Tom Cotter, the New York City-based comedian, whose life as a father of twins and husband of fellow comedian Kerri Louise was chronicled years ago on the reality show Two Funny, snagged second place on America’s Got Talent tonight.
Season seven of the Simon Cowell-created reality competition series began with 54 contestants, ranging from singers, jugglers, “light painters,” dance troupes and beyond, but it was the art of stand-up comedy that America voted into the final two. And more specifically, it was Cotter’s brand of fast-paced misdirection and brilliant wordplay-powered punch lines the nation loved.
In the end, it was between the 23-year veteran comedian and Olate Dogs, a father/son dog act, who ultimately took home the grand prize: $1 million and a contract to headline an ongoing Las Vegas show.
“Unbelievable, it was great,” Cotter said, when AGT host Nick Cannon asked Cotter what he thought about his experience on the show. “I’m going to fall down the stairs now and get my own million dollars.”
Although Cotter didn’t win the big, shiny prize, he’s helped prove that stand-up comedy is alive and well in America. Gaining the attention and respect of judges Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne isn’t shabby, either. The fact that America decided that one man on a stage delivering well-constructed, deftly-delivered jokes was more entertaining than 52 other bell-and-whistle acts gives me hope.
We at Laughspin want to congratulate Tom for all of his work and for proving to a mainstream audience the enormous viability of stand-up comedy.
