Shawn Felipe, CJ Koepp, Jalisa Robinson, Emo Majok, Alisha Dhillon

Funny how a four and a half hour drive from The City to Arroyo Grande can pass so quickly with so much talk in the car driving south thru Steinbeck Country. And what a treat to spy past champ Auggie Smith in the hotel bar getting primed to host the last two nights.

CJ Koepp, Jalisa Robinson, Shawn Felipe, Alisha Dhillon;, Emo Majok

Producer Jon Fox likes to dredge up old sayings to describe a circumstance at hand, just like someone’s grandad. Following the show within the massive University Ballroom at Sacramento State University, it was “youth will out” and “luck of the draw” that came to his lips.

CJ Koepp, Emo Majok, Jackie Flynn, Jalisa Robinson, Alisha Dhillon, Shawn Felipe

For the first time in its 49 years as an annual Northern California event, there will be three women among the five finalists in the San Francisco Stand-up Comedy Competition. This year’s winner will be announced Saturday after the show at the Marin Exhibit Hall.

Iris Benson, Sergio Blanco, Alisha Dhillon, Shawn Felipe, Jon Gabrielli, Bryant Hicks, CJ Koepp, Connor Lonsdale, Emo Majock, and Jalisa Robinson

The Semifinals of the 49th San Francisco Comedy Competition kicks off Tuesday, September 9th at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga. The Top Ten comedians compete for just five chances to advance to the Finals.