A comedian walks into a beef joint. Actually, make that 84 comedians. Now, after 12 qualifying rounds, only 36 remain in the Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition.
The annual laugh-off enters its quarterfinal round Sunday, Aug. 23, at Chicago Beef Joint in Grand Rapids, marking the next stage of a competition that began May 17 with 84 comedians competing across 12 qualifying rounds.
The quarterfinals will feature six rounds running Aug. 23 through Sept. 27. Six comedians will take the stage each night, with each performer getting eight minutes to make the audience laugh — and, more importantly, earn enough votes to keep the competition going.
There is one catch: The comedians won’t know when they’re performing.
The order is drawn as the show progresses, meaning a performer could be first up, last on the bill or anywhere in between.
Before the show begins, audience members receive ballots and, at the end of the performances, select three of the six comedians they believe should advance. Every vote carries the same weight. While the ballots are counted, a comedian who is not competing will perform before the night’s three advancing comedians are announced.
The quarterfinals will lead to three semifinal rounds. The first two will be special Friday night performances Oct. 2 and Oct. 9, followed by the final semifinal round Sunday, Oct. 18.
The Kingpin of Comedy finals are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23.
Brian Borbot, creator and MC of the Sunday Night Funnies, said the remaining field reflects a diverse group of performers.
“We have a very diverse lineup of comedians going into the semifinal round,” Borbot said. “Of the 36 moving on, there are 11 comics of color and six women.”
The stakes extend beyond bragging rights.
Borbot said the winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $1,000, including $500 in cash, prizes from Chicago Beef Joint, where the competition is hosted, and gift cards from GLC Live at 20 Monroe and Gilda’s Club’s LaughFest.
The winner also will receive a Kingpin bowling pin trophy, a customized bowling shirt and a chance to close the Sunday Night Funnies special LaughFest show in 2027.
“He will receive a prize package worth over $1,000 including $500 in cash plus prizes from the Chicago Beef Joint,” Borbot said.
The competition is part of the Sunday Night Funnies, a weekly live stand-up comedy show created by Borbot. Now in its 17th year, the Funnies features comedians from Grand Rapids and across the Midwest.
The Sunday Night Funnies is free and begins at 7 p.m. Sundays at Chicago Beef Joint, 822 Ottawa Ave. NW in Grand Rapids.
