Wichita's Funniest Person Contest 2019 

The Loony Bin Comedy Club has sponsored an almost 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. 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, Charlie Chaplin 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.

In the past few years we have tightened things up. Instead of spreading the contest over 3 or more months; we are doing it in 8 straight weeks and adding a semi-final. The first 6 weeks are qualifying rounds. The first 20 performers who are in line to sign up at 7:00pm on Qualifying Round night will perform a 5-minute set. At the end of the show 3 people will be chosen by audience applause to advance to the Semi-Finals. The performers who do not advance are welcome to come back and try again the following week.

The night of 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 performers will be picked by audience applause to advance to the finals as wild cards.

The night of the finals will find us 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 2019" championship bracelet provided by our friends at Jewelry Savers and maybe more. Prizes subject to change.

Past Winners

2019 - TBD 

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.