Congratulations are in order for Auggie Smith, winner of the 35th annual San Francisco International Comedy Competition, which wrapped up its month-long contest over the weekend.
Smith previously had finished runner-up in the SF contest back in 2001, but returned this fall to take home the victory. I first saw Auggie and beheld his manic ranting style way back in 1997, when he finished runner-up to Mitch Hedberg in Seattle's competition. Some say being older makes you wiser. Looks like as Auggie gets older, his anger comes into sharper focus. Or maybe it just fits his persona better, coming from the mouth of a 40-year-old instead of a twenty-something. Perhaps just as Lewis Black got exposed to a wider audience in his middle age, this win in San Francisco will put Auggie Smith front and center in front of more people.
Here are your final standings from this year's San Francisco competition:
1. Auggie Smith, Portland
2. Tony Dijamco, Los Angeles
3. Sammy Obeid, Fremont
4. Kurt Swann, San Diego
5. Solomon Georgio, Seattle
Want to see some recent video featuring Mr. Auggie Smith?
Here he is on the Bob & Tom radio program this summer talking about how he feels about the kids these days (and the parents who are failing them). Roll it.
And here is a bit from the stage this summer, talking about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and President Obama. Roll that, please.