Bryan Gutmann FPIA 07..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
The new Funniest Person in ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Austin, Bryan Gutmann moved to Austin from NY at the tender age of 13.
(Okay the rest of this "interview," for comedy purposes will largely be fiction and should be laughed at and not taken seriously.)
On Monday, May 21 Bryan unseated the former King of Austin comedy, Doug Mellard who was in the bathroom with some chick. Through the bathroom door, Bryan told Doug and his… companion an amazingly funny joke about fire safety. It killed.
Doug and his bathroom date were pronounced "dead by joke" on the spot.
Gutmann's joke wounded another former FPIA, Howard Beecher who was in line for the bathroom along with his date, the ever so adorable comedian Daniel Frank.
(Daniel Frank, an Austin comic and heartthrob has never advanced beyond the contest's preliminary round). Frank's wounds were minor since he didn't quite get the topical relevance of the joke.
Statesman: How long have you been competing in the FPIA competition?
Bryan Gutmann: Pretty much my whole life. It's only been the past few years that I have been trying to achieve this goal by doing something other than quoting Adam Sandler and South Park.
How did you win?
I'd like to say that it was my material and stage presence, but I really know that it was my acting work in local attorney commercials that impressed the judges.
What did your mom say when you won?
The same thing she always says, "You think you're better than me?" Then we split a bottle of whiskey and watched "Shear Genius".
How did the other finalists react to their defeats?
Mixed feelings: Okay with the results because they know they're better than me, but then also upset with the results because they know they're better than me. Overall, however, I have to say I'm too busy flying around in my Funniest Person jet to think about it.
Bryan Gutmann will appear on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham" June 29th, 11PM CST. He will headline The Velveeta Room, July 20th and 21st at 9:30 and 11:30. $5 (cheap), Visit his myspace page www.myspace.com/bryangutmann.