by The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is in its final week, which means it's time to find out who the critical mass thinks is worthy for the fest's major awards. And in 2009, it appears none of the American acts to cross the Atlantic have made the shortlist (Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler got nominated last year, while Demetri Martin won the best show prize in 2003). But one Canadian did: Pete Johansson. I didn't make it to Scotland this August, so I cannot vouch for the nominees, although I did get to enjoy Idiots of Ants when they performed short sketch revues at Just For Laughs in Montreal last month. Anyhow. Here are your 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Awards nominees…
Edinburgh Comedy Award (Best Comedy Show) shortlist
Idiots of Ants: This Is War
John Bishop: Elvis Has Left the Building
Jon Richardson: This Guy at Night
Russell Kane: Human Dressage
Tim Key: The Slutcracker
Tom Wrigglesworth: Open Return Letter to Richard Branson
Best Newcomer shortlist
Carl Donnelly: Relax Everyone, It's Carl Donnelly!
Jack Whitehall: Nearly Rebellious
Jonny Sweet: Mostly About Arthur
Kevin Bridges: An Hour to Sing for Your Soul
Pete Johansson: Naked Pictures of My Life
Winners will be announced on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Best Comedy Show winner will receive a cash prize of £8,000 and an invitation to perform at the Montreal, Toronto and Chicago Just for Laughs Comedy Festivals in 2010. The Best Newcomer gets a cash prize of £4,000, and there's also a Panel Prize that will give an act £4,000.
Although he developed his comedy in Canada, Pete Johansson was born in the U.S. and has spent much of his career in Los Angeles. So there.
Dispatch from Edinburgh:
The winner of the 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Award is:
Tim Key – The Slutcracker
The winner of the Best Newcomer award is:
Jonny Sweet: Mostly About Arthur
The winner of the 2009 Panel Prize is:
Peter Buckley Hill for the Peter Buckley Hill Free Fringe
See you back stateside in a couple days…