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1. Alonzo Bodden: A suave black comedian from New York -- think comedic Avery Brooks.

2. Gary Gulman: A tall, gorgeous, and Jewish comedian from Boston.

3. John Heffron: Gen X comic, just starting to grow up, from Detroit.

4. Kathleen Madigan: Wry comic from St. Louis.

5. Tammy Pescatelli: Sicilian comedian from Cleveland.

But last week we also learned that the Final Five would be the Final Six. Tonight, we saw a Wild Card competition among the five comics who were evicted from the house. On Thursday, we'll find out which one was voted by America to return to competition, and then next week the standard competition resumes.

Corey Holcomb

Corey Holcomb, who was eliminated last week, was the first one up this week. In interview before the show, he admitted that it had been galling to be voted out so close to the finals. He felt he'd worked hard and deserved to win. But he was excited about the Wild Card competition, and it motivated him to come up with some new material.

You wouldn't really be able to tell by his opening. He started with the same ol' Corey material about relationships -- e.g., Corey couldn't let go of his girlfriend who was into sports and could kiss her own breast ... unless he met a rich woman. In that case, he'd even be willing to share her with another man. "I'll make love to my girl, and he'll go in there and talk to her when we're done." He also talked about re-writing marriage vows to make them "honest" -- meaning explicit discussion of how the man is a fool, and the woman is getting all his money.

Towards the end of his act, Corey included some new material about growing up poor. For Christmas, things just disappeared during the year, and Christmas morning you'd say, "My shirt!" I didn't laugh at this material either, but it was interesting to hear Corey do something different, and maybe with more time it could have been worked up to an interesting bit.

Overall, a weak set. I still find something likeable about Corey, and I think he could do well in a sit-com (with someone else writing his jokes). But he becomes very unlikeable when he degrades women in his act. I'd hoped his new material would turn things around, but he just didn't have it together.

Bonnie McFarlane

Bonnie was the first comic out of the house, eliminated by John Heffron in a lopsided vote of 94% to 6%. She'd apparently had a bit of a makeover in her time away from the house, and I liked her new hairstyle.

Her act was less polished than her hair. She came out asking "Where's my 6% at?" which made me chuckle, but if I were in the audience I'd have had a hard time remembering what that referred to.

She drifted from topic to topic. She referenced a game she played while peoplewatching: "Lesbian or Midwestern." She added, "Think about it. It's challenging." The joke was challenging for me -- huh? She didn't so much do stories as punchlines. People say "Pleased to meet you," and she wants to tell them "Give it a minute." She doesn't approve of crying at work because it's such a chick cliche ... to cry when you're drunk. (Hmmm, that actually looks better on the screen than it did when she told it.)

Overall, I thought her act this time was weaker than her infamous 6% performance. Maybe she was trying too hard to get in as many punchlines as possible.

Jay London

Jay London, one of the nicest guys in the house, was eliminated by Gary Gulman, one of the other nicest guys in the house. Jay was upset at being cast out of the house, and was incredulous at the "new life" he got at coming back in the competition. He thought that winning the competition would be a great honor. "I don't think there would be a higher form of flattery than the whole nation voting for this long-haired, nerdish schlemiel." Jay, Jay, Jay. There is definitely a higher form of flattery than being put in the same category as Dat Phan. Perspective, please!

Jay's act tonight ... well, it was the same act we've seen before. Lots of one liners, lots of "thank you", lots of self-deprecation. Some lines were good: "Do you think Motel 6 in Amish Country -- do you think they keep the light on?" Others were shockingly tired: "Somebody asked me what I thought about euthanasia; I said I'm more worried about the adults."

Another weak set from someone I'd really wanted to see shine tonight. I like Jay. I'd have dinner with him any time. And I admire him doing a unique act. But it just didn't work, and Jay was sometimes his own worst enemy. He got a very big laugh at the end with: "Flowers, $25: Reluctant. Wining and dining, $150: Catastrophic. Trying to get on first base: Unobtainable. For everything else, there's masturbating." But instead of ending with the laughter, he then stepped on it by explaining the joke.

ANT

ANT, the villain of the season, was also squashed by Gary Gulman. He blamed the stress of trying to preserve an alliance, do voting, do immunity challenges, etc. "I wish I didn't go out there so stressed out. I wish I had just gone out there and had a great time." Yeah, ANT. I wish that I had had a great time watching you. Just not in the cards.

Throughout the competition, ANT has always, always, always started with the gay jokes. Ended with the gay jokes. Thrown a few gay jokes in the middle. So tonight ... ANT started with mocking his own name. Then went to weight loss. Then sobriety issues. Not great material, but I have to give ANT credit for being the first returnee to show such a different approach in this competition than he'd shown in the past.

And -- tell the truth and shame the devil -- when he did get back to the gay jokes, he actually made me laugh. Maybe because he didn't telegraph "I'm GAAAAAYYYY -- isn't that funny?" He talked about how there's a cliche that every man wants to be with two women at once. "What's that going to look like with me? 'You hold her down; I'll do her nails!'" Fortunately for my ANT hate, the gay jokes that followed left me cold.

Maybe I've just had my expectations lowered by the previous three comics, but ANT's performance tonight, considering it came from ANT was ... not bad. No-way-no-how do I want him back on my screen, though.

Todd Glass

Todd was eliminated the second week, by Tammy Pescatelli. In interview before his act, Todd recalled being upset at being eliminated because he thought he had a good set, but admitted that he had "lost fair and square."

Todd's previous acts (and house behavior) had been characterized by a hyper-manic style. Tonight, Todd toned that down, to good effect. I wonder if he spent some time watching his tapes from the show. His material ... enh. An extended bit about how a cop can't arrest you for saying, "Rrraaarrhh, I'm the cookie monster" when you're pulled over left me unimpressed (partly because it was dull, and partly because the Supreme Court recently ruled that you can be arrested for not giving your name when the police ask).

Final Comments: I almost feel sorry for NBC. Last season, a Wild Card round would have been interesting. This season, all it did was confirm that the right people had been eliminated from the competition. Who will make it back? Who knows! Jay London might have generated enough good will in the viewing audience based on his personality to make it back in. ANT's changing up his act might get him some points. Todd's improved delivery (and final position in the line-up) might push him over the top. (I think that Corey is a long-shot to make it back, and Bonnie's plain out of luck.) I don't know who will come back, but I'm confident that it doesn't much matter -- whoever comes back still won't become the Last Comic Standing.

More Resources on the Internet: NBC.com's Official Site | SirLinksalot.net

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