by While word slowly spreads about the return of NBC's Last Comic Standing, Improv owner Budd Friedman is helping preside over a lesser-known contest for aspiring talent that's tied to the video release of Funny People.
The search for "The Next Funniest Person in America" accepted submissions online at Friedman's iJoke.com, and judges picked their top five which went to an online public vote. The top three vote-getters earned a trip to Las Vegas, where they'll perform tomorrow, Jan. 27, at the Improv at Harrah's Las Vegas. The winner gets? A paid six-night run at the same club later in 2010.
The finalists? Alysia Wood, Jason Marcus and comedy/music duo Carlie & Doni. Here's a local TV news report on the event from Vegas. If you look closely, you can see some of the other contestants, too!
