Bellisario College of Communications

With stand-up victory, Penn State students named nation's funniest

A team of Penn State students claimed the national championship in a stand-up comedy contest that also crowned one member of the team as nation's best student comic and rewarded him with a chance to appear on national television.

Eight students represented Penn State in RooftopComedy.com's National College Comedy Competition presented by TBS, a 32-team event modeled somewhat after the NCAA tournament with the winner determined in late May. Videos of the competition and the Penn State team’s comedy may be found at www.rooftopcomedy.com/college/ online.

Over a period of more than two months, the Penn State team competed against teams from other schools in a series of live and online competitions that whittled the field to 16 teams, then eight and then a "Funniest Four."

Each round provided a different challenge, with some votes completed online and others by professional stand-up comics in a live audience. In the final round, Penn State’s competition came from Florida, Ohio State and Portland State.

The Penn State team itself was trimmed from eight to four members as part of the competition, too.

In the end, the students were named the nation’s funniest and senior Brandon Scott Wolf, selected as the MVP of the winning team, earned the opportunity to appear on "Lopez Tonight," which airs weeknights on TBS. He and the other three Penn State finalists will travel to Los Angeles for a taping of the show in June.

"It's really an honor, and the opportunities that are coming from the competition are just amazing," said Wolf, from Huntingdon Valley, Pa., who graduated with a degree in print journalism Saturday. "Everyone on our team is funny, it's a great group, and to be selected as the best from that group and then the best overall is humbling."

Along with Wolf, other members of the team were:

  • Sean Becker, a freshman majoring in advertising from Marlboro, N.J.;
  • Travis Czap, a senior majoring in secondary education from Boyertown, Pa.;
  • Kyle Dodson, a senior majoring in film from Duncansville, Pa.;
  • Kevin Gallagher, a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism from Broomall, Pa.;
  • William Hood, a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism from Freeland, Pa.;
  • Matt Rainstein, a senior majoring in film from Buffalo, N.Y.; and
  • Stephanie Wain, a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism from Mount Bethel, Pa.

Of that group, Gallagher, Rainstein (known as Matt Rain on stage) and Wain were finalists as well. They will join Wolf on the trip to Los Angeles.

For Wolf, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday June 9, a mid-June visit to Los Angeles for the show represents a great belated birthday present. It’s also another interesting step on his comedic odyssey.

After all, he honed his skills as a stand-up comic and helped lead the development of a stand-up comedy club on campus thanks to determination and a willingness to take risks. When he discovered he was unable to perform during open mic nights at many State College area nightspots because he was under 21 a couple of years ago, he bought a banner and created a Facebook page to invite people to his apartment on the second floor of his building.

Second Floor Stand-up was built that easily, and a core handful of aspiring comics has grown from small meetings in that apartment to a full-fledged campus club. Members now regularly perform in Carnegie Cinema, which seats more than 120 people, on a regular basis.

Wolf found out about the team’s success and his victory while riding back to campus on a bus. He borrowed another rider’s smart phone and checked the results online.

"I couldn’t believe it," Wolf said. "It was the best ride of my life."

As he prepares for what he anticipates will be a short set on "Lopez Tonight," Wolf plans to take the same approach as always to his comedy.

"I try to write new stuff all the time, and always carry a pad in my pocket and have a pen," he said. "When you have something you think will work, you keep working on it, bounce it off your friends and try to get it just right."

Eight students helped Penn State claim the championship in a national contest for college stand-up comics. Credit: Tarym WemAll Rights Reserved.

Last Updated May 19, 2011

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