Last night, on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, comedian Felipe Esparza was named the winner and was awarded $250,000. Will he end up being the show’s final winner?
In 2004, the reality competition was cancelled after three seasons on the air. After a year off, NBC brought it back for three more rounds. The network cancelled it once again.
As you may have noticed, NBC is struggling in the ratings so they decided to bring Last Comic Standing back, likely hoping that absence had made viewers more fond of the series.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The season premiere on June 7th attracted a 2.0 in the 18-49 demographic and 5.04 million viewers. Expectations are lower for summer runs but NBC couldn’t be pleased with this performance; bested by CBS reruns in total viewership and by ABC in the key demo.
The ratings grew a bit for the second week but then started going down in subsequent weeks. A few weeks ago, Last Comic Standing hit a low of a 1.6 in the demo and 3.98 million viewers. According to the overnights, last night’s finale hit another new low, mustering just a 1.5 in the demo (tied for third place) and 3.93 million viewers (fourth place). That’s reportedly the show’s lowest-rated finale in its history.
Will the show be back next summer? This season’s ratings certainly don’t mandate it but you never know. Last Comic Standing is relatively inexpensive to produce and, considering the state of NBC’s ratings, the network could bring it back just to have some more original programming for next summer.
What do you think? Should NBC bring back Last Comic Standing for season eight or cancel it again?
bring back last comic standing. that was one of the best shows on tv.
We enjoyed this show more when they were living in the house. It ABSOLUTLEY should come back in that format.
I would love for you (nbc) to let las to go back another season an do more than just two states,that was so rude. you need to come on down to Columbia,SC and give some of us unknows a chance here.
It’s a magnificent show
The stand-up evaluations at the beginning were fun and interesting. But once it was left up to the fans to vote, having the judges there was useless. They never said anything negative about any of the performances and some of them REALLY sucked. Tommy Johnaghin and Mike DeStefano got screwed. They’re acts were true stand-up sets. All Felipe did was run off one-liners with nothing really tieing the jokes together. I did like some of the previous seasons. The one competition that comes to mind was when they had to go from room-to-room and do a quick act for the… Read more »
I used to love this show, but I couldn’t get into this season. I really didn’t feel like they picked a good host. I like him as an actor in “The Office,” but his real personality just isn’t as funny. Their old hosts were much better and that really sets the tone for the show.
the show IS the joke!!
I have loved the show in the past – I hated the format this season – waaayyyyy boring. Bring Jay Moehr back and get back to the old format, otherwise kill it.
I like the current format. The comics should be voted on their stand up ability not how they handle challenges in a house or boat etc. All of the guest comics on the finale did a good job. If the final five tour is successful , I think it might help sway NBC to bring it back.
Do not bring it back in it’s current format. I liked it when they lived in a house and had to do challenges and the “i know I am funnier than…” Was better. Last night’s finale was a two hour pat yourself on the back for they host and judges and barely about the last comic standing. But Felipe was funny all season.
Yeah, I liked it that way too.
Last Comic Standing’s a great outlet to show everybody all these funny people. Stand-Up comedy is a bunch of fun entertainment and NBC Rocks for hookin a show like this one up! Too bad the ratings are so low 🙁 Comedy is one of my most favorite things! I hope NBC will bring it back around…again & again!
Even though I thought Tommy Johnagin was the funniest, that guy Filipe made me laugh, congrats to him!!