Tag Archives: Kingpin of Comedy Competition

Darius Walker crowned winner of local Kingpin of Comedy competition

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Darius Walker was crowned the 2025 SNF Kingpin of Comedy winner during the competition’s final round on Oct. 26 (Courtesy, Brian B.)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Darius Walker, 2025 winner of the SNF Kingpin of Comedy competition (Courtesy, Brian B.)

The Sunday Night Funnies‘ (SNF) seventh annual Kingpin of Comedy competition began with 91 comedians on May 11, and ended with one on Oct. 26 when Darius Walker was crowned the 2025 Kingpin of Comedy champion before a capacity crowd at Spectrum Entertainment Complex.

“As always with the finals, the audience vote was very tight with only five votes separating first and third place,” said Brian B., MC and Founder of the SNF. “But Darius had an outstanding set.”

Brian B. went on to say that Walker had been a Kingpin of Comedy finalist the previous two years, so he was not surprised Walker won the title of 2025 champion.

“Over the years, I’ve seen him mature as a comedian,” said Brian B. “I know that he puts a lot of effort in going out and doing shows, as well as always writing new material.”

Prizes worthy of a king!

As the Kingpin of Comedy winner, Walker received a prize package worth over $1,000.

The SNF Kingpin of Comedy final competition was filled to capacity with interested audience members (Courtesy, Brian B.)

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought that the overall winner deserved a prize package worthy of the title Most Humorous Human in Town,” said Brian B.

Walker received a prize package worth over $1,000 (Courtesy, Brian B.)

The prize package included $500 cash, gift cards from LaughFest and GLC Live at 20 Monroe, as well as prizes from various Wyoming businesses and competition host Spectrum Entertainment Complex.

Walker also received a bowling pin trophy, personalized “Kingpin” bowling shirt, a video of his winning performance, and an invitation to close the SNF special 2026 LaughFest performance in March.

After his victory, Walker said, “I’d like to thank my wife, friends and the Grand Rapids comedy community for helping me grow as a comedian!”

About SNF

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. The weekly live stand-up comedy performance is free admission and features a variety of local and national comics. Now in its 16th year, over 1,275 different comedians have entertained SNF audiences.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with each show beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.

Sunday Night Funnies’ Kingpin of Comedy competition enters final round on Oct. 26

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SNF K.Pin weekly poster (Courtesy, Brian B.)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org



Kingpin competition finalists (Courtesy, Brian B.)

Ninety-eight comedians are now down to eight as the seventh annual Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its final round on Sunday, Oct. 26.

“We have a good mix of comedians performing in the Kingpin finals this year,” says Brian B., MC and founder of the SNF.

Participating comedians hail from the Grand Rapids and Detroit areas, Holland and Buchanan.

“It’s a diverse lineup as well,” says Brian B. “Of the eight comedians performing, two are women and four of the comics are of color.”

The Kingpin of Comedy final round will also feature a drawing for a pair of tickets to comedian Adam Degi’s first standup comedy special recording on Nov. 14 at the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids.

Degi will also be closing out the Kingpin Finals while the votes are being counted.

Prizes galore!

(Courtesy, Brian B.)

The Kingpin of Comedy winner will receive a prize package worth over $1,000.

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought that the overall winner deserved a prize package worthy of the title Most Humorous Human in Town,” says Brian B.

The prize package includes $500 cash, gift cards from LaughFest and GLC Live at 20 Monroe, as well as prizes from various Wyoming businesses and competition host Spectrum Entertainment Complex.

The winner also receives a bowling pin trophy and personalized “Kingpin” bowling shirt.

About SNF

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. The weekly live stand-up comedy performance is free admission and features a variety of local and national comics. Now in its 16th year, over 1,275 different comedians have entertained SNF audiences.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with each show beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.

Sunday Night Funnies seventh annual Kingpin of Comedy competition enters quarterfinal rounds

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The seventh annual Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) Kingpin of Comedy competition continues its quarterfinal rounds (Courtesy, Brian B.)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Ninety-eight comedians are now down to 42 as the seventh annual Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) Kingpin of Comedy competition continues its quarterfinal rounds.

The competition began May 11 with its first of fourteen qualifying rounds. Six quarterfinal rounds will run Aug. 17-Sept. 21 with three semifinal rounds held Sept. 28, Oct. 5 and Oct. 19. Competition finals will be held Oct. 26.

