Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25150955-20190730211937/@comment-25150955-20190802181740

Joke acts have every right to be on the show and even make the lives. It’s these kind of acts that exude nothing but silliness and joy, and you know what? That’s what this show is about—the unorthodox. The out-of-the-box. Acts like Gonzo may not be more talented than others that never made it, but Gonzo is silly, he’s entertaining, and he’s fun. Hans is fun, Ira Fennelbloom was fun, Yumbo Dump is fun. Not only do these acts show up to break the flow of constant competency in the live shows, but they’re there because they’re entertaining. It’s why Gonzo can make it on a night that someone like Nicholas Wallace or Ansley Burns don’t—Gonzo was energetic and exciting and funny and pretty much the exact kind of act this show was made for.

That’s why I don’t like when people rag on joke acts making the lives because “they aren’t as talented”. Think about it this way: Quarterfinals 2 of last year was boring as fuck all the way through EXCEPT for Yumbo Dump and Duo Transcend. The only exciting, or really fully entertaining acts of the night were Yumbo Dump and the LAST ACT OF THE NIGHT. They help these nights flow tremendously, and they’re usually entertaining as hell.

That, and some of these acts are actually impressive as hell. Sure, sometimes you get Hans or Big Barry, who would’ve probably been cut in the auditions if only their talent was considered. But what about Jonathan Burns, a genuinely talented entertainer in the realms of comedy, magic, AND contortion? What about Yumbo Dump, who’s one of the most genuinely unique acts of last season? What about Gingzilla, who’s an actually great singer, or Jeff Trechta, an actually talented actor and comedian who portrayed the Singing Trump? Talent does go behind these things, more often than not.

My point is: stop being allergic to joy