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Simon Carlson crowned winner of 2024 Sunday Night Funnies’ Kingpin of Comedy competition

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Simon Carlson was crowned Kingpin of Comedy at the SNF competition finals on Oct. 27 (Courtesy, Brian B.)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Carlson shows off his tricked-out bowling pin trophy (Courtesy, Brian B.)

Local comedian Simon Carlson was crowned the Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) 2024 Kingpin of Comedy on Sunday, Oct. 27.

“It was a tight contest with just a handful of votes separating the top four vote-getters,” said Brian Borbot (Brian B.), SNF creator and MC. “But Simon had a terrific set and deserves the crown.

“I was really happy with the turnout for the finals. We had a packed house – absolutely no seats left. The audience saw an amazing show from some talented comedians.”

Simon Carlson on winning the competition: “Thanks for giving comics a good room to get better at stand up. Also, I wish I got to keep the big check. When do I get the keys to the SNF mobile?”

The SNF mobile Carlson referenced is the SNF “Sunny” car that is wrapped in various shades of yellow and gold. “Sunny” acts as an advertisement for the weekly comedy show.

The “Sunny” car helps advertise the weekly SNF comedy show (Courtesy, Brian B.)

As the Kingpin of Comedy competition winner, Carlson receives a prize package valued at $1,000 from local businesses including Craig’s Cruisers, LaughFest, Midtown GR, and show host Spectrum Entertainment Complex. Carlson also receives $500 cash, a bowling pin trophy and a personalized Kingpin bowling shirt.

About SNF

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. The weekly live stand-up comedy performance is free admission and features a variety of comics from around the Midwest. Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.

Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition finals to be held Oct. 27

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The Kingpin of Comedy winner will receive a prize package valued at $1,000 (Courtesy, Brian B.)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Nine finalists remain for the final round (Courtesy, Brian B.)

The Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy (SNF) competition enters its final round on Oct. 27 with just nine of the original 98 comedians.

“We have a good mix of comedians performing in the finals this year,” says Brian B. (Brian Borbot), creator and MC of the SNF.

“The Grand Rapids metro area is obviously represented, but we also have two comedians from Detroit, one from Lansing and one from Kalamazoo. The lineup is diverse too. Not only in terms of race, but age-range as well.”

Along with the nine comics participating in the competition, former professional football player and comedian, Peter Cender, will close the show while votes are counted.

The competition winner will receive $500 cash and prizes from Wyoming businesses: Craig’s Cruisers, Spectrum Entertainment Complex, Midtown GR and Gilda’s LaughFest. The winner also receives a Kingpin bowling pin trophy, a customized bowling shirt and the opportunity to close the Sunday Night Funnies LaughFest show in 2025.

The total prize package is worth $1,000 in value.

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought the eventual winner deserved a prize package worthy of the title, Most Humorous Person in Town,” said Brian B.


(Courtesy, Brian B.)

About the SNF

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. The weekly live stand-up comedy performance is free admission and features a variety of comics from around the Midwest. Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.

The Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its semifinal round Oct. 6

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(Courtesy, SNF)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


The Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy (SNF) competition enters its semifinal round with just 21 of the original 98 comedians.

The contest began May 12 with its first of 14 qualifying rounds, followed by six quarterfinal rounds. Three semifinal rounds run Oct. 6, 13, and 20 with finals held Oct. 27.

Competition details

Kara Coraci performs during the SNF (Courtesy, SNF)

Seven comedians are given eight minutes to perform in each round. The line-up order is drawn as the show progresses, with comedians unaware of when they will be performing.

Audience members are given a ballot before the show begins. Following all performances, the audience votes for three out of the seven comedians they feel should advance to the next round. Once collected, the ballots are tabulated while a non-competing comic performs, with the three finalists announced at the closing of the show.

“We have a very diverse lineup of comedians going into the semifinal round,” says Brian B. (Brian Borbot), creator & MC of the SNF. “Of the 21 moving on, there are eight comics of color, four women and one senior citizen!”

Kingpin prize package

The competition winner will receive $500 cash and prizes from Wyoming businesses: Craig’s Cruisers, Spectrum Entertainment Complex, Midtown GR and Gilda’s LaughFest. The winner also receives a Kingpin bowling pin trophy, a customized bowling shirt and the opportunity to close the Sunday Night Funnies LaughFest show in 2025.

The total prize package is worth over $1,000 in value.

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought the winner deserved a prize package worthy of the title, Funniest Person in Wyoming,” said Brian B.


(Courtesy, SNF)

About the SNF

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. The weekly live stand-up comedy performance is free admission and features a variety of comics from around the Midwest. Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.

Sunday Night Funnies sixth annual Kingpin of Comedy competition enters quarter-final rounds

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The SNF is gearing up for the Kingpin of Comedy quarterfinals (Courtesy, Brian B.)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


(Courtesy, Brian B.)

Ninety-eight competing comedians have been whittled down to 42 as the sixth annual Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its quarterfinal rounds.

