Just hours after voting closed overnight for the 2014 American Comedy Awards, the event has added a new category: CONCERT COMIC.
And it’s a good thing, too.
Because if you looked at the American Comedy Awards nominees for “CLUB COMIC” for more than a hot second, you quickly would have asked how in the h-e-double-hockeysticks newer stand-ups could be competing in the same category with vets such as Brian Regan and Bill Burr, especially since they’ve graduated to theaters (Regan having done so a long time ago). I asked.
And today, the American Comedy Awards responded with the addition of the CONCERT COMIC category, writing to members of the ACA Voting Committee “in an effort to be inclusive of live performances and to honor more stand-up comedians.”
Nominations are coming strictly from the industry committee (of which I am a member, full disclosure) by write-in ballots. We’re given three write-in slots each.
Rules? Award is given to a comedian who performed stand-up before a paying audience between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. Eligibility requirements: The performer must have performed a majority of their shows in a theatre or venue seating 500 people or more. Write-ins may not be used to vote for a candidate more than once; any duplicate votes will not be counted.
I can place my three votes now until the clock strikes 3:01 a.m. Eastern, March 25, 2014.
For whom should I vote? Place your suggestions in the comments now! (I’ll let you know my vote after the nominees are announced)
To refresh your memory, here are the official American Comedy Awards nominees for CLUB COMIC this year:
- Maria Bamford
- Bill Burr
- Jerrod Carmichael
- Ron Funches
- Kyle Kinane
- Sebastian Maniscalco
- Sean Patton
- Brian Regan
- Rory Scovel
- Doug Stanhope
Above photo: Kevin Hart at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY