo shoot provided by Kacy Meinecke Photography and a
"Wichita's Funniest Person 2021" championship bracelet provided by
our friends at Jewelry Savers and maybe more. Prizes subject to change.
Past Winners
2021 - Derek Aalders
2020 - Dan the Man
2019 - Aaron Scott Hahn & Dave Grebenik (Tie)
2018 - Meghan Welch
2017 - Aaron Naylor
2016 - Big Poppa E
2015 - Jan Hoop
2014 - Eli Graves
2012 - Jarrod Teide
2011 - Gabe Perry
2010 - Daniel
Pewewardy
2009 - Lamont James & Deonde
Crawford (Tie)
2007 - Alex Schneider
2006 - Yannic Dozier
2004 - Brett Riley
2002 - Mr. Biggs
Editor's Note: This list may be incorrect and incomplete.