The Kingpin of Comedy competition began May 12 with the first of 14 qualifying rounds. Qualifying rounds wrapped up on Aug. 11, and six quarterfinal rounds will run Aug. 18-Sept. 29, with the exception of Sept. 8. Three semifinal rounds will be held Oct. 6, 13 and 20, with finals held Oct. 27.

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought it deserved its own stand-up comedy competition with the overall winner getting a prize package worthy of the title Most Humorous Human in Wyoming!” says Brian B., Founder and MC of the SNF.

Competition details

The seven quarterfinal comedians are given eight minutes to perform each week, with the line-up order drawn as the show progresses.

Audience members are given a ballot before the show begins. After the last comedian performs each night, the audience will pick three comedians they feel should advance to the next round. The ballots are counted while a non-competing comic performs. The comics moving on in the competition are announced at the end of the show.

The competition winner receives $500 cash, prizes from Spectrum Entertainment Complex and Craig’s Cruisers, gift cards from LaughFest and Midtown GR, a bowling pin trophy and a personalized “Kingpin” bowling shirt. The winner will also headline the SNF 2024 LaughFest performance.

The total prize package is worth over $1,000.

(Courtesy, Brian B.)

About the Sunday Night Funnies

The SNF is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. (Brian Borbot). The weekly live stand-up comedy performance features a variety of comics from Michigan and around the country.

The free admission show beings at 8:30 p.m. at Spectrum Entertainment Complex/Woody’s Press Box in Wyoming. In September, the show will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday Night Funnies second annual 50+ comedy show to be held in honor of Older Americans Month

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(Courtesy, Brian B.)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


The Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) will perform their second annual Older Americans Month show featuring comedians ages 50+ on Sunday, May 5. The event will be held at Woody’s Press Box inside the Spectrum Entertainment Complex.

“There are more than 117 million Americans age 50 and older – 35% of the total population. I wanted to do a special show to honor and represent that age group,” says Brian B., founder and MC of the SNF. “This is the second year of special performances to recognize specific groups.

(Courtesy, Brian B.)

“In February, we did our special Black History Month show. In March, it was our Women’s History Month and Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids LaughFest performances. The SNF is a melting pot of comedians and audience members – different ages, nationalities, so why not honor all the groups that make up the show?”

The Older Americans Month lineup consists of seven different comedians at least 50 years of age. The show will feature former local radio personality Jojo Girard closing out the show. Also featured will be Detroit area comic Kathy Ryan, comedians from Ohio, and various local talent.

“The Sunday Night Funnies has got a big 2024 going on,” said Brian B.

In addition to the the Older Americans Month show, the following Sunday (May 12) will kick off SNF’s seventh annual Kingpin of Comedy competition.

15 years of SNF

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. Now in its 15th year, the SNF is a weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring over 1,200 performances from comics across Michigan and around the country.

The SNF is a free admission show on Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. during the winter/spring, and at 8:30 p.m. during summer and early fall. All performances take place at Woody’s Pressbox inside The Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.

The Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its semi-final round

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Making them laugh: Pagan, Aaron Cohen, Jay Hunter, and Ricarlo Winston (SNF)

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org


What was once was 120 comedians is now down to 16, the Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its semi-final round this Sunday.

The contest started May 19 with its first of twelve qualifying rounds, which wrapped up last Sunday. The four quarter-final rounds ran Aug. 11- Sept. 1 with two semi-final rounds on Sept. 8 and 15 with the finals being held on Sept. 22. The competition takes place at The Sunny Night Funnies home, Spectrum Entertainment Complex, 5656 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming.

For the semi-final and final round eight comedians are given ten minutes to perform. The line-up order is drawn as the show progresses, so they have no idea of when they’ll be going on stage — it could be first, it could be last. Before the show begins the audience members are given a ballot the night of the show. The audience picks three of the ten they feel should advance to the next round. The ballots are counted while a comic not in the competition performs at the end and the winners are announced afterward.

A packed room for the annual Kingpin of Comedy hosted by the Sunday Night Funnies. (SNF)

“The Kingpin of Comedy competition is a blatant rip-off of the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids contest,” said Brian B. (Brian Borbot), creator & MC of the Sunday Night Funnies. Brian is referring to the successful annual event at Dr. Grins comedy club inside The B.O.B. downtown Grand Rapids.

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought it deserved its own stand-up comedy competition with the overall winner getting a prize package worthy of the title funniest person in Wyoming!” Brian said.

The prizes are prizes from Wyoming businesses Spectrum Entertainment Complex and Craig’s Cruisers. Other prizes comes from LaughFest, 20 Monroe Live, and Party in the Park (a concert @ 5/3 Ballpark.). The winner also receives a Day-Glo bowling pin trophy, and a presentation from the City of Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll declaring the winner the funniest person in town.

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. (Brian Borbot.) It’s a weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring a variety of comics from Michigan and around the country. The Sunday Night Funnies is a free admission show that starts at 8:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex, 5656 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming.