Three comics from NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” will perform for Ohio State students as part of Homecoming 2004: Red, White and Buckeyes. John Heffron, the show’s winner, will be joined by Cleveland native Tammy Pescatelli and Corey Holcomb for the Oct. 17 show.
“I can’t wait to play Ohio State,” said Holcomb in a phone interview from California. “I know it’s a little colder out there. It’s still warm out here. I would be wearing a tank top, but I’m not so sexy anymore.”
Holcomb was one of ten comics to make it to the finals on the second season of “Last Comic Standing”.
“I feel I should have won,” said Holcomb, who was voted off the show in episode nine. “It was good exposure and comedy is about exposure.”
Since the show, Holcomb has been concentrating on getting his sitcom idea on the air. A deal with Fox fell through after the network picked up “The Bernie Mac Show,” and Holcomb is now in talks with ABC.
Holcomb’s sitcom is based around one man moving in with another man’s ex-wife.
“It’s a situation that lots of people can relate to,” said Holcomb.
Growing up on Chicago’s south side, Holcomb was known as a comedian early in his life.
“I knew I was going to be a comic when I was in grammar school and a nun called me ‘funny-ass’,” he said.
Holcomb’s first comedy show was during an open mic night in Chicago hosted by “Queens of Comedy” star Adele Givens.
“I made everyone laugh that night,” said Holcomb. “The next week I told everyone in the neighborhood to come watch and I tanked.”
While living in the house during “Last Comic Standing,” the comedians were stripped of their cell phones and other forms of communication.
“Although the house may have seemed big on TV, there was not a lot of space,” said Holcomb. “Reality TV is not reality because they take away from what people do naturally.”
Despite the lack of space, Holcomb said the comics got along well.
“The only animosity was because we were bundled together in the house,” he said. “We see each other around nowadays and everything seems cool.”
In the house, the shows stars were being taped 24/7, except when in the bathroom.
“They should have had cameras in the bathroom. A lot of funny stuff happens there,” said Holcomb.
Besides “Last Comic Standing,” Holcomb has a reoccurring role on “Half and Half.” Although he doesn’t have many lines, he said that he “makes the writer’s look good.”
It was the exposure that Holcomb received after “Last Comic Standing” that he said will help further his career.
“A funny comic is a nobody. A famous comic makes all the money,” said Holcomb.
