We Are the Champions

There isn't really a prize, at least in the traditional sense, for winning the Comedy Works Funny Final Four, a competition that pits four teams of Denver comedians against one another in a series of one-night shows. "The prize is you get another show," explains Jodee Champion, captain of Team...

By Jef Otte

March 8, 2012

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There isn't really a prize, at least in the traditional sense, for winning the Comedy Works Funny Final Four, a competition that pits four teams of Denver comedians against one another in a series of one-night shows. "The prize is you get another show," explains Jodee Champion, captain of Team Champion, the first team competing this year. "You do it for the stage time -- and because it's really fun."

Champion would know. She's been competing in the Funny Final Four since she started doing comedy -- and that in itself is kind of a big deal. Each year, Comedy Works talent-night coordinator Deacon Gray hand-picks four of his favorite amateur comedians to serve as the captains and put together teams consisting of twelve amateur comics, two alternates and one touring professional. Those teams then put on the best show they can. In Champion's case, that means everyone will do five minutes of their best material: "It's up to the captain if they want to do a theme, but I've never seen that be successful," she says.

The four teams compete over four weeks, then the two highest-scoring teams face off, and the winning team gets its own show. "If we do win, which we will," the aptly named Champion promises, "I think it would be fun for us to slow-roast the other three captains. And I think they'd be down for that, since we're all whores for attention." That's what it's all about.

The Funny Final Four kicks off with Team Champion tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Comedy Works, 1226 15th Street, and continues most Wednesday nights through March 14. For tickets, $12, or more information, call 303-595-3637 or visit comedyworks.com.
Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Starts: Feb. 1. Continues through March 14, 2012

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