The Challenge Blog
LEARN ABOUT FORMER Challenges
2024 Challenge Winner – Tonja D
That's a wrap at The StarDome in Birmingham thanks to Owner and great guy, Bruce Ayers ! Congratulations on the win, Tonja D from Louisiana and finalists John Molehill of Ind. Josh Harris of GA. ERNIE KENNAMER of Ala. TIM Hammer of Arizona and Bobby Parker of GA.
2023 Challenge Winner – Steve Smargon
Congratulations winner, Steve Smargon of Michigan won the $1000 purse. 3 days of Comedy Bootcamp...unmatched in a small nurturing environment! GOD BLESS TO ALL THE GROUP WITH GOOD HEALTH & SUCCESS.
2022 Challenge Winner – Rosco Nash
Congratulations Rosco Nash from FL. for winning the Clean Comedy Challenge 2022 and $1000 in Hollywood last night. Finalists were Moody Molavi TN. Queen Aaliyah Ford N.C. Lisa Gilbert Ca. and Darin Thompson Utah. A Wonderful night. GOD BLESS TO ALL THE GROUP WITH GOOD...
2021 Challenge Winner – Griffin Sciarria
Congratulations to Griffin Sciarra for winning Leslie Norris Townsend’s Clean Comedy Challenge 2021!
2020 Challenge Winner – June Colsen
In Nashille at Third Coast Comedy Club, June Colsen won the Clean Comedy Challenge 2020! What a fun time!
2019 Pasadena Challenge Winner – Andrea Caspari Spears
Andrea Caspari Spears came to the world famous Ice House in Pasadena, California and outlasted all the competition to win the 2019 Pasadena Comedy Challenge.
2019 Nashville Challenge Winner – Clint Hall
Clint Hall is the winner of the 2019 Nashville Clean Comedy Challenge at Third Coast Comedy Club in Nashville.
2018 Carson City Challenge Winner – Heywood Banks
After winning the Nashville Scholarship Challenge and qualifying to enter another 2018 Challenge for free, Heywood Banks out of Michigan made the most of his opportunity and won the entire thing in 2018! Joining Heywood in the finals were Rodney Norman out of Salt...
LEARN ABOUT FORMER JUDGES
Lorenzo Clark
Son of Disney Hall of Fame Imagineer, Clifton Clark, Lorenzo Clark was the original California kid cutting his comedy teeth at the World Famous Comedy Store and learning sleight of hand from the grand masters at Hollywood's iconic Magic Castle. "Masters of Illusion"...
Rich Natole
When your high school guidance counselor tells you that you should consider a career as a barber – you know you have to come up with a “Plan B” pretty quick. Luckily a talent for mimicry saved Rich Natole from a career clipping ear hair. Combining that talent with all...
Jann Karam
While attending Arizona State University, Jann Karam performed stand-up comedy at open mic nights at a Mexican food restaurant in Scottsdale. She was paid one chimichanga per joke. After developing her act (and gaining 13 pounds), Jann moved to New York City, where...
Ricky Mokel
Ricky Mokel, the "gifted idiot", is an optimistic, country-type fellow who, shockingly, can sound like an intellectual when he wants to. Starting in January, 2000 until the Covid lockdown in March, 2020, Ricky Mokel delighted audiences as the featured funny-man in One...
Sonya White
Sonya White combines Southern charm with city-wise street smarts to create a show that won her multiple appearances on Star Search (CBS), promo spots on Last Comic Standing (NBC), featured role and national tour in Southern Fried Chicks (CMT), nomination for ‘Best...
Heath Hyche
Heath Hyche uses stand-up comedy, quick-change costumes, original music, unique props and video to take the audience on a one-of-a-kind journey through his vivid imagination full of manic characters. Heath’s television credits include “The Tonight Show”, Jeff...
Jim McCue
A mixture of witty “A-list material” and his ability to work off-script has earned Jim McCue the title “Boston’s King of Crowd Work!” It’s not only his height of six foot six that makes Jim stand head and shoulders above club comedians of the “stick-to-the-script”...
Linda Belt
Linda Belt will be judging The Clean Comedy Challenge 2023 in RI. Linda Belt is a New Jersey native (a comedy routine in itself). She moved to CT in 1987 where she became a suburban pillar of the community attending PTO meetings and baseball games. Linda became very...