Previous Kingpin of Comedy competition winners (Courtesy, Brian B.)

How it works

Seven comedians are given eight minutes to perform in each round. The line-up of comedians is random, with the order drawn as the show progresses.

Audience members are given a ballot before the show begins. After the last competing comedian of the night performs, the audience picks three comedians they feel should advance to the next round. Ballots are counted while a non-competing comic performs for the audience. Comics moving on to the next round of the competition are announced at the end of the show.

Prizes galore!

The Kingpin of Comedy winner will receive a prize package worth over $1,000.

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought it deserved its own stand-up comedy competition with the overall winner getting a prize package worthy of the title Most Humorous Human in Wyoming!” says Brian B., Founder and MC of the SNF.

The SNF Kingpin of Comedy winner will receive a large check for $500 (Courtesy, Brian B.)

The prize package includes $500 cash, gift cards from LaughFest and Midtown GR, and prizes from various Wyoming businesses and competition host Spectrum Entertainment Complex. The winner also receives a bowling pin trophy, personalized “Kingpin” bowling shirt, and will headline the SNF 2026 LaughFest performance.

About SNF

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. The weekly live stand-up comedy performance is free admission and features a variety of local and national comics. Now in its 16th year, over 1,275 different comedians have entertained SNF audiences. Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. (winter/spring) and 8:30 p.m. (summer/early fall) at Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.

Simon Carlson crowned winner of 2024 Sunday Night Funnies’ Kingpin of Comedy competition

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Simon Carlson was crowned Kingpin of Comedy at the SNF competition finals on Oct. 27 (Courtesy, Brian B.)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Carlson shows off his tricked-out bowling pin trophy (Courtesy, Brian B.)

Local comedian Simon Carlson was crowned the Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) 2024 Kingpin of Comedy on Sunday, Oct. 27.

“It was a tight contest with just a handful of votes separating the top four vote-getters,” said Brian Borbot (Brian B.), SNF creator and MC. “But Simon had a terrific set and deserves the crown.

“I was really happy with the turnout for the finals. We had a packed house – absolutely no seats left. The audience saw an amazing show from some talented comedians.”

Simon Carlson on winning the competition: “Thanks for giving comics a good room to get better at stand up. Also, I wish I got to keep the big check. When do I get the keys to the SNF mobile?”

The SNF mobile Carlson referenced is the SNF “Sunny” car that is wrapped in various shades of yellow and gold. “Sunny” acts as an advertisement for the weekly comedy show.

The “Sunny” car helps advertise the weekly SNF comedy show (Courtesy, Brian B.)

As the Kingpin of Comedy competition winner, Carlson receives a prize package valued at $1,000 from local businesses including Craig’s Cruisers, LaughFest, Midtown GR, and show host Spectrum Entertainment Complex. Carlson also receives $500 cash, a bowling pin trophy and a personalized Kingpin bowling shirt.

About SNF

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. The weekly live stand-up comedy performance is free admission and features a variety of comics from around the Midwest. Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.

Sunday Night Funnies sixth annual Kingpin of Comedy competition begins May 12

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(Courtesy, Brian B.)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


The Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) stand-up comedy show is getting ready for its sixth annual Kingpin of Comedy standup comedy competition. The competition will held at Woody’s Press Box inside Spectrum Entertainment Complex each Sunday from May 12 – Oct. 13.

(Courtesy, Brian B.)

“This is a blatant rip-off of the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids contest that Dr. Grins Comedy Club used to run,” said Brian B. (Brian Borbot), founder and MC of the SNF.

“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought it deserved its own standup comedy competition with the overall winner getting a prize package worthy of the title the Funniest Person in Wyoming!”

The Kingpin of Comedy winner will receive $500 cash as well as prizes from Wyoming businesses Spectrum Entertainment Complex, Craig’s Cruisers, The Listening Room and Gilda’s Club LaughFest. The winner will also receive a Kingpin bowling pin trophy, a personalized Kingpin bowling shirt, and the opportunity to close at the Sunday Night Funnies LaughFest show in 2025.

The total prize package is over $1,000 in value.

Fifteen years of funny

The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. Now in its 15th year, the SNF features weekly live standup comedy performances by a variety of local and national comics.

Admission to the SNF shows at Woody’s Press Box are free. SNF shows take place on Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. during winter and spring, and at 8:30 p.m. during summer and early fall.